Chapter 23
Opal
“Absolutely not.” Ken stood at the front of the conference table, gripping the top of the black leather chair. “It’s not possible. I can’t let you leave.”
Mike, the director, and the lawyers representing the show voiced their agreement while Penelope and her mates stood in the corner near the window, watching the proceedings.
The conference room was full today.
Atlas and Dorian hovered protectively, sitting on chairs of either side of me, with their bruises fading and their outer legs pressed against mine.
Every sense in my body was heightened and I kept picking up random feelings throughout the room. The anger. Frustration. Annoyance. Fear.
Focus on them, my wolf panted.
I did. The feel of their strong legs and warmth coming from my mates. The worry I wished they wouldn’t feel. Underlying notes of aggression, but not toward me. Tenderness. The vow they’d made to put aside their differences and help me now.
Good mates. Strong.
My wolf continued to pant.
The heat was riding her hard. And I was white-knuckling it, shoving down the yearning that pounded in my chest. It was a losing battle, but I could fight a while longer. Because I needed to keep my head above water for this.
I refocused on Ken as he ranted about contracts and ratings, getting momentarily distracted when my mates growled at him.
So freaking hot.
I coughed to clear my throat, trying to erase the image my wolf was sending of me dropping to my knees on the floor under the conference table to show Atlas and Dorian my appreciation.
“You knew this was a possibility.” The strength of my own voice shocked me. I didn’t sound like an Omega. Atlas’s and Dorian’s legs pressed harder against mine and I spoke again, “It’s in my medical clause.”
“Yeah, but the odds of you finding your fated mates…” Ken trailed off as he looked to Penelope for support. As a human, he knew less about Omegas than most wolves even did.
“The odds were definitely in her favor,” Penelope said, smiling at the three Alphas surrounding her.
“And are we sure they are fated mates?” Ken redirected his glare our way.
“We’re sure,” Atlas growled at the same time Dorian said, “Without a doubt.”
See? I knew they’d figure it out, she preened.
“And because of that, I’m about two seconds away from going into heat.” Technically, I was already on the edge. A cramp in my lower core reminded me of that fact. “And unless you want this show to get R-Rated, really fast, I suggest you let us go.”
The color drained from Ken’s face as he leaned down to whisper to one of the lawyers. I pretended not to hear him verify the facts. Omegas could take chosen mates if they wanted, but it was more common than not for them to have fated mates thanks to the rarity of our kind.
Maybe I was more Omega than I thought.
“But we spent all that time and effort in getting Opal here.” Ken looked lost as he started to whine. “And Dorian—no offense to Atlas—is the star of the show.”
“None taken,” Atlas grumbled. “We can leave him behind if you want.”
“No.” Dorian’s hand moved to my thigh, gripping it possessively.
“You won’t get paid if you leave,” Ken said, lowering the tone of his voice as if he regretted what he was saying.
“I don’t need your money,” Atlas countered, dropping his hand to my other thigh. “And I’ll take care of Opal’s pay and her nest. Her transportation, too.”
Dorian’s fingers twitched on my leg, but when I looked at his face, his jaw was set. “Where my mate goes, I go.”
I felt my heart swell at their words, glancing back down to their hands resting on my thighs. It didn’t seem like either of them knew the other was touching me, but a current of warmth filled my whole body that had nothing to do with the heat.
They wanted me.
They were trying to be good mates.
“But she’s not your mate. Not yet,” Ken grasped for straws. “You still have to go through mating season, don’t you? Before it can be official. Or are Omegas exempt from that?”
The rising panic in his voice made me feel sorry for him. If it weren’t for the strength of Dorian and Atlas beside me, I might’ve caved.
“Mr. Damar,” Penelope said his name like a kindergarten teacher would to a wayward pup.
“We don’t owe you an explanation of how Omegas behave.
And I’d watch how far you push this. The show is already on thin ice, due in large part to the Omega Administration and the prosecution we leveled for mistreating one of our own last season. ”
I tensed as Atlas and Dorian looked at me.
I’d taken the hush money despite the calls and emails asking if I wanted representation in court, but I didn’t know they’d pursued it any further.
There’s too much talking, my wolf whined.
Dorian and Atlas tightened their grips on my thighs.
A little higher, she urged.
My cheeks burned as I stared straight ahead.
“I wasn’t here last season.” Ken defended himself. “But, like you all, I’m glad justice was served.”
“Justice wasn’t served.” Penelope spoke with such strong emotion that her mates crowded closer to her sides, tense as they moved to protect her from a perceived threat. “And Opal paid the price. We won’t allow something like that to happen again.”
Pride and shame warred within me, but when Dorian leaned closer to my ear to ask, “Omega Administration?” pride won.
“Basically the brains behind every political alliance in the world,” I whispered back, closing my eyes as I inhaled his spicy scent.
Atlas growled. He scooted his chair over another inch and pressed his body as close to me as it could go.
I touched his hand, moving it a little higher on my thigh, and heard his sharp intake of air.
“Hang on, princess,” Atlas spoke so softly it sounded like it was in my head. Which couldn’t be right because we hadn’t sealed the bond yet.
But I was his princess.
And he smelled so good too.
Both their masculine scents surrounded me.
You should take off all your clothes and bathe in it, my wolf urged, growing bolder by the second.
“She keeps looking at me like that, I’m not going to be able to hang on much longer,” Dorian whispered, moving his hand higher too.
Lightening shot through me as my pulse thrummed faster.
“As our medical team has advised, it’ll be too dangerous for her to wait any longer for the inevitable to happen. Opal needs to leave now, and be serviced by her mates,” Penelope’s fervor made my wolf give a little yip.
That’s what I’m talking about.
We’ll make her a thank-you basket later.
Penelope gave me a soft smile as if she knew exactly what I was thinking. I might’ve been ashamed if the pulsing hadn’t intensified in my core.
The shapes of Dorian’s and Atlas’s hands were the most fascinating things I’d ever seen. I stared at them, willing them to touch me more.
“Give us a few days,” Ken begged.
“She’s given you enough.” Atlas growled.
My hero.
Dorian traced his thumb along the inside seam of my pants. “We leave tonight.”
My mates.
“Forty-eight hours.” Ken pushed the leather rolling chair to the side, ready to fall to his knees. “I need time to have them rewrite the script and come up with a big reveal for the viewers. Some kind of shock and awe before you disappear.”
Atlas’s fingers dug into my thigh as Dorian’s thumb traced higher.
My wolf panted as my fangs extended.
Mine.
Dorian’s silent laughter seemed to rumble through me as his desire flared, chasing my own. His lips brushed the shell of my ear as he breathed, “Do it.”
A heartbeat passed. My vision turned into a kaleidoscope, colors blurring and swirling while the heat in me burned hotter, and my wolf took control.
He bared his neck as I sank my teeth into his skin. Hot blood filled my mouth as Dorian swallowed, lacing his fingers through mine.
For a brief moment, everything flashed into a blinding brightness. A sense of wholeness filled my heart, warming me from the inside out.
Atlas went silent, barely breathing. His hurt was a dagger in my back. I pulled my teeth from Dorian’s flesh and pressed a bloodied kiss to his lips before turning to face Atlas.
A nervous hitch constricted my chest.
I hadn’t planned this. If he didn’t want me…
“I’m already yours, princess.” Atlas pulled the collar of his t-shirt down as his hand went to the back of my head, urging me forward.
My fingers were still intertwined with Dorian’s fingers as I bit into Atlas’s skin, tearing flesh.
The cosmos realigned, stars forming and exploding, as my wolf sought full control.
The comedown from the bond trying to snap into place was so intense that tears filled my eyes and I cried out, feeling the hollow emptiness in my core expand and stretch until I was nothing but an aching pile of need.
It wasn’t complete.
But it was a start.
Atlas and Dorian panted, gripping my hands tight within theirs and grounding me for a moment as I forced myself to breathe.
“Um… What just happened?” Ken squeaked.
“I bit them,” I growled with blood drying on my chin. “They’re mine now.”
“I’ve never seen an Omega do that,” one of Penelope’s mates chuckled.
Penelope just smiled. “That’s one way to make an exit.”
I forced myself to stand on shaky legs, clinging to Dorian and Atlas for support. My wolf licked her paws, getting ready for the next round.
“If you’ll excuse us…” My tone was no longer polite. “We’re leaving.”
*
“What’s this?” I asked as Penelope readied another needle.
“Just a sedative to help you get through the night until you reach your destination.” Penelope pushed the drugs into my arm. “I almost didn’t make it to my nest one time.” She smiled over her shoulder at her mates waiting by the door.
“Thank you,” I said. “For everything.”
“Promise you’ll call if you need anything else? We have an Omega settlement right here in Denver and I know they’d love to meet you in person.” Penelope gave my shoulder a squeeze, sending a calming wave of magic in her touch.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. We’d see.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving already.” Clara pulled me away from Penelope as she handed me my bag. “I got all your stuff packed up and let Aspen know what was happening. She expects a call whenever you get done with… that.”
Her eyes widened at the sight of Dorian and Atlas standing in front of the resort, showing off their freshly healing claiming marks for the cameras.
I threw my arms around Clara and squeezed. “Thank you all so much for everything. I’ll find a way to pay you back.”
“Oh… You’re a hugger.” Clara awkwardly patted my arms. “I guess I should’ve seen that coming. But no worries, this was a fun adventure.”
“You know who you can pay back?” Jesse hissed as he put his hand on his hip. “Me? We were going to make magic this season.”
“I know,” Ken grumbled, sharing a heated look with the cheetah shifter. “But it’s time to let them go.” His gaze snagged on Cindy who hurried over to our little impromptu good-bye session.
“You’re leaving?” she asked.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t take all the males.” I swayed a little on my feet, still clinging to Clara for support. Whatever Penelope gave me was working fast.
“Honey, you can have as many as you like.” Cindy pulled me close. “Though I would love the details on how big Atlas is. Call me sometime and we’ll catch up.”
I giggled a little, thinking about how thick Atlas’s hands were. If that was any indication of the size, my wolf was going to be a very happy girl.
I will be when you stop drugging me. She yawned as the scent of spicy pepper and smoke mixed with rich leather and earth cocooned me in their embrace.
“You both smell yummy,” I slurred as the world started to spin. Thankfully, my mates were there to catch me when I fell.