Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
TRINITY
I wake with a groan, my neck protesting as I shift on the couch.
Something’s digging into my shoulder blade—the television remote, I realize, fishing it out from under me.
Despite the cramp and the less-than-ideal sleeping arrangement, my body feels languid, muscles loose in a way they haven’t been in months.
Memories of last night flood back. Lucas’s hands. His voice. The release that crashed through me under his skilled touch.
My cheeks burn as I check my phone, squinting against the morning light filtering through the balcony doors. Several messages from Josie about today’s events, a reminder from the florist, and?—
An email from Amara.
My dear Ms. Jones,
Attached please find the finalized contract for your review. I want to assure you that my gentlemen are available for any services you might require during your arrangement. They’ve been thoroughly briefed on your situation and are committed to providing whatever support you need.
Sincerely,
Amara Gamba - CEO, Elite Comfort Services
I stare at the message, the subtext crystal clear. None of us vetoed sexual activity. I had left that section of the contract blank and none of them had added any provisions before signing.
Because I need one more reminder of how much I get in my own way.
I set my phone down and tiptoe toward the bedroom door, which is slightly ajar. Curiosity gets the better of me. What if I just take a peek?
The sight that greets me makes my mouth go dry.
The four of them sprawl across the massive bed like puzzle pieces that somehow fit together perfectly.
Lucas lies in the center, one arm flung over Cash, who’s curled against his side.
Matheo is on Lucas’s other side, his broad back rising and falling with each deep breath.
Kyren is practically dangling off the edge next to Matheo, one leg thrown over the other alpha’s as if to anchor himself.
They look so right together. Complete. The thought sends an unexpected pang through my chest.
I already know that I don’t belong with them, that this is temporary.
So why does the sight of their perfect fit make me feel sad?
I think about last night—Lucas’s hands on my skin, his gentle words about submission and relief. How he understood what I needed before I did. The way he took care of me afterward, tucking me in like I was precious.
But I’m also paying for the privilege of having them to myself. For the next week, at least. And they’ve already made it clear that it was my choice to sleep on the couch. Maybe I could just slip in beside them? The bed is certainly big enough.
And it looks so warm…
My phone pings loudly from where I left it on the coffee table. I jump, my heart racing as I dart back to silence it.
Too late. On the screen, a message from Josie glares at me:
JosieGrossie: Where are you guys?? Everyone’s at breakfast wondering why you and your alphas are MIA. Mom’s asking questions!
“Everything okay?”
I whirl around to find Matheo standing in the bedroom doorway, hair tousled from sleep, eyes half-lidded. He’s bare-chested, wearing only a pair of gray sweatpants that hang dangerously low on his hips.
For a second, I forget how to breathe. The sweatpants hide absolutely nothing about his proportions.
“I—yes. Fine. Just Josie.” I hold up my phone, trying desperately to keep my eyes on his face. “Everyone’s at breakfast already. I was just going to head down.”
“Give me five minutes.” He runs a hand through his hair, making it stand up even more. “I’ll go with you.”
“No, that’s okay. I mean—” I clear my throat. “You don’t have to. You should go back to sleep. I know it was a late night. ”
His eyes darken slightly, and I wonder if he knows what happened between Lucas and me. If he heard.
“Trinity, as far as anyone needs to be concerned, we are your pack. We go where you go. Isn’t that the whole point of this?”
Something warm unfurls in my chest at his words, even though I know it’s all pretend.
“I’ll meet you downstairs.” I turn away abruptly, needing distance from his half-naked body and the intensity in his eyes. “Take your time. I have to check on a few things for the wedding anyway.”
I grab my phone and practically flee the suite, my heart hammering against my ribs. This is just business, I remind myself. Just a contract.
So why does it feel easy to think of so much more?
I slip into a seat at the breakfast table, my pulse finally slowing now that I’ve scanned the restaurant and confirmed Egret and his pack aren’t here. Small mercies.
“There you are,” Josie beams at me from across the table. “I want you to meet Egret’s sisters.”
My stomach drops as I turn to face the two women sitting beside her.
One short and curvy, the other tall and thin with a face striking enough to grace magazine covers.
I recognize them immediately from that awkward family day during sophomore year when Egret hadn’t bothered to tell me in advance that he expected me to go to dinner with his parents and I ended up wearing yoga pants to a Michelin-starred restaurant.
“This is Amelia. She works as a federal prosecutor.” Josie gestures to the taller woman. “And Isabelle is over here. I can’t believe my future sister-in-law is a model.”
“Former model. I work as a booking agent now,” Isabelle corrects before giving me a cool once-over. “Hello.”
Amelia gives the slightest nod, not bothering with a verbal greeting.
“Pleasure,” I say, forcing a smile. Neither shows any sign of recognizing me, thank god. Five years and fifteen pounds ago, I was just another in a string of Egret’s college girlfriends. Not memorable enough to register. “I hope you’re looking forward to the festivities.”
“Trinity owns her own event planning business,” Josie announces proudly. “She basically organized this whole thing.”
Isabelle’s perfectly sculpted eyebrows rise. “An omega business owner? How progressive.”
Amelia tilts her head. “I’m surprised you have time for a pack with such demanding work. Most omegas I know who try to have careers end up neglecting their alphas.”
I reach for my coffee to avoid saying something I’ll regret. “I’m fortunate to have understanding partners.”
“They must be very secure in their alpha status,” Isabelle says with a thin smile. “Not all men can handle an independent omega.”
I’d managed to forget that Egret’s older sisters are both alphas. It makes sense that outdated ideas about designation essentialism are a family trait.
A server appears with my fruit platter and side of wheat toast. I pick at a strawberry, no longer hungry at all.
“Trinity’s amazing at balancing everything,” Josie chirps, oblivious to the tension. “That’s why she’s the perfect wedding planner.”
Amelia’s gaze drifts to my barely touched plate. “ Speaking of which, is it okay if we join you for the cake tasting this afternoon? Egret asked us to give our input.”
I swallow hard. Of course, he did. “Absolutely. The more opinions, the better.”
Isabelle sighs dramatically. “I suppose someone should represent our side of the family. Though I can’t imagine why Egret thought we’d want to spend our afternoon sampling cake.”
“I’m sure it’ll be lovely to eat enough sugar to trigger a medical emergency,” Amelia adds without enthusiasm. Her eyes flick between my plate and Josie’s equally sparse breakfast. “I see you’re both saving your appetites. Unless that’s just how omegas maintain their...petite frames?”
My fork clatters against the plate. I’ve spent years building my business in an alpha-dominated industry, handling difficult clients and impossible deadlines. I don’t need to justify my eating habits to these women.
“Fun fact,” I drawl, voice honey-sweet. “Omegas actually can’t properly digest dairy or red meat. I wish I could eat like an alpha, but I’m glad I have you two here so I can experience it vicariously.”
Josephine nearly chokes on a mouthful of orange juice, but does a decent job of covering her laugh.
Amelia glances down at the fluffy omelet on Josie’s plate with a confused frown. “I’ve never heard anything like that before.”
Isabelle is a little quicker, and she surveys me with a raised eyebrow. “I think that was a joke.”
“I’m just feeling a little queasy this morning, and Trin has never been a breakfast person,” Josie assures them. “It would probably shock you how much we can put away on a good day. Trin is just a bit of a jokester. ”
“Funny,” Isabelle says in a way that sounds like she means the exact opposite.
I can already tell this cake-tasting is going to be a blast.
I feel warm hands settle on my shoulders, the touch firm yet gentle. A moment later, Matheo leans down, his lips brushing against my cheek in a soft kiss that sends an unexpected ripple of pleasure through me.
“There you are, sweetheart,” he murmurs, his voice carrying just the right hint of gentle admonishment. “You should have waited for us.”
I glance up at him, momentarily stunned by how convincingly affectionate he looks. His dark eyes hold mine with an intensity that makes my stomach flip.
“I didn’t want to force everyone out of bed,” I explain, trying to keep my voice steady. “You all looked so peaceful.”
“We’ve already discussed this.” Kyren slides into the chair beside me, his voice carrying a surprising edge of authority. He reaches for my hand on the table, interlacing our fingers with casual possessiveness. “We’re not letting you out of our sight for the entire week.”
Cash and Lucas join us, completing our fabricated pack, and I notice Isabelle’s perfectly sculpted eyebrows rise with obvious appreciation. Her earlier cool demeanor melts as she straightens in her chair, suddenly alert like a cat spotting prey.
“Trinity,” Amelia says, her voice markedly warmer than when addressing me earlier. “We didn’t get the chance to meet your alphas at dinner last night. You should introduce us.”
I make quick introductions while the men all grab chairs and pull them up to my side of the small table until I’m surrounded by them. We must look ridiculous because none of them are close enough to the small table to actually be able to eat off it, but that doesn’t seem to bother them.
With fascination, I watch as both sisters transform from judgmental to charming in the presence of my fake alphas. The change is so dramatic, it’s almost comical—Isabelle actually tosses her hair when Cash introduces himself.
“Ladies.” A familiar voice cuts through the moment. Egret stands at the edge of our table, his expression carefully neutral, though I catch the slight tightening around his eyes. Brendin and Soren are right behind him. “I see you’ve met Trinity’s...companions.”
“We were just getting acquainted,” Amelia says, her tone honeyed.
Egret’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Excellent. I wanted to let you know I’ve arranged a men-only activity for early this afternoon. Just a few rounds of golf. I thought it would be good for all of us to spend some time together while the women attend the cake tasting.”
With a grim sort of respect, I realize that I have been effectively played.
Why in the hell would two of the most hard-edge alpha women I’ve ever met want to play besties and taste cake all afternoon?
Turns out, they don’t. But they will, if it means giving their brother an excuse to get my alphas alone on a golf course so Egret has all the time he needs to interrogate them.
I turn to Matheo, who’s sitting closest to me, and lower my voice. “You don’t have to go with him if you don’t want to. I can make an excuse.”
Matheo’s eyes crinkle with amusement. “It’ll be fun,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing reassuringly against my wrist. “Don’t worry. We can handle ourselves. ”
The casual touch sends warmth spiraling through me. I try to ignore how genuine it feels.
Matheo stands and claps Egret on the back with enough force to make my ex slightly stumble. “We better all hit the buffet first. Need all the energy we can get for eighteen holes.”
Cash and Lucas rise to join them, while Kyren tosses his napkin on the table with a dangerous grin that makes me nervous. I watch them walk away with Egret and his pack, already making a mental list of all the ways this can go catastrophically wrong.