Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Mack
Anger flares through me as I listen to Knight recap what Luna told him earlier.
I hate that we’re the ones who brought this to her. That we’re the reason she might have to deal with her half-brother again.
One thing is clear to me, though.
Fabian Vallejo Perez needs to die.
Not just because he took Stacia from us, and is doing who knows what. But because of the pain he’s caused my scent match.
Hell, even if she wasn’t my scent match, I’d still want to kill him for what he’s done to her.
Now I just have to figure out how to kill him. I’ll add it to the list right underneath getting Stacia free from him.
“I’m going to kill him.”
It seems I’m not the only one who’s pissed, which is surprising.
Ven’s always been considered the hothead—even though my anger runs just as hot. The difference is he’s not nearly as good at hiding it as I am.
“I’m with you on that.” Knight sighs, running a hand through his hair.
“Sitting there listening to her talk about the shit she’s been through?
It was terrible. All I wanted to do was scoop her into my arms and tell her everything was going to be okay.
But how can I say that when we need her to help Stacia?
I told her not to take the case—that we’d leave. ”
A growl escapes me, and my omega laughs.
“I didn’t mean it, Mack. Who do you think you’re talking to?
I’m much too selfish for that. Plus, she refused.
She said she knew what he was capable of and that she couldn’t leave an omega with him.
She sounded so guilty—like it was her fault that he had Stacia.
I didn’t like it. But once she told me the story, she wanted both of us gone. ”
“She’s probably overwhelmed,” I murmur, wondering what we can do to help her with that.
Without giving away the fact that we’re her scent matches.
Because we are.
There’s no denying it for us, but I can understand why she doesn’t want to know.
My inner alpha isn’t a fan of keeping the information from her, but I get it. Plus, I think she already knows. She’s just not ready to admit it.
Something else I can understand—even if I don’t like it.
“So what are we supposed to do?” Ven asks, pacing across the small room.
“She agreed to get to know you. That has to mean something, right?” Knight doesn’t sound convinced of the shit he’s spewing.
Ven shakes his head. “She doesn’t want us.”
“She’s afraid to want us,” I correct him.
“She’s only ever been with one alpha—someone she considers the love of her life.
He was murdered in front of her after she had lost both of her parents.
For thirteen years, she hasn’t considered being with anyone else outside of her heats, and now she has scent matches. She’s overwhelmed.”
“That’s dumb.” Ven scoffs before sighing. “No, it’s not dumb. I’m an asshole.”
Knight snorts. “You’re definitely an asshole, but that’s part of your charm.
I think this is something we’re just going to have to play by ear.
Prescott doesn’t have the same hang-ups and is willing to get to know both of you.
I think he’s excited about being courted by a pack, but he made himself perfectly clear—he goes nowhere without Luna. ”
I nod slowly. “Good. She needs someone in her corner. We’re already bonded, so while it’s easier to accept you because you’re an omega, you’re part of us. Even if Prescott is our scent match, he’s still hers first.”
“For now, at least,” Knight confirms. “I hate asking both of you to wait, but if we push her, I think we’ll lose her.”
“I don’t care how long it takes. You know me. I’m a paragon of patience.” I shoot my omega a wink. “But I want her, so I’ll do whatever she wants me to for as long as she needs me to. I’ll use scent blockers for the rest of my life just to be allowed to be in her orbit.”
Ven gags as he drops to sit beside me on the bed. “For someone who doesn’t talk all that often, you sure do have a way with words.”
“You love it.”
“I hate it and you.”
I shake my head. “No, you don’t. Now, you haven’t said much. How are you doing with all of this?”
“I don’t know what you want me to say. I fucking hate it. It’s not like we asked for another scent match—let alone another omega. The three of us are happy.”
Knight shuffles closer, resting his chin on Ven’s shoulder. “We are. I love you both. You’re enough for me.”
I sigh. “You’re right, Ven. We didn’t ask for this, but neither did she. What do you want? Do you want us to leave and forget she exists?”
A growl slips past his lips, and I bite back a smile.
“No,” he finally answers. “I don’t want to leave either of them. Even if I did, I don’t think I could—which you already know, asshole.”
“Call me all the names you need,” I tell him, holding my hands up. “You’re angry, and I get it. I can take it.”
He sneers. “I hate you.”
“Stop it.” Knight bites into his shoulder. “Mack might be okay with you taking your anger out on him, but I’m not.”
Ven sighs. “I’m sorry, Mack. I just don’t know how to handle this. I thought we were just coming here to find a way to get Stacia free, and now we have new scent matches—one of which would rather pretend we don’t exist than consider we might be her scent matches.”
“It’s not like that, and you know it, Ven.” Knight kisses his cheek. “Stop being an asshole. You know better than most what trauma can do to someone, or do we need to talk about how you got your name?”
“Why do you have to call me out like that, baby boy?” Ven turns his head, pressing a kiss to Knight’s lips. “I think I need to go for a run or something.”
It’s my turn to grimace. “That sounds like hell.”
“Some of us don’t mind running, big guy.” Ven leans over to give me a smacking kiss. “I’d rather run than beat up a punching bag like you.”
I shrug. I like what I like. “Speaking of which, I think I noticed a gym in town. We should check it out tomorrow. If we’re going to be here a while, I’m going to a gym to escape to.”
“Oh!” Knight’s eyes go wide. “I almost forgot to tell you. Luna, Prescott, and I are having dinner at Prescott’s place tomorrow night—no alphas allowed. But I’ll shoot for a group dinner this week.”
“You do that, Knight. But remember—no pushing.”
He shrugs, grinning. “I’ll try my best.”
“And on that note, I’m going to get changed and head out.” Ven pushes to his feet and riffles through his bag until he pulls out some workout clothes.
Knight and I lean back on the bed, watching as he strips down and then redresses. When he spins around to find us watching him, sporting semi-erect dicks, he scoffs and shakes his head.
As soon as he laces up his shoes, he sends us a wave before leaving.
“So what are we going to do, Mack?”
I roll onto my side so I can see my omega. “That’s up to you, omega.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Please tell me it involves both of us naked.”
“Now you’re thinking.” With a chuckle, I lean in to kiss him.
With any luck, we’ll still be going at it when Ven comes back, and we can have him join.