11. Fawn
Words were coming out of my mouth, but I couldn’t tell you what I said. I thought my world was already turned upside down with the news there was another Alpha I was scent-matched to. Then this woman walked in, and my world halted as her scent reached me. Never in my twenty-one years had I felt an attraction to a woman. I appreciated women all the damn time, but nothing that would make me desperate to know them intimately.
I was fully aware that even for an Omega, I was a highly sex-driven individual. Up until this moment, it had been exclusively directed toward men. Yet, here I was fighting off the urge to peel the clothes off this angel who’d fallen to Earth so I could taste her. Yes, I absolutely wanted to bury my cock deep in her pussy and feel her walls squeeze me as she came, screaming my name. However, I knew I would be just as happy with us naked, curled up like kittens sleeping in the sun.
Why? Why was this woman so different and all-consuming?
In a way, it made me feel guilty. I was already bonded with three amazing Alphas I loved, and they loved me. Zachary, my big burly papa bear, was my best friend and my Dom, who knew just how to make me beg for his knot. Yes, I shared my papa bear with Tanner, his partner, and another one of my bonded Alphas. They’d been together before our pack was officially established and were over the moon when I was scent-matched to them. Tanner shared my zest for life, adventure, and fun, but he carried a woundedness about him. My playful Alpha always tells me I’m the best medicine when he has dark days.
Last but not least was my bonded Alpha, Pascal. Some people find our relationship odd, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Pascal was the oldest in our pack and fifteen years my senior, which is probably why I viewed him as an older brother. When I needed advice, a person just to cuddle up next to with no expectations, or someone I trust won’t judge me for my past, Pascal is who I go to.
These three men were my family, my pack, and I thought our little world was perfect. Then with one email leading to an impromptu meeting, I couldn’t believe I didn’t know something important was missing. Correction, someone not something—two someones were missing.
“Cub, you need to let her go,” Zachary murmured, his large, comforting hands on my hips. “Be good, and let the rest of us meet our Omega.”
Our Omega? This woman was an Omega? Holy shit, was Zachary saying he was scent- matched to her as well? Could that even happen?
This revelation got my lizard brain to disengage and allow for a higher level of thought. Such as the fact I was wrapped around this poor woman like a damn koala and didn’t even know her name. I think she asked me mine at one point, but I couldn’t tell you if I answered.
“I’m so sorry,” I apologized as I let Zachary pull me against his broad chest. “There is zero excuse for my behavior and disregard for your personal space. I swear to you I normally believe in the mantra, consent is key. It was the craziest thing, though. Your scent hit me, and all I knew was I couldn’t let you walk away. You have no idea how?—”
Zachary gently placed his hand over my mouth, stopping the flow of word vomit I couldn’t seem to stop. “Take a deep breath, cub. Everything will be all right.”
Doing as he instructed, I took a deep breath, and when I let it out, I sagged against him. I playfully licked the inside of his hand, knowing the reaction it would get out of him.
“Don’t play games, cub. This is an important moment for all of us,” Zachary warned, speaking in a low voice for only me to hear. “Take a good look at her. She’s terrified.”
Panic surged through me at the thought I’d made this precious angel scared because of my actions. Eli, the Alpha we’d come to meet, stood behind her, his hand on her shoulders in a protective gesture. Wait, were they scent-matched too? None of this was making any sense.
Setting those questions aside, I looked at the woman who had me questioning my entire existence. She had thick, honey-blonde hair that fell past her shoulders, framing her elegant face. Her cobalt-blue eyes were striking, so rich with color I wanted to get lost in them. They were a prominent feature since her panic was making them wider than normal as her gaze flicked between the four of us.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” Tanner said, his most charming smile on display as he held out a hand to her. “I’m Tanner.”
She looked from his face to his hand a few times before taking his hand. “Lyra.”
“Lyra, that means harp or sweet music, depending on the dialect,” Pascal shared, drawing her attention to him. “I think it suits you perfectly.”
“Thank you?” Lyra said, although it sounded more like a question.
“Forgive me. I’m a bit of a language buff. It’s a hobby of mine to study them as well as learning to speak them,” Pascal explained, looking rather embarrassed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “My name is Pascal, which is aptly chosen since I was born the same week as Easter.”
I had to cover my mouth with the sleeve of my sweatshirt as I watched the ever-composed and logical Pascal trip over his feet just talking to our angel. Not once had I ever heard him talk about past relationships or if he ever wanted a romantic connection with someone. It would seem he’d been waiting for the perfect person, and it just might be Lyra.
“Hi, Lyra, I’m Zachary, and I’m not sure if he actually introduced himself or not, but this is Fawn,” Zachary shared, introducing us, then kissed my temple before he released his hold on me. My papa bear had always been the most outwardly affectionate of my three bonded Alphas.
“Why don’t we take a seat and chat for a moment? I think we’ve all been a little surprised by this meeting,” Eli suggested.
With the whirlwind of Lyra entering the room, I hadn’t had much chance to focus on this new Alpha. He was handsome as hell and had that whole aloof billionaire vibe going for him, which drew me like a moth to a flame. His suit was tailor-made and expensive as shit, and his hair was neatly trimmed and perfectly styled. This man took pride in all he did and probably struggled with knowing how to relax. I’d seen many of his type in my days as an exotic dancer before meeting my Alphas. They were the best tippers and always bought the good shit to drink.
Despite all that, I watched as he wrapped an arm around Lyra’s waist and protectively tucked her against his side. When he walked past, I couldn’t help but lean in and draw in a deep breath, letting his rich scent flood my senses. The headiness of the teakwood, followed by the smooth warmth of bourbon, was exactly what I expected from a dominant Alpha like him. When they sat on the couch, I waltzed right over, plopped down next to Eli, leaned my head on his shoulder, and sighed in relief as the contact wasn’t rejected.
Peering up at him, I stared boldly into his icy-blue gaze. “You smell like a scent match to me, but the real question is, do you feel the same about me?”
Eli shifted, turning his body so I had to lift my head, causing me to pout. The pout quickly turned into a moan as Eli gripped my jaw, tilted my head to the side, and ran his nose down my neck.
“Fawn, you smell like the most addictive fucking dessert I could imagine,” Eli informed me, his deep voice making me shiver as I was instantly turned on. “If I were a lesser man, I might not be able to fight the urge to see if your taste is as decadent as your scent.”
“Oh fuck,” I groaned, my dick rock-hard but thankfully trapped in my jeans. Had I been wearing one of my skirts, everyone would have seen how his words affected me. “If you keep talking like that, I might just come on the spot.”
A deep rumbling purr vibrated through Eli and almost sent me over the edge, but instead of pushing my limits, he left a gossamer kiss on my neck and pulled back. “As much as I enjoy seeing my effect on you, this is not the time or place for that type of activity. If I’ve made Lyra wait, then I must do the same for you.”
I almost whined in desperation as he let his fingers glide down my neck and across my exposed collarbone as my sweatshirt fell off one shoulder. I subtly shifted, trying to find a way to sit that didn’t have my cock trying to burst through the seams of my skinny jeans. Why did I have to pick jeans? They are so goddamn restrictive.
“How is this possible?” Lyra asked, drawing everyone’s attention. “No pack has two Omegas, and I’ve never heard about there being such a thing as scent-matched Omegas.”
“It’s unbelievably rare, but there have been a handful of them throughout history,” Eli said. “After I met you, Lyra, I looked into the matter since I knew I’d been matched to a pack with an Omega.”
Lyra’s brow creased as she looked at Eli in disbelief. “You told me you didn’t have a pack.”
“I didn’t. This is the first time I’ve even met them. It wasn’t until about two weeks ago I even knew they existed,” Eli explained. “Honestly, if I thought there was a chance you’d be scent-matched to them as well, I would have told you. In every instance I’ve found, the Omega is only matched with one, maybe two Alphas in the pack. Of all the known occurrences, only one of them was matched to the other Omega. I truly didn’t intend to blindside you with this.”
The way I could see the physical difference in Lyra as she shut down was alarming. Slowly, she rose from the couch and backed up a few steps. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this. Finding one of my scent matches was hard enough, but five of you? No, I need some time to deal with this.”
Turning on her heel, she left the room and slammed what I assumed was her office door, followed by the snick of the lock being set. Bewildered, I started to get up, but Eli placed a hand on my thigh, stopping me in my tracks. I looked at him and tried to understand where this went wrong. “Did I do this? Is she mad because I hugged her without her permission?”
“No, Fawn, it’s not you,” Eli assured me, slid a hand around my neck, and gave me a reassuring squeeze. “Lyra has been through a lot and doesn’t handle surprises like this well. Believe it or not, this is a better reaction than when I met her for the first time.”
My shoulders slumped as everything in me wanted to charge into her office and smother her in love. I knew what it felt like to feel alone in a sea of people who didn’t see you for who you were. Then I met my Alphas, and little by little, they helped to heal my emotional wounds. I still struggled with many things, but the person I am today is a million times happier than when we met a year ago.
“Without going into too much detail, can you tell us what we’re dealing with?” Tanner asked.
If anyone knew about having struggles to overcome, it was Tanner. He’d been on the fast track to be the next star in the skateboarding world. Then it all ended when he landed on his feet and broke them along with his ankles. The doctors had to put metal screws in his ankles to keep them together so they’d heal right. In the blink of an eye, everything he’d been working toward was ripped away from him.
Eli leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “She lost her parents at a young age and basically raised herself. I think, along the way, she somehow came to the conclusion that to save herself more pain, she would do all she could to avoid meeting her scent matches. When I discovered my new assistant was my scent-matched Omega, I was thrilled, but her first reaction was to drop everything and run.”
Zachary nodded as he listened, running a hand over his thick, black beard. “I can see why her first reaction would be to get mad if you knew how she felt and didn’t tell her about us.”
“We have to be careful. Lyra has already started the bonding process with Eli, meaning there’s no turning back,” Pascal pointed out. “I don’t want to pressure Lyra into anything she’s not ready to handle, but I won’t stand aside and let her harm herself by trying to run from this.”
“Passie, what do you mean she’d harm herself?” I asked, not following his logic.
He adjusted his round, gold-rimmed glasses that I helped him to pick out. They were a beautiful contrast to his rich, dark brown skin and black hair, making them an accessory to his appearance. My logic was if you needed to wear glasses every day, you should make them work for you instead of trying to hide them.
“I don’t know how commonly this is talked about amongst Omegas, but as Alphas, we’re made aware. Once the bonding between an Alpha and an Omega has begun, there’s no stopping it. On a scientific level, it changes the chemistry in the Omega, preparing them for the bond created once the pair marks each other. If the mark doesn’t happen and the Omega isn’t around their scent match, it can make them sick or in the worst case… die,” Pascal explained.
My mouth popped open in surprise. “Seriously?”
All the Alphas nodded with a somber look on their faces.
“Okay, so what are you guys going to do about it?” I demanded because, like hell, was anything like that going to happen to our angel.
“First, we need to reach out to the Scent Matchers,” Tanner said. “Specifically, the three of us since Pascal and Zachary will need to be approved for additional time off for courting and bonding leave. I own my own business so that makes it easier on my end.”
“Right, if we applied for it without some kind of note from the Scent Matchers, I think my boss would laugh at me,” Pascal muttered.
Eli seemed to tense at this suggestion but didn’t speak up. I’m sure I only noticed because I was sitting next to him. Although the reaction made me curious, most people didn’t have an issue with the Scent Matchers.
“I think getting everything set on our end will give Lyra a few days to adjust to the shock, and maybe we can try again. Perhaps starting with one-on-one interactions might help.” Eli suggested. “She warmed up to me once she calmed down, and I was able to find ways for it just to be the two of us in a neutral setting.”
“Oh,” I exclaimed, bouncing slightly in my seat. “Lyra and I could have a spa day or a sleepover. Maybe both, you know, like a day filled with all things Omegas love and finish the night off snuggled up together.”
The smile Eli gave me nearly made my heart stop at the sight of it. How could a man who was already a ten on the hotness scale suddenly become a twelve with the simple act of smiling?
“I think that is an excellent idea, and it might be best for you to be the first one to initiate getting to know the pack. I’m sure she’ll feel more relaxed with you being an Omega. My little sister once told me there was a special bond all Omegas have with each other,” Eli shared.
“You have a little sister?” I asked.
Eli nodded and pulled out his phone, flipping to his photos, where I was greeted with the most adorable sight. A woman who looked like she might be my pastel soul sister was hugging a giant dog with a flower crown on his head.
“She’s so cute,” I gasped. “Wait, the dog’s vest says it’s a service animal. Is she okay?”
“Now she is. My sister, Bailey-Rose, was born with a heart defect and a genetic abnormality. Not too long ago, she had surgery to repair the major problems with her heart so she doesn’t have to be quite so careful. There are still some issues that Waffles helps with,” Eli answered, his voice full of love and affection.
Flipping to the next picture, I saw his sister with five other men who stared at her adoringly. “This is her with her pack, and I’ve never seen a group of people more in love.”
“Just wait. We’ll give them a run for their money now that we’re finally all together,” I boasted without thinking how it might sound to my bonded Alphas. I quickly reached out to them, trying to find a way to explain what I meant. “Not that I don’t think our family has been lacking in the love department, we just didn’t know there was more love to add to the mix. Wait, I wasn’t trying to say that the number of people changes the amount of love. Everyone knows love isn’t a finite thing, and there is no limit to how much love a person gives or possesses.”
Zachary lifted a finger to his lips, telling me to stop fucking talking. Instantly, my jaw snapped shut, and I took a deep breath, calming the riot of emotions flowing through me.
“Babe, none of us think you love us any less now that two more people are being added to the family,” Tanner assured me. “That’s like asking if I love Zac less because we added you to the mix. You know I love you both with all my heart, and I have no doubt it will be the same with Lyra.”
I felt a little better about the whole thing, but my attention kept drifting back to the locked door where my angel was hiding. “So… about how long do I have to wait for her to feel like she’s had space? Is now enough? I’m gonna go see.”
Before anyone could stop me, I hurried toward her office. We’d all heard her lock the door, so I peeked in the other office. I gathered it was Eli’s and grinned when I saw a second door. I slowly tested the handle, and when it turned easily, I knew I was in like Flynn.