Chapter 103
Chapter One-Hundred-Three
Robin
Being stuck in an elevator with three attractive men would be bad enough.
The fact that I’m already mated to one of them, and I’m fated for the other two, only makes it a million times harder to focus.
I’m not convinced I hit the right button for my floor, and I’m trying to breathe through my mouth, so my lungs don’t fill up with the intoxicating perfume of my future Omega.
Harper’s scent is potently alluring.
It has a taste that’s sweet with a hint of spice. It reminds me of a gingerbread cookie I got to eat one Christmas. That cookie was utterly delicious, but it was also a one-time treat that I never experienced again.
If Harper’s really mine, I’ll get to experience his perfume every day.
This can’t be real.
It’s too damn good.
I glance at him as we ascend.
He’s humming lightly, and when he looks back at me, I see his eyes are a pretty hazel color.
He has gorgeous, thick eyelashes, too.
And a sweet, genuine smile.
The elevator stops, and I stumble slightly, before a strong hand from behind rights me.
Jay, again. The muscular Beta seems to have cat-like reflexes.
He looks calmer than he did earlier, but he still has an imposing presence.
I’m guessing he’s used to being a protector.
It makes sense, considering they have an Omega in their pack.
From all the movies I’ve seen, most Omegas have to pretend to be Betas to live out in the world.
Unless they’re rich, famous people who can afford a lot of security, it’s just safer to pretend you’re not a rare designation.
Even so, Omegas are still found by men who want to hurt them.
Again, I feel lucky that I was born a Beta.
Being special looks more like a curse than a blessing from where I’m standing.
The elevator doors open and I realize I did press the right button.
I step off, making sure to keep steady.
It’s not far to my suite.
I can make it without tripping over my feet, as long as I don’t let myself get distracted by Harper’s perfume.
Breathe through your mouth, Robin.
I avoid the urge to check if it’s still as strong as it was and keep moving forward.
Harper is right behind me, humming some unfamiliar tune under his breath.
When I glance back, I see Jay and Shayne behind him, walking with their bags.
It hits me then that I’m literally about to move in with these men.
They’re coming to stay in my one-bedroom suite.
We’re going to become a complete pack.
I take a step past my door, and I have to correct myself.
Too distracted to read numbers. They’re going to think you’re a ditz.
Harper’s chest bumps my shoulder as he stops walking.
“Sorry,” I murmur. “This is our stop.”
“Oh, cool,” he enthuses. “We’re in the middle.”
“Yeah,” I confirm.
The number on the door matches the number on my keys, but I’ve been remembering where I live because I’m in the middle room, on this floor.
Numbers can flip around when I’m tired.
The middle doesn’t change.
I unlock the door and let us into the suite.
“Nice!” Harper exclaims, walking over to the table as I stand by the door to hold it open.
Shayne smiles at me as he follows. “We’ll put the bags in the closet for now, if that’s okay?”
“Sure,” I tell him, wondering idly if the bed’s big enough for all of us.
It’s big, sure, but for three big men, a woman and a slim male Omega?
I’m not convinced it’ll be stable enough, but I guess we’ll find out.
Jay follows Shayne inside and they disappear into the bedroom.
I close the door, shoving the keys in the lock but not locking it.
Harper turns to me. “Where should I put this?”
He’s talking about his violin.
I chew on my bottom lip as I look around. “Uh, anywhere you want. There might be a proper place for it inside the closet, but if you’d rather it was out where you can pick it up whenever, maybe the coffee table?”
He nods slowly. “I haven’t played in days, but walking into that amazing reception area today, I knew I had to.”
“What made you pick that song?” I ask.
“Freebird? Oh, that’s one of Jay’s favorites since he was a kid. I learned it for him. It just … it felt like the right choice. What makes you ask?”
“It was … I don’t have many memories of my mother, but she used to sing me that song.”
“Huh. That’s so strange. Jay’s father used to whistle it a lot. He wasn’t super close with his parents but something about it always stuck with him.”
“Then, I guess we have something in common.”
“Sounds like a fated coincidence,” Harper says, reminding me of a trope I’ve seen used in my favorite movies, time and time again.
If I needed another sign that this pack was meant for me, this would be it.
Kind of funny that it happened after I’d already decided they were going to be mine.
I smile at Harper. “You played it well.”
“Thanks,” he says, grinning a little. “I have a good range. Do you have any hidden talents?”
“Talents?” I laugh. “I don’t think so.”
“Everyone has talents,” he tells me. “We just need to figure out what yours are, that’s all.”
“I think you might be disappointed.”
He smiles, and his hazel eyes light right up. “Oh, no. There’s no way you could disappoint me.”
Oh my God, I can smell his perfume again, and it’s so incredible my mouth is starting to water!
You dumb ass, you closed your mouth. Stop breathing through your nose!
I can’t force myself to obey. He smells too good, standing this close to me.
I want to inhale deeply and hold the scent inside me, to capture it.
My face warms as I fight off that sudden urge.
“Are you feeling okay?” Harper asks, his voice lowering. “You know, after earlier …”
“Oh. Um, I’m fine,” I manage.
He presses his lips together and then his pretty eyes widen.
“You’re not used to an Omega’s perfume! I’m so sorry.”
He takes a few steps back, putting some space between us.
It doesn’t make his scent fade one little bit.
I try to switch back to breathing through my mouth, but everything inside me fights the urge.
“It’s okay,” I blurt. “You don’t need to back away from me.”
I look up as Jay steps back into the room.
He’s no longer wearing a jacket so now I can see his arms are covered in tattoos, and his dark blue T-shirt shows how muscular his body is. I’ve already felt it, and seeing him like this now, I only want to feel more of him.
“My perfume,” Harper explains, when Jay raises an eyebrow at us.
Jay walks toward me and tilts my head up to look in my eyes.
“It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced, right?” he murmurs.
I gaze into his dark eyes, and I know I want him.
“Everything about this is new to me,” I admit.
Feeling such desperate desire for men I barely know should make me nervous, but every part of me wants to be with them. There’s a feverish urgency to that feeling that I know is linked to already having claimed their Alphas.
“Your marks,” Jay says, moving my head to gaze at my throat. “They’re still fresh, and they’re going to feel incomplete, until you have a matching set under them.”
He flashes me his fangs, and I can’t help but whimper, not in fear, but in need.
“This is what being around an unclaimed mate does to me. I can control it. Don’t worry about that. I’ve had plenty of practice.”
He shows his teeth again, and they’re no longer sharp.
The disappointment that fills me is crushing.
“You’re safe,” he says. “Until you’re really ready. Which won’t be until I know you’re not being affected by Harper’s perfume.”
A moan escapes my lips. His eyes widen, but he doesn’t do anything more.
His fingers let my chin drop. I suck in a breath as I try to pull myself together.
Harper’s leaning against the kitchen counter when I look past Jay.
He looks as desperate as I feel, his gaze unfocused and needy.
He’s probably feeling my desire.
I wish I could control it, but just being around them now is making my body hot and ready for things I only started to experience with Falcon and Shayne over the last two days.
Jay might be well practiced at pushing his fangs back, but I don’t know how to do the same.
Shayne walks out of the bedroom as Jay turns to check on their Omega.
“Sorry, that was Falcon calling the room. He could use my help for a bit.”
“The phone was ringing?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.
I didn’t hear it, but I guess I was more than a little bit distracted.
Shayne nods, and moves toward me, stopping in front of me before he starts to explain.
“It only rang once. I was right next to the phone, so I picked it up on reflex.” He shrugs. “Both of our cell phones are out of battery. I guess Falcon felt it was the only way to reach us without actually coming up here.”
“And he needs your help?” I ask, wondering why.
Lana let Shayne drop his training to spend time with me.
Couldn’t she let Falcon do the same?
It seems kind of weird.
Almost like she still doesn’t like him.
I really hope that’s not true.
Shayne runs a hand through his dark hair. “It sounds like Owen doesn’t want to take more security staff away from their stations, but they could use an extra pair of hands to get the trench finished for the new fence. It’ll be finished sooner if I go help.”
“We could all go,” Jay suggests, turning from Harper to face me.
Shayne turns. “You should stay here with Harper and Robin. It’s not secure outside until that second fence is installed. The academy wouldn’t take that chance, and we won’t either.”
Damn. It would have been nice to have a walk around outside.
Jay frowns. “It would be finished even faster if you had more help.”
“Not if Harper and Robin were outside, where it’s not as secure right now.”
They stare at each other for a few seconds, before Jay lets out a huff.
“Fine,” he says. “We’ll stay here.”
Oh, he really isn’t happy about that.
I feel a little nervous now.
Shayne reaches for my hand.
I let him take it in his, and he gives me a wry smile as he leans in.
“He’s not half as scary as he looks.”
The mock whisper is definitely loud enough for Jay to hear.
I glance over and see him shaking his head before he turns back to speak to Harper.
Looking back at Shayne, I know this would be one of those times I should speak up if I’m not cool with what’s happening.
If I asked him to stay, he would.
But then Jay might think I’m afraid of him.
I’m not scared to be left in this suite with Jay.
He felt safe when he caught me in his arms.
No matter how big he is, or how mad he gets, I don’t think I could ever feel frightened by him.
The only thing that scares me is how much I want to please him.
The worry that he’d rather be with his other mates than here in this room with me is what’s bringing my anxiousness out. But Shayne doesn’t have to know about that. It’s not his problem. It’s mine.
I clear my throat. “I’ll miss you until you’re back. Falcon, too.”
“I’ll make sure I tell him,” Shayne promises. “I’ll miss you, Robin.”
He leans in and presses his lips to mine, making his kiss brief and murmuring in a low voice, “If you need me to stay, just say the word.”
It’s sweet that he feels the need to make sure, but I smile back at him.
“The sooner you’re done with that fence, the sooner I can go back outside. Right?”
He laughs. “Well, you’re right, that is true.”
“I’m okay,” I reassure him quietly. “I’d like to get to know Jay and Harper. This will give me a chance to do that.”
“Okay,” he says, blowing out a breath before he grins back at me. “Then, I’ll see you tonight.”
He moves in close and kisses me again, this time with his usual slow precision.
I put my free arm up to stroke the side of his throat, where he let me mark his skin.
He moans softly against my lips.
I know it’s a sensitive spot for him now, and I don’t intend to overuse it, but I touch him there now to remind myself he’s my mate, and he let me mark him in that visible place without thinking twice about it.
I trust him, and he trusts me.
I move my hand down to his chest, gripping the front of his shirt.
He breaks our kiss, breathless, and rests his forehead against mine.
“Tonight,” he murmurs.
“Tonight,” I agree, not wanting to let him go, but knowing it’s time.
He moves back, eyes dark and a little unfocused. “Okay. I’ll see everyone in a while. Call reception if you need me. I can be back up here in less than ten.”
“We won’t need to call,” Jay tells him, opening the door and holding it open.
“I miss you already,” Harper murmurs as his Alpha stops and puts a hand on his waist.
I watch Shayne kiss his Omega goodbye, and my face starts to warm.
I didn’t think I was into watching, but I didn’t anticipate becoming part of a pack.
These men are already mated to each other.
I knew that in theory, but now I know seeing it in practice will be a whole new thing.
As if I wasn’t already feeling hot and flustered, I get to watch Shayne leave Harper staring after him intensely, as another burst of his deliciously sweet and spicy scent fills the air.
Jay closes the door, and I take in a deep breath.
I have a feeling today is going to test me.
Whether or not I have two new mates claimed by the end of it, I guess I’ll have to wait and see.