Chapter 41
Hestia
Itie a knot and pull it tight, checking that the rope is snug against the wood.
I sigh wistfully, picturing other knots.
“Is your end ready?”
I’m always ready these days. I get so slick around my bosses, their knots could slip in whenever they wanted.
Charm cages me in with his arms, trapping me against the log.
“You’ve got it tied securely,” he says, pulling on the rope. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh! No, sorry. It’s ready,” I say, ducking my head.
We’re supposed to be moving this fallen tree off the road, and here I am thinking about letting them fuck me against it instead.
I don’t usually have trouble staying on task when we’re in the field, barring a few admiring glances here and there.
Charm grabs my arm, stopping me before I can get away.
“Hey. Are you doing okay?” he asks quietly.
“I’m fine,” I say, forcing a smile. “Just zoned out for a second. I’m sorry.”
We move to the side, and Magnus starts up the truck, dragging the tree off the road.
After we unhook the ropes, Orion tells me to take a break. Charm must have told on me.
Rest won’t cure my problem, but I get in the truck without argument, watching the others finish up.
I lean my head against the cool glass.
I’ve tried to ignore what’s between us, but I can’t, and it’s only getting worse. Exhausting myself to thoughts of them at night hasn’t worked.
Maybe my plan isn’t feasible. Maybe I can’t handle working with my scent matches until my training is over.
What if I have to leave the team until I’m free to pursue them?
Do they even want me back?
What if—
Cato bumps me with his shoulder and presses against my side, bringing my spinning thoughts to a halt.
I manage to keep it together for the rest of the workday, but something has to give.
I don’t want to go downstairs.
I could stay in my rooms and avoid the problem, just for tonight. Except I doubt that would work. They would worry and check on me.
My omega thrills at the thought.
I can’t stay up here moping for much longer, or they’ll notice my routine is off and come looking.
My hair is still damp after the shower, but I’m often too lazy to dry it. I only need to get dressed and I’ll be ready to go down for dinner.
A knock sounds at the door.
I was too slow.
I grab the nearest clothes, a sweatshirt and frilly lounge shorts, and throw them on.
I open the door just as Henri raises his hand to knock again.
He smiles and reaches like he’s going to cup my face but catches himself. His hand drops, though the smile stays in place.
“I’m making roast chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner. Does that work for you?” he asks.
“That sounds great. Everything you make is delicious,” I say.
I’m clutching the doorframe to stop myself from moving closer. It’s like there’s a magnet inside me drawing me toward them, and it’s growing stronger by the day.
“If you ever have requests, I’m happy to take them,” Henri says.
“Okay,” I say, but all I can think about is how cute he looks with his curly hair falling over his forehead. How much I want to feel it between my fingers, brush it to the side so I can see his brown eyes better.
He’s saying something else.
“Yes,” I answer, though I missed the question.
“Great! We have the fire going in the living room, so we’ll do it in there,” he says and leads me downstairs.
I join Cato where he’s sprawled on the couch. He seamlessly curls around me as I sit.
Orion hands me a stick with marshmallows speared on it. Ah, Henri must have asked if I wanted to do s’mores before dinner.
I focus on toasting my marshmallows rather than giving into the urge to admire my alphas.
Cato loads my graham crackers with several chocolate bars and helps me slide my marshmallows onto them when they’re ready.
The evening should feel cozy and sweet, their delicious scents swirling around me, but it’s a tease. A glimpse of what I could have, if things were different.
I anxiously eat my s’more and jump up to make another to keep myself busy. I grab the bag of marshmallows, accidentally flinging some on the floor.
Henri is already there cleaning up, but I bend over to help.
A growl sounds behind me, startling me into falling forward onto my hands and knees. My sweatshirt slides down, cool air hitting my back.
Charm and Henri take my arms and help me up.
“Are you alright?” Henri asks.
“I’m fine,” I say, brushing myself off.
Magnus is avoiding looking at me. Was he the one who growled when I bent over? He’s hunched over, forearms on his thighs, covering his lap. His scent is stronger than it was, spicy gingerbread making my nose tingle.
I blink and Magnus’s surprised face is in front of mine, and then my tongue in his mouth, hands tangled in his hair. His hard cock presses against my core through the thin fabric of my shorts.
Now he’s kissing me back, his hands on my ass, pulling me closer. Magnus’s body rumbles under mine with a pleased purr.
He hooks his fingers under my waistband and tugs my shorts down. I’m panting, pussy wet and ready for him.
I let out a squeal as I’m suddenly yanked off him, and Magnus is left with my shorts dangling from his hand.
Orion sets me on my feet, but blocks me from reaching Magnus.
Without him beneath me, reality slowly bleeds back in, and I cover my face with my hands.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I know we’re not allowed to be together, but I like you so much I—I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry, please just forget this happened,” I say into my hands.
Orion rubs my back comfortingly.
“It’s okay, Hestia. I enjoyed—it didn’t upset me,” Magnus says.
After all my planning, I’m ruining everything. Sleeping with my bosses now would ruin their lives.
I can’t hear what they’re saying over the buzzing in my ears. No, not buzzing, it’s whining, and it’s coming from me.
My chest is tight. Is this heartbreak?
Did they reject me?
They pulled me off, pushed me away.
Being around them is only agitating my omega. I need to hide in my nest to process my feelings.
I interrupt whatever they’re saying to apologize one more time before I flee, “I know we’re not allowed to date. I shouldn’t have jumped on you. I’m so sorry for putting you in this position.”
If they want to kick me out, they can stick a notice under my door or something. I can’t handle hearing it directly from them.
I go to dart out of the room, but only make it a few steps before Cato sweeps me off my feet and tosses me on the couch.
I bounce a few times, blinking up at the ceiling, the shock of it snapping me out of a panic.
When I try to sit up, Cato puts his hand on my stomach, keeping me on my back.
“Did you hear what we said?” Orion asks.
I pout and say, “Nooo.”
“Everything is okay. No one is upset that you kissed him,” Orion says.
“Least of all me,” Magnus mutters.
A giggle escapes me, and he smiles.
“Are you feeling better, little omega?” Magnus says, stroking my hair.
“I’m fine,” I say, closing my eyes and leaning into his hand.
“Cato, pull her sweatshirt down,” Charm growls.
I look down and squeak when I see my nude lower half is spreadeagle in full view.
I grab for the hem of my sweatshirt, but Cato reaches for it too, and we get tangled up trying to pull it down—or maybe he’s getting in my way on purpose.
I swat at his hands and finally cover myself, sitting up
Cato laughs and says, “Sorry, pet.”
He doesn’t sound sorry at all.
I cross my arms and legs and glare at him.
“As you said, it’s against the rules for us to be romantically involved,” Orion says.
“We had permission to help you with your heat due to the circumstances, but HR made sure to remind us afterward that we are not allowed to be with a subordinate. They had our pack sign multiple forms confirming we wouldn’t pursue anything further with you.
They also sent information about where to find local heat help for the future. ”
“They really did all that?” I ask forlornly.
I half thought we might get together in secret, or maybe even be granted special permission to date—one perk of being an omega that I’d happily accept—but this dashes my hopes. I’m sure HR is keeping a close eye on us now.
“Wait, why didn’t you give me the information about finding heat helpers?” I say, watching Orion closely.
He blushes and rubs the back of his neck.
“I was going to give it to you…soon. Your next heat won’t be for a while, and I wasn’t in a rush to help you find some other alphas,” he says.
Hope builds.
“I don’t want to see you with other alphas either,” Henri says.
“I want to be with you, Hestia, if I’m—if we’re not too much for you,” Magnus says.
“We would ask to court you if it were allowed to,” Charm says.
“You’re already ours,” Cato says, of course pretending the rules don’t apply to him.
But my little omega heart is pounding after hearing his claim and the confessions of the others, knowing they’re risking their jobs.
“We’ve discussed ways to make this work,” Charm says, glancing at his packmates.
“I wanted to protect you, Hestia, but obviously hiding our feelings isn’t working for any of us,” Orion says.
The others nod or murmur their agreement.
“You’re an amazing rescuer and we don’t want to interfere with your career, but I can’t deny that we return your feelings.
As much as I’d love to officially ask to court you, I can’t in good conscience do that when we need to keep our relationship a secret.
But unofficially, will you date our pack?
” Orion asks, but he continues before I can contain my excitement enough to answer.
“We can’t go public yet, but I don’t want you to think we’re not in this for the long haul.
I’ve updated our pack registry, listing us as open to new members.
It might raise suspicion if HR sees it, but I’m not required to notify them of the change, so I didn’t.
I know it’s not fair to ask you this, and if the company ever finds out, we’ll take the blame.
But here at home, why shouldn’t we be together. We’ll—”
I throw my arms around him and say, “Yes! Yes, of course I’ll date your pack. I don’t care if we have to hide, I just want to be with you.”
Orion hugs me fiercely until Cato eventually pries me off so he can scoop me up. They pass me around until I’ve hugged everyone several times.
I end up back with Orion, who takes me by the hips and says, “I’m not sure how you feel, but it might be best to take things slow.
We’ve gone a bit out of order, living together and helping with your heat.
And even though we’re scent matches, I don’t want you to feel pressured to jump into things.
We’ll plan dates here at home so we can get to know each other as mates rather than coworkers. ”
“Dating sounds like a good idea. I’m happy to take things slow,” I agree, despite the fact that I mounted Magnus mere moments ago.
Orion is probably right though. Not that there’s anything wrong with doing things differently, but it would be nice to get to know them better. I held back before, not wanting to make it obvious how interested I was in them, but as their girlfriend, I can be a menace with questions.
“I don’t ever want you to feel like you have to agree to something just because we’re your bosses. I’m only in charge of the team when we’re in the field. At home and in our relationship, no one is in charge of you but you,” Orion says.
“I trust you. We’ll make this work,” I say, hugging him again.
“And we only have to keep it a secret for two years. We can easily weather that together,” he says.
“It’s 681 days,” I correct automatically.
They laugh, but I know they’re impressed with my quick math.
“Now, let me help you with these,” Magnus says, holding up my shorts.