Page 24 of Pack’s Prize
And women.
Alpha, beta, and omega.
I’d found among them my pack: Theo, and Elias, and I had been, in a way, relieved that it hadn’t been an omega that I’d fallen for. That I didn’t have to face the gloating of my grandfather when it had all gone according to his plan.
Now, though…
My grandfather was dead. The last of my family.My family pack,even if those bonds had been severed that day he’d found my friend and I together. The old man hadn’t even given me a chance toapologize, although I knew deep down that I wouldn’t have taken it: I’d only learned of his death through his lawyer.
The same lawyer who informed me that there was a hold-up in the estate’s entail: my grandfather had put a clause in his will stipulating that his inheritor–me–could only take command if he were seeing someone–anomegasomeone. “Mated or courting with the intention to mate.”
He’d intended it as one last parting blow from beyond the grave, I was sure, but he wasn’t the only one who could be spiteful and conniving.
I looked up from my wine to see Ava, radiant and relaxed with a soft smile on her face. She looked so at home here, in the apartment I’d shared with Theo and Elias ever since we’d landed–for good–back in the city. She fit right in–more beautiful than any piece of art, a living sculpture of quiet breath and beating heart and a sweet, small smile that she hadn’t worn at the club, or even at dinner last night.
Tonight–well, Elias and Theo had gone out to the bakery to pick up a loaf for our dinner, but soon, they would return, and we would eat together around the table, and afterwards…
I didn’t know if she would want us, if she wanted to wait, if she was ready, but…
I knew I wanted her. Wanted her quiet breathing to turn ragged with want, her beating heart to thump against my own skin as we lay chest to chest, wanted the sweet smile to turn to the euphoria of pleasure…
My cock twitched, heavy against my thigh.
The omega–Ava–was here, in my home, in my kitchen, drinking my wine, smiling likethat, like shecared. Later–if not tonight then tomorrow or the next day–she’d be in my bed, and then, at some point after that… she’d be gone.
I would have the business, and she–Ava–would be out of our kitchen and our home and our lives once again.
Why did that not seem like the easy trade I had thought it would be?
This had been a much better plan when the omega had been theoretical.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Ava
We lingeredat the table for hours nibbling at the remainder of the food from the most delicious home-cooked meal I hadeverhad and switching from wine to small cups of strong black coffee, decaffeinated, Elias said, so he could sleep, although Theo and Michael ribbed him for it.
They were so comfortable together, and I couldn’t help but compare the three of them to Roman and his pack. Roman had maintained a strict hierarchy, with Roman at the top of course. I had thought that I would be the center, once they inevitably claimed me.
I was only realizing now what my actual location had been, for the three years I’d spent with them: thebottom.
They never talked like this, relaxed and teasing, casually flirting with one another over the lips of their coffee cups like…
Like they loved each other.
That was the difference, wasn’t it? These menlovedeach other. They werein lovewith each other. A bittersweet sadness welled in my chest, taking me unawares.
“I think I’ll go to bed,” I said, blinking rapidly. Elias looked at me. His face was slightly pink and it made his blue eyes appear even bluer.He is so beautiful, I thought, and then my thoughts slipped into darker waters, remembering how beautiful he’d looked last night with Michael, with me, before I’d frozen them all out. The wrench in my heart twisted, but I smiled through the tightness behind my ribcage. “Too much wine, I think.”
Michael nodded. “Tell us if you need anything,” he said, and Theo hummed in agreement as I stood from the table and started to gather my plate and silverware to take to the kitchen.
“Don’t worry about that,” Theo said, lifting his hand to my arm. “You just rest. Let us take care of you.”
My heart fluttered at his words. I nodded, and excused myself, warmth trailing me all the way down the hallway to the guest room.Your room,Michael had called it, ushering me inside earlier, Theo and Elias trailing with the two boxes of essentials I’d brought with me from my apartment, Theo glaring around us at our surroundings the whole time. He had scoffed–scoffed–at my kitchenette, my cheap coffee maker and single set of dishes.
I had to admit my room here was quite an improvement over that apartment: not only was the pack’s guest room bigger than my whole studio, it was filled with warm wooden furniture that I hadn’t assembled myself, with soft sheets on the comfortable bed, and most importantly–
From here, I could just make out the low conversation and laughter of the men in the dining room.