KNOT

LETTING

GO

A Knotty Streak

Omegaverse Novel

Alora James

Knot Letting Go (A Knotty Streak Omegaverse Novel)

Alora James | 1st edition | Copyright 2025

Kindle Edition

All rights reserved. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

No generative artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the writing of this work. The author expressly prohibits any entity from using this publication to train AI technologies to generate text, including, without limitation, technologies capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this publication.

Summary: She refuses to be the reason why there is hostility between the brothers, but they’re not letting this sweet Omega slip away from them without a fight.

Aubrielle Smyth is the only one of her peers who wants to find a good job and make her way in a world where Omegas are greatly restricted. When her best friend helps her get a job as a nanny, Aubrielle is ecstatic to have the opportunity, but her enthusiasm is shattered when her hot Alpha employer triggers her heat. To top it off, his gorgeous brother is compatible with her as well.

Konstantin and Quillon Birk have recently developed a close bond after the death of their father. Working together, they want to erase the damage done to the family name and gain back the world’s respect. Yet when the beautiful new nanny comes to live in the manor, she is more than just a momentary distraction. Each brother wants to make her his mate, but will their intense desire to not let her go bring her into their arms or chase her away forever?

Knot Letting Go is a sweet standalone Omegaverse romance without shifters. It has sweet and super steamy scenes meant for readers who are 18+.

Cover design: Morena Silver

Cover image photo: Vladimir Vasiliev on Pexels

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE – Aubrielle

CHAPTER TWO - Konstantin

CHAPTER THREE - Aubrielle

CHAPTER FOUR - Quill

CHAPTER FIVE – Aubrielle

CHAPTER SIX - Konstantin

CHAPTER SEVEN - Aubrielle

CHAPTER EIGHT – Quill

CHAPTER NINE - Aubrielle

CHAPTER TEN - Konstantin

CHAPTER ELEVEN - Quill

CHAPTER TWELVE – Aubrielle

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Aubrielle

CHAPTER FOURTEEN – Konstantin

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Aubrielle

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Konstantin

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – Aubrielle

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Quill

CHAPTER NINETEEN - Aubrielle

CHAPTER TWENTY - Konstantin

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Aubrielle

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - Quill

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Aubrielle

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - Aubrielle

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - Konstantin

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - Aubrielle

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - Quill

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - Aubrielle

EPILOGUE - Aubrielle

ALSO FROM ALORA JAMES

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE – Aubrielle

Weddings usually make me cry. And this was my best friend’s wedding. Callista looked radiant in her dress inlaid with diamonds, and her three Alphas were enchanted by her. Not once did they take their eyes off her. After they made their vows to Callista, each man took a turn holding their infant daughter and gave their fatherly promises to Isabella. I should have been bawling.

But my eyes were dry.

Guilt chewed at my insides. Not only had Callista found her mates, but so had Nicolette and Kienna. I should want to dance all night at the reception and celebrate with tears of joy. Yet when Nicolette congratulated me on not ruining my makeup by crying, I wanted to bury my head in the sand.

I left the reception in the beautifully decorated ballroom of the Birk family manor and escaped outside into the night. The warm summer air was laced with a salty sea smell. I turned toward the breeze as I headed to the gazebo overlooking the water earlier, but glimpsing two strange men standing inside of it, I stopped. Their low voices carried to me, speaking another language, and none of it sounded like happy talk.

There were several people I didn’t know at the wedding, and I wasn’t in the mood for company, especially if they might be Alphas. By the height of one and the way his muscles stretched his suit jacket, I bet he might be. So instead, I followed the scent of blossoms to the garden and breathed in deeply. The sweet nectar, green leaves, and rich soil. Like home.

In our group of four friends, I was the only one not from the coast. I grew up in Kansas, and later my father moved us to eastern Oregon. Beaches and bikinis were things for characters in movies. Long skirts, wide brim hats, and sunny gardens were my reality.

Sadness tugged at the corners of my soul at the thought. My mom and I spent hours in the garden. Since she passed away almost two years ago, I was left to tend the garden at home by myself. I swallowed a thick lump in my throat. I was a horrible friend to even entertain my grief on my best friend’s wedding day.

Fairy lights lit the winding pathways through the various plots. Reds, oranges, and yellows were silver tinged by the moon. It was like a fairy tale scene. Maybe if I looked up to the sky and made a wish on a falling star, my fairy godmother would fly down and grant all my wishes.

“There you are!”

The voice startled me, and I let out a small yelp before covering my mouth. God, I was so jumpy. I hated that I was so easy to scare.

Kienna laughed and skipped towards me. Her bare feet made quiet slapping sounds on the stone walkway. “Please tell me you aren’t out here because you drank too much and are about to vomit in the garden.”

I’d barely had a glass of wine. “No. I came out because I was having a secret rendezvous with a man in the garden.” I teased and giggled at her briefly shocked expression. Too bad it didn’t last more than a second. She knew me better than that. “I just needed some fresh air.”

“God, me too. So many stuffy folks in there.” Kienna sighed, looped her arm through mine, and turned to shout over her shoulder, “She’s over here!”

Callista and Nicolette strolled around the bend, smiling widely at us. Beneath the lights, Callista’s dress sparkled as if it were something magical. Her dark hair was lifted up off her neck and jeweled pins arranged like a princess’ crown held it in place. The gems were three colors to match each of our bride’s maids’ dresses.

Nicolette looked otherworldly in sapphire. The red of her hair flared against the rich shade of blue and made her eyes gleam as if they were jewels themselves.

Kienna had chosen ruby, and dyed her hair a pale blonde with crimson tips. Her bright red lipstick was nearly worn off. With five amorous mates, it was a wonder she had any left on her lips at all.

I’d been given emerald. The silk of my dress rippled and almost seemed black in parts under the night sky. The spaghetti straps left my shoulders bare and the knotted stitching in the middle hugged my waistline. It was the most gorgeous piece of clothing I’d ever owned. My heart grew heavy again as I wished my mom could see me in it.

Don’t give in to your grief, Aubrie. It was Callista’s day. The focus should be on her.

“What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be inside with your guests?” There were nearly two hundred and fifty people at the reception. I’d trembled on my heels when I walked down the aisle at the beginning of the ceremony with all those eyes on me.

“I needed a break. I’ve forgotten what big parties are like. It’s so quiet out on the island.” Callista slipped off her shoes and stretched out her toes. “My feet still feel swollen from being pregnant.”

“Don’t I know it.” Nicolette was wearing flats, but toed them off too. She just had her twins last week, and no matter the insistence of her overprotective mates, she had been determined to come to the wedding. “You know,” she lifted her head, smiling. “I don’t think we’ve gotten a moment alone with just the four of us since we got here. I miss you guys so much.”

We all slipped our arms around each other and hugged in a tight circle. Some of my anxiety eased. “I miss you all too.”

I did. So much. I hadn’t realized I relied so much on my friends until we graduated and I went back home to my empty house. My father was still around, and he managed to get back some nights in time for dinner, but it was mostly just me, our cats, and the memories of my mother.

“After our honeymoon, you all need to come to the island and stay awhile.” Callista leaned her head on Kienna’s shoulder. My heart leapt at the thought. The four of us together again would be fantastic.

“I’ll be in Ireland and then the training season starts.” Kienna pouted. “Maybe I can sneak away for a weekend.”

“I’m stuck at home this year. Between this being the guys’ busiest season, my dance school, and the twins, I don’t have time to sleep.” Nicolette didn’t look like an exhausted new mom. She was as gorgeous as ever, more so at the mention of her mates and babies. “Yet when the winter comes, I will happily book a girls’ getaway to the Caribbean, and we can sleep for a week straight.”

Everyone laughed, but I didn’t feel it. I desperately wanted us to have time together, to have all that positive energy around me. To feel alive instead of lost to the past.

Yet it was as if I were on the outside of an exclusive club. I didn’t have a mate or even the prospect of one. Being an Omega, my father made sure I stayed at home for my own safety. While I’ve busied myself with online college classes for early childhood education and trying unsuccessfully to find a job appropriate for my unclaimed status, the only time I saw anyone socially other than him and the housekeeper was when I was with my friends.

There was a series of soft clicking noises, and we turned together to find Tiergan—one of Kienna’s mates—snapping several pictures. Another one of the hockey players, Alderic, stood behind him with a wide grin.

“Perverts.” Kienna stuck her tongue out at them and giggled. “Did you follow me out here for a private show? Hoping to catch us having a romp in the garden?”

Kienna leaned in and made kissy sounds at Nicolette who did the same back.

“Oh yeah!” Tiergan drew closer, constantly clicking the shutter button. His tie hung loose around his neck and was the color of Kienna’s dress. All of her mates matched their ties to her bright ruby outfit.

“Beautiful ladies. Every single one of you.” Alderic clapped his hands. I blushed as my friends hammed it up for the camera.

“Nic baby, there you are!” Kodiak’s deep voice boomed from the opposite direction. He came around a nearby fountain with a squirming infant in his arms. Behind him, Silas had a baby propped up on his shoulder and patted his back. “The cubs are getting hungry.”

Nicolette hurried along the path to meet them halfway. She tenderly took her son from her mate, and along with her words, her expression was soft. “Again? They eat more than a real bear preparing for the winter.”

“That’s because they’re going to grow up to be the biggest, strongest Alphas ever.” Silas cooed at the other twin who let out a gurgle and reached a hand out toward Nicolette. Adorable.

Giving us an apologetic smile, Nicolette cradled her son. “Sorry I have to cut the girly fun short. One little cry from these babies and my boobs start hurting.”

Kodiak leaned in and whispered something along the lines that he could help with that, and got poked for it. It didn’t diminish his grin. Nicolette smirked, and heat flooded my face again. They were all so flirty with their mates, and I couldn’t even imagine how to do that.

“Callista.” Levi called out his bride’s name and jogged over to us. “Everyone’s looking for you, darling.”

Callista kissed him and bent over to put her heels back on. “I guess we’re heading back to the reception. We’re leaving at six in the morning to catch our flight, Nic. Make sure you come down to say good-bye.”

“Alright!” Nicolette waved and let her Alphas escort her back the way they came. Each of us bride’s maids were given a room in the manor for the weekend. “Good night, everyone!”

We all said our good nights, and Callista, on the arm of her handsome Alpha in a tailored tuxedo, led the way back to the ballroom. Tiergan slung an arm around Kienna who whispered something I could only assume was naughty by the low growl in his chest.

“May I do the honor of escorting you?” Alderic held his crooked arm out to me.

I nodded and quietly thanked him. Of all of Kienna’s mates, he was the sweetest. His traditional tuxedo and French-Canadian accent made him seem like a foreign prince. He was also the only one of her mates that I’d actually let touch me since he was a Beta. While I didn’t doubt her Alphas’ loyalty to her, I still couldn’t bring myself to let any Alpha touch me just in case we were compatible. While compatibility could be determined from scents as well, I was always extra careful because I wanted to make certain I liked an Alpha first before I was ready to know if we were compatible. I didn’t want the fact we were biologically suited to each to dictate to an Alpha he had to make me his mate.

Yet I never had a chance to meet a single Alpha, or even a Beta for that matter. While I was at home alone a lot and could go out, the times I had done so could be counted on one hand, and those were just to the supermarket or greenhouse. 

Kienna always teased me for being stickler for the rules, but the thought of breaking any Omega law sent a wave of panic through me. When my friends would sneak out to go to parties while we were at St. Anne’s School for Girls, I would stay by myself and watch matchmaking and wedding shows until they got back. I could only sleep once I knew they were safe.

“Are you having a good time tonight?” Alderic asked.

“The ceremony was beautiful. Everything was perfect.”

“It was. But are you having fun?” He gave my hand a small squeeze, but I couldn’t be thankful for the gesture. My emotions had been all over this weekend, and tonight I had gone numb when I’d expected happy tears.

Alderic had an aura of comfort, and I wanted to spill out everything to him. Yet I was keenly aware he was Kienna’s mate, and I didn’t want to step over a line, even though I just wanted a shoulder to lean on.

“It’s been really nice seeing my friends. I miss them.” That was the truth. He didn’t need to know any of my other rambling thoughts.

“Kienna misses you all too. She loves telling stories about your days at school. All her crazy stories.” Alderic chuckled. I smirked wondering how many of the tales she had told them. “She hasn’t mentioned any of your mischief, which makes me wonder if you have the wildest stories of them all.”

My eyes widened. I had no stories. None. The few times Kienna managed to get me to come to a party with her, I huddled in a corner and could barely say a word. Wild for me was if I went outside on a cloudless day without any sunblock.

We entered through the French doors of a sunroom, and everyone stopped walking when a man shouted from a room to the left.

“You had one job and you failed to do it.” His voice trembled with fury and my body tightened. I sucked in a breath, flinching from the anger. “All you had to do was watch Lillianna.”

“But sir—”

The woman was cut off by a snarl from the man. “No. You’re fired. Pack your stuff and leave right now.”

Lillianna was Callista’s niece, the only daughter of her eldest brother Konstantin. The child was the flower girl for the wedding. She was absolutely precious with her big brown curls, long-lashed dark eyes, and dimpled smile. Lillianna got ready with us before the wedding, and I did her hair up like Callista’s.

As for Callista’s brothers, I’d only seen them twice before the wedding. Once at the rehearsal and then at the engagement celebration dinner. Konstantin and Quillon had both lived overseas for several years before their father died. Once he was gone, they returned to take over the business and moved into the manor.

“Is everything alright?” Callista turned with Levi by her side to address her brother.

I came to a stop behind my friend and peered over her shoulder into the small tearoom. Konstantin’s chest heaved with his outburst and his dark eyes blazed. I’d seen pictures of him before we’d met and always thought he was handsome, but in person, he was like a model who had just stepped out of a fashion magazine. My gaze drifted along his wide shoulders, his trim athletic build, and his long legs that had him standing at nearly six foot two. His black hair was slicked back from his face highlighting his exquisite jaw and cheekbones.

Anger radiated off him and made my stomach twist, but I found it impossible to look away.

“No,” he snapped. His hands clenched into fists. “Paula wasn’t watching Lillianna and she got into your dressing room. Your makeup… the mess…”

Lillianna peeked out from behind one of the ornate chairs. She had tried to put makeup on, but she layered on too thick and smudged it everywhere. There were streaks on her pretty white dress, and her hair had come out on one side. Tears glimmered in her eyes as she looked up at her father.

Poor girl. What she needed was a hug and not her father yelling at the nanny.

Callista attempted a smile and waved her hand. “It’s not a big deal. I don’t care—”

“It is. She was supposed to be with Lillianna. Always.” Konstantin straightened his suit jacket as his jaw worked back and forth. He peered back at Callista, Levi, and the rest of us. His gaze lingered on me for a second longer than the others. “What are you all doing here?”

“We were getting some air.” Callista didn’t wilt before her brother’s temper. She held up her chin and stepped forward, holding out her hand to her niece. “Come on, Lillianna. Let’s go get you cleaned up.”

“I will take care of her. Your guests will be looking for you.” Konstantin took his daughter’s hand and gestured for us to head back to the ballroom.

Callista seemed to want to argue with him, but with a nudge from Levi, she sighed and nodded. “Alright.”

I bit the side of my tongue. Everything in me wanted to rush in there and scoop up Lillianna, ferrying her away from the scary scene. But it wasn’t my place.

Everyone turned and headed back through the sunroom to the interior of the manor. I glanced back over my shoulder to see Konstantin pick up the child who covered her face with her hands as she started to cry. He gently pressed her head against his shoulder and said nothing as makeup smudged on his jacket. He kissed her forehead as he walked away.

He’d gone from being a terrifying monster to a gentle beast in a matter of seconds. It was the only thing all day that had made me want to cry.

CHAPTER TWO - Konstantin

Five-thirty in the morning, and this fucking screen was burning holes in my eyes. Yet there was always business to do and now a replacement nanny needed to be found. I'd been sure that Paula was right for Lillianna when I hired her, but I’d been blind to the fact that the woman just wanted a way to meet a wealthy husband. She’d been flirting with an international banker when I’d noticed my daughter was missing from the reception.

I was more angry at myself than Paula. I’d been entertaining a few important guests, healing wounds my father had made, and should have been celebrating with my family. Lillianna should have been by my side smiling and laughing, instead of crying behind a chair.

When my wife passed away, Lillianna was two, and I’d promised myself to be more of a present father. There was a short period of time in Italy where I did so. They were the happiest months of my life. Yet when the Birk family business fell on the shoulders of my brother Quillon and I, I quickly lost myself to work again.

The door to my office swung open. Speak of the devil.

Quill strode over and leaned on the back of the chair in front of my desk. He wore a silk robe, and it seemed only the robe. “Hey. Calli’s getting ready to leave in a few.”

I rubbed my eyes. My sister was younger than me by ten years, and the two of us had never really gotten a chance to know one another. She was just slightly less than a stranger to me. Quill was between us in age and got along with her well, but it seemed one day I had a baby sister and the next she was getting married with a daughter of her own.

Lillianna adored her aunt, and I was glad we lived close to them now for her sake, but I couldn’t get over the feeling that interactions with my sister were like dealing with a business partner. Family was a difficult concept for me. “Are they in the front foyer?”

“All the luggage is being brought down and loaded.” Quill nodded. He yawned and stretched, eyeing the liquor cabinet.

“Alright.” I stood and shook my head. While he must be thinking of having a drink, I knew he wouldn’t. He’d been dry for over a year now. A fact I was thankful for since he’d been running himself into the ground in Europe. “Are you going to put on any clothes?”

“I’m wearing clothes.” He huffed and motioned to his robe. Then he gave me a skeptical look. “What sane person puts on a suit at this hour of the morning?”

Me. I rarely left my room without wearing one these days. I rolled my eyes and exited my office, heading down to the front of the house which was buzzing with activity.

Several servants were rushing back and forth carrying suitcases and bags and bringing them out front to awaiting cars. My sister, our mother, and her friends were chatting, hugging, and kissing babies. I let the women have a moment and went instead to my new brother-in-laws.

Talis was the first to shake my hand. Of Callista’s three mates, he was the one I connected to the most. “Thanks for having the wedding here. Everything was perfect down to the last detail.”

“You have Callista to thank for that. I was just part of the scenery.”

“You’re more than that.” Evander smiled and nodded as he took my hand next. “You and Quill are our brothers now too. Anything either of you need, just ask. We’re family.”

Family. So many times over the past few weeks, I have had to face that idea. Family to me had always been manipulative, self-centered, and even dangerous. My wife’s family had ties to the mafia and were no better than my father. In fact, they’d done business together, and I was still trying to sever all ties not only our businesses but our family had to them, but they were resisting. They arranged for me to marry Giovanna, Lillianna’s mother. While Giovanna was an Omega, we weren’t compatible, but for the sake of family, we married. It was family that had gotten her killed. Giovanna, her mother, and sisters were all gunned down by her father’s rivals in reprisal for some ridiculous slight. I was only thankful Lillianna had not been there that day.

“Of course we’re family.” Quill grinned as he stepped in to hug both of the other Alphas. “You’re welcome here anytime. God knows that I need some brothers to party with while stuck in the house with an uptight boss.”

I clenched my jaw. That was Quill’s way, to make a joke of things. We were equal partners, and he knew it.

“Once we’re back from the honeymoon, we hope to see a lot of you. Family barbecues every weekend.” Levi joined the group, shaking my hand and accepting a hug from Quill. “We want to see lots of our adorable flower girl. Is Lilli coming down to say good-bye this morning?”

“Lillianna is still sleeping. She was up late last night and it’s best if she sleeps in today.” I also didn’t want my daughter upset thinking that her aunt, cousin, and new uncles were leaving. She worried too much for a five-year-old about people going away and never coming back.

Quill continued to talk with them as I moved on to say my good-byes to the mates of Callista’s friends. Despite the fact I knew Kienna could be trouble, they had all been respectful. Even my cousin had been well behaved, or, as more likely was the case, I didn’t know what mischief she had caused yet.

I finally made my way toward the women and stood patiently until Callista came to me. “Thank you so much, Kon. I had my dream wedding, and I’m so glad you were a part of it.”

“I’m happy it went well.” I tried not to stiffen when she hugged me. “Do you have everything you need? If you’ve forgotten anything and need it for your trip, just let us know.”

“Always the quintessential host.” She smiled. “We’ll have to get together soon after we get back.”

“Quill and your mates are already making plans for weekly barbecues.”

Callista laughed. “Always with the barbecues. Those guys know what they like.” Her expression grew more sincere. “I meant you and I. I want to get to know my oldest brother.”

“Of course. We’ll schedule something.” Part of me was pleased she wanted to spend time with me, but my internal defenses went up at the same time.

Our mother approached with Isabella in her arms. The baby cooed and reached for Callista who took her from her grandmother. “Say good-bye to your uncle Konstantin, sweetie.”

I leaned in and kissed my niece’s soft head. She looked so much like Lillianna when she was a baby. The Birk family genes ran strong in our family. She grabbed my collar and made a sound like a chirp. “Good-bye, Isabella. Have a safe journey and let your mother get some sleep.”

“I can’t believe this little angel seems to like you more than me.” Quill pushed in and nabbed the baby away from Callista. He covered her face with kisses but only got spit up on for his effort.

As Callista and Quill laughed, trying to clean him up, our mother patted me on my arm. “I’m going to head out too. I wasn’t expecting to get up so early, but all the activity woke me. I’m not used to the manor being so full of life.”

None of us were. I would be happy when all the guests went home and the quiet returned. My mother lived in the family townhouse in Seattle, preferring city life to the more subdued existence on the estate.

“It was good to see you, Mom.” It was strange to see her free from my father’s cruel reign. She’d always disappeared into his shadow, and I don’t remember her being a part of my life growing up except as his mouthpiece when he wasn’t there. Mom had changed since his death and seemed to get along well with Callista, and more so, she had enthusiastically taken on the role as grandmother. My internal heels dug in, not trusting any of it, even though I knew I should give her a chance. She was a victim of his machinations as much as the rest of us.

“We should get together sometime…”

My mother’s voice trailed off as Quill swept in and hugged her so hard, he lifted her off her feet. “Mama! You’re going back to the city already? We’re still on for Andaluca on Tuesday, right? It’s been years since I’ve been to the restaurant.”

I left them to chat, their conversation fading behind me as I moved to say farewell to Callista’s friends. Particularly to her one friend. Every one of my senses was suddenly hyper aware of the only unclaimed Omega in the group.

Fuck, Aubrielle was beautiful. Her dark honey blonde hair hung loose this morning framing her heart shaped face. I wanted to comb my fingers through it, grab a handful, and yank her hard against me.

I was jerked out of my trance by my cousin.

“It was a fantastic party, cuz.” Kienna grinned and handed an infant back to her redheaded friend. She then threw her arms around my torso and squeezed me. I tried not to flinch. “You’ve got to come to Winnipeg some time, and I’ll show you a Canadian camel.”

A what? It sounded dirty. I lightly patted her back. “It was good to see you too, Kienna.”

“I’d hug you, too, but you know.” Nicolette smiled and nodded toward the baby. “Thank you for having us in your home.”

“You’re welcome. I’m just happy that Callista’s wedding day went so well.” My gaze slid back to the final bride’s maid. Aubrielle.

She stared everywhere but at me. Her eyes fluttered and her breathing quickened. Aubrielle had been the quietest in the group of friends, and I’d only heard a few words from her, but that angelic voice was divine. Soft, sweet, and incredibly feminine.

“Oh!” Callista hurried back to her friends and stepped in between Aubrielle and I. I almost growled at her until she slipped an arm around her friend and tugged her forward. “Kon, I have the solution to your nanny problem. Aubrielle is looking for a job, and she’s fantastic with kids.”

Aubrielle’s face flushed crimson as her mouth formed a surprised ‘o.’

Kienna jumped on board too, nodding vigorously. “Yes! Aubrie is perfect. She and Lilli already became friends. Plus she’s finishing off her early childhood education degree. I know you’ll want to see her resumé, and we’re her references.”

“She’s ideal. She’s young, so she has the energy to keep up with a child, and she’s an Omega. It’s important for Omegas to have other supportive Omegas around,” Nicolette added, bouncing her baby who started to fuss.

Aubrielle. As my daughter’s nanny. Having such a delicious Omega in my home… No, she’d be a distraction.

When I didn’t reply immediately, Aubrielle bowed her head and nudged my sister. “Please, you don’t have to do this. It’s not proper. I can find a job myself.”

Not proper. Holy hell. A hundred not proper thoughts zipped through my head.

“You’ve been looking for over a year now. This is perfect for you.” Kienna bobbed enthusiastically with her words.

“Plus, I admit, it’s a bit selfish of me, but I want you near me. Being a new mom is terrifying at times. Knowing you’re close and you can help me, I would be so grateful.” Callista held Aurbrielle’s hand in hers as Isabella gazed up at them both. She looked at me. “Aubrielle is incredibly reliable. She has been the truest friend over the years.”

While Aubrielle had been protesting before, she now hesitated and glanced my way. Those gorgeous eyes. I could lose myself in them, drowning in their shimmering depths. If she lived in my house… I had to concentrate on righting my father’s wrongs. There was so much work to do. I had to rebuild the family company and make it a legacy for Lilianna. Securing a future for my daughter was my number one priority…

And if that was the case, having a qualified nanny was vital to Lillianna’s well-being as well.

“Can you start immediately?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

All the girls stopped and turned to look at me as if I hadn’t even been part of the conversation. A big smile bloomed on Callista’s face and Kienna let out a joyful squeal. The noise made Nicolette’s infant start wailing and one of her mates hurried over to help her with him.

Aubrielle stood, frozen like a Renaissance statue of a goddess. When Callista and Kienna hugged her, she glanced at each of them. Only then did she nod and say yes. The single word was so soft and trembling, I barely heard it, but it was still there.

“I’ll get the paperwork ready. Once you’re done saying your farewells to everyone, please come to my office and we’ll work out the details.” What did I just do? I swallowed hard and forced a smile. “Safe travels, everyone.”

With that, I turned and marched away from the noise of the foyer back to my office. Quiet, isolated, and calm.

I repeated to myself that I agreed to hire Aubrielle for Lillianna’s sake. She would be a good fit as a nanny, especially with her education and Lillianna needing to be prepped for starting kindergarten in September. Plus, it put me on my sister’s good side. It would be beneficial to all of us.

It would be easy enough for me to keep my distance. I had enough self control to live in the same house as an unclaimed Omega. My powerful will had always been my strength, and it would keep me on the right path.

CHAPTER THREE - Aubrielle

I’d come to Birk manor for my best friend’s wedding and ended up making a huge change in my life. When Callista told her brother I’d be perfect for the nanny job, I wanted to run and hide. There was a proper way to go about securing a job, and this wasn’t it. Yet what I’d been doing hadn’t been working. So instead of panicking—alright, I was still freaking out—I allowed myself to be grateful and excited.

It took over half an hour for everyone to say good-bye and be on their way. Callista had hired a ride share service to bring me to the manor, and I sent a text to cancel the car that was scheduled to arrive later in the morning to bring me back to eastern Oregon. This would be my home for the next while.

Home. This huge mansion. It would take some getting used to.

One of the housekeepers directed me to Konstantin’s office. Or should I be calling him Mr. Birk? That would be the more professional thing to do.

I stood in front of the door with my hands trembling. I’d smoothed down my skirt three times, but nothing calmed my nerves. I didn’t want to keep my new boss waiting. Yet the knowledge I was about to step into a room alone with an Alpha… Maybe I should have had the housekeeper accompany me.

Inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, I reminded myself that Konstantin was a proper gentleman. Callista assured me he was very respectful, and I have not witnessed anything contrary to the fact. He was not his father, a man who had terrified me the few times I’d met him when I visited Callista and Kienna during our school years.

I knocked, gently. It was still early in the morning after all.

“Come in.”

Konstantin’s voice sent a shiver through me. It was crisp and deep with a little Italian accent. I listened to a lot of romance audiobooks, and his voice was just as sexy. More so. It was mysterious, foreign, and powerful.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, standing near it with my hands clasped before me. He stood behind his desk, gripping the edge of it. His dark gaze bore into me for a few seconds before he gestured to the chair in front of him. “Please, have a seat. I have everything ready to go over with you.”

As I moved forward, the scent of his space—of him—rolled over me. My nose was attuned to a variety of perfumes, but his was a magnificently complex one. Oakmoss and vanilla with a hint of lemon zest and mint with deeper notes of vetiver. I’d never smelled anything like it, and it was almost as if I’d had a shot of alcohol with how heavily warm and light I felt at the same time.

I wet my lips and swallowed. “Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Birk. I will not disappoint you.”

Konstantin slid smoothly into his chair, his eyes never leaving me. “I hope not, Au— Miss Smyth. Lillianna is the most precious thing in the world to me. I want what’s only best for her.”

“Of course.” As any good parent would want. He wanted someone who would be good for his daughter, and I wouldn’t work for anyone who didn’t have their child’s best interests at heart. “Please ask me anything you wish to know. I can give you the URL to my resumé and provide for you references other than my friends, if you wish.”

“I’ve already located your resumé online. It’s very impressive.” Konstantin tapped the mousepad on his computer, scrolling along a page. “You’re almost done with your degree. One year left. Top of your class at St. Anne’s and on the dean’s list at your college. While you were at school, you volunteered at a local primary school as a teacher’s assistant and with the Big Sisters organization. Have you continued to do any work since you graduated from St. Anne’s?”

Was he impressed? And why did I really want him to like me? He could hire the most experienced nannies in the world, and likely next to his previous one, I had a tiny resumé. I wound my fingers together on my lap, squeezing them together. “I would have liked to continue my volunteer work, but those were through programs at St. Anne’s. They sent me to environments safe for unclaimed Omegas. I do not get the same guarantee now that I’ve graduated.”

He nodded and leaned forward a bit. “I assume you still live with your parents then?”

“With my father, yes. My mother passed away two years ago.” My throat constricted, and I looked down at my hands. What I wouldn’t give for her support right now. She was my biggest cheerleader. I tried to swallow, but couldn’t. He didn’t need to see my grief, but it popped up at the most unexpected times.

Konstantin said nothing for almost a minute. He then quietly rose from his chair and went over to a small fridge. “Would you like some water? I find the air in the manor dry at times.”

“Yes, please.”

He took out two bottles of water and poured them into glasses with ice. The cubes clinked against the glass as he brought one to me. There was something different in his gaze now. It was still intense, but deeper? I didn’t know what to call it, and I hoped it wasn’t pity.

“Thank you.” I dipped my head and sipped some water.

Konstantin returned to his seat behind his desk, setting his glass on a marble coaster. He picked up a stack of papers and laid them in front of me. “I’ve provided for you the schedule our previous nanny used, but feel free to change it as you wish. I want to prepare Lillianna for kindergarten in the fall. She’s a smart girl and bilingual with English and Italian. She’s learning to read and working on her math skills. You must be prepared to be with her from when she wakes to when she goes to bed unless I’m there. You’ll have Sundays off—so no worries about today—and sometimes another day depending on my work schedule. You will also have four weeks of vacation time to use as you wish, but you must let me know at least two weeks ahead of time when you’ll be gone so I can arrange other care.” His chest heaved as if he had taken in a breath and didn’t want to let it go. He gave his tie a subtle hard yank before continuing. “When school starts in September, I will need you to drop her off and pick her up. A driver and a car will be provided for you. You are not responsible for any cleaning. I already have staff for that. Your job will be to focus on Lillianna alone. Does this sound good to you so far?”

I glanced at the schedule. It was all work and no play, and that wasn’t how I wanted Lillianna’s time to be spent. All of what he said was amazing. I nodded and tried to organize my questions in my head, but he continued on.

“You will be given a suite near Lillianna’s room. Feel free to decorate it as you wish. All your living expenses will be paid for. You’ll take meals with Lillianna. Anything you need you can come to me and I’ll get it.” Konstantin tapped the stack of papers. It was the only thing that distracted me from the way his lips moved as he talked. Smoothly sinful, especially the way he emphasized anything. “I’ve printed out the entire contract for you to go over at your leisure. I’ve made it only for a year, because you’ll finish your education at that point. Do you intend to become a teacher?”

“I do.” It’s all I’d ever wanted to be since I was a small child.

“An admirable career choice.” He said everything before so formally, but these words suddenly melted like warm caramel. Maybe it was admiration in his voice, but there was a heat that went straight between my legs. “You’ll have full medical and dental coverage. I’m offering a starting salary of one hundred thousand, but if you’re wanting to negotiate…”

Negotiate? There was no hiding my shock. My jaw dropped and I swiftly covered my mouth with a hand. I’d expected to earn half that much.

My heart was suddenly racing. Did he think I was more experienced than I actually was? This would be my first paying job. I’d done volunteer work, but that was just a few hours a week. “Mr. Birk,” I almost stuttered his name with my nerves jangling through me. “Sir. I’m not sure what you were paying your previous nanny, but I don’t want to misrepresent my experience or—”

Konstantin held up a hand. “You aren’t misrepresenting anything. Did you need me to pay you more?”

“What? No!” I squeaked and nearly spilled my water. I lowered it to my lap and tried to find the words to explain to him what I’d meant. I didn’t want to blow my chances at this position before it even started. He must have thought I was a flake. “I only wanted to make certain you knew that this was my first job, and that you weren’t expecting—”

“What is the most important part of this job?” He interrupted.

My stomach tightened and I stilled. “Lillianna. Her happiness and well-being.”

His eyes locked with mine as if he were reading every thought in my head. “That’s why I’m hiring you. You have my daughter’s best interests at heart.”

Oh God. The genuineness of what he said wedged in my chest. He was a father who loved his daughter so much. The salary wasn’t about my worth, but what he thought of Lillianna’s time. I wanted to promise him that I would give Lillianna my all and hug him.

Hug him. To feel his body against mine. The strength of his arms around me, the hardness of his chest, his hot breath on my face…

The office door swung open, and I startled, spilling a splash of water on my skirt. I hid it in the folds and turned to see Quillon Birk. He was the younger of the two brothers and had that same dark and handsome allure. Yet his chest and shoulders were broader, his hair longer and tousled on top, and his robe…

Holy hell. It was halfway open and there was nothing underneath but luscious tanned skin.

“Well now, hello. What’s happening here?” His gorgeous grin was punctuated by a flirty dimple in his left cheek. There was a wicked glimmer in his eyes like he wanted to eat me.

“Quill, you remember Callista’s friend, Aubrielle Smyth.” Konstantin stood and came around his desk. He folded his arms and positioned himself a little in front of me. “She has agreed to be Lillianna’s new nanny. We were just working out the details of her contract.”

“Really? How absolutely wonderful.” Quill approached, opening his arms as if he might sweep me up in an embrace. He was nearly naked and smelled like a seaside paradise. Mandarin laced with cinnamon, with a hint of lavender, cypress, and benzoin. A complicated and utterly male scent so different from his brother’s. “Welcome to the family, Aubrielle.”

I pressed myself back in the chair. Another Alpha. I’d be sharing a house with two of them. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.

Konstantin put a hand on his brother’s shoulder to keep him from taking another step closer. “Don’t scare her off.” His statement was hard and jagged. “You’re to give her some space to get used to living here. Please keep in mind she’s under my employ, and you’re not to distract her from her job. And Jesus, Quill, put on some clothes.”

Quill glared at Konstantin for a few seconds before he was smiling again. “Of course. I have nothing but respect for her.” He winked at me and my face heated. “Lilli is going to be very excited that you’re here. She was over the moon spending time with you, Calli, and the girls.”

Even though I could still feel the blush in my cheeks, I smiled. Having her get ready with us for the wedding was so much fun. Lillianna had been so fascinated by us doing our hair, makeup, and donning our fancy dresses, doing a little fashion show as we did. Callista had mentioned her mother had passed away when she was little, and it was clear Lillianna missed being around all that feminine energy.

“Yes, well, if you don’t mind—” Konstantin’s phone buzzed on his desk, and he twisted to look at the screen. His lips pressed together as he frowned and his whole mood darkened. “I have to take this call. Miss Smyth, if you would like to take the contract and go over it, and we can talk again over lunch. Quill, show her to the nanny’s suite and let her get settled in.”

“Gladly.” Quill went to the door and opened it with a sweep of his arm. “My lady.”

My smile widened a little. His flirty and laid back energy was the opposite of Konstantin’s. I stood and repressed the urge to curtsy to my new boss. I set down my glass and picked up the contract and schedule. “Thank you again for this opportunity.”

Konstantin nodded as he pressed his phone to his ear and greeted the caller in Italian. He remained standing, watching me intently as I exited his office. Even when the door closed, it was as if I could still feel his eyes on me.

“Damn, I’m glad to get out of there. Who works on a Sunday morning?” Quill shook his head with a light laugh and held out his arm to me. “Me, I’m having the best morning ever. How about I take you on a little tour as I bring you to your suite?”

My breath caught in my throat. If he was a Beta, I wouldn’t think twice about accepting his arm, but he was an Alpha, gorgeous and so very male. He was almost flashing me how male he was. On top of that, his scent called to me, luring me in with lusty thoughts in my head.

Dammit. I couldn’t. I was already breaking Omega laws being alone with an Alpha—twice now by being in Konstantin’s office—and there was no way I was going to risk my position here.

Quill raised his brows and something in me started to crumble.

CHAPTER FOUR - Quill

It had been an incredible day of celebration yesterday, but this morning’s surprise gift promised to keep on giving. If Aubrielle got over her Omega timidity. Yet it was hot in an ‘I want to take this proper girl and make her do highly improper things’ way. Like right now I wanted to take her behind the potted plants at the end of the hall and fuck her hard.

Kon had given me a warning though. Fuck, ever since we’d been back after my bastard of a father died, Kon had been laying down the rules. No messing with the household staff, no sleeping with business associates, and no bringing any of my lovers near Lillianna. It was no wonder he never had any fun. Actually, I had very little fun since we’d returned last year. It sucked.

But now this sexy vixen was my niece’s new nanny. An Omega who smelled of sweet pear and delicate ambrette mingled with roses. Her musk was everything heavenly and feminine, and fuck, I wanted to taste her.

Except Aubrielle was afraid to even touch me.

That was going to change. I would make sure of it.

I retracted my proffered arm and crooked a finger as I started down the hall. “Follow me, darling. I’m sure you’ve been wandering around the manor all weekend. Did Callista give you a tour?”

The tension in her shoulders eased, but she still clutched the papers to her. “A quick one. I was here a few times when we were teenagers as well.”

“That’s right. I remember Calli telling me about her sleepover weekends. Too bad I wasn’t here to meet you then, but my father wanted both Kon and I to be schooled at his alma mater in Tuscany.” A school which I’d hated. I had several suspensions, but they never expelled me because of who my father was, and I’d tried my damnedest to do so. “So you know where the kitchen and most things are in the house then.”

“Yes. Does the rest of the staff live at the manor too?” Aubrielle followed a few feet behind me with the papers clasped before her. She made for a saintly figure in her long floral skirt and white blouse. When a beam of sunlight crossed over her, I could almost see her bra through the thin material. Delectable.

“We used to have live-in staff, but not now. The cook and the housekeepers live in town. The butler who lived here since I was a kid now lives in Seattle taking care of my mom. I always thought he was a stuffy old fogey, but he proved to be a decent fellow.” More than a decent guy, really. He’d saved all the women in the manor when my father went off the edge and nearly killed my sister. I still couldn’t believe I shared that asshole’s blood.

We entered the kitchen and the white haired cook looked up from where she was eating a piece of toast and composing the week’s menu. I grinned and went over to kiss her cheek. “Good morning, Enid. How’s the best cook in the world?”

Enid patted my cheek. “You silly boy. I’m fine. Still smiling after Callista’s wedding yesterday. It was beautiful.” She leaned her head to the side and dipped her head to Aubrielle. “Good morning, miss. Would you like some breakfast before you’re on your way?”

“Aubrielle isn’t going anywhere!” I crowed and gestured grandly to the blushing Omega. “Enid, meet Aubrielle. She’s Lilli’s new nanny as of this morning.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Aubrielle smiled that sweet, shy smile of hers.

Enid rose and went over to hug her. “So wonderful to have you join us, dearie. Lillianna will be thrilled to have you here. Her previous nanny, Paula, well, she was more suited to being a sergeant in the army than taking care of a sensitive child.”

“Oh, you can say it, Enid. Paula was a bitch.” I chuckled, and fuck, I was glad she was gone. Paula had tried to climb into my bed, but I laid down the law fast. I knew a gold digger when I met one, and she was willing to do anything for a rich husband. No thanks. “But Aubrielle here, she’s not only beautiful, she’s a sweetheart.”

More blushing. I couldn’t get enough of it.

“Don’t you mind Quill, dearie. He’s a notorious flatterer. Even as a boy, he would come into the kitchen and sweet talk me into giving him treats.” Enid patted Aubrielle’s back like a doting grandma. “When you have the time, please write up a list of your favorite dishes and any allergies you have and leave it with me here. We’ll have to have a welcome dinner some time this week.”

“Oh, you don’t need to make a fuss.” Aubrielle looked like she wanted to hide behind the papers she was carrying. Someone needed to break that Omega out of her shell, and fuck, I wanted it to be me. I was caring less and less for Kon’s rules every minute I spent in her company.

“Nonsense.” Enid waved off the protest.

“Well, Kon wants us all to have lunch together today. Maybe in the sunroom with some of your famous salmon stuffed avocados?” I rubbed my hands together. Enid was trained in Mediterranean cooking, and the days I missed living in Europe, she provided the cure to that sickness.

“Miss?” Enid glanced at Aubrielle.

“Yes, that sounds lovely. I have no allergies, if you’re worried. I eat most anything except really hot spicy foods. And please call me Aubrielle. I hope to have Lillianna in here with you sometime and you can teach us both about cooking.”

“Oh, I like you more and more.” Enid bustled into the kitchen to the fridge and peered inside. “We have enough salmon for today. I was thinking a vegetable lasagna for dinner.”

“Perfect!” I clapped my hands and headed to the small staircase at the back of the kitchen. “Aubrielle, these are the only stairs I use. Coming right down in the morning to the kitchen to Enid’s breakfasts is the only way to start the day. Shall I show you your room now?”

Aubrielle nodded and turned to Enid. “Thank you again.”

“Go get settled, dearie. And don’t let Quill sweet talk you into anything.”

I laughed and led the way up the stairs. There were a half dozen bedrooms at this end of the manor, two of which were Callista’s and Kienna’s old rooms. “Guestrooms, all of these. If you were to continue up to the third floor, you’ll find the gym, game room, and my bedroom. It’s all new. I converted the unused storage space up there after we moved back last year. Feel free to go up and use anything anytime.”

The scent of her perfume made me heady as it grew stronger. All I wanted to do was lure her up the stairs to my room, tie her to the bed, and worship her body.

She had put another foot of space between us. Did she feel the pull too? I was used to having women beg for my attentions, but this, oh, fuck, she was going to test the limits of my control.

We passed the main staircase which led down to the front foyer and entered the east wing. “Kon’s staying in the master suite.” I tapped my fingers on the closed door and motioned across the hall. “Lilli’s room. She’s still sleeping.”

Someone had left a pink flower in the keyhole with a little note attached. Aubrielle’s expression softened as she brushed her fingers over the petals. “A dahlia from Callista’s bouquet.”

“My sister, even going off for her honeymoon, she’s thinking of others.” It came out just a little more than a whisper. I’d missed Callista over the years. We’d been close when we were kids, but then I’d been shipped off to Italy and ripped away from my family. Kon was there, but he’d always been walled off from everyone. Only Lillianna seemed to be able to slip inside of his emotional barriers.

“She does,” Aubrielle agreed. Her smile was more open, but as she looked at me, a rosy flush crept up her neck and she averted her gaze.

I was reveling in this cat and mouse game. If I was lucky, I’d be licking my lips with her cream someday soon. “Let me show you your suite. You’re just around the corner from Lilli’s room.”

The hall curved around a corner to a deadend. A potted plant sat at the end of the hall under a stained glass window. I pushed open the door to the suite. It had been my and my siblings’ nanny suite when we were young, and my father’s and his brother’s before us. It was tucked away in the east end corner of the manor, and by far, the most cozy suite. I’d considered taking it as my own room when we first moved back, but needing my own space away from everyone, I took over the third floor and made it my own.

“Here we are.” I swept inside and did a slow turn in the morning sun which streamed between the thick curtains. There was a small living room area and a tiny kitchenette. The bedroom housed a queen sized bed, and the bathroom had an old-fashioned clawfoot tub with gold feet. “What do you think? Anything you want to change, just let me know. I’ll make it happen. Oh, and there’s a small balcony out through that door there.”

Aubrielle walked around the suite in slow motion. She ran her fingers over the surfaces and gasped a little when she looked out to the balcony. Her wide-eyed wonder made her even more beautiful. “I don’t need anything else. This is… wow. This is perfect.”

“Well, perfect would be my room, but you can come see that later.” I winked, wanting a giggle and smile, but instead, she looked like she wanted to run. She turned and hid her face behind her hair. I’d never met anyone so deliciously shy, and more so, I never expected it to turn me on so much.

Screw Kon’s rules. I wanted Aubrielle.

“Paula?” A hesitant voice came along with a little knock at the door. Lillianna poked her head into the room and broke out into a smile at seeing me. She stepped in while holding the dahlia in her hand. “Uncle Quill!”

She ran to me and I met her halfway, scooping her up and swinging her around before giving her a giant hug. “Good morning to my favorite niece in the whole world.”

Lillianna giggled and then gave me a stern look. “Uncle Quill, you can’t say that anymore. Isabella would be sad.”

“Ah, yeah, you do have a point. How about my favorite child of my only brother?” I gave her side a tickle.

“I’m the only child of your brother’s.” Lillianna laughed anyway and turned her head to look curiously at Aubrielle. “Hi.”

“Hi, Lillianna. It’s so wonderful to see you again.” Aubrielle approached with a gorgeous smile. “How did you enjoy the wedding yesterday?”

“It was so good! Aunt Callista looked beautiful. Everyone was dressed up and it felt like a fairy tale came to life. I loved it! Kienna even let me taste champagne.” Lillianna enthusiastically rattled on and then crinkled her nose. “It was yucky.”

Aubrielle leaned in as if she was sharing a secret. “I’m not a fan of champagne either. Too bubbly.”

“Guess what, sweetheart?” I jiggled my niece in my arms. “Aubrielle is going to be staying with us as your new nanny. Isn’t that exciting?”

Lillianna gasped and let out a girlish squeal. She wiggled out of my arms, and I set her down. “Really? Yay! It’s going to be so much fun. We can do each other’s hair and makeup and dress up.”

“Yes, that will be fun. I also thought we could play games, go on picnics, and have beach days. There’s so much we can do.” Aubrielle ramped up Lillianna’s excitement even more. Damn, she was hot and so good with kids.

“I’ve never been on a picnic.” Lillianna’s eyes went wide and she bounced on her toes. “And we haven’t been to the beach in so long. Is Aunt Callista and Isabella going to come? Where are they?” She held up the dahlia. “She lost one of her flowers.”

“Calli and her mates are gone on their honeymoon, sweetheart. Remember her talking about going to Hawaii?” Though I wouldn’t consider it much of a honeymoon with a baby along, but no way would I have suggested to any of them to leave their daughter behind or I would have been missing a limb.

The excitement drained from Lillianna’s face and her shoulders drooped. “Oh. I remember.”

Shit. Right. Her abandonment issues. I was such an asshole uncle for forgetting that. As I was about to swoop in with something else to distract her, the Omega beauty beat me to it.

“Don’t worry.” Aubrielle bent down and motioned to the flower still in my niece’s hand. “Callista and Isabella will be back, and we have already talked about getting together every week. She said she was really going to miss you too and left a special flower with a note. Would you like to read it?”

The light came back to Lillianna’s eyes. “Every week?” Her smile grew big again. “Can you read it to me? I know some letters, but I know Italian words better.”

Aubrielle sat on the sofa with my niece and took her time reading the note to her. She got her to recognize some letters and a few words. I’d never seen anyone more suited to being a nanny.

I left the two of them for a moment so I could have a quick shower and get dressed. Well, it didn’t turn out to be too quick. Thinking of that blushing Omega living in the same house had me hard as a rock. I stroked my monster of a hard-on as I imagined sneaking down to her room at night and seeing her soaking in that tub. Her big breasts soapy and wet…

The problem was I could only think about it. If it was just a matter of breaking Kon’s rules, I wouldn’t give a fuck. But Aubrielle was here for Lillianna, and I didn’t want to screw that up for my niece. Lillianna needed a nurturer like her in her life. She needed her much more than I needed to get laid.

Fuck. I saw a lot of cold showers in my future.

CHAPTER FIVE – Aubrielle

The morning flew by as I got to know Lillianna better. She was such a smart and observant child, and I was lucky to be her nanny. We talked about what she liked to do and the ideas I had for her summer. She chattered on and on over lunch to her father and uncle about the fun we were going to have.

While they listened to her, many times I felt the brothers’ eyes on me. Konstantin and Quill were opposites, but I felt a pull to each of them. Konstantin in his immaculate tailored suit with his sensual mouth, so in control, and Quill in his black button up shirt and board shorts with his wild and sexy laugh.

My boss and his brother. My best friend’s brothers. I didn’t need to be thinking any of these things. Yet being around them made my stomach flutter and my heart beat faster.

After lunch, Konstantin took Lillianna out to shop for beach clothes and picnic dresses. I wanted to tell him that she could just wear shorts and t-shirts, but she was too excited. Quill was meeting friends in Seattle, and so I was left by myself to settle in.

There wasn’t much to it. I only had a single suitcase that I’d brought with me for Callista’s wedding weekend. It was easy to find linens and towels for my suite. I ordered my favorite toiletries to be delivered to the manor, and that left only one thing I had to do: call my dad.

I stared at my phone and took in several deep breaths, letting them out slowly.

Why I was so nervous about it, I didn’t know. Dad loved and supported me. Yes, he was overprotective, but that was only since he lost my mother. I thought perhaps he saw me as the last connection he had to her and wanted to hold on. Yet sometimes he squeezed too tight and I found it hard to breathe.

Tapping his name in my contact list, his phone rang. He picked up after the first ring.

“Hi Aubrie, sweetie. How’s my girl?”

“Hi Dad. I’m good. How are you?”

“Excited to see you. I’m having the housekeeper prepare your favorite, veggie lasagna for dinner. How was the wedding?”

I winced at the mention of a special meal being prepared and guilt made me queasy. I swallowed hard. “The wedding was beautiful. Everything went perfectly. Wait until you see the pictures.”

“I can’t wait.” I could hear the smile in my dad’s voice and that made my shoulders tense up even more. “What’s your ETA? I might pop out to get us some ice cream.”

I closed my eyes. He wasn’t making this any easier. “Well, I have some news. Some really good news, but it means I’m going to miss out on the lasagna and ice cream.”

Dad paused, waiting, but it took me a moment to say it. “What is it, sweetie?”

“I have a job. An excellent job as a nanny.” It suddenly came pouring out of my mouth like a tidal wave. “Callista introduced me to her eldest brother, and I’ll be nannying for his daughter, Lillianna. She’s the sweetest girl, and it’s exactly the type of work I was looking for. I get to stay here at Birk Manor, and I’ll be able to see Callista every week. All my food and board is covered, and the salary is more than generous. I’ll be able to finish my degree while Lillianna is in school. It’s perfect. More than I could have ever hoped for, but they needed me to start right away. So I won’t be coming home.”

“That’s wonderful, Aubrie.” Dad sounded genuinely happy, but also a little sad. “It’s too bad you couldn’t come back home first, but I understand. Are Callista’s brother and his mate nice folks?”

His mate. Right. Dad didn’t need to know there was no mother in the picture right now. There was no reason to make him worry when there was nothing to get worked up about. I gripped the arm of the sofa with my free hand. “They work a lot, but they’re nice. I will need you to pack up my clothes and some things to send to me. I have my own suite here, so lots of room. I can send you a list through a text.”

“Of course, sweetie. I can have Nevaeh do that today and I’ll get everything shipped off to you as soon as possible.” I heard him open a door and rummage around. “I have some boxes here in my office closet that should work. If you need any furniture or sheets or anything like that, feel free to use the credit card.”

“Thanks, but I’m good, Dad. The suite is fully furnished, and my salary will more than cover anything else I need. Which, as you know, isn’t much. I’ll be spending all my time with Lillianna hopefully outside at various parks, the beach, and in the garden.”

“You’re just like your mom.” His voice grew wistful, and I heard his chair squeak as he sat down. “If you’re taking the girl all over like that, I hope the Birks are providing you with an escort.”

There was the reminder that I was an Omega and my freedom was restricted. I pressed my lips together in a thin line before speaking. “I know I have a driver to take us wherever we need to go, and I assume whoever that is will be there as a chaperon too.”

“Good, good. Gotta keep my girl safe. I’m proud of you. You’re a career girl now.”

I didn’t doubt my father loved me, but he made me feel like a child. Maybe all fathers did that with their daughters, but I was eager to start life out on my own. Callista had done me a favor in more ways than one pushing her brother to hire me. I needed to feel what it was like on my own and gain confidence out in the world without anyone else making my decisions for me. My dad had held onto me too tightly, and it was time I stretched my wings and learned to fly.

“Thank you, Dad. I’m going to miss you, but this is an opportunity I can’t pass up.”

“I’ll miss you too. Maybe on the July long weekend, I’ll drive out and visit. We can see the fireworks over the harbor, and I can finally meet your friends and the Birk family.”

The Birk family. Where there was no Mrs. Birk other than Callista’s mother. I nipped my lower lip. I was in a safe environment. Quill and Konstantin had been nothing but respectful. I was in full control of myself and would never step over the line. I’d always followed the laws and that wouldn’t change.

“I’d like that a lot. I can ask if you can stay here at the manor. They have plenty of room.”

“Oh, don’t trouble them with that unless they extend the invitation. I don’t want to encroach on the family’s privacy.” Dad sighed and shifted in his chair. “I should go, sweetie, and start getting your stuff packed. Maybe I’ll throw in a few treats too.”

“Dad.” I smiled, suddenly feeling the distance between us and tearing up. I wanted to hug him and assure him everything would be fine.

“You will be a better nanny than Mary Poppins. I love you, sweetie.”

I laughed and it betrayed the turmoil of emotion in me. “I love you too. Take care, Dad.”

“You too. Bye now.”

“Bye.” I ended the call and leaned back, closing my eyes.

I’d lied to my dad. Never before had I lied to him.

It wasn’t a bad lie. I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Konstantin and Quill treated me well and had never stepped out of line. Yet I had still felt the need to lie.

My stomach roiled and I wanted to cry. Yet, at the same time, I didn’t think I deserved to.

I hurried into my bathroom and splashed my face with cold water. This was why I never broke the rules. Following the letter of the law gave me peace. I’d always been the good girl, the perfectionist, and after my mom passed, it had intensified. Rules gave me a sense of security in a world where anything could happen.

“Please watch over me, Mom.” I looked up into my own eyes in the mirror. Crystal blue eyes that were exactly like my mother’s. “I love you, and I love Dad, but I need to do this.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I imagined her hugging me and saying everything would be okay. She encouraged my desire to become a teacher, and I was inspired by her. Ever patient and loving, and never afraid to let me get dirty in the garden.

I dried my face and decided not to let the nice afternoon go to waste. Putting on my sandals and grabbing the signed contracts, I headed back downstairs. I didn’t think that anyone would be back home yet, so I opened his office door and slipped in to put the papers on his desk.

Konstantin’s presence still commanded the room. The scent of him lingered, especially around his desk. I’d never met an Alpha who felt so incredibly powerful but spoke elegantly and wore a suit. Callista’s and NIcolette’s mates were large and muscular, but they had jobs which required it of them. Even Kienna’s men were built big for their sport. Yet Konstantin felt bigger than them all, even if he wasn’t physically.

I breathed in deeply, feeling as if his scent was seeping into every pore and filling me with… What? I shouldn’t think about it. He was my boss.

Setting the contracts on the desk, the movement caused the screen of his computer to flicker on. It wasn’t any of my business what was on it. None. I shouldn’t be nosy, but I was curious to see if he had a picture of Lillianna on there, or even a photo with her mother when they were all together.

I inched around the desk and leaned back to peer at the screen. Unfortunately I couldn’t see his desktop background. A web browser sat open with several tabs lined up across the top. I would have immediately looked away if the headline of the article he’d been looking at hadn’t made me freeze.

‘A Second Wave of Arrests in the Italian Omega Trafficking Ring.’

The photo that topped the article had two officers escorting a dark haired man with a face mask and dark glasses. I skimmed the first few paragraphs of the article which stated the Italian civil national police were cracking down on a large underground organization that kidnapped and sold Omegas.

Leaning in, I read the other tabs, and each of them were the same thing. Everything was about illegal Omega trafficking.

I swallowed and wrapped my arms around me.

There could be several reasons Konstantin was reading such things. Maybe he was worried for his daughter if they went to Italy. If he was like any other father of an Omega, he’d be overprotective, and since it was a place where they had lived, he had personal interest in Italy. Perhaps he had a strong sense of justice and knew someone involved. Like one of the investigators.

Or one of the men arrested.

Or more than one of the men arrested.

I took off out of his office and beelined for the garden. It was none of my business. I shouldn’t have looked.

Outside, I ran my fingers over tender leaves and fragrant petals. The shining sun warmed me and pulled me out of my head. After about five minutes, I could breathe normally again. It was nothing. I’d been overreacting.

Life was fine at Birk Manor. I had a new job and was starting a new life. My days would be filled with a child’s laughter and imagination, and I’d be in this beautiful garden as much as possible. We were a half of a world away from Italy and far from any worries.

My future was as bright as a cloudless summer afternoon.

CHAPTER SIX - Konstantin

Rain slammed against the windows as I tossed and turned. I finally threw back the sheets and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing my face. There was no way I was getting any fucking sleep tonight.

The weight of everything pressed heavily on my shoulders. Yet I had no choice but to bear it. Quill had gotten better with helping with the load, but he had far less experience running a business than I did. We were nowhere near done cleaning up all the damage my father had done over the years, and sometimes I wondered if we could ever do so.

There was no choice but to push forward though. Lillianna’s future depended on it.

To top it off, my father-in-law refused to close out all the contracts the Birk family had with the Pacettis. Quill and I wanted to consolidate, having no more partners, but Lorenzo wanted to expand to create several new subsidiaries. All covers for his illegal businesses, of course. I wanted no part of it.

Lawsuit after lawsuit. My lawyers were being run around in circles. The fucker needed to just let go.

“Fuck.” I stood and walked to lean against the frame of the French doors which led out to my balcony. Low black clouds rolled across the night sky like a neverending stampede mirroring my mood.

To top it off, it had been nearly a week since Aubrielle started working for me. A week with that luscious Omega in my home… making every excuse to leave a room when I entered it. She was always polite, but there was something under it: a hint of fear. And fuck me, I liked it.

When she hurried off, I wanted to chase her. Her sweet pear and rose scent was easy to follow through the manor. Like a wolf tracking its prey, I followed her irresistible perfume through every room she walked through each day with my dick achingly hard.

Earlier today, I watched Aubrielle outside with my daughter. They danced in the wind and then crafted a kite. They made it look like a bird and covered it in glittering stickers. Lillianna loved the kite so much, she didn’t want to part with it, and placed it on the end of her bed when it was time to go to sleep.

Aubrielle’s absolute unawareness of her immense beauty made my growing obsession with her all the more powerful. Except she was my daughter’s nanny, a person in my employ. My life was messy enough without becoming involved with not just her, but anyone.

I pushed myself away from the window and returned to bed. Pressing the heels of my palms against my closed eyes, I commanded myself to sleep.

Yet all I could see with Aubrielle’s shy smile and the creamy skin of her legs when the wind blew her skirt up earlier. I wanted nothing more than to have those curvy legs wrapped around me as I pounded into her. It was almost as if I could feel the heat of her from across the hall in her own room.

She always ran away because she felt the same thing. She had to. It was enormous, that raw attraction. Alpha and Omega.

It had been a long time since I’d been with a woman. My hand was a poor replacement for an Omega like Aubrielle. Oh how tight and wet she’d be, the little sexy noises she’d make, how she’d cling to me.

Fuck. I needed her like I’d never needed anyone else.

Something in me snapped and, with a growl, I was on my feet again and stalking out of the room. I didn’t bother with the lights. I knew this house like the back of my hand. I knew precisely where she was sleeping.

Shadows danced along the hallway as the rain continued to pummel the earth. I blinked, and I was standing at Aubrielle’s door, throwing it open. Thunder rumbled, and as if it carried me to the foot of her bed, I stared at her half-covered by a silken sheet.

Aubrielle wore a pale pink camisole that barely contained her full breasts. Her nipples poked at the thin material as her chest slowly rose and fell. Her legs were bare, revealing much more skin than I saw earlier when her skirt flipped up from the wind. Her long hair cascaded over the edge of her pillow and her luscious lips were slightly open.

Beautiful didn’t seem like a powerful enough word for her. I gripped the edge of the footboard as I breathed her in. Sweet and pure, and so very feminine.

I could have stared at her forever. The connection I felt, like she was the other half of me. It was as if I’d known her all my life, but I didn’t. I knew very little about her. She was a stranger and yet touched the most intimate part of me.

Aubrielle’s eyes fluttered open and she gazed at me as if she couldn’t figure out if I was real or not. Curiosity, shock, and then embarrassment raced across her face before she reached for the blanket to cover herself.

I grabbed it, preventing her from hiding herself from me. Not tonight.

She tugged on the blanket, but I pulled back and yanked it completely off the bed.

Holy hell. She wore only panties. Lacy, scant, and pink. The fabric molded to her tempting pussy.

Thunder drummed as if surrounding the manor. Aubrielle curled her legs up to her and wrapped her arms around herself, hiding her face behind her hair. “Mr. Birk…”

Did she know how every time she called me that, it went straight to my cock? It was already hard, but now my erection ached without mercy. Every day I kept myself in check, following the rules, locking down all my emotions and desires. It was driving me crazy, and this hot little minx of an Omega had taken me over the edge.

I couldn’t hold back any longer. I didn’t want to.

Darting around the side of the bed, she slipped toward the opposite direction. I leapt and snatched her around the waist, dragging her back flush against my body. Her bare skin rubbed against me, and a jolt of triumph, of rightness, lanced through me. I brushed my lips over her neck.

Bite her. Claim her. Fuck!

“Mr. Birk, please, it isn’t proper.” Her mewling plea had me growling.

“Fucking right it isn’t.” My hands skimmed over her soft skin, exploring every inch of her irresistible body. Her scent exploded, making me groan. Her floral musk enchanted me and screamed with her own arousal. “Tell me you don’t want me, that you aren’t as turned on as I am, and I’ll leave right now.”

Her ass bumped back up against me, and I nearly lost my load right there.

Aubrielle trembled and moaned. Her breaths came in quick pants as I noticed a growing wetness between her legs. Slick streamed down, soaking through her panties and my boxers. “I can’t,” she whispered and gripped my forearms. “Oh God, I do.”

“You do what?” I nipped her earlobe and gave it a suck. Sliding a hand up under her cami, I cupped a breast and firmly kneaded it. My hips rocked against her taut rear, slowly pushing her so that she was under me on the bed. The head of my cock popped out of the top of my drawers and had me shudder with extra sensitivity.

“I do… want you.” She gasped as I pinched her hardened nipple. “But we shouldn’t…”

I snatched her chin and twisted her head to kiss me. My heartbeat rocketed and I could only think of one thing: knotting her. There was no stopping it now.

My tongue tangled with hers, owning her mouth. Mine. She was mine.

With a snarl, I ripped her panties off and slammed my hips against her bare ass. The slapping noise resounded sharply and was addictive. I rocked against her again and again. My thick cock sawed between her rounded cheeks and smeared pre-cum along her cleft.

Slick had drenched her sheets. Aubrielle whimpered and groaned against my mouth, writing under me. Letting go of her chin, I pushed off my boxers the rest of the way and maneuvered her forward so I could kneel on the mattress behind her.

I kept her legs spread and directed my erection down to rub between her slippery labia. She let out a small cry as I bumped my cock’s head against her clit. “You’re ready for me, dolcezza.” I bent and kissed over her shoulder, nipping at her smooth skin. “I’m going to fuck you hard and fill you with my knot.”

“Yes, oh yes!” Aubrielle fisted the sheets and wiggled her ass against me.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. Thrusting hard into her, we both cried out in unison. I buried myself deep, letting my balls slap against her. Nothing had ever felt more right in my life.

Holding her hips with a bruising grip, I fucked her as if I could join us together as one being. The swelling knot told me that this wasn’t going to last long, but I couldn’t slow down. Harder and faster, making her scream and shudder under me as she came.

“Aubrielle.” Her name was the word that would bring me to paradise. My sac drew up and I threw back my head. “Fuck!”

I exploded with such a force it felt like I’d been cast out of my body, but I was suddenly very much in it again. Hot cum soaked my boxers as my hips jerked with nothing but a blanket under them. I grasped my cock and stroked out the remaining semen, panting and staring into the darkness of my room.

My heart pounded, louder than the now distant thunder.

A dream. It had all been a dream.

An incredibly intense one. I’d never been one to have vivid dreams, and I certainly hadn’t had a wet one since I’d been a teen.

Aubrielle. I hadn’t even touched the Omega’s hand, and I was obsessed.

This was dangerous. Could I trust myself to be a respectful boss and not let the beast of my Alpha side claim her? I’d never experienced anything like it. Whenever other Alphas said they couldn’t control themselves around compatible Omegas, I’d always rolled my eyes. I’d seen them as weak, but now I understood.

The power of my instincts to fuck her, knot her, make her mine, were ferociously strong. Yet, I reminded myself, I hadn’t done so. I’d only dreamed of it.

I was stronger than everyone else. I could handle this. X-rated dreams didn’t hurt anyone.

My hand continued to grip my dick. My balls had emptied, but I was still hard. The feeling of her beneath me in the dream, the heat of her cunt around me, her hot mouth on mine…

My employee. My daughter’s nanny.

Dammit. I was strong enough. I had to be.

CHAPTER SEVEN - Aubrielle

I woke Friday morning with the sheets twisted around my legs and my panties wet from an intense dream. Konstantin had come into my room wearing only boxers. Tall and muscled, so very Alpha. He fucked me without mercy, and I wanted it. I practically begged for him to do it. He felt so good in me, so right, as he knotted and filled me with his seed.

No, not right. Vivid as it was, thank God it was just a dream.

I’d been doing well in keeping my distance from him. I would never be rude about it or hurry out of the room with his daughter. Lillianna was always happy to see him, and she loved to show him the things we had been doing together.

But I’d catch him staring at me, his gorgeous dark eyes glittering with a sizzling energy. It felt as if he’d lassoed me with an invisible rope and was drawing me slowly to him. Each tug closed the distance and was so tight, I sometimes could barely breathe.

To make it doubly worse, Quill yanked me in the other direction. A few times, he’d joined Lillianna and I outside as we played in the garden or when I was reading her a story in the sun room. He was full of laughter and flirty quips. One time he suggested I read him a bedtime story after I put Lillianna to bed.

I blushed and waved it off, but I had to take a cold shower when I finally returned to my room. His bright exuberance contrasted with Konstantin’s quiet intensity, and I found it more and more difficult to resist either Alpha.

Which was wrong. Absolutely wrong. One was my boss, and both were my best friend’s brothers. The only thing I could do was excuse myself from wherever they might be as quickly as possible. It didn’t stop my unconscious mind from sending me naughty dreams, though. I was often left with a hot throb between my legs that I shouldn’t be feeling. I’d never had sex. I’d never even been touched by a man. My body shouldn’t ache for something it never had.

Callista would be home in a few days, and we’d visit with her next week. Though I desperately wanted to talk about my urges with friends, I couldn’t with her. And Kienna, as much as I loved her, had a big mouth. Nicolette was the better choice, but she had newborn twins. I didn’t want to stress her out with anything happening with me.

I was doing the right thing. I knew it. Just be professional and keep my distance. That’s why I chose to take Lillianna to Cannon Beach that afternoon. Out of the house and away from temptation.

Lillianna helped Enid pack us a picnic and then picked what bathing suits we should wear. With the trunk packed with stuff, our driver Gavin took us to the west coast. He was a softly spoken Beta with gray dulling the edges of his rich honey blond hair. We’d been to parks during the week, but this would be our first big outing, and he was pleased to see me taking Lillianna out to do the things kids should be doing during the summer. Her previous nanny had stayed around the manor and rarely took Lillianna anywhere.

Gavin helped us carry everything onto the sandy white beach, but he stayed back by the car as he was dressed in uniform. Shiny dress shoes and trousers were not meant for a sandy environment.

It was a gorgeous day with only a little wind. The beach wasn’t crowded as it would likely be next month, but the lifeguard stations were manned and boats lined up on the horizon. In the distance, Haystack Rock poked out of the water and lazily soaked in some sun.

Not so patiently, Lillianna let me put sunblock on her and then helped me by rubbing some on my back. “Let’s get into the water! I want to swim with the dolphins.”

I laughed and put on my water shoes before chasing her toward the ocean. “The dolphins won’t come this close to shore, but maybe we’ll see them further out. The only thing we might see are some crabs or little fish.”

“And mermaids.” Lillianna splashed into the water and squealed, running back to me. “Ah! It’s so cold!”

A wave washed over my feet, and I let out a girlish yelp and giggled. “Definitely cold. But the longer we’re in it, the less we’ll notice. Should we take the plunge and just jump in?”

“Maybe we should go slow.” Lillianna gripped my hand, shivering. “Do you think mermaids get really cold?”

“I think any mermaids that live this far north in the sea are used to cold waters. Maybe they swim south in the winter to vacation in Mexico. They could get sombreros and explore all the sunken pirate ships.”

We talked about mermaid vacations until Lillianna gathered her courage, and then we dunked ourselves in the water. We played in the shallows, pretending to be mermaids, and collecting shells.

After a few hours, I called for a snack and hydration break. I wrapped Lillianna up in her fluffy towel and we sat under the umbrella eating the fruit Enid had cut into fish and shell shapes. While other young women on the beach were tanning and flirting with the lifeguards having their hot girl summer, I was happy to have a mermaid summer with Lillianna. The more time I spent with her, the more certain I was that I wanted to dedicate my life to children. Of course, it helped that she was an incredibly bright and sweet girl.

“I’m going to ask my Daddy to get me and you mermaid tails. That way we can swim down to the bottom of the ocean really fast.” Lillianna made a diving motion with her hand and punctuated it with a splashing noise.

“I think that would be an excellent project for us. We can design and make our own mermaid tails. I know how to sew, and that way, you can have a tail exactly as you imagine it.” I loved doing activities like this with kids, and she could pick up on my excitement. “You can pick your favorite color, or more than one color, and design it with as many fins as you want. Long or short. With sparkles or no sparkles.”

“Always have to have sparkles.” Lillianna nodded sagely.

At times, she seemed more grown up than any five year old had any right to be. She had been through a lot in her young life. The loss of her mother, being torn from the only home she’d known, and thrust into a new house in a different country. That would be way more than many adults could handle.

Kids were resilient though, and I planned to make this the best summer of her childhood yet. I didn’t know how long I’d be her nanny for, but for the definite year I’d be with her, I was going to give her my everything.

I was so focused on Lillianna, I didn’t notice as the trio of men approached us until the eldest of them cleared his throat. Lillianna let out a squeal and jumped up to run and embrace him. “Nonno!”

She was so fast, I couldn’t get on my feet fast enough. Not that he was a stranger to her, it seemed. Yet I still wasn’t expecting anyone to know us on the beach, let alone someone who Lillianna would greet with affection.

“Lillianna, mia piccola tesoro.” He gently crooned and bent to kiss each of her cheeks. The man was probably about seventy but a very distinguished seventy. He wore a suit without a tie, and a gold watch that likely cost more than my father’s car graced his wrist. His smile felt genuine as he hugged Lillianna, and she spoke to him rapidly in Italian.

The two men with him stood back six feet. They did wear ties that seemed too tight around their thick necks and black sunglasses covered nearly half their faces. I immediately read them as bodyguards. I’d been around Callista’s mates enough to recognize the ready-to-spring stance.

I heard my name faintly on the wind and glanced back toward the parking lot where Gavin was scrambling to his feet. He yanked out his phone and made a call as he started to trot toward us.

“Let’s not be rude, my sweet. Please, introduce me to your guardian. She’s not the same one I met before.” The man straightened and stared at me. The softness in his face grew into something sharp and dangerous.

It then hit me hard that he was an Alpha. And no matter his age, the way he held himself, the authority radiating off him, said he was an Alpha of Alphas.

I wanted to curl up into myself, make myself small, and scamper away. I’ve never met any Alpha who scared me as much as this man.

But I couldn’t flee. Lillianna needed me. She stood grinning beside this predator as if he were nothing more than a beloved puppy.

“This is Aubrielle. We’re going to be mermaids.” Lillianna announced with glee. “She’s new because Paula didn’t do her job right and Daddy fired her. That’s okay, though. I like Aubrielle much, much better. We have so much fun. We’re going to make mermaid tails and swim to the bottom of the ocean.”

“You’ll make the most beautiful mermaid.” He patted Lillianna’s cheek, but his gaze bore into me as he smiled. I couldn’t help but imagine a row of shark teeth behind his thin lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aubrielle. More so hearing how happy you have made my granddaughter. I’m Lorenzo Pacetti.”

He didn’t offer his hand and I didn’t offer mine. I continued to inwardly curl into myself. My lower abdomen trembled, and I wrapped my arms around my middle. I was wearing only my bathing suit, but I could have been dressed in a snowsuit and still felt immensely vulnerable with him.

“Nice to meet you as well, Mr. Pacetti. I had no idea Lillianna’s family would be visiting or I wouldn’t have planned a beach day.” The fact I got out all those words without stumbling shocked me. I wanted to grab Lillianna and run away to the car with her, but Lorenzo was her grandfather. No matter my nervousness, I wasn’t going to be rude or ruin this reunion for Lillianna.

Lorenzo chuckled in a dry way. His Italian accent was rich and even. “I wasn’t expecting to be in town myself. I had just finished a meeting and wanted to unwind with a short walk on the beach. The Fates have shone their light upon me to let my path cross with my beloved granddaughter’s.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I have missed you, mia piccola.”

“I miss you too, Nonno. Are you coming back to the house? I can show you my room and the kite me and Aubrielle made and have dinner.” Lillianna rambled on with all the plans she had for him.

Gavin huffed to catch a breath as he finally reached us. “Is everything alright here, Miss Smyth?”

No. Nothing was right at all. Even though Gavin was there beside me, I didn’t feel safe. Nevermind that Lorenzo had two huge bodyguards—why did an old businessman need such security?—but he was a powerful Alpha himself, even for his age. I had a feeling one look from him could send Gavin running if he wanted to do so.

“This is Lillianna’s grandfather, Lorenzo Pacetti.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and I hoped I didn’t sound as distressed as I felt.

“Mr. Pacetti.” Gavin dipped his head.

“Is he your only escort?” Lorenzo frowned and shook his head. “Konstantin needs better security for my granddaughter. And for his new… nanny.”

My skin crawled with the way he said that. I didn’t like what he was implying. My mind flashed back to what I saw on Konstantin’s computer in his office. Trafficking Omegas. Bile rose in my throat and burned the back of my tongue.

I wanted to believe that Lorenzo was only worried about his granddaughter’s safety. She was an Omega, and it wasn’t unheard of that young girls were kidnapped and then raised in brainwashing schools to be sold off to the highest bidders. Unclaimed Omegas my age were more commonly taken, but I doubted a stranger cared so much for my safety that he would include me for any reason other than I was taking care of Lillianna.

“You’re going to come over for dinner, right, Nonno?” Lillianna pleaded with her big dark eyes, so innocent of the thick tension between the adults.

Lorenzo looked down at her with a smile. “I’m sorry, mia bambina. I have much work to do today, but I will call your father and we’ll arrange something, si?”

“Si.” Lillianna bobbed her head and gave him another hug.

They said their goodbye with Gavin hovering close, his hand in his jacket pocket. Lorenzo then extended a hand to me, and I had to take it. My good manners dictated it. Instead of a shake, my whole body stiffened as he slowly brought my hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across my knuckles.

I always worried what might happen if an Alpha did this very thing, but the only thing I felt was fear. Thank God there was zero compatibility. Inwardly cringing, I managed to keep a small smile on my face.

“Truly a pleasure meeting you, Aubrielle. I do hope to see you again very soon.”

Everything in me screamed that it was a threat and not good manners. I didn’t trust my voice this time, but nodded and then quickly retreated, drawing Lillianna to me.

Lorenzo chuckled again and said something to his bodyguards. I didn’t understand Italian, but I did catch the words: Omega non reclamato. I didn’t need to speak the language to know what that meant. He knew I was an unclaimed Omega, and as he said it to his guards, one of them—the beefier one—turned his head to me and smiled.

The sly smile of a monster.

If Lorenzo was the king of the sharks, this Alpha was like a deep sea beast. I swallowed a whimper and bit my tongue to keep from crying. To help fortify myself, I hugged Lillianna closer, barely breathing until they were out of sight.

Gavin said there was a storm in the forecast and we best gather our things to head home. The sky was clear, and we already had a hard rain last night. Yet I didn’t correct him. I desperately wanted to be enclosed within the safe walls of Birk Manor and never see Lorenzo Pacetti again.

He’d left the beach, but I still felt his presence as if he were stalking us from under the waves as we packed up.

CHAPTER EIGHT – Quill

Sick and tired of one video meeting after another, I stared at the bottles in the wine rack in the kitchen. Just one little drink to take the edge off. That’s all I needed.

It had been a while since I had any alcohol. I had total control over myself. No one could expect me to go through life and never have one glass of wine or a leisurely beer now and then. After a day of mind numbing business shit, I deserved it.

Enid banged something on the counter as she prepared dinner. She had her back to me, but every loud clang and clank seemed directed at me. The old woman knew what I was about, and I loved and hated her for it at the same time.

Heaving a sigh, I rolled my shoulders. Fucking hell. Damn addict urges. I would not be ruled by them. I just needed to direct my energy elsewhere. Like go workout or swim some laps or play a video game online.

Fuck, no. No more online crap.

The sound of a car pulling up in the drive perked me up. Now there was a distraction. It had to be Aubrielle back with Lillianna from their beach day.

Having that beautiful Omega in the house was a gift. She was something I’d been missing for a long time. Yeah, my asshole of a father was dead and I’d made amends with my brother. I got to spend more time with my sister and nieces, but I still felt hollow. This last year had been one of the worst of my life, but hearing Aubrielle’s pure laughter and the sweet soprano of her singing brought back some light to my life. Her nurturing feminine energy wasn’t directed at me, but just having it there filled that emptiness inside of me.

Of course it was a bonus that Aubrielle was drop dead gorgeous. Her sparkling blue eyes, her sensual mouth, and those fucking marvelous tits! I’d been fantasizing about watching her big breasts bounce as I fucked her all week.

Konstantin had sent me to New York for a few days, but now that I was back, I was going to double my efforts to get that tasty Omega alone. All I needed was an outlet for my stress. I wouldn’t jeopardize her job or anything. One night would do me.

The kitchen door opened and Lillianna bolted inside carrying an inflated beach ball. Once she saw me, she dropped it and ran into my arms. “Uncle Quill! You’re home!”

“Lilli! How’s my favorite niece?” I scooped her up and kissed her cute little face all over, making her giggle.

“You forgot not to say that. You have two nieces now.” She scolded me and it only made me love her all the more.

“Hello, Miss Lillianna. I have ravioli boiling to go with dinner tonight. Extra ricotta, just how you like your food pillows.” Enid winked at Lillianna and went back to seasoning the sauce.

Then Lillianna launched into a fast-paced and detailed explanation of everything that she did while I was gone, focusing on being a mermaid at the beach. The whole thing became an epic tale of two mermaids swimming to the bottom of the ocean and the creatures they met.

A minute after she came in, the door swung open and my breath hitched as Aubrielle entered carrying the picnic basket and a large beach bag stuffed with thick towels. I expected a smile, maybe some cute freckles and a light tan from a day in the sun, but her pretty face was pale and she looked on the verge of tears.

The instinct to comfort her and vanquish whatever had made her upset drove to the surface, and I barely contained a growl. Lillianna chattered on, but I was barely hearing what she was saying. My heavy heartbeat thundered in my ears.

Enid greeted Aubrielle and took the basket from her. Aubrielle attempted a smile as she thanked her, but it trembled.

No. She was the damn light, an angel. I would not let her be sad.

“And then Nonno came to the beach and said hello. But he stayed on the beach. He didn’t go in the water. He didn’t have a tail to swim. The jellyfish was pink and as big as the car!” Lillianna spread her arms as wide as she could. “It was soft as a marshmallow and glowed when it went down to the dark water.”

What the fuck? “Hold on, honey. Did you say your grandfather was there?”

“Yup. Nonno had Matteo and some man I didn’t know with him. They didn’t like the sun because they had on the biggest sunglasses ever. Mermaids don’t have to wear sunglasses because they’re underwater most of the time.”

Shit. My stomach clenched. Lorenzo was in town and he had talked to Lillianna. The bastard might have kidnapped… My thoughts slammed into that possibility. Aubrielle. Was that why she was so shaken? What did that motherfucker say to her? Did he threaten her? Hurt her?

I wanted to wring Lorenzo’s neck and bury him in a shallow grave.

Gavin entered quietly and put a few more bags and a cooler down on the floor before closing the door. His expression was drawn too.

Why did Kon have to marry into that fucking family? Dammit. I knew our father pressured him, but the Pacettis were bad news. We were trying to cut all business ties with them, and they were being dicks about it. Yet because of Lillianna being their blood, we were tied to those fuckers for the rest of our lives.

I needed to find out what happened, but I wasn’t going to scare Lillianna. “Hey, Lilli, you really must be a mermaid because you smell like the ocean. Maybe you should go wash up before dinner. Be sure to check your belly button for seashells.”

Lillianna laughed brightly. “Shells can’t fit in my belly button, silly.”

Aubrielle set down the bag she was carrying and held out her hand to my niece. She had barely looked at me, trying to hide how distressed she was, and that only infuriated me more. “Come on, Lillianna. Let’s get you cleaned up and changed for dinner.”

“I’ve got her, Aubrielle. I’ll run her a quick bath while you go wash up and have a moment to yourself. I’ve heard mermaid adventures can be quite tiring.” I gave her an encouraging smile and a bit of relief softened her features. That tiny change in her mood was worth more than any gem, but it hadn’t lessened the instinct to rage against Lorenzo and his goons.

“Thank you. It’s much appreciated.” Aubrielle slipped away up the stairs.

“I’m not tired from my mermaid adventure.” Lillianna declared, looking me right in the eyes as she said so.

“Aren’t you?” I raised my brows knowing she would fall asleep hard tonight. The poor kid rarely got a chance to run and play like other children. Aubrielle was so good for her. “How about this then: You run upstairs and get your bath going, and I’m going to count to thirty. Well, maybe fifty, and then I’ll come up and see if you’re really still that full of energy or if you’ll be snoring in your bed.”

“I don’t snore!” Lillianna gasped with exaggerated offense as I set her on her feet. “I’m the fastest mermaid in the ocean. You won’t even get to fifty and I’ll be done!”

“I bet you’ll be sleeping.” I teased and booped her on the nose. She stuck her tongue out at me and I held up a finger. “One… two… three…”

Lillianna whooped as she raced up the stairs and disappeared out of sight. I kept counting until ten, because I knew she’d hear me, and then stepped over to Gavin. “What happened? Did Pacetti do anything?”

Gavin shook his head, but he was gritting his teeth. “No, he just came over and said hello to Lillianna. But no way was he there by coincidence.”

“I didn’t think he was. The fucker.” Anyone would be a fool to believe that. “What happened to Aubrielle?”

“Pacetti scared her. He minded his manners in front of Lillianna, but the way he was looking at that poor young Omega…” Gavin hissed out through his teeth. “He had two big guys with him. I carry a pistol, as your brother insisted, but I don’t know how much I would have been able to do if they tried something.”

Kon had Gavin carrying? Now that was news. What did Kon know that I didn’t? My father left this mess for us, and fuck him if he believed we were going to walk in his footsteps.

I turned to head toward Kon’s office, but I stopped, remembering I promised to help Lillianna wash up. I growled under my breath.

“Stella’s still here, Quill. I’ll send her up to help Lillianna.” Enid motioned to the interior door with her wooden spoon. “You go talk to Konstantin and do something about the Pacettis. I don’t want any of them around our sweet girl.” She then nodded to Gavin. “You, come here and taste this for me.”

“Thank you.” I gave our cook a one-armed hug before hurrying out of the room. Enid had been with our family a long time, and she took good care of us.

I sped out of the kitchen and down the hall. Not even knocking, I thrust open the office door and caught Kon just ending a call. He scowled at me as he said his goodbye. Sometimes he looked a lot like our dad when he did that and I wanted to punch him in the face. Yet despite the fact he resembled our father way more than I did, he somehow turned out not to be like the bastard. Under his starched suit and rigid manner, he was a good man. No doubt it was Lillianna’s doing. She was like magic.

Kon set down his phone. “What do you want? I’m due to make another call.”

“Lorenzo.” I spat out the name and Kon stiffened even further. “The bastard’s in town and said hello to Lilli on the beach today. How can you let that fucker come near her?”

Fury flashed through my brother’s eyes, bright enough to match my own, but he snatched a hold of it. “Is she okay? She’s home?”

“Yeah, she’s fine. He was just a happy distraction from her mermaid adventure. Aubrielle was scared shitless though.” I wanted to blast a pair of holes in that fucker’s head. For all the shit Lorenzo had done, but especially for terrorizing Aubrielle.

Kon stood, surging around the desk. “Did he hurt her? Where is she?”

There was anger in his eyes before, but now it was full blown and unhidden. His chest heaved and his jaw clenched. I pointed upward. “She’s home, washing up from the beach. But she was near tears when she came in. Gavin said Lorenzo and two guys. Lilli mentioned Matteo.”

“That motherfucker.” Kon snarled. Matteo was Lorenzo’s nephew and the most cruel of his enforcers. Worse than Lorenzo’s two sons, and they were real assholes. “Lorenzo is supposed to go through me whenever he wants to see Lillianna. He knows if he’s seen with her, he could be putting her life in danger.”

If anything happened to Lillianna because of that fucker…

I’d met Kon’s wife on a few occasions, and Giovanna had been alright. She had no strength in her. Her brothers and father made sure all the Pacetti women were submissive to them. Yet when a rival gunned down all the women while they were out to brunch, Lorenzo barely batted an eye. Oh, he swore vengeance, but more to the insult to him than the loss of his wife, daughter, granddaughter, and daughter-in-laws. We were lucky Lillianna hadn’t been with them when it happened.

Kon had whisked Lillianna away from the Pacettis and lived in secret with her until our father died.

“What did he do to Aubrielle?” Kon asked in a low voice.

“As far as I know, nothing but be his own creepy self.” I shrugged. “That would be enough to unnerve anyone.”

“He’s a risk to her as well.” A muscle twitched in his cheek. “We have to up our security. We need guards at the house, and at least a pair for Aubrielle and Lillianna. I’ll have to make a call to Callista’s mates and see what can be done.”

“You have Gavin carrying.” I paced, unable to rid myself of the urge to cause some violence upon the Pacettis.

Kon rounded his desk and sent a quick text. “I didn’t know Lorenzo or any of the family would be here on the coast. It was only because Lillianna and Aubrielle are Omegas. A general threat rather than the specific threat we have now.” He gripped the edge of his desk. “Gavin isn’t trained to deal with the Pacettis. We need professionals.”

“Calli’s mates would be here in a heartbeat if you called them. Maybe you can even hire them for a little extra job… do away with Lorenzo once and for all.”

He shook his head. “We’re not killers, Quill. We’re nothing like those bastards.”

I knew he’d say that, and Callista’s husbands wouldn’t do something like that either. But rage was fueling my thoughts at the moment. No one would expect me to arrange a hit. Lorenzo thought Kon was the brains in our business and handled everything. He always looked at me like I was an idiot, and well, I’d been an alcoholic for a number of years. Let Lorenzo think that of me. I would use it to my advantage.

“No.” Kon snapped, seeming to read my mind. “Don’t you fuck with the Pacettis. They have their fingers in everything. We’ll cut our ties with them the right way, through legal means.”

“Which they’re fucking with,” I shot back with a snarl. “They’ll keep running us in circles forever.”

“Our lawyers are better, and with the new tariff laws, we have a hand up on them.” Kon leaned forward on his desk with both palms flat on the top. He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t do anything stupid, Quill. You have no idea what you’re dealing with when it comes to the Pacettis.”

“And you do?” I matched his hard gaze. If something ‘stupid’ got rid of the Pacettis, I didn’t care what I had to do. Lillianna would be safe then. And no one would terrorize Aubrielle ever again.

“I know way more than you do.” His lip curled as if he just ate something rancid.

I wasn’t certain of anything when it came to the Pacettis, but I’d imagined the worst. Money laundering and murder were two of the things I was pretty sure about. What could be worse than murder?

There was no way I was going to let Lorenzo’s shadow hang over us forever. I turned and headed to the door. “Go make your call, Kon. I won’t bother you about this anymore.”

“Quill.” His voice contained a warning, but fuck him.

Kon had to behave as the CEO of our Birk family business and as a father. I was no one’s father. Everyone expected me to act like an idiot, but my head was clearer than it had been in years. My brother couldn’t take the action he wanted, but I could, and I didn’t care what happened to me because of it. Just as long as my family was safe, and Aubrielle never shed another tear in her life.

CHAPTER NINE - Aubrielle

A long hot bath scrubbed the sand and salt from my skin and added a rosy flush to my face, but my nerves were still tight. Something had coiled up inside of me. No, not just something, but several somethings.

Earlier this week, all my tension was because I was around two handsome Alphas who were inspiring my unconscious to give me sizzling sex dreams. Now I had fear tying me in a tangled mess. The two things were opposites and didn’t mix well. They battled inside my soul and pulled my emotions in every direction.

Lillianna came to find me while I was putting my damp hair up in buns. She had already drawn a sketch of what she wanted her mermaid tail to look like. Listening to her excited chatter kept me out of my head, and for that, I was grateful.

Her obsession with mermaids continued on to dinner where she had Enid sit with us and discuss it. Halfway through, Quill joined us from upstairs, and a minute later, Konstantin entered the kitchen from another entrance. Their presence had my stomach tightening, making it difficult to eat.

Enid got up and served them dinner as Lillianna told the story again of her mermaid adventures. I squirmed in my chair, breathing in Konstantin’s smooth leather and vanilla scent, and then in the next breath, inhaling fresh mandarin and cypress from Quill. Both scents were deeply male and made naughty images from my dreams flash through my mind.

Konstantin binding me with his tie and eating my pussy. Quill lifting me off my feet and fucking me against the wall.

“Aubrielle?” The sound of my name yanked me from my erotic thoughts. I blinked and looked toward Quill who grinned. Mm, that sensuous smile. “What color is your mermaid tail going to be?”

Oh, right. Mermaid talk. I swallowed and looked at Lillianna so if my naughty thoughts betrayed me, Quill wouldn’t be able to see them in my eyes. “Well, Lillianna is going to have blue and purple, so I might go with varying shades of pink.”

“That would be pretty,” Lillianna agreed and ate the last of her food pillows.

“So a blue mermaid and a pink mermaid with scales that go all the way up their necks. Lovely.” Quill smirked as he bit into a piece of cheesy garlic bread. He sat half-turned toward his niece with an arm resting on the top of his chair. The buttoned-up shirt he wore hugged his muscled frame. So casual, so incredibly hot.

“No!” Lillianna gasped. “Not up to our necks. That would look silly.”

“It would look right with your big giant round fish mouths. That’s what mermaids have, right?” Quill continued to tease her.

Konstantin said nothing, but quietly ate his meal with a look of amused affection at the two of them, which he tried to hide between bites. He still wore his suit, and for some reason that turned me on even more. He looked sharp and commanding, ready with a firm hand…

“Nooo! Mermaids have normal mouths. And their scales are only on their tails.” Lillianna huffed and poked her uncle. “That’s why they wear seashells on their chests.”

My eyes widened and my cheeks heated as Quill burst out with laughter. A chuckle even escaped Konstantin before he reined it in. Enid grinned as she cleared away everyone’s empty plates except my still half eaten meal.

“Seashells, eh? Now that I can appreciate.” Quill’s gaze went without shame to my chest. It was as if I could feel his hands cupping my breasts and the anticipation of his mouth about to descend up on a nipple.

Was he seriously ogling my chest at the table? Did he think I was attractive?

Not that I should even be entertaining such thoughts. I reminded myself of who and what and where I was again. There would be no stepping over any lines or jumping into anyone’s bed.

“Perhaps a swim shirt with a seashells print on it would be better suited for… being on a beach.” Konstantin steepled his fingers as he gave his daughter a fatherly smile and shot Quill a quick look that very clearly said to shut up. He didn’t turn his head my way, but I somehow felt his attention on me. Hot and yearning.

Or maybe that was just me. Crap. I needed to stop thinking of them that way.

“Maybe. I’ll think about it.” Lillianna sighed, behaving again like a girl well beyond her years.

“Well, Miss Lillianna, while you’re considering mermaid wear, I have a dessert specially made for mermaids.” Enid brought over a plate on which an adorable dolphin made of ice cream swam between coral cookies. “Dolphin melone gelato.”

Lillianna squealed with delight. “I love it!”

“I’m so glad, dear.” Enid retrieved two more plates from the fridge freezer. She set one in front of Quill. “A jolly whale for you.” Then the second she sat in front of Konstantin. “And a crab for you.”

Quill snickered. “This is fantastic, Enid. You nailed each of us perfectly. The graceful and playful dolphin, the ornery crab, and the magnificent, handsome whale.”

“Daddy’s not ornoraree-ee.” Lillianna jumped right in to defend her father. “Crabs are clever and they can sing.”

Konstantin dipped his head to his daughter and smirked at Quill. “Thank you, Lillianna.”

“I have one for you too, Aubrielle dear. But you must finish your ravioli first.” Enid gave me a soft, motherly smile. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone told me to eat everything on my plate. In fact, the etiquette teacher at St. Anne’s taught us Omegas to always leave food on the plate lest we seem like hogs. “Yours is a sunfish.”

“Thank you. These are so cute. How did you make them?”

“When I got Lillianna some sand toys for the beach last week, I thought the molds looked like they’d be excellent for jellies and other desserts. They’re plastic, so I can’t cook them, but there are a hundred gelato recipes, and I know a certain little girl who loves gelato.” Enid laughed when Lillianna raised her hand and grinned with a mouth full of dessert.

The anxiety which had twisted my stomach earlier in the day had eased. While I’d heard unhappy stories about family events from Callista, sitting here right now, I could see only a family who loved one another. No matter the big manor we were in, right here in the kitchen felt cozy and warm. It felt like home.

Home. Where my parents and I laughed together. We could sit around the dinner table for hours talking about everything.

My eyes misted as my heart ached for my family. I looked down, hoping to hide it, and speared another ravioli with my fork to eat it.

Lillianna finished her last bite of dessert and wiggled happily in her chair. “All done! Aubrielle, can we go upstairs and plan more of our mermaid tails now?”

I set down my fork, ready to say yes and put my mind on something less morose, but Konstantin stood and picked up his daughter. “I think we need to let Aubrielle finish her dinner before she does anything else. Right now, I need your help picking out some life jackets for when we take a boat out to Aunt Callista’s island. Maybe you’ll find one that is suited to mermaids. Then we can read together before you settle down for bed.”

“Yay!” Lillianna kicked her feet as she hugged her father.

“Aubrielle,” Konstantin said my name stiffly. “I would like to speak to you later this evening after Lillianna has settled down. Please meet me in my office at nine.”

“Of course.” I bobbed my head, my abdomen tightening. There was no way I was going to be able to eat the rest of my dinner now. Was he displeased with how I handled the situation with Lillianna’s grandfather today? Did he think I was spoiling her and not being as structured as the previous nanny?

“Daddy, when is Aunt Callista going to be home? Do you think Isabella will be walking then? Can we make her a mermaid tail too?” Lillianna pelted her father with questions as they left the kitchen, and I was left wondering if I was going to have a job after tonight or not.

“That girl has her father wrapped around her pinky finger.” Quill chuckled and stretched out his long legs. “Actually, she has us all wrapped around her fingers.”

“And we’d have it no other way.” Enid bustled around, collecting plates and rinsing them in the sink.

I continued to stare at my dinner, trying to think of a way I could slip out of the kitchen without being rude. I needed to get outside and calm my nerves. I had considered the kitchen cozy only a moment ago, but now the walls felt like they were closing in.

My heart pitter-pattered fast in my chest and my breaths were shallow. Fresh air. Oh God, I was about to run out of the room like a scared bunny, wasn’t I?

“Hey Aubrielle, did you know tonight is a very special night?” Quill yanked me to the edge of the big swirling ball of anxiety in my mind. He’d straightened in his seat and sat perched on the edge closest to me. “Let’s leave Enid to clean up, and I’ll show you.”

What was he talking about? Was he trying to flirt with me? I was in no mood for such a thing.

“Go on, dearie. I’ll keep your gelato in the freezer in case you want a sweet treat later.” Enid gave me a soft smile as she finally took the remainder of my dinner away.

Quill stood and crooked his finger at me. “Come on. Consider it inspiration for your mermaid tail.”

What the heck was he talking about? I shouldn’t go anywhere alone with an Alpha, especially not one that turned the usual butterflies in my stomach into a frenzied pack of seagulls. Yet Enid didn’t seem concerned about it, and I could excuse myself from his company faster than I could from the table when we were all seated there.

There was also something in me that wanted to follow him, that was desperate for his attention and his heady scent. It scared me and made it difficult to say no to him at the same time.

“Alright. Thank you for dinner, Enid.” I nodded to her as I stood and followed Quill up the stairs. He passed the second floor and kept going to the third. His floor.

I’d been avoiding coming to the third floor, even when Quill was gone on his business trip. I had no use for the workout room since keeping up with Lillianna all day was exhausting enough, and I’d never been big on video games to explore the game room. As for his bedroom, I tried not to imagine it, but it was luxurious and modern in my dreams.

I nipped my lower lip as I rounded the corner of the stairs and stood in the hallway. The workout room was on the left and the game room on the right. Each room had three large paneled glass walls. Lots of windows lined each exterior wall and the glow of the setting sun cast a golden sheen over everything.

Both rooms were done in a minimalist style. While the workout room had white walls with black accents and a dozen machines, the game room was more colorful with various shades of blue accented with yellow and orange. There were three flat screens on one wall with a shelf of several consoles and cartridges lined on it. A projector and screen graced the opposite wall with cozy recliners in front of it. The chairs looked like they could swivel to face either the movie screen or the gaming ones.

“You can use any of these rooms any time you want.” Quill slowed so I could admire them. “Sometimes I bring Lilli up here and we play old games like Mario Kart. She also really likes VR and pretending to be a cat. There’s educational stuff on the VR too. Like going into space or deep sea diving. With her so into being a mermaid, that might be something you two could do on a rainy day.”

Nervous as I was to be alone with him, this made me smile. Lillianna would love pretending to explore the ocean. Callista had never really told me much about her brothers, but Quill was an excellent uncle. It was sexy.

I bit the side of my tongue. Stop thinking stuff like that!

Quill’s grin grew broader as if he knew precisely what I was thinking. “We’re almost there.”

Where? To his bedroom? Oh God.

Yet instead of taking me to the door at the end of the corridor, he went into the game room and led me to where there was a small coiled stairway hidden in a corner. It led up to a hatch. “This goes up to the roof. You don’t have a fear of heights, do you?”

I shook my head. The roof? He had said something about inspiration for my mermaid tail. Why would anything like that be on the roof?

“Good. You’re going to love this.” Quill wound his way up the metal stairs and unlocked the hatch before pushing it open. Warm sea air was vacuumed inside and washed over my skin. I carefully followed him up, exiting the cool air conditioning into the warm breeze. He offered his hand to help me up, and I reached for it without thinking.

The second our hands clasped, the rest of the world disappeared. There was only this gorgeous Alpha staring down at me with dilated eyes. A wave of electricity went through me and every nerve seemed more alive than it had been before. The firmness of his grip, his masculine scent filling my nose, and his heavy breaths making his chest rise and fall.

I wanted to press my body against his, to be wrapped in his strong arms, and snuggle against his chest listening to his heart beat. Did it pound as loudly as mine?

“Oh, Aubrielle.” His tone was low and growly as he urged me up onto the roof, tugging me toward him.

A gust of wind blew over us and his black hair danced across his forehead. He was more than just handsome. He was like the god of love come to life. Slick suddenly soaked my panties, and I was keenly aware of what was happening.

We were compatible.

It was no gentle poke telling me this Alpha could be my mate. It was like being thrust into a volcano and you were stuck in that moment of sizzling heat before you hit the lava, struck by the intensity of it. Scared yet mesmerized. I wanted to flee and melt into his arms at the same time.

With both feet on the roof, I reclaimed my hand and hid it behind my back as if not seeing it would make this situation any less real. I took five steps away from him, and each one nearly broke me with how hard it was to do.

My friends told me how powerful it was when they met their mates. Yet by the time I heard the stories, they were all happily in love. It was pure romance.

This, Quill and I, it couldn’t happen. If I had wings, I’d jump off the roof and fly away into the sea.

“Aubrielle.” Quill stepped toward me and I backed away again.

Swallowing a whimper, I shook my head to whatever he was going to say.

I scanned the roof for something, anything to put between us. There were a half dozen Adirondack chairs with pillows and blankets folded underneath. There were small tables positioned around them. The chairs faced the west where the sun was setting over the Pacific. Golds and pinks played over the rippling water. To the east, the full moon was starting to rise over the Cascade range of mountains.

“Why did you bring me up here?” The words were breathy and choppy, but I managed to get them out.

Quill took another step closer, and I held up a hand to stop him. God, he looked at me like a panther ready to pounce on their prey. His whole body was tense, each move was smooth and measured. “I was going to show you the Strawberry Moon. It’s not very pink right now, but around midnight, the moon will be almost as beautifully flushed as you are now.”

My thighs squeezed together, and I swallowed a whimper. His words alone could make me come.

I glanced at the moon and could see a faint tinge of pink. Midnight was hours away yet. Had he been planning for us to stay up there for that long? I had to meet with Konstantin soon, and he sounded very serious.

Would he be able to tell Quill and I were compatible? My stomach twisted and an ache throbbed between my legs.

Oh no. Fuck. Was this more than just a realization I was compatible with an Alpha? Did Quill trigger my heat?

This could not be happening.

I backed away from him toward the stairs with tears blurring my vision.

“Don’t go. We need to talk about this.” Quill followed me step for step and reached out his hand toward me. It shook as if he was trying very hard not to just grab me. “I don’t want you to be afraid. I’ll never take advantage of you or hurt you. But fuck, I never knew it would feel this way. You can feel it, right? We were made for one another.”

No, no, no. Tears ran down my cheeks. My hand bumped against the railing for the stairs and I took a hold of it. The metal was cool against my too hot skin.

“Your scent…” Quill breathed in deeply. “I thought it was strong before, but now I’m fully wrapped up in it. You smell sweet and feminine, and fuck, I want to eat you up.” His mouth curled up as he continued to offer his hand to me. “In every possible way.”

“No. We can’t. I need to go.” I jerked myself onto that first step and nearly fell. My iron grip on the railing was the only thing that kept me on my feet.

“Please, come and sit. I’ll give you the space you need, for now, but—”

“No!” The word tore at me.

“You can’t ignore it.” Quill stopped moving forward, but his intense gaze held me more strongly than shackles.

“We have to.” There was no choice. This job was too perfect. I didn’t want to lose it, and the only way to make certain of that was to run away from him and never be near him again. I clamored down the stairs. They rattled with my desperate escape.

Quill didn’t chase me. He didn’t need to. It was as if there were an invisible rope tying us together and it grew tighter and more painful the farther we were from one another.

I ran down the third floor hall and bolted down the stairs to the second floor. My thighs were slippery from slick by the time I made it to my room and shut the door. I leaned back against it, panting, and slid down to the floor.

The laws were created for a reason. I was alone with an Alpha, and now look at the mess I was in. I was such an idiot to think nothing would happen.

If Quill had truly triggered my heat, I would be in no condition to take care of Lillianna. If Konstantin wasn’t going to fire me tonight, then he would have to get rid of me for this. I pressed my forehead against my arms and sobbed.

I’d been so happy. My first job with a lovable ward, a step closer to my dream of being a teacher, and living near one of my best friends. Then I messed it all up.

All because I didn’t think before I took the hand of a hot Alpha.

CHAPTER TEN - Konstantin

It was one minute after nine. Aubrielle was late. This wasn’t like her.

I’d only known her for a week, so I shouldn’t be able to say that promptness was one of her characteristics. But for some reason, deep in my soul, I felt like I knew her. As if she had been in my life for years. It made no sense, but something had to be wrong to make her late.

I paced the length of my office. Lillianna had drifted off while I read to her, exhausted from her day at the beach. I hadn’t seen her this happy since her mother was alive. She’d been a quiet child when it was just the two of us, and when we moved to Oregon with Quill and Callista around, she’d opened up and smiled more often. Yet with Aubrielle, it was like Lillianna was finally the girl she was meant to be. Vibrant and laughing and so excited for everything.

And it was all because of beautiful, nurturing Aubrielle.

Who was now two minutes late.

This would not do. Aubrielle had been quiet at dinner and barely ate. Whatever happened with Lorenzo had thoroughly shaken her, and I needed to assure her that I’d protect her. That bastard would never frighten her again.

Not just assure her, I would protect her. My upper lip curled with a soft snarl. No one and nothing would ever harm her.

I marched to the door and swung it open to find Aubrielle standing there with her hands clutched in front of her. She gasped and her red-rimmed eyes shimmered. She’d be crying.

Everything in me roared to tear down the world and rid it of whatever had upset her. I squeezed the door handle and stepped to one side. I breathed out slowly, trying to maintain control. “Please, come in.”

Aubrielle murmured a thank you and walked around me as far as she could as she went to the other side of the room. The musky scent of her nearly knocked me off my feet. It was because I still held the door that I remained standing.

Holy fuck. I’d been enchanted by her scent before. The sweet honeysuckle and rose perfume that was so natural and feminine. Now it wrapped me up and kidnapped all my common sense.

Omega. Mine.

I turned away from her as I closed the door. My dick was rock hard and demanding I take her. Was this what it was like to scent match with someone? I hadn’t been compatible with Giovanna, so I had nothing to compare it to, but everything I’d heard from friends said that this was exactly what was happening.

Aubrielle and I were compatible.

The door clicked but I didn’t drop my hand from the knob.

She hadn’t taken the seat in front of my desk, but stood in front of it, wringing her hands. “Mr. Birk, I want to apologize—”

“Apologize for what? You’ve done nothing wrong.” I pushed away from the door and stalked slowly toward her. She was trembling and glanced at me through her long lashes. A rosy flush colored her creamy skin and her full lips were slightly parted. They’d feel so perfect around my cock as I slid it between them…

What the hell was I doing? It didn’t matter if we were compatible. She was my employee and Callista’s friend. If I bent her over my desk right now, every moral person in the world would say I was taking advantage of her.

“Then why…?” Aubrielle’s voice was barely more than a whisper.

“Sit.” I pointed to the chair, and she lowered herself down to perch on the edge. Perfectly poised, with her back straight and breasts perk. Oh, good girl. With her long hair up in buns, her neck was bared. My jaw twitched with the urge to kiss along her throat and bite her, claiming her as mine.

I reached out to grab her, but yanked my hand up at the last second to grip the tall back of the chair. “Miss Smyth, there are a few things I wanted to talk about this evening.” Like how hot she’d look laid out on my desk with her legs spread as I fucked her hard. “You’re doing an extraordinary job with Lillianna. Her imagination has exploded, and she’s already showed me a few new words she learned this week. Not only does she adore you, but she’s so happy. You’re exactly who she needs in her life right now.”

Aubrielle was exactly what I needed, but I couldn’t have her. I forced myself to walk around to my side of the desk.

“Oh.” Her eyes were wide and surprise burned on her face. “Thank you. Lillianna is a joy, and it’s my pleasure to be her nanny.” She squirmed, moving further to the edge of the chair. Her head dropped, sadness claiming her features again. “But…”

“But nothing.” I wouldn’t have her thinking anything that happened with Lorenzo was her responsibility. “What happened earlier was not your fault.”

Aubrielle stiffened and grew swiftly pale. “You know… what happened?”

“Of course, Gavin let me know.”

“Gavin?” She squeaked and lifted a hand to cover her mouth. “How?”

She was still terrified. I fucking loathed Lorenzo all the more for it. “He saw it all.”

“Oh God.” Aubrielle bent forward, covering her face. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen. I’d been trying very hard to follow the Omega laws—”

“None of it was your fault.” I repeated and found myself coming around the desk. She was scared and upset and needed comfort. There was no way I could resist. “Lorenzo Pacetti is Lillianna’s grandfather, but he is no friend of the family. He’s nothing but trouble. I will make certain you have proper security the next time you and Lillianna go out, but it’s best if you stay in the manor and on the grounds until I get that sorted.”

I took her arm tenderly and lifted her from the chair to press her against me. If I hadn’t been certain we were compatible before, I was more than sure of it now as every Alpha instinct snapped into overdrive. My arms tightened against her as I scanned the room for unseen enemies, daring anyone to try to take her away from me.

“Oh no,” she whimpered and tried to slip free. Heat radiated off her body and her scent wrenched up another notch.

“It will be alright. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” I rubbed my cheek against her silky hair as a soft purr rumbled in my throat. “You’re safe. You’re mine.”

“What?” Aubrielle pushed against my chest, but I wasn’t going to let her go. Not ever.

Her wriggling only made me more aroused. My purr ramped up to close to a growl. One bite and she’d be mine. I brushed my fingers along the length of her neck.

“Mr. Birk!” She knocked my chest with her elbow and pulled away from me. “This isn’t proper. You’re my boss. I shouldn’t be around any Alphas, and… Oh God.”

Aubrielle wrapped her arms around her abdomen and squeezed her legs together. I didn’t need to see the wetness in the material of her skirt to know her slick was flowing. She wanted me as much as I did her.

“Let me take care of you.” I reached for her again and she skittered away.

“No! You aren’t thinking properly. It’s because I’m an Omega, and now you can’t control yourself because…” She stumbled toward the door. “Because I’m starting to go into heat. I can’t stay here. There’s no way I can keep working…” Tears sprang free of her eyes. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let Quill touch me. I’ll go pack my stuff.”

My teeth gritted together. Quill touched her?

Aubrielle made it to the door and yanked it open. She ran from the room and I rushed out the way she went. I made it to the bottom of the stairs before I grabbed the railing and stopped myself.

Dammit. I was probably scaring the shit out of her chasing her through the house. Yet I couldn’t let her think that I was an Alpha asshole or that she would lose her job. I needed to comfort her, to make everything right, but I still had enough wits left about me to understand she didn’t want to see me right now.

But what I could do was make her feel safe. My fucking brother…

I stormed up the stairs to the third floor. Quill. The bastard. He used to always have a woman or two on his arm, taking whatever lover he wanted and just tossing them away when he was done. Aubrielle was not to be toyed with.

He wasn’t in the game room or exercising, and not in his bedroom either.

But the hatch to the roof was open.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Aubrielle in tears. She thought it was all her fault, but she didn’t know Quill.

Once up the spiral stairs, I spotted Quill sitting in a chair with his back to me and a bottle of cognac on the table beside him. Of course he’d be drinking. The fucker couldn’t stay away. Not only did he upset Aubrielle, but he had gone back to his old ways. I told him if he ever did, he was out of the house. I refused to have any such behavior near Lillianna.

He fingered the neck of the bottle as I approached. I spotted that he had his earbuds in and couldn’t hear me.

I grabbed the back of the chair and thrust it forward, launching him forward to his knees.

Quill twisted to look at me. “What the fuck?”

Something broke free inside of me. I didn’t even give him any warning as I punched him in the face.

Aubrielle in tears. Mother-fucker.

“Kon! Fucking hell!” Quill scrambled back and got to his feet. He rubbed his jaw and gestured to the bottle. “I wasn’t drinking. Shit. You can see for yourself the bottle hasn’t even been opened.”

I took another swing and he dodged. “You’re out of the fucking house. Bastard.”

“Jesus, Kon! Listen to me.” Quill held up his hands. I didn’t want him to talk. I wanted to fight. “I’m not drinking. I just needed it for a bit. A reminder that I beat it. That I’m strong enough to resist.”

Not strong enough to resist a sweet Omega though.

“Aubrielle.” My next punch clipped his shoulder. His body went rigid, standing straighter and more solidly on his feet.

Quill scowled at me. “What the fuck are you talking about? I didn’t do anything.”

“You touched her,” I growled and pushed him.

He pushed me back. “I offered her my hand to help her onto the roof. That was it. I didn’t know we were compatible. When she didn’t want to talk about it or be near me, I let her go. I didn’t do anything. But man, she’s perfect. I want—”

My next shove had him stumble closer to the edge of the roof. She was mine. “She was upset. Crying. She thinks it’s her fault and wants to leave. But you’re the one who is going. Never go near her again.”

Primal fury shook my fists. I wanted to kill him. Never had I wanted to harm anyone, but I wanted my own brother dead.

“She can’t leave!” Quill attempted to go around me toward the stairs, but I blocked his way. “It’s not her fault. Neither of us knew. We can’t let her fucking leave!”

He tried going by me again, but I refused to be moved.

I imagined his body shattered and broken on the ground. Aubrielle would be safe from him.

“What’s gotten into you?” Quill’s eyes widened, realization settling on his face, and he nodded once. “I see. You too, huh?” He stepped back and clenched his hands into fists as he stood ready to fight. Finally. “I’m not giving her up. I’ll fight for her.”

“Good.”

We launched ourselves at one another, fists flying. Last one standing would get the Omega.

And that would be me.

CHAPTER ELEVEN - Quill

The coolness of the stone on the roof was a relief from the hot and throbbing aches in my body. If anyone told me earlier today that Konstantin knew how to fight, I would have laughed right in their face. My stoic, proper businessman brother? No fucking way.

Yet he’d kicked my ass good. I’d given back just as much, but damn.

I licked a bead of blood from my split lower lip. My chest heaved with each breath and my heart was starting to slow to a normal pace. “Where the hell did you learn to fight?”

“College.” Konstantin leaned back against the parapet, pressing an ice cube to his swollen eye. “I had a lot of stress to relieve, so I took up boxing at the gym.”

The full moon wasn’t at its height yet, but a pale pink tinged it like a donut’s glaze. I didn’t know how long we pounded on each other, but it couldn’t be near ten o’clock yet. I’d wanted to share the Strawberry Moon with Aubrielle. I’d imagined us snuggling under the night sky, talking the night away. Okay, fuck. I’d hoped for a whole lot more, but what I didn’t imagine was her running away when we found out we were compatible.

“You’re not so bad yourself.” Konstantin had taken off his suit jacket and stuck it behind his head. Blood spotted his white button-up shirt making him look like a real badass.

“I got into a lot of scraps at school and after. There was always someone who needed their butt kicked. That whole prep school was full of twats.” I snorted and regretted it, as I gently pinched my nose. It wasn’t busted, but it wasn’t going to look pretty for the next few days.

“Total twats.” Konstantin agreed, and I smirked. I’d always thought he was just like them, but over the past year, he’d proven he was a good guy. That’s why when he came at me, I had no fucking idea what had gotten into him until he brought up Aubrielle. That Omega had gotten under both our skins, and I wasn’t sure what we were going to do about it.

“You know, I don’t think we’ve ever had a fight like that. I’ve told you to fuck off a lot, and you’d turn your nose up at me and walk away. I always thought you saw me as garbage. An unfortunate familial burden.” Hell, I thought the same thing about myself for years.

Konstantin sighed. “I did. Dad’s whispers in my ears, warping the way I saw the world. I’m so fucking glad he’s dead.”

“Same.” I stopped drinking the day I found out he died. The world was suddenly clear again. I didn’t need the alcohol to wash the shit away. I tapped my brother’s foot with my own. “So what do you think of me now? Am I the best looking one in the family or what?”

His chuckle made me smile. “Fuck, no. Lillianna will always win that one.”

“Yeah, truth.” No one could argue with that, and if they did, I would show them just how scrappy I could be.

Konstantin dropped his hand from his eye and let what remained of the ice cube slide free beside him. “I always thought you were trouble, and you acted like it. Yet I think in the last year, I’m finally seeing you. The real you. You’re smarter and more creative than you let on, you’re passionate about the things you like, and you have a real way with people. Old, young, whoever. Everyone likes you.”

That’s why I was head of marketing and why Konstantin had me flying off around the world to deal with business. Sure, he wanted to stay home with Lillianna, and I got that. I was happy to do most of the travelling, but being around family again made me realize how much I’d missed them. How much I wanted one of my own.

“You’re a good guy, Quill.”

I rolled over and winced at what would be a big bruise on my side. Sitting up, I rested my back against the parapet next to Konstantin. The moon was pretty tonight and only served to remind me of something even more beautiful.

“What are we going to do, man?” I glanced at him and he furrowed his brows as if he didn’t know what I was talking about. If he went that crazy for our sweet Omega, she would be on his mind as much as she was on mine. “About Aubrielle. You came at me like an Alpha protecting his mate. You’re compatible with her too, right?”

Konstantin rolled his head from side to side as if preparing for another fight. I tensed up, ready to spring back, as he glared a hole into the roof. He then ran his hands through his hair and exhaled through his teeth. “Yeah. I may have lost my mind for a minute.”

“She has that fucking effect.” I would have jumped up and nabbed the moon for her if she asked.

“She ran.” Konstantin looked pained at that statement. Aubrielle had run from me too, so I empathized. I only wanted to hold her forever. Was that too much to ask? “I wanted to talk to her about Lorenzo, but then… Fuck. She thought everything was her fault and ran. I didn’t want to scare her, so I came up here and beat your ass instead.”

“Thanks,” I replied dryly. “Nothing is her fault.”

“Exactly.” He let out a small groan and tipped his head back. “But how do we get her to see that?”

“We tell her. Lay it all out. She’s smart.” If everything was out in the open, there would be no need for fighting or running away. I might have made a lot of messy situations when I was younger, but I was always bluntly honest.

“It’s not that simple.” Konstantin shook his head and rubbed his thumb lightly over his swollen eye. His jaw tightened as I caught a low growl under his breath. “Aubrielle is Lillianna’s nanny.”

“So?” I shrugged.

“That means I’m her boss. It isn’t right to step over that line.” He huffed and then narrowed his eyes at me. “She’s our staff. She has to feel safe in her work environment. Plus, Lillianna loves her. I will not hurt my daughter by doing anything that might jeopardize the relationship she has with Aubrielle. Lillianna has enough issues with people she cares about leaving. I won’t put her through any more pain.”

“Well, if you’re going to be upstanding bossman, I’ll claim Aubrielle and give Lilli a new auntie.” I raised my chin, absolutely serious. He bared his teeth at me, fury igniting in his eyes. I didn’t budge. I face down death for her. “What? Seems you’re set against it. There’s no reason—”

“Quill.” Konstantin snarled the one syllable. Never before had I ever seen him lose his cool until tonight, but he wasn’t going to dissuade me.

“There’s no reason why I can’t pursue her. None.” I punctuated the statement with sweeping my hands to say it was settled. “You can punch me into the ground, and I’ll get back up to be by her side. She’s not just a fling for me, Kon. I can see sharing a life with her.”

“Fuck.” He pushed himself up and started to pace. The intensity of his steps got on my nerves. I was tempted to throw something at him to get him to stop. “I don’t know if I can give her up.”

I stood and a gust of wind whooshed around us. Brushing my hair out of my face, I spread my arms. “You don’t have her yet, bro. Neither of us do. I’m not stupid enough to think I can just whisk her off her feet. She’s the type of woman you have to work for, and she’s more than worth it.”

Konstantin kicked at one of the chairs. “She’s in heat.”

Something lit up inside of me. I knew how delicate the situation was right now, but everything in me was more than excited to hear that. “Yeah? So she’ll need an Alpha to help her through. I’ll treat her like a queen. I’ll make sure she doesn’t suffer a single minute.”

“And what if she doesn’t want you?” He folded his arms as his tie fluttered in the wind.

“Then you will.” Whatever Aubrielle wanted, she would get, even if that wasn’t me. “But she wants me. I know it.” I smirked. “Why can’t it be both of us if that’s what she wants? Callista has three mates. And look at Kienna! That girl needs five guys to keep her motor purring.”

“Goddammit, Quill.” Konstantin rolled his eyes and shook his head, but I caught him almost smiling. Yet then he went all serious again. “I don’t know if I could share.”

“Right now, it isn’t up to us.” I walked over to a small cooler under one of the tables and retrieved two bottles of water. I tossed one to my brother, which he deftly caught. “It’s up to Aubrielle what she wants. Just know, I’m not going to step away. I can share if it means having her in my life, and I only say that because I know you’ll treat her well. You have to think about how much keeping her in your life means to you. The only thing that will get me to back off is if she tells me she doesn’t want me.”

Konstantin muttered something and glanced at me. “Smarter than you look.” He twisted off the lid of the bottle and took a long drink.

I grinned and opened my water. Whether I was smarter or not, it didn’t matter. I was honest about my emotions, and Konstantin needed to come to terms with how he felt about it all. Everyone always saw him as the cool-headed hardass, but he was a volcano about to erupt. Yet if he thought he could get me to back off trying to win Aubrielle’s heart, he would see what a hardass I could be.

CHAPTER TWELVE – Aubrielle

A note had been slipped under my door at some point in the night. I sat on my packed suitcase and stared at it for a long time. There was no point in trying to sleep. My dreams were filled with erotic scenes of me with Quill and Konstantin. Positions I never thought about, and sensations that had me waking covered in slick.

It was only when the morning sun kissed the horizon that I gathered enough nerve to pick the paper up and unfold it. It struck me as kind of silly to pen a note when a text would be more expeditious, but once I started reading it in Konstantin’s careful hand, I realized it was far more personal than any text could be.

Dear Aubrielle,

I must first offer my deepest apologies for my behavior yesterday. The fact we’re compatible gives me no right to expect anything of you. I have far more respect for you than what I demonstrated, and I ask for your forgiveness.

Whether you choose to accept my apology or not, please consider staying on as Lillianna’s nanny. She adores you, and you have been so good for her. She deserves the best in life, and you are the best for her.

I wiped at my eyes with the back of my hand as I teared up. Lillianna was wonderful, and I was loath to leave her. I wasn’t certain how I felt about Konstantin and what happened, or about Quill, but I already bonded with Lillianna.

And her father thought I was best for her. Not for a second did I doubt the sincerity of the statement. Something inside of me trembled with joy knowing that Konstantin felt that. His praise made the ache between my legs pulse with more urgency.

It would only get worse. Far worse.

I swallowed hard and kept reading.

If you’re worried about not being able to work during your heat, we have plenty of hands on staff to watch over Lillianna while you do so. I will personally take time to be with my daughter until you’re able to resume your duties. If you wish to be professional about it, you should know that the law allows Omegas time off during their heat cycle.

Of course I knew about the law. It was taught to us young at St. Anne’s as well as the belief that Omegas were meant to be mothers. A lot of my fellow schoolmates scoffed at that, but I’d always wanted to have babies. Omegas were not only given time off during their heats, but plenty of maternity leave as well. Alphas wanted Omegas to have babies, because we were the only ones who could produce Alpha sons. Betas might produce the rare Omega, but not Alphas.

Konstantin didn’t need to tell me what the law said, but I assumed he wanted to comfort me and give me the assurance that my job wasn’t at risk. That wasn’t the problem, though. The issue was that he and his brother were the Alphas I wanted.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling, I continued reading.

I want to give you more than time. Our compatibility allows me to help you through your heat. I will not only take time off for Lillianna, I will take time for you, and make certain that you have everything you need. Of course it is your decision if you take me up on the offer and how much you want from me. I’m offering not only my resources but myself as well.

Offering himself? My whole body lit up like a bonfire.

Dropping the note, I raced into my bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. Once, twice. It wasn’t enough to cool my body down. I desperately peeled off my clothes and turned the shower on, cranking the knob completely right to the cold setting.

I let out a yelp as I stepped under the freezing spray. Focusing the water on my abdomen, I let it cascade down and splashed it up over my chest and face. My slick flowed as if an Alpha were standing directly behind me with his big cock hard and ready to breed.

Crap. That wasn’t helping ease my heat pangs.

Konstantin had offered himself to me.

When he had wrapped his arms around me in his office last night, a rush of contentment blanketed me. I’d felt safe and wanted. His purring wasn’t like anything I’d heard before. I’d seen videos and heard ASMR purrs, but with my head pressed to his chest, the rumbling vibrated to the center of my being and chased off the worst of my nerves.

Until I reminded myself who he was and that it was so wrong.

He had to know it was wrong too. He was intelligent, professional, and careful. The type of Alpha who would follow the law.

Why did that make me more aroused?

I stepped back a few inches to let the spray hit my aching mound. A jolt of pleasure zipped through me. Gasping, I grasped the ledge on the wall. This was supposed to cool off my heat, not feel good.

It didn’t matter if Konstantin offered himself. Either his Alpha hormones dictated that part of the note or he felt it was his duty as a compatible Alpha. I couldn’t take him up on it.

My pelvis angled slightly and the jet of water hit just the right spot again.

Quill was also compatible with me. How horrible would it be for the brothers if they ever found out? I didn’t want them to fight over me. Family was too important. I would not be the Omega who came between them.

Ooh, but to be sandwiched between those two hot Alphas. Their hands wandering all over my body, squeezing my breasts, and teasing my clit. To have one of them hold me, kissing me madly, as the other fucked me.

I fumbled for the removable shower head and yanked it off its bracket. This time, I turned the knob in the other direction for warm water and pressed the spray to my pussy. Moaning, I moved it up and down my slit before I leaned against the wall and lifted a leg to rest my foot on the edge of the tub.

The ache demanded more, feeling empty, and screamed for an Alpha to knot me. But this would have to do, and God, it felt good.

The image of Quill going down on me and covering my pussy with his mouth had me jerk my hips forward. His tongue, licking up and down, never stopping. His gorgeous naked body shining from the water and his huge erection pointing up at its target.

Then Konstantin holding me still from behind and sliding a hand between my legs. His low sexy voice telling me all the dirty things he wanted to do to me while he rubbed my clit.

I spread my labia and unhooded my clit. The spray smacked against it and I let out a cry. I’d never felt so sensitive. My hips rocked as I hit that spot again and again.

Quill and his deliciously wicked grin. Konstantin smoldering in his tailored suit.

Both of them fucking me, knotting me, filling me with their seed.

My orgasm exploded and nearly knocked me off my feet. Crying out again, my eyes fluttered and my legs shook. I sunk down to sit on the side of the tub as my world spun.

I turned off the water with my trembling hand and let the shower head hang from its hose. The steady drip from it was an echo of my pounding heartbeat. I’d never experienced a climax that powerful before. Every part of me felt as if it were buzzing with electricity in the best of ways.

My heat pangs tapered off and left me with a feeling of victory. It was only the beginning of my cycle, but maybe the shower was the secret to getting through this. I could get through my heat and not have to jeopardize my job.

Glancing at the shower head, the nozzle seemed to mock me with a disapproving expression. Water gathered at the lowest part of its rim and stopped dripping.

“Stop judging.” I held up my chin. “I did what had to be done. And now I’ve gone crazy talking to a shower head.”

I stood and plucked a towel from the rack to dry off. Happy energy thrummed in my veins. If there were people to cover for me, I could get through this and come out free from Alpha touch on the other side.

Dressing and loosely braiding my hair, I got ready for the day. I hummed a cheery flower song my mom used to sing and didn’t even startle when my phone rang.

I was surprised to see it was Kienna. Concern made me suddenly tense with worry. There was no way she was up this early in the morning, even with the time difference in Manitoba. It wasn’t until I clicked the video call that I remembered she was actually in Ireland.

“Aubrie!” Kienna whooped and spun around with her phone, showing me she was on a castle wall under the clear blue sky. “I’m at Blarney!”

I laughed with her and grinned. “Hi. It’s beautiful. How’s the trip so far?”

“Hi Aubrielle!” Alderic popped up behind my friend and waved.

“The trip is awesome. Everything I’d hoped it would be. We’ve been to two other castles, but Blarney, God, it’s the best. Best. Castle. Ever!” Kienna cheered, and her mates hooted in the background. “You would love it here. It’s so magical, like a fairy tale come to life.”

“And the pubs are slapping!” Tiergan shouted from nearby.

There was a beep and Nicolette joined our call. She was dimly lit and rubbing her eyes with one hand as she held an infant breastfeeding with her other arm. “Hey girls.”

“Nic! I’m at Blarney!” Kienna exclaimed again and did another slower spin to share the views.

“Gorgeous.” Nicolette nodded and yawned.

“How are you doing, Nicolette?” I asked, not wanting to say she looked like she’d barely made it through the mall stampede for Black Friday sales. Yet something in me went soft at hearing the gentle sounds of her son feeding.

“Exhausted. You’d think with twins they’d be the same, but they’re so not. They’re even on different schedules. One is awake while the other sleeps, so that means I get no sleep.” She sighed but tenderly stroked the baby’s head.

“Well, it’s lucky you’re awake. I’m about to kiss the Blarney Stone.” It was one of Kienna’s lifelong dreams. She handed the phone off to one of her mates and another two held her legs as she bent over the ledge to hang upside-down. She waved at the camera and then kissed the ancient stone, lying her cheek against it as if she might hug it.

We cheered for her as she reluctantly left her spot and stood back up, retrieving her phone. “I can feel the magic. It’s soaring through my veins. I have the gift of gab!”

I giggled, genuinely so happy for her that she was living her dream and with mates who helped make it come true for her.

“You already had that gift.” Nicolette softly snorted.

“Now you’re doubly blessed,” I added with a laugh.

“Aw, I miss my girls.” Kienna blew a kiss at her cell. “Sorry to kiss and run, but we’ve got a tour to finish. I just had to share that with you.”

“Thank you. Have fun and post a million pictures.” I waved at her.

“Yeah, go on and enjoy. Miss you too.” Nicolette smiled.

“Bye, girls. Love you!” Kienna exited the call.

I gazed at Nicolette fussing with her son, switching him around to the other side of her chest. Yes, she looked exhausted, nothing like the beach party girl she used to be, but she looked content and fulfilled. “Motherhood suits you.”

She raised her brows. “Motherhood is going to kill me.” The baby cooed and her expression softened. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s wonderful. I never thought I’d love being a mom so much. I always thought you’d be the first one of us to get married and have a child.”

“One day. There’s no rush. I have to find the right Alpha first.” I opened my mouth to tell her what was happening at the manor, but I bit the side of my tongue. She didn’t need to hear my troubles with so much on her plate right now.

“Any Alpha would be damn lucky to have you. How is being a nanny to Lillianna going? Callista will be home tomorrow, right?”

“It’s fantastic. Lillianna is such an incredible kid. We’re going to design mermaid tails today.” I might have been an adult, but I was still excited to lose myself in the mermaid world with Lillianna. “Yes, it’s Sunday tomorrow. Their flight comes in about noon. Hopefully we can visit with her some time next week.”

“I’m glad you two live closer together now. I hate that we’re all so far apart.” Nicolette glanced down at her baby and whispered, “He’s sleeping now. I’m going to put him down and try to get a few winks myself. It was so good to talk, Aubrie.”

“Go get sleep. Miss you and take care.”

“You too. Bye.”

The call ended and I hugged my phone to my chest. I missed my friends terribly, but we were all in good places. There were bumps in the roads, but it would all work out.

I tidied up and just before leaving the room, I spotted Konstantin’s note I’d dropped earlier. Best not leave that lying around in case anyone else saw it. I scanned it as I carried it to the bin and realized I hadn’t read the last bit.

Know that your position here is secure, and that I have never offered myself to anyone as I’ve done with you. You’re an extraordinary young woman, and I want nothing more than to help you realize that. Hopefully in more ways than one.

Konstantin

Heat rushed through my body and flooded my face. He’d never offered himself to anyone like this. Yes, I knew he was married before and had a daughter, but for an Alpha to admit something like that, it showed the weight of the proposition.

Surely I wouldn’t need any aid through my heat, but… could I if I needed to?

“Aubrielle!” Lillianna sang from the hallway and knocked on my door.

I stuffed the note into my bedside table drawer and hurried to greet her. Never did she need to know her uncle triggered her nanny’s heat and that her father offered to help her nanny through it. Lillianna deserved a perfect world, and I would make certain that happened for her.

Thinking of mermaid tails all day would chase away any thoughts of knots.

Hopefully.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Aubrielle

The entire playroom looked like it was a castle under the sea. We had mermaid toast for breakfast, crab and tuna starfish sandwiches for lunch, and colorful ‘treasure’ pasta for dinner. Enid even made clamshell cookies that were adorable.

Lillianna kept my mind off everything else in the world with her mermaid fantasies. With my shower head moment and her imagination, I wasn’t bothered by any naughty thoughts of Quill or Konstantin all day. I had begun to think I wasn’t going into heat, and that my reaction was only due to the fact I was compatible with the brothers.

That had to be it. Had to be.

“What do you think mermaids dream about?” I set down the brush I’d been using on Lillianna’s thick black hair and began to loosely braid it before she settled down for bed. “Do you think they all dream what it would be like to live on land and walk like humans do?”

Lillianna shook her head before remembering to sit still. “No way. If I was a mermaid and I could swim anywhere and see all the pretty things under water, I’d never want to leave. I’d never want to be the Little Mermaid and give up my tail for legs. That’s just silly.”

“Did you know that there is more water on Earth than land, so there’s much more room under the sea than not?” I finished her braid and fastened the end with a pink band.

“Really?” Lillianna shifted around her bed and slipped her legs under her blankets. I nodded as I helped her settle in. “Being a mermaid is totally the best then.”

“Would you give up cookies and ice cream to be a mermaid?” I had to be the one to ask the difficult questions. It would only deepen the fantasy, and I was glad for the distraction.

Lillianna pursed her lips and then nodded. “Yeah. If I could be a mermaid, I would even give up chocolate.” That’s big, and I put on the appropriate shocked expression. She laid back and laid her small hand on her drawing of her tail. The paper crinkled as she ran her fingers slowly over it. “I think that Mama, Nonna, Zia Roma, and Zia Sofia are mermaids, and they got lost in the big, big ocean, and that’s why they never came back.”

My chest clenched and my throat tightened. Oh, poor sweet girl. I didn’t know what happened to her mother and the other women in her family, but she’d been a toddler when she lost them. I was nineteen when I lost my mom, and while we both had fathers that loved us, I felt a kinship with Lillianna in this aspect. It wasn’t my place to talk about her loss with her, especially with my lack of knowledge about it, but I would give her all the comfort I could give.

I bent toward her and gave her a hug. “That’s a wonderful thought. Imagine the adventures they’d have. You know.” I sat up and tapped my chin. “We could study the oceans and learn more about the creatures that live there to find out where the mermaids live and if any of the sea creatures have seen them.”

Lillianna cocked her head and stared up at me with her big dark eyes. “You can learn about that?”

“If you grow up and become a marine biologist, you will learn all about the oceans and everything in them. That includes mermaids. Of course, mermaids don’t reveal themselves to just anyone. You’d have to be very special and a great friend to the sea.”

“I will.” She clasped her hands together on her chest. “I will be the best friend the sea has ever had.”

“Who is going to be the best friend the sea ever had?” Konstantin’s voice startled me, and I abruptly stood. My heart hammered in my chest.

I wasn’t ready to see him yet. His letter flashed through my mind. I hadn’t made certain if I was reacting to our compatibility or…

What happened to his eye? It was swollen; a little deep purple and yellowish in the light from the bedroom lamp. Was that a hint of a bruise on his jaw too?

I immediately want to rush over and nurse him. I couldn’t stand to see him injured. I had to make everything better.

His oakmoss and vanilla scent slammed into me and rekindled the fire between my legs. Hot and wanting, I needed this Alpha to wrap his arms around me again. I had to step away from where he stood and pressed my hands together behind my back to keep them from reaching toward him.

“Me, Daddy.” Lillianna sat, a brilliant light shining from her whole being. “I’m going to be a marine biologist when I grow up. I’m going to learn about the oceans and everything in them.”

Konstantin smiled, soft and tender. “I would be very proud if you grew up to be a marine biologist.” He walked over to the opposite side of the bed and glanced at me. There was a question in his gaze, one that flared hot for a few seconds as he studied me. He drew his attention back to his daughter and his gaze turned back to adoring. “You would have to do very well at school and work hard.”

“I will.” Lillianna bobbed her head and leaned in to hug him, scooting up on his lap to snuggle. “I will learn everything about the fish and the dolphins and the sharks and the crabs and the lobsters and the seaweed…”

She kept going, and thankfully my legs had enough strength to take me around the bed, giving it a wide berth, and to the door. I managed a little wave. “Have a good night, Lillianna.”

“Oh! Aubrielle, can we go get some fabric for our tails tomorrow?” Lillianna peered hopefully at me from over her father’s shoulder.

“Remember tomorrow is Sunday, sweetie. Tomorrow you’re mine.” Konstantin tickled her sides and she let out a squeal of laughter.

“I will research the best store to find what we need. Then on Monday we can go pick out fabrics. It’s going to be a rainy day, so we won’t be able to go outside anyway.” I took another step back to be on the edge of the hallway.

“Okay! G’night, Aubrielle.” Lillianna then launched into her rambling version of the story of Atlantis that I told her earlier in the day.

Konstantin turned his head to look at me again. It was like I could feel his strong arms holding me, his scorching kisses along my neck, and his Alpha cock—

I fled into the hallway and raced to my room. My pulse thundered in my ears and slick drenched my panties. Cold water and the magic spray of the shower head weren’t going to help me now.

The pool. Lillianna and I had played with a remote control boat—searching for mermaids, of course—earlier in the day, and the water had been cool to the touch. I’d dunk myself and let the acrid smell of chlorine wash Konstantin’s delicious scent from my nose. My lower abdomen twisted, making the pain between my legs spike.

It was just compatibility. Going into the pool would prove it.

Throwing off my clothes, I changed into my bikini and snatched a towel from the bathroom rack. I raced barefoot along the hall and zipped down the stairs. The faster I got there, the quicker I’d be relieved of this ache.

Most of the lights were off in the house as the staff had gone home for the night. The bright light from the pool room was the only beacon, and I dashed toward it like a moth to flame. I pushed open the door, dropped my towel, and did something I’d never done before in my life: I took a flying leap into the deep end with my arms flailing and my legs still pumping as if I were running in the air.

The shock of the cold water made me gasp while still under, and I gulped a mouthful down. My hair clung to my face as I kicked and surfaced, coughing and searching blindly for the side.

My fingers slapped against the concrete edge of the pool, and it took two more tries before I got a firm hold. I hoisted myself up to lean on it, hacking up the rest of the water. Any scent I had in my nose before had definitely been overpowered by the chlorine. My nostrils burned with it. The unpleasant feeling and the coolness of the water did help calm the painful yearning between my legs, though.

Someone started to slowly clap.

Oh no. Please God, let no one have seen that ridiculousness.

“Bravo. Bellissimo.” It was Quill. I didn’t even need to turn around.

My face heated as I buried it against my arms. I must have looked like a crazy woman sprinting into the room and flying into the pool. It was unladylike, unsafe, and crap, I was wearing hardly anything alone with a compatible Alpha.

I twisted around, pushing my wet hair out of my face, to see exactly where Quill was. I was greeted by the shimmering form of a Greek god perched on the edge of the pool across from me. He wore black board shorts, but they clung to his muscled legs and hung a few inches below his navel so I could see the start of dark hair that trailed downward to… Oh my. The giant bulge he was packing.

And the red split which adorned his swollen lower lip. His raw knuckles and half dozen bruises told me he had been fighting.

Konstantin had that black eye.

My mind whirled a million miles a second. Were they fighting about me? Who won? They were brothers. I couldn’t come between family. I should have left last night.

He grinned, not taking any notice of his sore lip, and dropped his hands to either side of him. “I have never seen beauty run so fast into my life. I won’t tell if you were racing Lilli, but since she’s probably in bed, you were either being chased by demons or really excited to see me.”

I swallowed, trying to think of something to say, anything, but it only made me cough more. That was me: lovely and demure.

“I worried I was going to have to dive under and save you.” Quill slipped into the water and effortlessly swam to my side. He propped an arm up on the edge and raked his gaze over me. Up close, I could see his injuries more clearly and immediately wanted to take care of him. I couldn’t stand the thought he might be in pain, but his dark eyes only shone with hunger. “But I still think I should give you some mouth to mouth.”

The water was no longer any help in staving off my pangs. I turned toward the ladder. “I should go.”

“Aubrielle.” Quill’s hand caressed the back of my arm. A shudder went through me, and with my inhale, I was certain I could smell his citrusy male scent over the strong odor of the pool. “We need to talk. Please don’t go.”

I shook my head and inch my way toward the ladder. “There’s nothing to say.”

“Oh, there’s plenty. I feel like I could talk to you forever and never run out of things to say.” Quill had to be the sexiest poet soul in a drop dead gorgeous Alpha body ever. Beads of water trickled over his shoulders and down his chest into the water. I fought the urge to trace their paths with my tongue. “You can’t deny the connection. Your scent pulled me to you, but when we touched, oh baby, I’d never felt anything so powerful as my need for you.”

He followed me as I moved. His legs swished, brushing up against mine. I whimpered with need, raw and desperate, and clenched my jaw. I couldn’t do this. I had to get back to my room.

“We were meant to be.” Why did he have to sound like a hero out of a romance? So certain and confident, and me, the innocent princess who had no idea what to do with his attentions.

“We… we’re compatible, yes. But that doesn’t mean anything. It’s your biology pushing you to say these things.” My back bumped against the ladder, and he closed the distance between us. Only an inch between us. My body burned for him.

“My biology is saying fuck and knot. It’s not big on words.” Quill traced a finger along my thin bikini top strap on my shoulder. My nipples crinkled and hardened, and I mewled at the simple touch. No, there was nothing simple about it. “It’s all of me saying these things. All of me wants all of you, but I want more than that. I want your body, mind, and soul.”

“We can’t.” Even as I said it, I was leaning toward him.

“We can.” There was a growling edge to his voice, and my body tightened with heightened fervor. “Tell me why we can’t.”

A million reasons. So many. And my mind was refusing to give me access to any of them. My slick warmed the water around me. Come on, brain! Give me a word, any word. “Boss.”

“I’m not your boss.” Quill smirked and slid his finger down the strap over the top curve of my breast. My breath caught in my throat as my back arched. “I could give you a hundred reasons why this is a very good idea, but the first and most pressing one is that you need me. I can feel the heat radiating off you. Every inch of your body is responding to mine.”

Oh God, it was. Each heavy pump of my heart sent sizzling desire through my veins. To kiss him, touch him, fuck him.

My rational brain clawed frantically, trying to keep at the forefront. “Callista! She’d hate me.”

His brows rose more in amusement than consideration and then he laughed. “Are you worried you’ll lose your bestie?” His arm slithered around me and our bodies met. Skin to skin, slick and rubbing. It wasn’t nearly enough. “I think Calli would love it if you two became sisters. She thinks the world of you and would want nothing else than your happiness. She might lecture me to keep me in line, but I was never really good at following rules.”

Why did the thought of him being a rule breaker make me hornier yet?

He tilted his head, his nose nudging mine. I couldn’t look away from his dark eyes even if I wanted to. Up this close, I could see all the shades of brown from molten gold to deep chocolate. My lips tingled as if feeling more than his hot breath upon them.

Maybe Callista would be alright with me getting together with Quill, but the bigger issue was my job. I might not officially be Quill’s employee, but I was still employed by the Birk family. Konstantin may have stated my position was secure, but I didn’t know what happened between the brothers. I loved being a nanny and this would go far in helping me achieve my dream of being a teacher. I didn’t want to risk—

Quill nudged his thigh between my legs, and I gasped as it bumped against my mound. My body instinctively ground down against him, and with a groan, his mouth covered mine. The kiss was hot and hard. His tongue demanded entrance, and I couldn’t deny him.

My breasts mashed against his chest as he pressed me back against the ladder, and I wrapped my arms around him, sliding my fingers into his wet hair. His scent grew thicker, more musky, and the ache between my legs became a blaring siren. Emergency. It didn’t matter if my job was at stake. There was no turning back. I had to have him.

“Aubrielle,” Quill breathed out my name and nipped at my lower lip. He gripped my rear with one hand and pushed it forward to help me grind harder against his thigh. His other hand held onto the railing of the ladder to keep us in place. “All the things I want to do to you. I will never have enough time to do so.”

I clenched at his hair and kissed him, rocking against his leg. Pressure built in my lower abdomen. Surely I couldn’t come just by doing this…

Not that I was going to stop.

I pressed my heel against the bottom rung of the ladder to give more force to my grinding.

“So good. I need more.” I would beg and plead and do whatever he wanted as long as he didn’t stop.

“I love how your body responds to mine.” Quill kissed down my neck and nibbled on my flesh. My body sang, wanting his mock bites to be real. Claim me, knot me. I had to have all of him right here, right now.

I skimmed my fingernails over his head and lowered my hands to his shoulders as he continued to kiss downward. He nuzzled my breasts and kissed over the tops of them.

“Look at how your tits float and bounce. So gorgeous.” Using his teeth, he pulled aside the cups of my bikini top. My rosy nipples were hard and extremely sensitive as he took each one in turn into his mouth to suck. I shuddered, edging closer to orgasm.

“Quill.” I whimpered his name and dug my nails into his flesh. A few minutes ago, I was backing away, and now I was running full force forward. There was no denying my need for him. “Take me. Knot me.”

“Oh baby.” He groaned against my breast and lifted his head to kiss me again. “I love hearing how much you want me, but I’m betting that you’ve never been with a man before.”

Heat flushed my face and I turned my head to the side. I’d never had anyone touch me like this, never mind have sex. He clearly knew what he was doing, not that I had anything to compare it to. Yet every kiss, lick, nip, and caress was perfect in driving me to greater pleasure.

“You don’t know how much that turns me on knowing you’re a virgin. To be the first man to make you scream while you’re coming. Fuck.” Quill thrust his hips to mine. His thick erection was huge. There was no way I could take that thing into me and yet I wanted it at the same time. “But since you’re a virgin,” he murmured and pulled back his leg so he could wiggle off my bikini bottoms. “I’m going to make you come with my mouth first.”

He suddenly dropped down under the water and fastened his mouth to my pussy. I cried out, holding onto the ladder as he licked and suckled my clit. My toes curled as a fresh wave of slick gushed out.

Quill popped back up and gasped for air before he laughed and kissed me. “Fuck, baby. You taste so good, but I can’t hold my breath for too long. Sit up on the edge and let me eat you out right good.”

I didn’t even think of not doing it. Rising out of the water, I was suddenly away that I was fully naked. I placed one arm over my boobs and pressed my thighs together as I perched on the edge. It was one thing to be on a beach in a bathing suit, but Quill was the first man to see all of me.

“Holy shit, you look incredible. So curvy, so sexy, so fuckable.” He licked his lips as he gently removed my arm and then spread my legs, putting each one over his shoulders. He stood on the ladder and hooked his arms about my thighs. “Hang on to the railing, baby. I’m hungrier than I have ever been.”

There was no chance for me to react to that before he dove between my legs and licked up the length of my slit. I gasped and barely got a hold of the railing before my head tipped back. My lower half quivered as he layered on more licks, kisses, and sucks.

I wasn’t innocent about what it meant for a person to give oral sex, but God, I had no idea it could be this mind blowing.

Other than the pounding of my heart and gasping breaths, the only noises were Quill’s enthusiastic feasting upon me and the lap of the water at the sides of the pool. He sounded like a man who was eating the best meal of his life. My slick coated his face, and I wondered for a brief second how he was breathing.

His tongue hammered in and out of me before he latched onto my swollen clit. My cry echoed off the two story roof and my legs kicked.

All that buildup of pain and anticipation from earlier gathered in that one spot, growing and humming with an inevitable explosion. My body didn’t feel like it could contain it. He didn’t let up.

Never stop.

“Oh God! Quill!” I screamed his name and that was the trigger. My orgasm engulfed me and pleasure unlike anything else I’ve experienced pulsed through me again and again.

He didn’t let up and swiftly pushed me to a second climax. He truly was a god for his mouth was divine.

I sank backward to the hard cold tile as the world hummed around me. Every part of me was so much more sensitive and yet a fuzzy edge grew around it as I came down from my orgasmic high. My eyelids grew heavy and I think maybe he said my name.

Quill eased my whole body up out of the pool and climbed out himself. “Just when I didn’t think you could get any more beautiful, look at you.” He tenderly lifted me into his arms as he started to purr, and I snuggled against him, closing my eyes.

Oh yes, time to sleep. My Alpha is here to watch over me.

“I’m going to rinse us off and take you to your room, sleepyhead.”

I nodded but I didn’t remember much more other than the pool shower turning on and the warm water cascading over me along with his kisses. There was no denying I wasn’t going into heat now, but in this blissful moment, it didn’t matter. I had my handsome Alpha taking care of me and his soothing purr sent me off into a deep sleep.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN – Konstantin

“Thanks for meeting with me so soon after you got back.” I walked alongside Talis on the boardwalk with the seagulls screaming overhead. Clouds hung low in the sky, but enough sunlight peeked through to warm the day.

Levi ran along the beach with Lillianna, helping her to fly the colorful kite they’d brought back from their honeymoon for her. The streamers danced in the air and my daughter shrieked with delight.

“Anything for family.” Talis gave me a nod, but there were no smiles between us. The heaviness of the situation was crushing my shoulders with its weight. “You didn’t say much in the text. You can speak freely now. Levi will keep Lillianna busy for as long as we need.”

If only I could give her a normal life, but my father and Giovanna’s family ruined that. I wasn’t threatened to marry into the Pacetti family, and while part of me regrets that decision, I would always make the same choice if it gave me Lillianna. She was the best thing in my life, and I was going to make damn well sure she was safe.

On top of it was the threat to Aubrielle. While I was certain Lorenzo wouldn’t kill Lillianna, he wouldn’t have any qualms about doing whatever horrible things he wanted to Aubrielle. I had to protect her too.

“As you know, Quill and I have been cutting ties to all of the businesses and organizations my father had dealings with. Very few of them have been good for Birk Industries and above board.” I glanced at Talis who nodded. “One of these groups is the Pacetti family. The problem here is not only are they fighting to keep their fingers in our business, they’re Lillianna’s family.”

“We came across them in our research last year when checking into your father. You were married to Lorenzo Pacetti’s youngest daughter, right?” Talis wore dark sunglasses, but I could tell his gaze was constantly scanning the area. I didn’t doubt he was one of those types that was always on duty.

“Yes, Giovanna. We weren’t compatible, but our fathers wanted to cement their dealings with family ties. Despite what Lorenzo and his sons are like, Giovanna was quiet and agreeable. We had Lillianna, and two years later, Giovanna, her mother, sister-in-laws, and niece were taken out by a rival family. I was very lucky Lillianna wasn’t with them that day.”

“Thank God for that.” Talis echoed my sentiment. We both looked toward the beach where the bird of paradise kite was flying high and Lillianna was trying to dance like it. My heart ached with how much I loved her. If anyone hurt her, I would tear down the world to get to who was responsible.

“I’ve had very little contact with Lorenzo directly since I lost my wife. He’s made no effort to spend time with Lillianna or even ask about her well being. Until two days ago.” We stopped and I leaned against the thick railing of the boardwalk. Rage boiled inside of me. The nerve of the fucking bastard to come to America and approach my daughter without permission. “He followed my driver who took Lillianna and her nanny to the beach, and he talked with them. Thankfully Lillianna didn’t think anything of it other than her Nonno had come to say hello, but both Gavin, my driver, and Aubrielle were shaken. Apparently Lorenzo said something to Aubrielle that scared her.”

I clenched my teeth and swallowed a growl. There wasn’t any doubt I hated the man before, but after the incident at the beach, I was feeling murderous. I hadn’t felt this sort of fury when Giovanna died, but Aubrielle…

She was already under my skin. Last night, her scent had spiked when I entered Lillianna’s room. Aubrielle couldn’t deny her desire for me, but she was fighting it. I admired her strength of will for wanting to do the right thing. I was losing my own battle in that regard. Yet I had to keep my defenses up. I couldn’t let our compatibility distract me from the danger that loomed over us.

“What did he say?” Talis had stiffened and his jaw twitched. Everyone who had met Aubrielle liked her. She was like a rare and delicate flower which everybody wanted to shine upon and nurture. Plus, with her being Callista’s best friend, Talis would be extra protective.

“I don’t know. But if you’ve done your research on them, you know what sort of fucking foul things they’ve done.” Too many crimes to list, but top on that list was providing Omegas for the black market. Bile rose in my throat.

“Yeah, I know, and I’m sure you’re aware of even more.” Talis didn’t ask, and I didn’t tell him. We weren’t here for anything else other than to protect Lillianna and Aubrielle.

“I need to up my security for the manor. Any tech you think we need, install it. I also want a bodyguard to go with Aubrielle and Lillianna wherever they might go. Gavin is a solid guy, but he’s not trained.”

“All that we can do. I’m assuming you want it done as soon as possible.” Again, it wasn’t a question. Of course I wanted it done as quickly as they could.

“Just let me know when your team can come to the manor.”

Talis gazed at Lillianna and Levi, laughing madly at the kite’s antics in the increasingly wild winds. “I have no doubt Evander and Levi will want to take a bodyguard shift themselves, because I want to. I’d offer all of us, but we always have one of us with Callista and Isabella.” He turned to me with an expression hard to read behind those sunglasses. “You’re all more than welcome to come stay with us on the island for a while. No one can come or go without us knowing. Callista would love to have you all there.”

My sister would love it, and the same for Lillianna and Aubrielle. But there was one problem: Aubrielle was in heat.

I couldn’t tell Talis that, though. It would raise a thousand questions, and I didn’t have the answers to most of them. There was also part of me that had my hands gripping the railing so tight it was digging into my skin. Aubrielle was my Omega, and I didn’t want her around any other Alphas.

Mine.

I exhaled and shook my head. Not mine. I needed to stop thinking that way.

“Thanks. Maybe for a night or two on the weekend?” I offered and then smoothly poured forth the best excuse I could muster. “I have a lot of work to do this week, and I prefer to have Lillianna nearby. I have no doubt of the security of your island, but Birk manor is our home. Plus, I’m sure you all want to settle in after the wedding and honeymoon, get back into a normal schedule. There are four of you, but I bet Isabella keeps you all on your toes.”

A small smile touched Talis’ lips which I recognized as a father. “Yeah, she does.” His watch beeped at him and he glanced at a text message before turning back to me. “The offer stands if you change your mind. I’ll get a hold of you later today with the schedule. Do you want men at the manor twenty-four seven?”

I furrowed my brow. I didn’t want men at the manor at all, but to keep Aubrielle and Lillianna safe… “Do you think it’s needed?”

“Maybe for a week or two and then see what happens.”

That made sense. Just seeing armed security might be enough to dissuade Lorenzo from doing anything stupid. Yet the stone in my gut told me it wouldn’t be as easy at that. The bastard was very like my father. Once he sunk his teeth into something, he wasn’t going to let go.

With the wind getting stronger, Levi had reeled in the kite, and he and Lillianna ran up the beach to the boardwalk. Both of them were grinning widely.

Lillianna threw her arms around my legs. “Daddy! My kite is so beautiful. Like a sky mermaid. Levi says we can come visit this weekend, and we can fly the kite again. Can we go? Please?”

“Yes, sweetie. I’m glad you had so much fun.” I stroked her head, trying to smooth back the curls which had slipped free of her braid.

“Yay!” Lillianna cheered. The best sound in the world.

Levi folded down the kite, trying to keep the wind from snatching it away. “Callista mentioned coming into town on Wednesday to visit too. She’ll be bringing Isabella.”

Lillianna squealed with excitement and snatched my hand. “Daddy, we have to get fabric for Isabella too, and make her a baby mermaid tail. I bet Aubrielle will know how to do it. Babies don’t know how to swim, so we need to get her a floatie that looks like a fish. That way she can come on adventures too and be safe.”

As my daughter rambled on, I caught Levi leaning toward Talis out of the corner of my eye. He jerked his head to the direction which led back to the parking lot. I didn’t hear what he said, but I peered over my shoulder to see a tall man in a dark suit leaning against his car. Not someone dressed for the beach.

I didn’t need to have heard Levi to guess it was likely one of Lorenzo’s men. He was following me. No. Even as I thought that, I knew what the actual truth was: he was following Lillianna.

My free hand clenched into a fist and I bared my teeth. If he came near my baby, I would kill the bastard.

“Daddy?” Lillianna tugged on my arm. I blinked, trying to put on a neutral expression as I returned my gaze to her. “Daddy, can we bring a picnic? It was so much fun when Aubrielle and I did it. Plus food for our friends in the sea. Enid makes the best seashell cookies.”

“A picnic sounds fun, but I think the sea creatures can find their own food. They don’t want food from the land.”

“That’s right.” Levi crouched down. “Some fish eat other fish and then even bigger fish eat those fish and then—”

“Sharks eat them!” Lillianna declared as the wind whipped at us.

“Yeah, big ol’ mean sharks. But mermaids are faster.” Levi winked and gave her a hug. “It was so good to see you, Lilli. Now when you get home, you make sure to explain to anyone how to properly fly the kite who wants to fly it. Have fun and we’ll see you soon.”

“Bye, Uncle Levi.” Lillianna squeezed him back and then accepted a hug from Talis too. “By, Uncle Talis.”

“Take care, Lilli.” Talis stood and held out his hand to me, which I shook. “We’ll get things scheduled right away. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you.” I motioned with my gaze to the parking lot and he gave a subtle nod.

Levi stepped over and shook my hand as well. “We’ve got this, Kon. Come to the island to visit any time. Or even send over Lillianna. We’d be happy to have her.”

I nodded and took the folded kite from him. “Thanks again.”

Lillianna shouted her goodbyes to them again as they walked toward their car. The man in the suit slipped into his car and drove off before they were within a hundred feet. No doubt the Pacettis knew who Callista’s mates were. I wanted to hope it worried them, but Lorenzo was arrogant as fuck.

“Let’s get home before the rain starts, sweetie.” I tucked the kite under one arm and took her hand with the opposite one.

Lillianna swung our hands together between us as she sang what I could only guess was a Disney song about the sea, adding in her name and Aubrielle’s. I put the kite in the trunk and then buckled her into her carseat. She was still singing as I sat down behind the wheel. A few fat drops of rain started to fall and splattered against the windshield.

I glanced at my phone to find a text from an unknown number. Seeing its area code was Italian, I frowned and opened it.

No words, only a photo of Aubrielle. My heart hammered as red tinged my vision.

She was in the garden behind the manor. Her hair was loose and waving in the wind, and she had a faraway look in her eyes as she bent toward a blooming rose bush.

The fuckers. While there were no words, the threat was clear.

My Omega.

I’d kill Lorenzo with my bare hands if any of them came near Aubrielle.

I hissed through my teeth and sent a text to Quill and the staff asking if any of them knew where Aubrielle was. Placing my phone into the dashboard mount, I cranked the engine and zipped out of the lot. Before I even made it to the road, Enid had responded saying that she’d had lunch with Aubrielle and she was sitting in the garden.

Lillianna launched into another song, thankfully oblivious to everything else. I would end this war with the Pacettis and she would be safe. Aubrielle would be safe. I would protect them with everything in me.

Even if that meant playing dirty like Lorenzo.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Aubrielle

I had the most wonderful sleep after Quill carried me to my room. It was also the longest I’d ever slept with nearly twelve hours of me curled up in my bed. I’d been wrapped in Quill’s towel all night with his scent embracing me as much as the plush cotton terry cloth.

I couldn’t believe that I’d let him touch me like that.

More than touch me, he had enthusiastically eaten my pussy until I was screaming from pleasure. Not only was he really good at it, but I’d been ready to give him all of me. My legs were spread and I begged for his knot. Yet he didn’t do it.

That made me want him even more.

Quill had only seen to what I needed. The fact shocked me every time I thought about it. I’d heard so many stories about Alphas going feral and taking Omegas against their will, but he had controlled himself. He eased my heat pains, rinsed me off, and carried me to my room, tucking me in bed. He even made sure that there was a cup of water on my bedside table and as well as my phone in case I needed anything.

Sleep took me so quickly after my release, I only knew the latter part because they were there when I woke. His citrusy scent hung in the air throughout my room as if he’d been watching over me as I slept.

I’d been determined to stay away from both Quill and Konstantin. It would only cause everything to get messy. I didn’t want that chaos in my life.

But oh, how incredible it felt to have Quill between my legs feasting on me. Top that off with how well he handled it, maybe I was wrong that getting involved with him would be bad. And if I had an Alpha to help with my heat, I could end my heat sooner and continue with my duties.

Quill was willing, but there was also Konstantin. I felt an equal pull to him.

If I wanted to be with Quill, I would have to see Konstantin as only a brother. And if I chose Konstantin… There was no way I could see Quill as a brother after what happened. My cheeks heated every time I remembered his mouth all over my body.

Yet the bigger question was could I choose? I wouldn’t be the Omega who made the brothers hate each other forever.

Crap. I didn’t know what to do.

I wandered around all afternoon, caught up in my thoughts. I tried to think of other things. I called my father and chatted, thanking him for sending my stuff so quickly. He seemed so far away, though. Like my lonely life living at home was decades ago. I also texted with Callista and made plans to get together in town on Wednesday. We’d go to a splash pad if the weather was nice or to a children’s museum if it was raining.

Neither of those things could pry my mind away from my dilemma. It didn’t help that the ache between my legs was slowly growing again. If I could take care of it myself, I wouldn’t have to put myself in a position to choose between the brothers.

When the rain started to fall in the late afternoon, I slipped back into the manor and heard Lillianna coaxing Quill to play on the VR with her in the game room. Her excited little voice made me smile, but I stayed by the patio doors until I heard them disappear upstairs.

Only then did I slip through the rear rooms of the manor to head toward the stairs on the opposite side of the house than the kitchen. A few sessions with the shower head and…

It was his scent that slammed into me first. The oakmoss and vanilla were there, but there was something richer dominating it. The smokey wood and zing of mint hung heavy in his very male musk.

Konstantin rounded a corner, almost as if he were sliding out of the shadows like a phantom. For the first time, I saw him without a suit, and oh God, he was like a naughty fantasy come true. A black short sleeve Henley and jeans that rode low on his hips had my breath catch in my throat. His usually slicked back black hair was wind blown and every glorious muscle on his body was tense.

“Aubrielle.” The way he said my name sent a shiver of arousal through me and his possessive look… At least the swelling of his eye had gone down and the bruising had slightly faded. “We need to talk.”

No, he needed to bend me over and take me hard. I tried to bat that thought from my head as I nodded once. “Alright.”

Konstantin led me to his office, shutting the door behind us. My thighs clenched together as the latch clicked and my heart beat harder. I had hoped he wouldn’t ask me like this for a response to the note he’d left for me, but the way he’d been the other night…

“Would you like something to drink?” He motioned to the small bar, and when I shook my head, he pointed to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit.”

I sat immediately. There was no way I could not obey his command.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the rain slanted to beat against the pair of windows in his office. Konstantin poured himself a drink. No ice, something caramel colored and smokey. It twined with his Alpha scent and added a sweetness to it.

He took a sip and set the glass down upon a coaster on the corner of his desk. His fingers traced over the glassy rim, and I sucked in my lower lip, biting at it as if I felt his fingers slipping over my breasts like that. A twisting heat pang had me suck back a whimper and clutch my hands together on my lap.

“I met with Callista’s mates today.”

My eyes widened with surprise, and I stared up at him with my mouth slightly agape. This wasn’t what I expected to hear from him.

“Talis and I had a discussion about security for the manor, for Lillianna, and for you.” His intense gaze rooted me to the spot, frozen and almost forgetting to breathe. “Lorenzo Pacetti,” he spat out the name and bared his teeth. “I never explained to you who he was before. The Pacetti family are criminals. The people my father had ties to were despicable, and the Pacettis are the worst of the worst.”

With everything else in my head, I hadn’t thought of Lorenzo since Friday. The way the Alpha had made my skin crawl and made me want to flee, to never stop running. I swallowed hard.

“I married Giovanna, Lillianna’s mother, because that’s what my father wanted. It was merely a business deal to tie the families together. Giovanna, her mother, and the other Pacetti females were killed by a rival family. Thankfully Lillianna was not with them, but she is the last female alive with Pacetti blood, and I think Lorenzo might kidnap her and use her to get me to cooperate with him.”

I gripped the arms of the chair. Fear chilled the heat which had zipped through my veins not a minute ago. Lillianna. She was so innocent and trusting. If that horrible man took her… I shuddered. “Callista’s mates are the best at what they do. They’ll do anything to protect Lillianna.”

“They will. One of them will be here tomorrow to inspect the house and get the specs for a new security system. They’re also sending out bodyguards tonight. They’ll be in uniform and patrolling the area, so don’t be alarmed when you see them. But there’s more.”

Konstantin studied me as I tried to calm my swiftly beating heart. This was more than frightening. I’d only known Lillianna for a short time, but already I would give anything to save her any more hardship. If it was this rough on me, I could only imagine how horrible it was for her father. Konstantin had lost a lot in his life too.

I would make certain he didn’t lose anyone else. As much as Lillianna needed stability, love, and happiness, so did he. Why I suddenly felt so intensely about it, I didn’t know, but I wanted it so much more than I ever wanted anything for myself.

Konstantin set down his drink and tapped on his cell. He pressed his lips together, making a stern line. His jaw tightened and something flared in his eyes as he brought up what he was looking for on the screen. “I debated showing you this, but you need to know the kind of danger you’re in.”

Me? It was Lillianna who was in danger. Maybe he was trying to scare me off from being her nanny. Did he regret the note he sent me and this was his way of getting rid of me? I wasn’t going to leave Lillianna.

“Lorenzo, well, someone who works for him, sent me this while I was talking to Talis this afternoon.” Konstantin didn’t offer the phone to me, but set it on the edge of his desk propped up against a black marble paperweight.

I looked down at the screen to see a picture of myself. My brows furrowed as I tilted my head as if that could make it less real. I was in the garden about to bend down to smell the roses. There was a faraway look in my eyes and the breeze had my hair waving.

It was taken this afternoon.

When I was alone.

A weird little choked sound squeaked out of my throat. My breaths came quick and shallow. Why was someone taking my picture and sending it to Konstantin? I didn’t know the Pacettis and I wasn’t anything to Konstantin other than his daughter’s nanny.

Konstantin gathered my hands and took them in his. His voice was low and tight when he spoke. “I won’t let anything happen to you. If any of Lorenzo’s gang of bastards lays a finger on you, they will die.”

The ferocity of his words scared me and thrilled me at the same time. I shouldn’t have felt any sort of arousal at this moment, but his possessive touch, the way he vowed to protect me… My entire Omega self melted.

His thumb stroked along the back of mine. “You must never go anywhere without a bodyguard. I’d keep you locked in the manor forever if I could.” He stopped as if surprised by his own words. A shiver of fear and a bigger one of arousal zipped through me. A small growl rumbled in his throat and his grip tightened to almost painful on my hands. “Promise me you’ll do as I say and stay safe.”

That growl. My very core was molten, churning with need for this Alpha.

“I promise that I would never let anything happen to Lillianna—”

“I want you safe. You, Aubrielle. The Pacetti family does horrible things, but the most heinous is that they kidnap and sell unclaimed Omegas.”

I whimpered as he squeezed me too hard. He let go of my hands and took a hold of my upper arms to jerk me toward him. There was a wildness in his dark eyes which made me freeze as much as what he said.

Kidnapping and selling Omegas. The one biggest fear of Omegas all around the world. At school, they pushed us to find mates and have them claim us. Once an Alpha marked an Omega, he would stop at nothing to protect them. That made them high risk for the black markets, but if an Omega didn’t have a mate…

Like me.

And Lorenzo knew. He knew I was unclaimed.

Tears filled my eyes, and my whole body trembled.

“Promise me,” Konstantin repeated more vehemently. His fingers dug into my flesh and I barely noticed the pain. Sizzling want soaked through me and my heat pains twisted and yanked, demanding relief.

Knot me. Oh fuck, I so badly needed his knot.

Focus, focus. My mind was hazy with my heat.

If I went back home to my father, no one would take notice of me. Life there was safe and quiet and… But Lillianna. I couldn’t leave her. She needed me more than ever.

“I promise, Mr. Birk. I’ll do whatever you want.”

Konstantin stilled and breathed in deeply. “Say it again.”

I blinked, swallowing the intoxicating mix of fear and arousal burning in my blood. “I promise.”

“No, the latter part.”

I barely heard his words. I was hypnotized by the way his mouth moved, the sensual way they pursed with the letter ‘p.’ His breath smelled faintly of bourbon, a sweet cherry on top of this sexy Alpha.

“Aubrielle.” The sharpness of his tone rang in my head.

“I’ll do whatever you want.” I said it before I even realized what I was saying and why he wanted to hear it.

Konstantin released his hold on my arms and caressed along my jawline to tap my chin. The edge of his mouth quirked up into a small, satisfied smile. “Good girl.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Konstantin

This blushing angel brought the beast in me to the surface. With her alluring honeysuckle scent making me harder by the second, I couldn’t resist any longer. She was mine.

I opened her hands and made slow circles with my thumbs in her palms. Her eyes dilated further and a delightful tremor ran through her. Heat radiated off of her as if she had a furnace inside. “Not only will I protect you, I will take care of all your needs.”

Aubrielle’s eyes widened as if she suddenly realized what I was talking about. “But—”

“No protests.” I traced my fingers up her forearms, lightly caressing and dragging my nails. Her skin was so soft and the trail of goosebumps I created told me how much she was affected. I would show her just how much she affected me. Again and again. “All of your needs. And right now, you need me, your Alpha.”

She whimpered as my hands moved to her upper arms. I soothed over the marks I left before. If anyone else would have done that to her, I would have beat them senseless, but in my possessive state, they looked like claiming marks, and I liked the feeling of her being mine. Not a bite yet, but that would come.

“Tell me what you need, bella.” I brushed the back of my hand over her cheek and she leaned into it with a wee moan, responding so perfectly to my touch.

Aubrielle turned her head to lightly kiss my wrist. Such a little gesture and yet so powerful. I pulled back the urge to pounce and fuck her on the floor. My thick cock pushed against my shorts, needing this Omega like I’ve never needed anyone else before.

“It hurts. I can’t… I want…” She fisted the folds of her skirt.

She was battling her instincts as I had done with mine. No more. “What do you want?”

“Mr. Birk.” Aubrielle rubbed her cheek against my hand again, and I caught the back of her neck to still her, forcing her head forward so that she looked into my eyes. I wanted to tell her to call me Konstantin. I wanted the intimacy of my name on her lips, but when she said Mr. Birk, the Alpha in me purred. I liked being in charge of her. Her submissive nature struck a dominant chord I never allowed to fully manifest.

“Lift your skirt and tell me what you want.” I would ask a million times, but my hold on my thin line of patience was slipping. Keeping her head in place, I raised my brows.

Inch by inch, she drew her skirt up. Over past her shapely calves and knees to start to reveal her creamy thighs. “I want you.”

Fuck, yes. “What do you want me to do?”

Aubrielle’s hands stopped just before unveiling the treasure between her legs. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, and she squeezed her eyes closed. I could hear her heart thundering as loudly as mine. “Knot me. I need you so bad. Please, it hurts. No one said it would hurt this much.”

My erection throbbed, more than ready to do as she wanted. Yet I didn’t trust myself to be gentle with it. I had to work her up to it. I closed the distance between our mouths and feathered a kiss over her lips. “Open your eyes.” When she did so, I gave her another soft kiss. “When I take you, things between us will never be the same. Whenever you need me, all you have to do is ask, but that will go both ways. Because, bella, I don’t think I could ever get enough of you, and I’ve barely even had a taste.”

The kiss to seal my vow was harder. She parted her lips so my tongue could dart in and claim hers. I kissed her until I couldn’t breathe and pulled back, both of us panting.

I eased a hand up between her legs and teased her panty covered pussy. The fabric was soaked through with her slick, and she gushed more as I rubbed her. I’d made her this hot and wet. She truly needed me as much as I needed her.

“So ready for my knot,” I purred and kissed over her neck.

“Yes, oh God!” Aubrielle’s hips angled toward me. “All for you.”

“All for me.” They were words of victory. I traced her slit through her panties. “Take these off.”

She lifted her rear off the chair and reached under her skirt to pull her underwear off. I helped slide them down, bunching them up, and sticking them in a pocket. Her nectarous and thickly female scent made my eyes flutter. Fuck. I was lost to her.

I ran my fingers over her shaved mound and lifted them to my lips. I made sure her eyes were on me as I licked her slick from my digits and groaned. “So delicious. No dessert could ever be so sweet.”

Aubrielle nipped her lower lip and reached toward my shorts. Her hand quivered as it found my dick. I yanked her hand away and slowly shook my head. “Not yet, bella. I need a better taste of you. Turn on her knees and hold the back of the chair.”

“Please, I have to have your knot.” Her hungry gaze went back to my crotch.

“Be a good girl and I’ll give you what you want.” I growled, wanting the same thing myself. But this demure goddess was no doubt untouched, and I would not have her first time being knotted be on a desk or a Persian rug in an office.

Aubrielle turned herself and positioned her knees up against the edge of the chair as she gripped the back. She gazed at me, looking as though she was flushed with fever. Never had an Omega looked so gorgeous as she presented herself. I drank in every detail, burning this image on my mind forever.

I lifted her skirt to reveal her cherry ass. Round and tight. I could not wait to spank her and fuck her from behind so hard, the bones of my hips bruised her cheeks.

Oh, then her pretty pink pussy. I nudged her legs as far apart as they would go on the seat. Her cunt glistened with slick and drew a growl from me. “Fuck, look at you. So ready for my knot.”

“Yes. Please now.” Her begging stroked me in all the right ways, and I wanted to really get her going, but she was in pain and I couldn’t wait anymore.

I gripped her cheeks and knelt, leaning in to nibble and kiss my way up her thighs to lick her pussy. Light flicks of my tongue and long soft sucks of her labia had her moaning and pushing back toward me. I deepened my attentions, pressing my face against her most intimate parts. Her ambrette scent enveloped me, and I took deep breaths as if I could keep it in my nose forever.

Wrapping an arm around her leg, I lifted the hood of her rosy clit and kneaded it between two fingers. Aubrielle cried out and writhed. I thrust my tongue into her and reveled in her trembling tightness.

“Come on my face, bella. Mark me as yours.” I slapped her butt, feeling a jolt in my cock at the sound of it.

I’d always been gentle with Giovanna. There had been no passion between us. Having a baby had been an obligatory act. But not with Aubrielle. Fuck. She broke me. Everything I kept firmly tied down and under control burst free.

I ate her pussy like a wild animal and stroked her clit the entire time. When she came, she screamed out my name and nearly fell off the chair with her orgasmic shudders. I held her in place and drew out her pleasure as long as I could. Her slick dripped from my chin and I had no urge to wipe it away.

Finally I sat back and palmed her swollen pussy. Aubrielle groaned and pressed herself against my palm. Her hips rocked with small jerking motions. “It didn’t take the pain this time. It didn’t… I need your knot.”

“And that you’ll get, but not here.” I stood and hurriedly adjusted my raging hard-on in my shorts. Helping her to her feet, her ass bumped against my groin and I grunted. Hell, could I even wait until we got upstairs? “Can you walk?”

Aubrielle leaned against me, nuzzling me and running her hands up under my shirt. “I think so.”

I looped an arm around her waist and led her to the corner bookcase behind my desk. I slid the Adam Smith book out which unlocked the hidden door and swung it open. It was a narrow spiraling staircase which went up to the master bedroom lit by a few small dim blue lights.

Aubrielle gasped and peered inside. “A real hidden passage. Like in fairy tale castles.”

I chuckled and stepped inside with her, closing the bookcase behind us. “My grandfather’s father built it. My father showed it to me years ago, and I’m the only one who knows about it. It goes up to my room.”

She groaned and shrank into herself. Only because I kept a firm hold on her did she remain standing. “The cramps… They’re so bad.”

Not wasting any more time, I half-carried her up the stairs and slipped into the master bedroom from behind a hidden wood panel door. There were no lights on, but the setting sun cast its rose gold rays through the windows. Shutting the door, I scooped her up and set her tenderly on the bed.

The king size bed had four thick walnut posts and more pillows than I could ever use. The pewter, silver, and black bedding was in a woven damask design. Elegant and masculine, but its splendor was nothing compared to the beauty gazing up at me from it. Aubrielle was an empress, gorgeous and pure.

“Take off your clothes.” I ordered as I unbuttoned my shirt. I didn’t get all the way down before I pulled it over my head instead.

As if taken by a sudden bout of shyness, Aubrielle curled her legs up to herself and turned her back to him as she started to take off her top.

Cute as it was, there was no way I was letting her get away with it. “Face me. Let me see your beautiful body.”

Aubrielle mewled her response as she shifted on the bed. First the shirt came off to reveal her incredible full breasts nestled in a modest white bra. Her nipples poked against the material, and when she unhooked the garment at the back, she covered her breasts with one arm as she slipped it off.

“Arms down, bella.” I wanted to tell her there was no need for modesty here, but I liked it. To get a peek underneath at her sexy curves and know that she was mine.

I could stare at her all day, but we both needed more at the moment. I toed off my shoes and undid my belt. She watched my every movement, and I slowed myself when I popped the button of my shorts to let the anticipation burn inside of her.

“Now the skirt. Let me see all of you.” I wet my lips, so hungry for my Omega.

Aubrielle’s fingers were shaking and fumbled with untying the laces at her waist. I’d already seen what was under her skirt, but my heart beat faster as she pushed it down and set it on the corner of the bed.

“You’re beautiful, Aubrielle.” My heart ached with how delectably feminine, how stunning she looked. Nothing in my life had prepared me for this perfection. “Immensely so. You have no idea how crazy you drive me.”

She nipped her lower lip and reached toward me. “Not as crazy as I feel. All I can think about is how much I need you, and I shouldn’t—”

Holding up a finger, I shook my head. “What did I say about protests?” There was not turning back. I refused to let her run from me again. I pushed down my shorts and boxers together, and my dick preened at her gasp. “I’m going to fuck you, bella. Fuck you and fill you with my cock. You’ll come on my knot again and again.”

“Yes,” she breathed, reaching toward me. “You’re so big. Bigger than… I don’t know if you’ll fit.”

“Mm, it will, darling. You were made for me.” I caressed her cheek and then grabbed a handful of her silken hair to draw her up to me. Kissing her hard, our teeth clinked and tongues tangled. The taste of her was still on my lips, and it was so tempting to eat her juicy pussy again, but it was time to relieve both of our aches.

I held her in place as we kissed and fondled her pert breast. It overflowed on either side of my hand and jiggled as I kneaded it. I tugged on her hard nipple, pinching it, and loving the sexy noises she made.

Aubrielle’s hands glided over my sides and chest, tracing the lines of my ribs and muscles. One hand dipped tentatively downward and explored the soft patch of black hair around my cock. It twitched and a bead of pre-cum sat on the tip. Already I was imagining her lips around my shaft and me fucking that succulent mouth.

I broke our kiss and reached down to give my erection a few strokes. “Lick it, bella.”

She locked her sights on my erection and replaced my hand with hers around the length. Jerking me a few times, she slowly cupped my balls with the other and let her fingers graze the sensitive flesh underneath. I hissed with the intense sensation and she froze. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how. I’ve never done this before.”

“No, what you’re doing is perfect. Any sweet touch you give me will never be wrong. I like when you play with my balls. And can you feel that swelling starting at the base of my cock?” I groaned as her hand went down my shaft and over the bulb which was growing in anticipation of fucking her. “That’s my knot. Just for you.”

“Oh… God, yes.” Aubrielle bent forward and lashed her tongue over my cock’s head. I sucked in a breath as she did it another dozen times before sucking on the tip.

Fucking hell. My sac tightened, signalling that I was going to lose my load already.

“Lie back and spread those pretty legs.” I swallowed back a groan as her hot mouth left my dick and she scooted up the bed. She never questioned me and followed my command to a tee, baring her honey covered cunt to me. “Gorgeous.”

I crawled onto the bed and kissed up her satin soft thighs. I only dared to place one kiss on her pussy because I could so easily get caught up feasting on it again. Kissing up her quivering body, I finally mashed our mouths together and settled my hips between her legs. With the last thread of control I had left, I slid my erection up and down her slit.

Aubrielle cried out and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “Yes! Konstantin, take me. Now!”

My name was like an angel’s song on her lips. I drew her into a fervent kiss as I pushed the head of my cock between her nether lips. Her tightness offered resistance, but the best kind of it. Another inch in and she groaned against my mouth. Her legs spread further, and one hooked around my waist.

I fucked her shallowly for half a minute, coating myself in her slick. The hot squeeze of her vagina was exquisite. When she started to undulate under me, I thrust all the way in.

She let out a cry as I took her virginity, but I didn’t let her dwell on it. My hips slapped against hers, and I roared internally with the victory of being her first. While I had no right to ask that of anyone, I couldn’t stop my pleasure in it. She’d given herself to me. Mine.

The swell of my knot grew faster than I expected. Fuck, the power she had over me. And me, her enthusiastic worshiper.

“God, don’t stop! So good!” Her nails scraped over my shoulders, and I felt blood trickle down.

“Come for me, bella.” I bit at her lower lip and worried it between my teeth. Taking my kisses down to her neck, her inner muscles tightened and fluttered just as she let out a climatic scream.

I pounded harder, as much as my knot would allow, losing myself. So fucking close. My growls became bestial as I pinned her arms above her head. “Mine.”

“Yes! Yes, yours.” She panted and thrashed her head. Her attempts to free her arms only spurred me to clutch her wrists more firmly.

Rocking her with long strokes, I got what I wanted. Aubrielle wailed with her second orgasm and my knot fully locked within her. It was her spasming pussy that brought me that last tiny bit as my world exploded.

I bellowed as I came, spurting jets of hot cum deep inside of her. One after the other, seemingly never-ending. Lost in the primal moment of Alpha and Omega joined.

Time blurred. I wasn’t aware of how long it took us to come down from that blissful high, but I moved us so that I could pull the blankets over us and I spooned her with one arm wrapped protectively around her. Her body was warm and limp, and she swiftly fell into a deep sleep.

There was no way she could deny my claim on her now. Aubrielle was mine, and I wasn’t letting go.

If Lorenzo thought for a second he could take her away, the bastard had no idea the fury I would unleash upon him.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – Aubrielle

Soft snoring woke me around the witching hour. I had a cat once who snored, and my half-awake brain gave me feelings of being snug and secure, like I’d been as a child. Life had been easier then. No worries except which cereal I was going to eat in the morning.

I snuggled deeper under the comforter, smiling to myself, until my foot brushed against the leg behind me. My eyes snapped open, and I held my breath as I took a moment to adjust to the dim moonlight streaming from between the curtains.

The wood posts loomed over me. I was in a big bed under a dark colored comforter. There was a dresser to my right with nothing on top of it. Who didn’t put things on their dresser? A flat screen TV was on the wall opposite the bed.

The snoring. My heart hammered too loudly in my chest.

Konstantin.

Oh crap. My heat had gotten so bad, I’d let him… I’d given myself to him.

There was a warm ache between my legs that wasn’t like the cramping of heat pains. A soft throbbing that told me I’d been thoroughly fucked and knotted.

I’d lost my virginity in a bed that looked like it belonged to a prince.

To Konstantin, my best friend’s brother.

To my boss.

What the heck was I thinking?

I hadn’t been thinking. That was the problem. I only wanted him inside of me. And oh, the things he said, the way he touched me. I wanted to swoon and run for the hills at the same time.

The scent of sex was still thick in the air. His masculine vanilla and my sweet floral mingled together to create something new, something intoxicating. It was sophisticated and almost creamy, and most certainly soothing. Throw in Quill’s mandarin laced scent and it would be like a creamsicle, one of my favorite smells in the world.

I swallowed an alarmed shout. Why was I thinking of adding Quill’s in too?

Time to get out of here. I inched toward the edge of the mattress and slithered out from under the blankets. Konstantin shifted and moaned in his sleep, but thankfully he didn’t wake. I twisted and held my breath, peering at him. All his hard edges had softened as he slept, and my fingers flexed, wanting to touch him. He was drop dead gorgeous. I’d lost my virginity to a god of Alphas… And I really needed to stop staring or I’d end up back in bed with him.

Steeling my will, I stayed low to the floor as I gathered my clothes and crept out of the room. Once in the hall, I ran to my suite and shut the door. I dumped my clothes into the laundry bin and rushed into the bathroom.

I switched on the shower to warm it up and glanced down at myself. Our mingled scents were still all over me, and I expected to see my lower half a mess. I blinked a few times with surprise at the fact I was clean. How did I…

Oh. The memory was a tiny butterfly on the edge of my mind. Half-awake at some point during the night, I’d cracked my eyes open to see Konstantin cleaning me with a warm cloth. He smiled, whispering he was taking care of everything, and told me to go back to sleep. The tenderness of his care made my heart swell.

Stepping under the spray, I stood and let it beat down on me. Konstantin surely had just been helping with my heat as he said he would. Leave it to me to read way too much into everything.

But he kept growling ‘mine.’ Like he wanted to claim me.

My loins trembled with want of it.

Then there was Quill. He’d made it clear exactly what he wanted. He saw no obstacles to us being together. He wanted me mind, body, and soul. Oh yes. I squeezed my thighs together.

I sucked back a groan as I realized I wanted both of them. What the heck had I gotten myself into? All my fantasies had always been about one Alpha. A handsome and kind Alpha who would dote on me as much as I did him. None of my fairy tales ever had two Alphas. Unless they were both vying for the Omega’s attention and one turned out to be the villain.

Yet it was ridiculous. I forced myself to remember the split lip and black eye. The brothers had fought over me. Life was no fairy tale.

I wouldn’t be able to choose either. I couldn’t forever set them against each other. It would be too cruel.

That meant leaving, because I didn’t think either of them would pretend nothing had happened between us after my heat was done. I wouldn’t be able to either, and I didn’t want to leave.

Tears flowed as I washed off. What should I do?

I finally turned off the water when my fingers were wrinkly, dried off, and dressed. The sun hadn’t risen yet and wouldn’t for at least another hour. I was too wound up to sleep. I sat down with my phone, but nothing was keeping my attention.

Quill or Konstantin? To stay or to leave?

I’d left home just over two weeks ago for the wedding, and I’ve already gotten myself into a situation that I’d never thought I’d be in. All my life, I’d followed the rules, and then with a few moments where I’d forgotten myself, I was in heat.

I needed to talk this through. Trying to handle it alone was driving me mad. I took a deep breath and opened up my favorite contacts list.

All of my friends had been through their heats, and all of them were unexpected. Nicolette should be sleeping, and if she wasn’t, she would be dealing with her twins. I didn’t want to disturb her. Callista… I wasn’t ready for that conversation yet.

That left Kienna, who was in Ireland with her mates. She’d be awake, though.

I hesitated for a moment. Kienna was wild and crazy. She was the opposite of me. Yet when her heat had hit, she did everything in her power to flee. So no matter that we were different, she should understand how I was feeling.

I tapped her name and let the phone ring. My shoulders sagged when it went to voicemail. I hung up without leaving a message.

Guess I was in this alone.

Ten seconds later, my phone rang for a facetime chat with Kienna. I clicked to accept and was greeted by my friend’s forehead and a gorgeous blue sky behind her.

Kienna adjusted her phone and grinned at me. “Good morning, girl!”

“Hi Kienna. How’s the trip going?”

“I. LOVE. Ireland. I never want to leave.” Kienna took a bite of toast with something brightly colored on it. “We’re just having some breakfast before we go out for more tourist stuff. I have discovered orange marmalade and I can never be without it again. I will marry orange marmalade and live in an orange marmalade house.”

One of the guys shouted a protest and they laughed. Kienna stuck out her tongue at them. “You’ll just have to share me.”

“I’m so glad you’re having a good time.” I squeezed the arm of my chair and pushed myself forward to the reason for my call. “Uh, do you have a minute to talk privately?”

Kienna swallowed and glanced around. “There’s no one else out here. What’s going on?”

What did she mean there was no one else there? All five of her mates were talking in the background. “Well, it’s private. Can you maybe go up to your room for it?”

“I could, but girl, you know I tell my pack everything. You might as well just let them hear what’s going on in your own words. I do have a tendency to exaggerate.”

Oh God. She did. I knew if I told any of my friends what was happening, they’d share with their mates. I loved that aspect of their relationships, but it made me even more nervous. “Alright.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to gather up the courage to tell them about what was going on. “Okay. So… I’ve met a compatible Alpha.”

Kienna gasped and hooted. “Yes! It’s about time. Who is he? Is he treating you like the princess you are?”

Kane leaned in over Kienna’s shoulder. “If he isn’t, we can deal with him if you want.”

“No, no, no.” That was the last thing I needed. “The thing is, I also met a second compatible Alpha, and they’re brothers. I don’t want to have to choose between them.”

“Then don’t.” Kienna smirked and gestured to her pack who had quieted down. “If they want you, they’ll make it work.”

I took in a few deep breaths. If only it were that easy. I opened my mouth to tell her exactly my situation when Alderic reached over to put a hand on Kienna’s.

“Do you remember where Aubrielle is, Ki?” He raised his brows as he looked at her. The smart Beta had figured it out already. “She’s at Birk Manor.” And when Kienna didn’t react, he added, “With your cousins.”

Kienna gasped and stuck her face right up to the camera. “Holy fuck. Quill and Kon? Really?”

I nodded. “Yes. I don’t know what to do. They both want me, and well…” I fumbled with my words and how many details I wanted to share. “I’m in heat.”

The group erupted in a noisy jumble of talk. Kienna’s phone fell on its side and pointed upward at the green umbrella they were sitting under. Only Kienna would be able to thrive in that chaos.

A big hand grabbed the phone, and Tiergan’s face filled the screen. “Listen, you’ve got to take care of you and you first. If they want you, let them prove it. They both need to help you through your heat, and not just with the knotting, but on every level of care. If they don’t, we will come there and kick their asses.”

Maddox twisted the phone toward him. His brows were furrowed and his jaw tight. “I will crush their skulls if they hurt you.”

Oh God. My eyes widened. It was nice they wanted to protect me, but Alpha fury was scary.

“Aw, that’s sweet of you guys.” Kienna crooned as she regained possession of her phone. The smile was gone from her face, and she looked at me with a seriousness I rarely saw from her. “They’re right, hon. Take care of you first. My cousins are good guys, but Quill is my fav. He’s super positive and friendly. He’s like a party always waiting to happen. He will rock your world.”

“But is that what she needs? Will he stick around afterward?” Alderic asked.

Kienna pursed her lips and sighed. “I want to say I hope so, but I don’t know him that well. I know Kon less. He’s deadly at business and a good dad, but not what I imagine for you, Aubrie. He’s kind of the uptight Alpha, always wearing expensive clothes.”

“Hey!” Another of the guys protested and Kienna laughed, before apologizing. Her Czechoslovakian mate, Casimir, leaned into the frame. “Hi Aubrielle. Don’t judge an Alpha by his clothes. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to dress well. Konstantin seemed like an Alpha with a good head on his shoulders. He’s worked hard to clean up the mess his father left and do a lot of great charity work too. I can see him as the type to treat you as a princess.”

“Good point.” Kienna nodded. “You should ask Calli. She knows them better.”

I sucked in a breath and quickly shook my head. “Please don’t tell Callista. I’m not ready to have this conversation with her.”

Kienna raised her brows. “So only I know? You haven’t talked to Nic yet?”

“Only you know, and your mates.” That meant I only had a matter of days, or maybe even hours before Nicolette and Callista found out what was going on. I could try to make Kienna promise not to say anything, but that would only encourage her more.

“We’ll keep your secret until you’re ready to tell other people.” Alderic promised with sweet sincerity. Kienna gave him a narrow-eyed look and he gave it back.

She sighed and kissed his cheek before turning back to the phone. “Alright, I won’t say anything. But make Quill and Kon do the work.”

“It might be easier if I just leave and go back home.” I could feel my eyes filling with tears again. I’d cried about this too much already. I didn’t want to do it again.

There was another eruption from the pack in Ireland.

“Don’t you dare!”

“If they were any sort of decent Alphas, you wouldn’t feel this way.”

“Tell them to take care of you or we’ll split heads!”

Kienna shushed them and gave me a million mile stare. “Don’t leave. Running won’t help. Trust me, I know.” We’d all heard her story of what happened in Winnipeg several times. Her fleeing only got her in scary trouble. “Don’t make any big decisions until after you’re through your heat. My cousins will help you. Then afterward, you can decide what’s going to happen when you have a clear head. And I mean you, Aubrie. Don’t let any stubborn Alpha tell you what’s good for you. Only you know that. Listen to your gut. No matter how stupid you might think those instincts are, you’ll know if you should be with Quill or Kon or both or neither of them.”

She was right. Damn, I’d never thought that Kienna could give sane advice. I shouldn’t make any rash decisions while I was in heat. Already my impulses were proving to be crazy, like getting eaten out by the pool and being knotted by my boss. Once my heat passed, I wouldn’t be influenced by my Omega hormones.

“Okay, that makes sense. I’ll hold off on leaving for now.”

“Good.” Kienna smiled and then leaned in, looking sly. “So how many times did they make you orgasm?”

My cheeks went hot and my jaw dropped as I covered my face with my hand. It was bad enough that she bluntly asked me such a thing, but to do so in front of her mates!

“There’s the Aubrie I know and love.” Kienna giggled. “You take care of yourself, girl, and make Quill and Kon take care of you. Me and my pack have your back. We’re going to finish up here and go to the Cliffs of Moher.”

No matter our differences, I never doubted Kienna had my back. “Thank you for listening. All of you.”

Everyone shouted their goodbyes, and I waved to them before Kienna blew me a kiss and ended the call. Her carefree confidence rubbed off on me from across the ocean and a continent. I could get through this. My heat would only last another four to five days. Seven if it went long. All I had to do was not make any rash decisions during that time.

At the moment, I felt energized and clear-headed. Perhaps having Konstantin knot me last night would hold me over for the day. Lillianna and I had a lot planned, and I didn’t want to disappoint her.

I could do this.

I’ve always been cautious and a thinker. I had to trust in myself. As long as I kept that in mind, I’d make it through.

No impulsive decisions. How hard could that be?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Quill

My runners slapped against the asphalt as I ran up the driveway and slowed as I neared the rear of the manor. Sweat glistened on my skin, but there had been a lovely breeze to keep me from looking like I’d been thrown into the ocean.

I’d cancelled my afternoon meetings in favor of a run. I was no masochist like Konstantin was when it came to business. I worked all morning, and I had a business dinner later. I needed time for myself. Time to run off all the excess energy I had thinking about Aubrielle and how sweet her pussy tasted.

“Fuck.” I shook my head and stopped outside of the kitchen door. Yanking off my t-shirt, I whipped my face and let my heartbeat slow only for it to speed up again hearing Lillianna’s laughter inside and knowing that her sexy nanny must be there with her.

I combed my fingers through my hair and opened the door. How fast could I get Aubrielle into a bikini and then out of it again?

Walking inside, the first thing I saw was Lillianna standing on a stool next to Enid as she instructed her how to knead the dough. One of Callista’s mates, Evander, sat on the other side of the island with flour dust in his dark hair.

Where was Aubrielle?

“Uncle Quill is home!” I announced and held open my arms with a grin.

“Uncle Quill!” Lillianna shouted and then crinkled her nose as she turned to look at me. “Eww. I’m not hugging you. You’re all sweaty.”

“Hey, it’s just like hugging fish in the sea.” I came over and tickled her, and she giggled.

“Yeah, stinky and slimy.” Evander snickered and got a laugh too.

I chuckled and kissed the top of my niece’s head as she went back to her dough. “Whatcha making, Miss Mermaid?”

“Enid is teaching me how to make pasta. We’re making lasagna for dinner tonight and I get to pick which vegetables go in it. That means no gross spinach, but I’m going to put in carrots because Aubrielle likes them.” Lillianna nodded and patted the dough like it was a good puppy. “Aubrielle and I got our materials to make our tails today. She let me pick my own and hers too. I knew just what color was perfect for hers. We will cut out our tails tomorrow, and she’ll show me how to work a sewing machine. I’ve never even seen one before. I thought they were like those big wood wheels, but they're not.”

“A spinning wheel, dear. Ladies used to twist wool on them to make yarn and thread.” Enid patiently explained and added a bit more flour to her dough and Lillianna’s. “We have machines that do that for us nowadays, though.”

“No way. We got rid of spinning wheels because princesses kept pricking their fingers on the needle and falling into a deep sleep. There are only so many princesses I wanted to kiss and wake up before I got bored with it.” I went to the fridge and got out a bottle of water. Where was Aubrielle? I peeked out into the dining room and through to the sitting room. No one.

“You don’t get to kiss all the princesses, Uncle Quill!” Lillianna chastised in that cute little kid way where you couldn’t tell if they were serious or not.

“Wait, I know this one. Um… Sleeping Beauty, right?” Evander glanced my way and I nodded. “Yes! I’m trying to learn all the fairy tales so I know what Isa is talking about. When she starts to talk.”

“Enjoy the quiet while you can. This one here is always talking.” I jerked my thumb teasingly at my niece. She crossed her arms and made a little shocked and appalled noise. I gave her my best smile. “You know I love you and all your stories, Lilli.”

“Yeah, I know.” She nodded and went back to her dough.

“While these ladies are busy in the kitchen, let me give you a tour of the new security system, Quill. I already took Konstantin around this morning, but you need to know the layout too.” Evander stood and motioned for me to follow him out of the room.

Wondering why I needed a tour, I took a big gulp of water and followed him out of the kitchen. I threw my shirt over my shoulder and walked beside the mountain of an Alpha. “Kon texted me all the new codes, so I have them stored in my phone.”

“Good.” Evander glanced over his shoulder and didn’t say anything else until we were nearly in the front foyer, almost as far from the kitchen we could get on the first floor. His brows furrowed and darkened his expression. “I didn’t want to talk about this in front of Lilli or Enid. No need to scare the girls.”

My body tensed, all humor from just a minute ago wiped away. “What’s going on?”

“I’m going to assume you know why Konstantin hired us.”

“Yeah, the fucking Pacettis.” The fact that Lorenzo walked onto that beach last Friday and scared Aubrielle still infuriated me.

“Right.” Evander grunted and folded his arms. “There was an enforcer following Lilli and Aubrielle today when we were out at a few stores. He didn’t even bother to try to hide it that hard. Luckily neither of the girls saw him, but we did.” He then added, “Turner is on duty with me today. He’s out patrolling around the manor. It’s less conspicuous and thus less stressful for Lilli that I’m the one inside with her.”

“What the fuck?” The plastic of my water bottle crunched as I squeezed it. The fuckers just didn’t give up. There wouldn’t be any place on this planet for them to hide from my wrath if they touched either my niece or Aubrielle. “Where’s Aubrielle now?”

Evander exhaled slowly and gave me a hard and considering look. “That’s the other thing. I sent her upstairs to take the rest of the afternoon to herself. She was barely holding herself together.”

My heart thudded hard in my chest. “Was she scared? Last Friday Lorenzo said something to scare the shit out of her. If she knew—”

“No, that’s not it. She never saw the guy.” Evander continued to stare me down and turned his head to one side, giving it a small crack. “She’s in heat, isn’t she?” I leaned forward with my hands in fists ready to deck him if he said he even went near her. She was mine. He nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I figured, and you’re the Alpha who triggered it. I can tell. Don’t worry, bro. I love Callista, and no other Omega’s scent can entice me, but it’s still clear to me she’s in heat. So back the fuck off. You couldn’t take me on your best day.”

“Wanna try?” I didn’t know why I was pushing it or even why I wanted to fight with him, but I couldn’t stop myself.

He shook his head and didn’t budge an inch. “I made sure to keep as much distance between us today, but she’s been trying to hide it. She did good this morning, but after lunch, I could see the pain in her eyes and her scent was off the charts. You need to go take care of her, man. Callista would kick your ass if she knew you were letting her friend suffer.”

“I’m not letting her suffer.” I growled and turned to look up the stairs. “She’s just been avoiding me.” I knew she’d been in Konstantin’s room as I’d caught her scent in there yesterday, and strangely, that didn’t piss me off as much as thinking any other Alpha touching her. Not that I’d ever shared with anyone else, but knowing she was taken care of when I wasn’t there settled some of the fierce Alpha instincts in me. Yet she’d been avoiding me since I tucked her into bed after our pussy eating fest at the pool. Now she was hurting and didn’t reach out to me or Konstantin. “Are all Omegas this stubborn?”

I hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but Evander chuckled. “Yeah, man. They are, but don’t let them fool you. That girl needs you.”

“How long has she been up there?” I was already heading to the stairs. It didn’t matter, really. Aubrielle’s well being was what was important.

“Nearly two hours. Go take care of your Omega.” Evander then called after me as I took the stairs two at a time, “Tell her not to worry about Lilli. We’ll entertain her.”

Yes, good. I tore down the hall to the nanny’s suite and burst through the door. Aubrielle’s sweet scent was everywhere, but she was nowhere in her room. Fuck! “Aubrielle!”

Not in or under her bed or in her closet or in her bathroom. I ran for Lilli’s room and then abruptly turned for Konstantin’s. No way she’d be in Lilli’s room but if Konstantin helped her…

I flung open the door to my brother’s bedroom and hollered for Aubrielle again.

Not there, but she had been. Her scent wasn’t as strong as it had been in her room. So she had left the kitchen and come to her room only to go… where? My room?

I grunted with each step I raced up the stairs to the third floor. “Aubrielle!”

Not in my room or the game room or gym. I was seeing red. Where was she? She needed her Alpha. If an Omega went too long without finding relief during heat, it could do permanent damage to her.

The roof!

I climbed the stairs up and out in record time. But she wasn’t there. “Fucking hell!”

She needed me and I couldn’t get to her. I didn’t want to screw things up. Even if she never wanted to see me again after her heat, I couldn’t abandon her now.

Pacing the length of the roof, I wanted to yank my hair out. “What am I going to do now? Call her on her cell? Would she even answer?”

Then I saw her.

Curled up in a nest of blankets in the garden, hidden by the hedges. No one would see her walking by, but from up here, I could see her gorgeous hair splayed out as she writhed on the ground. It was as if I could hear her whimpering from three stories up.

I nearly jumped off the manor in my need to get to her.

Why she was hiding in the garden, I didn’t know and didn’t care. I practically flew down the stairs and barreled out of the house. Aubrielle needed me, and I needed her more than I ever thought I could.

CHAPTER NINETEEN - Aubrielle

The only things that kept me anchored to my sanity were Quill’s and Konstantin’s musky Alpha scents on the towel and blankets around me. I’d hoped the fragrant smells of the garden and losing myself to memories of my mother would bring some relief to the pain, but my Omega body wanted what it wanted. By the time I realized that only being knotted would satisfy my heat pangs, my legs were too shaky to stand on, and I’d left my cell in my room.

I’d hoped that I would pass out from the agony, but each twisting cramp only sent another rush of adrenaline through me, forcing me to stay locked in this miserable waking reality. I muffled my cries in the blanket. Desperate, I tried to smother myself, but I couldn’t do it.

Never had I wished to not be an Omega before. I could follow the laws and be happy having lots of babies, but go through my heat, oh God. This was worse than hell. I couldn’t believe that this torture was worth being an Omega.

I writhed on the ground and dug my fingers into the soil as another pang lanced through me. It was like a great monster had chomped down on my guts and was twisting its head from side to side as it tried to rip them out. Yet at the same time, part of the pain was that I was feeling empty.

“Aubrielle.” My name sounded far away, like an echo of a memory. A voice I knew but my tears washed it away before I could grasp it.

I was in so much pain that I was hearing things. Likely on the door of insanity. Maybe I’d be the Omega other Omegas would whisper about as a warning not to go through your heat unattended.

“Aubrielle, baby. I’m here.” The voice was accompanied by a caress. Someone brushed my hair from my face. Someone male and deliciously citrusy and, God, it was Quill!

I whimpered and reached for him with my eyes still closed, needing him to fuck me hard. Yet I’d been knotted by his brother, and they’d already fought about me. I didn’t want to cause any more troubles, and there was no way I could pick one over the other. Even the thought ripped at the very core of me.

“Baby, you’re pushing and pulling. Look at me.” Quill turned me and cupped my chin. “Come on, I need to know you’re with me. I need you to tell me what you need.”

“Pushing and pulling…” I repeated, not recognizing my breathy voice. I forced my eyes open, and all my doubts vanished the instant my eyes locked with his dreamy dark chocolate ones. Why was I pushing him away again? “Knot me. I need you, Quill. Right now.”

I slid my hands over his bare shoulders and down his chest. He was built with all the chiselled edges of an Olympic swimmer. His pecs twitched as I danced my fingers over them. All he wore were his runners and black baggy jogging shorts, which were tented with his massive erection. The fewer clothes the better.

“Right here in the garden, hm?” He purred as my hands roamed all over his exposed skin. Leaning in, he kissed near my ear and whispered, “You come off as quiet and sweet, but you’re really a naughty girl, aren’t you?”

Me? Naughty? I never saw myself as kinky, but hell yes, I wanted him to take me in the garden. I loved that he ate me out at the pool and the dominant way Konstantin handled me had driven me wild. Getting dirty between the hedges flipped a hidden switch in me and had me clawing at his shorts.

“Yes.” I was naughty, wasn’t I? Slick coated my thighs. “Right here, right now.”

Another round of pain took hold of me and I curled up, shuddering as I bit my lower lip to hide my cries. All I could think about was him inside of me and how I was so empty without him.

“Dammit. As much as I want to taste you again, to explore every inch of your heavenly body, I can’t stand to see you in pain.” Quill kissed me as he hoisted up my skirt and ripped at the string on the right side of my panties so he could peel them off my drenched pussy. He palmed me, rubbing in a circular motion. “Fucking hell, baby. You’re so wet. Love how ready you are for me.”

My hips rocked against his hand, desperate for relief. I pulled down the front of his shorts and moaned at the sight of his cock outlined beneath the sleek material of his boxer briefs. Long and teasing me with a slight curve, my stomach fluttered as if it were the most anticipated present I would ever have the thrill of unwrapping.

My lips parted and I bent forward. I wanted him in my mouth before I had him knot me. To taste him as he had tasted me.

“What are you… Oh fuck.” Quill gathered my hair up in one hand as he exhaled with a groan. “Oh baby, you have no idea how much I want to see your lips wrapped around my dick, but I don’t know if I’d be able to hold back. I would fill your pretty mouth with cum and watch it dribble down your chin, but—”

I lowered his underwear enough to free the top half of his erection and licked it. Salty and sweet. The scent of him intensified as he quivered with flicks of my tongue. He groaned, losing himself in this moment as I had. My heat made me feel like I had no control over anything, but this… This showed me the power I had. He might make me beg to be knotted, but I was reducing him to a puddle of pleasure.

Taking his bulbous head into my mouth, I clamped my lips around him and widened my jaw as far as I could. He was so big. His throbbing vein pulsated against my tongue and more sweet pre-cum teased my tastebuds. I never knew it would taste so amazing.

“Oh fuck, baby. You’re going to make me cum so fast.” Quill growled and slid himself out of my mouth. I attempted to lick his shaft again, but he tugged my head up and kissed me hard. “Later. You can suck on me all you want. Right now, I want your tight little pussy.”

Yes! I wrapped my arms around him and tried to straddle him. I didn’t recognize me anymore. I was feral, desperate for his Alpha cock. None of the reasons I was trying to stay away from the brothers was stopping me anymore. My heat had made me into a raging nymphomaniac.

And I had never felt so free in my life.

“We’re doing this my way, baby.” Quill kissed me once more and then flipped me over, forcing me onto my hands and knees. He whipped off his shorts and underwear. The heat of his body was like the sun, making me sizzle as if I were naked in the desert.

No, no, no. I wanted to kiss him, to run my hands all over him, to look into his gorgeous eyes—

Quill parted my slicked labia from behind and ran his cock’s head along my slit to prod at my entrance. I leaned back into him, craving him inside me more than anything. My internal protests swiftly changed into a loudly verbal plea, “Yes! Take me now!”

He kneaded my rear, keeping me spread. “You’re so beautiful, so fucking sexy. And I bet you’ll feel…” He eased his big cock into me and groaned. “Oh yeah. You’re perfect.”

My pussy stretched around this thickness and a gush of slick lubed us both even more. I fisted the blanket as I trembled with the feeling. This is what I needed. So full of his huge dick. My inner muscles squeezed him, never wanting to let go.

Quill groaned. “Holy fuck. Aubrielle… you were made for me.”

He buried himself fully inside and slowly pulled most of the way out to drive back in. Long and slow strokes where his hips slapped against my rear. The sounds of my wetness, our ragged breathing, and my pounding heart drowned out the world around us.

My heat pains transformed into bliss. Quill picked up his speed and kept a hold of my hips, directing me to stay in rhythm. Each time he thrust all the way, my whole body jolted with pleasure.

“Quill,” I mewled, my head dipping and lulling to the side. My hair fell around me, sweeping back and forth as we fucked. The pressure in my lower abdomen swirled and swelled. “I’m getting so close.”

Faster, shorter strokes. The base of his cock ballooned as he started to knot. “Yeah, baby. Look at you taking my monster cock. I’m dripping with your slick. Come for me. I want to hear you scream with it.”

I squeezed my eyes closed and could barely breathe. Pleasure enveloped me. So much…

Then all that pressure burst. My cry was fluttering as my orgasm shook my core and rippled outward. I pressed my cheek against the blanket and tried to muffle it, but I could barely think about how to do so. All that mattered was this Alpha dick swelling with its knot.

Quill rammed into me as deep as he could go and bellowed with his own climax. Tight as my pussy was around his length, I could feel it pulse and release with each jet of cum. His knot locked us together as he filled me with his semen.

My arms shook with a sudden lack of strength and I lowered myself to my elbows. My legs were barely holding out, but Quill kept a firm hold until he emptied the last drop of his cum in me. He gathered me to him and laid us on our sides, curled together in the middle of the garden.

A cocoon of warm euphoria surrounded me. Here in the arms of my Alpha, I was safe and free of pain. I was an idiot to try to fight my Omega needs and try to ride out my heat alone. There was no sense in denying I needed their help now.

Sleepiness toyed with my consciousness, but didn’t drag me down like it had before. I moaned softly as Quill nuzzled my neck, happy to revel in the post-coital moment.

“Just so you know, baby, we’re going to do this a second time once my knot goes down. No more hiding when you’re in pain. I’m here for you.” He kissed behind my ear. His hot breath sent a lovely shiver through me with his promise. “I’ll always be here for you if that’s what you want.”

My lips parted to say yes. To have a lifetime of this joy in his arms would be better than any fairy tale happily ever after. Yet I stopped myself. There was also Konstantin. I couldn’t deny my desire to share his bed as well. To share both brothers…

That was ridiculous. It wasn’t as if they were a pack. It wasn’t the same thing like my friends had with their mates.

I latched onto what Kienna had said: don’t make any big decisions until my heat was over. I shouldn’t stress myself out over that right now. It was weird to think of other people taking care of me when I was the one always taking care of others, but I did need Quill’s and Konstantin’s help.

Kienna and her pack said to make the brothers work for it. God, how was I going to do that?

CHAPTER TWENTY - Konstantin

All through dinner I fought to keep my temper in check. Aubrielle had come to the table fresh from the shower. She practically glowed, smiling with flushed cheeks and a dreamy look in her pretty eyes. I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her all over, make her scream first with my fingers, then with my tongue, and finally with my cock.

Yet no matter that she washed, there was another Alpha’s scent on her. My brother’s.

Good thing for Quill he had a business dinner and was gone from the manor. I might not have been able to stop myself from giving him another split lip and a few missing teeth.

Instead, no matter how I tried to keep a hold of my territorial Alpha instincts, they directed themselves to the only other Alpha in the house who sat across the table from Aubrielle and Lillianna. Yet as much as I was gruff with Evander, the other man took it all in stride. He didn’t back down from me, but he made certain not to say anything directly to Aubrielle or even look her way.

“Did you really like my lasagna, Daddy?” Lillianna asked for the fifth time. I knew my facial expression didn’t match the fact that I was truly impressed with dinner.

I softened my eyes and smiled. “I love it, honey. You did a very good job. I especially liked that you added extra cheese.”

Lillianna puffed up and grinned. “It took a long time to knead the dough. Enid doesn’t like to use the machine to make it, but I think maybe it’s the wave of the future.”

“Your lasagna noodles looked like waves in the sea.” Aubrielle nodded. My focus went to her succulent lips as she smiled. Damn, she was the fucking perfect nanny. The perfect Omega.

“And the cheese like sea foam.” Lillianna giggled as she put her napkin on the table. “Can we go work more on our tails?” Then, like the good girl she was, she turned to me and asked, “May we be excused from the table?”

“Yes, but I would like a moment with Au—”

“Yay!” Lillianna grabbed Aubrielle’s hand and tugged her away from the table.

“I would like a word with you, Kon.” Evander’s deep voice jerked my attention in his direction. I scowled and he didn’t even raise a brow.

I clenched my jaw. Aubrielle glanced back at me, but when I didn’t call her back, she left the room with my daughter. Lillianna chattered away about where the fins needed to be on the tails for them to be able to swim the fastest, and neither Evander or I said anything until the girls were rooms away.

Repressing a growl, I glared at the other Alpha. “What do you want?”

Evander took a sip of water and rested an arm over the back of his chair. Relaxed as he looked, I could still see the tension in the muscles of his neck. “So you and Quill, huh? You two need to work out a schedule because Aubrielle had a rough afternoon. I put Quill on the job, but now you’re the Alpha on duty.”

“Rough afternoon?” What did he mean? I’d already been informed of Lorenzo’s men following Lillianna and Aubrielle while they were shopping. Neither of the girls had noticed though. They’d be home the rest of the day. If any of the Pacettis or anyone that worked for them stepped onto my property, there would be no mercy.

“Your Omega’s in heat,” Evander stated plainly. This time, when I bared my teeth, I did growl. “Quill was ready to fight me too. Just know, I’m keeping my distance from Aubrielle. I’m completely bonded to Callista, though, so you don’t have anything to worry about.”

He knew. I gripped the edge of the table. While other Alphas could smell her scent, I didn’t like that someone outside of Quill and I knew that Aubrielle was in heat. She was mine. And what the fuck did he mean he put Quill on the job earlier? If she needed me, she could have interrupted my meetings. I would drop everything for her.

“What happened?” I barely got the words out from between my clenched teeth.

Evander studied me before replying. “She needed her Alpha. Quill took care of her. I didn’t know both of you were…” He pursed his lips and asked, “Is that what the black eye is about and his fat lip?”

I didn’t answer, and that was all the confirmation he needed. It didn’t bother me so much that Quill helped Aubrielle, but the fact that someone else knew and that someone was an Alpha who was apparently trying to tell me what was going on with my Omega.

“You two need to get your shit together and take care of Aubrielle. It’s only going to intensify from here on out.”

“I didn’t hire you as a relationship coach,” I snapped, but I knew he was right. I hated that he was and that I was acting like an ass. Yet I’d never felt such a powerful instinct to protect anyone other than my daughter, and this was different. Lillianna had a hold of my heart, but whatever I was feeling for Aubrielle, it was on every level.

“It’s just some brotherly advice, man.” Evander lazily held up his open hands and pushed his chair back from the table. “I’m going to go relieve Turner so he can have a bite to eat, and then we’re going to lock everything down after Enid leaves for the night. The rest of the staff are gone. Levi and Tennant will be here at ten.”

Evander stood and walked toward the kitchen door. No rush, all confidence.

He’d just been trying to be helpful, and I’d been an asshole, but I wasn’t about to say it. “We’ll take care of Aubrielle. You just keep my daughter and her safe. Don’t underestimate the Pacettis.”

He paused just before going out and nodded with a small smile. “No problem there. Anyone touches those girls, they’ll pay with their lives.”

“Good.” That pleased the Alpha in me. While I liked to think I could do everything myself, I didn’t have the expertise Callista’s mates had. What I was good at was being the boss and knowing who was best for each job. Evander and his pack were excellent bodyguards. I didn’t hire them because they were family. I hired them because they were at the top in the security field.

Evander left, and I took my last swig of wine. I swished the red around in my mouth before swallowing, leaving a tartness on my tongue.

I needed to get a better hold on my temper. If Lillianna or Aubrielle saw me acting like a rabid Alpha, it could terrify them. I’d always been proud of my self control, of the way I could stay cool in any situation. But Aubrielle was my one weakness. She breached what I thought was my impregnable exterior so quickly that I had no idea how I was going to build it back.

Leaving the dining room, I made my way upstairs. From down the hall, I could hear the girls laughing. These past few weeks had been the happiest I’d ever seen Lillianna. She’d been a content baby, but quiet, and when her mother passed, she’d become even more shy. Moving here with Quill and Callista around had helped, but it was Aubrielle who had made Lillianna smile and laugh more than she had in the last few years combined.

For that alone, I would give Aubrielle anything she asked for. All the money in the world amounted to nothing if my daughter wasn’t happy.

But to have Aubrielle as my mate… Could I even get married again? My marriage to Giovanna hadn’t been unpleasant. Only the reason for it was foul. Yet it had taken the magic out of relationships for me.

And Aubrielle was pure magic.

Fuck. I kept taking the stairs up to the third floor and yanked off my jacket and tie. I chucked them on the floor just inside the exercise room. My shirt, shoes and socks came off next. All discarded just as carelessly.

I needed to burn off this fierce Alpha energy and the only way I could think to do so was the punching bag. So after a few stretches, I spent the next hour imagining I was smashing Lorenzo, both of his sons, and most particularly his nephew, Matteo.

After a refreshing shower, I felt a little more like my controlled self as I went to Lillianna’s room to read her a story before she was tucked into bed. I arrived to the sound of Aubrielle’s soft voice telling the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. The sweet feminine timbre went through me like a caress.

I entered to stand in the doorway, loving the way the two of them looked snuggled together on the bed. Lillianna had her hair in a braid, was wearing her Little Mermaid pajamas, and her eyes were wide with wonder as she stared at the pictures. Aubrielle’s long hair was in a messy bun, and strands turned deep gold by the sun framed her gorgeous face. She traced a finger along as she read, tapping on certain words for emphasis.

Something in me melted at the sight. All the work I did upstairs with the punching bag washed away revealing this is what I wanted. My daughter, my Omega, my family. Happy, sweet, and loving.

Shit. It hit me with a force that I’d never recover from. I swallowed hard, and more audibly than I thought, because both of the girls looked up from the book.

“Daddy!” Lillianna wiggled and patted the spot on the other side of her. “Come sit with us. Little Red Riding Hood is just about to get to Grandma’s house and you need to be the wolf.”

Aubrielle flushed, immediately looking away from me. Her scent spiked, and I suddenly felt much more wolf-like as I mentally licked my lips in anticipation of eating Little Red Riding Hood. “I should let you two have your storytime.”

“No, Aubrielle. You need to stay and be Little Red Riding Hood. I’m going to be the magic mermaid who saves her.” Lillianna tugged on Aubrielle’s arm and she sat back down again.

I came around the other side of my daughter and sat beside her. I glanced at the still blushing Omega and couldn’t hide the little smile that quirked up my lips. “I didn’t know there was a magic mermaid in this story.”

“There is.” Lillianna confirmed and happily snuggled down between Aubrielle and I like it had always been this way. Goddamn, it should be this way.

Aubrielle wet her lips and seemed to struggle to find her voice for a few seconds. She then launched back into the story. Describing the house and young Red’s entrance, she then moved on to when she met the disguised wolf. “Grandma, what big eyes you have.”

“All the better to see you with, my dear.” I cocked a brow at Aubrielle as I said it and she couldn’t hide her smile.

“Oh Grandma, what big ears you have.” Aubrielle’s cheeks dimpled with her smile. So fucking adorable.

“All the better to hear you with, my dear.” I mimicked having wolf ears and Lillianna snickered.

Aubrielle nipped her lower lip before saying the next line. Her breath quickened and her eyes dilated. I was eating it all up. “Grandma, what big teeth you have.”

“All the better to eat you with, my dear!” I let out a big growl and pretended like I might launch myself across the bed to get her, but Lillianna rose up onto her knees and held out a hand.

“Stop right there, Mr. Wolf.” She put her hands on her little hips with the dramatic pose of a superhero. “It’s the Magic Mermaid Police, and you’re under arrest for scaring a little girl.”

“Not for eating the grandma and stealing her identity?” I teased, and I got a giggle from Aubrielle.

“I’m here to keep Little Red Riding Hood safe. You have to come to jail.” Lillianna was undeterred in her act.

“But it’s in the sea, and I can’t breathe underwater,” I protested with a sad wolf whine.

Lillianna pursed her lips thoughtfully and then declared, “I will do a spell so you can breathe underwater. I don’t want you to die. Yet you will learn not to scare little girls!”

“Thank you for saving me, Magic Mermaid. You’re so brave.” Aubrielle clasped her hands under her chin and batted her eyes at her rescuer.

“She hasn’t saved you yet. Not if I eat the mermaid too!” I snatched Lillianna and tickled her as I pretended to eat her with over-exaggerated biting and chewing noises. She squealed with laughter, even as she tried to tell me I couldn’t do that to the Magic Mermaid Police.

Finally I was frozen by a magic spell and the heroine urged Red to get away. Aubrielle hugged Lillianna and kissed her cheek, wishing her good night before she slipped out of the room. I fought the urge to chase after her and continued to pretend I was motionless on the bed.

Lillianna twiddled her fingers. “You’re unfrozen now, Mr. Wolf. Do you promise to be a big good wolf instead of a big bad wolf?”

I let out a long exhale like I’d been unable to breathe. “Oh yes, Magic Mermaid. I have learned my lesson. I promise not to scare any more little girls.”

“Okay, but know I’ll be watching you.” Lillianna used two fingers to point at her eyes and then at me. The gesture was a new one, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Yet she looked stern and I put back on my chastised face.

I gathered her and gave her a hug. “You’re an amazing mermaid hero, sweetie. I love you so much.”

Lillianna squeezed me back and relaxed against me. “I love you too, Daddy. You’re a good wolf. Not scary at all.”

“I’m glad to know that. I never want to scare any little girls. Now, we need to get you tucked in.” I helped her get under her blankets and tucked them around her like I always did. I turned on her starry night light and turned off the lamp. I bent and kissed her head. “Good night, sweetie. Have lots of sweet mermaid dreams.”

“Good night, Daddy. I like having storytime with you and Aubrielle. Can we do that every night forever?”

Oh, fuck me. That sounded like the best of all futures. “We’ll talk to Aubrielle about it, but I bet she’ll be happy to have storytime with us at least some nights. I don’t know if I’m ready to give up all my special time with you forever.”

Lillianna smiled and closed her eyes. “Silly Daddy. You’ll always have me. You need to share me with other people.”

“I’m not very good at sharing.” I lightly tapped her nose and she crinkled it with a giggle.

“I’ll teach you.” She yawned and made a little contented noise. “She’s special, Daddy. You’ll see.”

My heart swelled and seemed too full to be in my chest. From the mouths of babes. “Good night.”

I slipped out of the room and shut the door with a quiet click. My daughter had the right of it. Aubrielle was special. And breathing in the stronger Omega scent in the hall, I decided I was going to show Aubrielle just how incredibly special she was.

Following her sweet musk, it led me downstairs instead of to her room. I crept through the shadows like a wolf on the prowl to find Aubrielle in the sunroom with her palms pressed against the closed French doors, whimpering.

“Aubrielle,” I called to her softly, but she still startled and spun to place her back against the door. Tears dotted her cheeks, and I rushed to her, wiping at them and pulling her against me. Everything in me reared up, ready to smash down whatever was upsetting her. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t get the doors open. I need… I need to get out.” She trembled in my arms. I held her more firmly as if that could chase her fears away.

She was running again, but I wouldn’t let her go this time.

“We have the new security system now, and Evander locked down everything after Enid left. Only the front door and the kitchen door have keypads to get in and out.” I rubbed her back, making slow circles. Her distress triggered my purr, and it rumbled from deep in my chest. “Where do you need to go?”

Aubrielle gasped and squeezed her thighs together. The richness of her scent intensified tenfold. “The garden.”

I wouldn’t let her escape. She didn’t need the garden. What she needed was me. “No more games tonight, Little Red Omega. This wolf knows what you need, and he’s more than ready to give it to you right here and now.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Aubrielle

I’d never been so turned on in my life. The big bad wolf had tracked me down and there was a great hunger in his eyes. There would be no way I could ever read that story again without imagining Konstantin growling with the wolf’s lines and making me so aroused that I couldn’t think straight.

“Come lay down on the sofa.” He tugged me away from the doors and toward the plush sky blue couch. There was no way I could resist.

Konstantin wiped away the remainder of my tears and ran the pad of his thumb over my lower lip. “Such a sexy mouth, bella. Every time you speak, I find myself wanting to kiss you, to have those pouty lips tasting my body and wrapped around my cock.”

Oh God. He was sinfully irresistible. My whole body quivered with his words. I’d just had Quill knot me twice in the afternoon, and now I wanted Konstantin’s knot locked in me. I whimpered with my greed for it and reached for the top of his pants.

He grabbed my hands and kissed each of the palms. “Not yet. I want to take my time with you tonight and enjoy every inch of your beautiful body. I like to savor my meals.”

My lower abdomen clenched and squeezed my innards. There was no way I could wait. I had to have him. “Please, knot me now. I need you.”

Konstantin kissed me tenderly and trailed his fingers up my arms. “I will knot you, bella, but you’re going to have to be patient. The more patient you are, the more I’ll reward you. Can you do that?”

No! I wanted to tear his clothes off and mount him. A small moan escaped me. “I can try.”

“Good. Now strip for me.” He nipped at my neck and stepped back. I immediately reached for him, but he moved out of arm’s length.

Though I was burning up, the room felt cold without his body against mine. I was suddenly very aware of his gaze raking over my body and that he wanted me to get naked in a room where anyone could walk in. “Maybe we should go—”

“Strip.” The command made me tighten my thighs as more slick soaked my panties.

I glanced outside, but I could see no movement. The staff had gone home, but there was still a security detail out there. While no lights were on in the sunroom, there was enough lumination from the outdoor lights to see inside. If someone saw us together…

Why was it making me hotter to think about it? It should terrify me.

Konstantin crossed his arms. His white t-shirt stretched across his broad chest. God, he was magnificent. And losing his patience with me. I couldn’t stand to think that.

I lifted my cami top over my head and dropped it on the end of the couch. The pale pink material of my bra didn’t hide the rosiness of my nipples underneath. My breasts pushed at the bindings as if trying to break free.

Untying my skirt, I pushed it down next, bending slowly as I stepped out of it. Konstantin’s dark gaze was on me the whole time, clinging to my every curve, and branding me as his. My panties matched my bra, thankfully. I’d never had to dress to impress any Alpha before, and my underclothes weren’t as exotic as some lingerie I’d seen. I bought them because they were comfortable and feminine

Yet with the way Konstantin’s huge erection pushed at the front of his shorts, I guessed he liked what he saw, and this made me happier than I ever thought it could. He grunted his approval. “All of it, bella.”

I reached behind my back and undid the clasp for my bra. While I realized he had seen me fully naked before, it was as if this were the first time. My cheeks flamed as the bra loosened and my breasts bounced without the constriction. I let the shoulder straps tumble down my arms and lifted my eyes timidly to glance at Konstantin as I removed the whole garment.

“Yes, beautiful.” The raw desire in his voice rubbed against me like a hot caress. “Now your panties.”

Turning to have my back to him, I hooked my thumbs in the elastic and eased my soaked panties down. The lights from outside highlighted my curvy body making me feel like a femme fatale with the dramatic lighting in a noir film. I’d never felt so sexy in my life, and I was just standing there.

“Lie on the sofa.” Konstantin ordered, the muscles in his arms rippled as he lifted his shirt over his head.

Not taking my eyes from him, I stepped back until my calves touched the couch and lowered myself down. Just as I’d been taught in Omega school, I sat with perfect posture with my ankles crossed. As if modesty played any part in what was happening right now.

He shook his head. “Lie back with your legs spread. Let me see how badly you want me.”

My hands trembled as I did what he commanded. Cool air drifted over my most intimate parts and reminded me just how exposed we were here. Anyone could see us. One of the security guards could be watching from the patio right now.

And fuck, that made me all the more horny.

“You have no idea just how incredibly gorgeous you are, bella.” Konstantin pushed off his bottoms and freed his thick cock. A few beads of pre-cum glittered from the light on the tip as he came to stand over me and stroke his length a few times. “Tell me how badly you want me.”

“Oh God, I ache for you.” And as if those words were the cue, a heat pang surged through me and I groaned. “Please.”

“I love it when you beg.” Konstantin knelt between my legs making the sofa sink beneath his weight. He leaned in and cupped the back of my head, lifting me enough to kiss. A few feather light ones at first, but then he smashed his mouth to mine and his tongue claimed dominion.

I ran my hands along his strong thighs, seeking to find the prize between them, but he caught my wrists and held them together in one firm hand. Still kissing me as if he might devour me, he drew his fingers over my vulva before he thrust a finger inside of me. He ate up my gasp as his hand pumped vigorously, fucking me with his finger.

“Knot me. I need you, Konstantin.” I tried to free my hands, but held them as if his fingers were steel. “I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t have you inside of me.”

“Greedy little Omega.” He growled against my mouth and bit at my lower lip. The tiny pain blended into the swirling pleasure. What Konstantin brought out of me were things I never thought existed. Made me wonder what other kinks I might discover with him.

A second finger joined the first and his palm rubbed against my clit. I cried out and bucked my hips, tumbling fast toward orgasm.

“I love how your pussy sucks on my fingers. So sexy.” He crooned and finally let go of my wrists so that he could fill his hand with one of my breasts. “I’m going to fuck you all night long. You’re mine.”

The vehemence of his words shook me to my bones as if he had already marked me with a claiming bite. My soul and body sang with it, ringing that I was his and had always been his. It scared me more than anything ever had.

One more slap of his hand and my climax exploded through me, dispersing that last thought and all others before it. I screamed his name and clutched at his arms. The world spun, pleasure never-ending.

“Who do you belong to?” His hot breath blew across the shell of my ear.

I blinked, still not grasping words in my orgasmic haze.

“Aubrielle. Who do you belong to?” His rougher tone had me shudder with delicious after effects as his hand slowed and stopped.

“You.” The truth of it had my pounding heart skip a beat. “I belong to you.”

“Fucking right.” He lifted the hand he had fucked me with and sucked my juices from his fingers. This Alpha was a beast and I nearly came again just at the sight of his animalistic hunger. Aubrielle from a month ago would be aghast thinking that something this primal could be so arousing, but underneath my good girl exterior, I was realizing there was an Omega who liked her sex dirty.

Konstantin kissed me again, thrusting his tongue in so I could taste my own sweetness. When he broke from me, he was nearly panting. He turned me so I had my right leg kneeling on the cushion and my left foot on the floor. “Hold the arm of the sofa, bella. You’ve been such a good girl, I’m going to fuck you hard and knot you.”

“Yes, oh God, yes!” I braced myself against the tall arm of the couch and peered over my shoulder. Everything in me cried out when he said he was going to knot me.

Taking a hold of my hips, he slammed into me with no warning. Filled so suddenly, I cried out and felt a gush of slick drench us both. My pussy squeezed and he groaned, setting a fast and pounding rhythm.

I dug my nails into the material of the couch and hung on for my life. Konstantin had shaken my world on so many levels. Not only did he coax me to explore sexual realms I’d never even considered, the smart girl common sense I held so dearly had crumbled in front of this intense and caring Alpha. He did nothing halfway. Not fathering, business, or fucking.

Oh crap. I was falling for him. Heck, I was already in deep.

Konstantin reached around my thigh to the front of me, finding my swollen clit and circling it with his fingers. I let out a cry and teetered on the edge of orgasm. His knot swelled and stretched me almost painfully. So big, so perfect.

“That’s right, bella. Come for me.” His sexy gravelly voice was the last trigger.

I screamed as I came. The world disappeared, and it was just the two of us locked together. Somewhere within my cyclone of euphoria, Konstantin roared with his climax and filled me with his hot cum.

Time ceased to exist as the bliss seemed to last forever. I rested my head on the arm of the couch and sought to catch my breath. Konstantin leaned forward and kissed over the back of my shoulder and nudged my left leg up onto the sofa with the other. I hadn’t even realized I had been half-standing until the pressure was off that one leg and I went limp under him.

I opened my eyes to see our reflection in the glass of the French doors. His muscled Alpha body bowed over mine like a protective roof. His chest heaved as he lightly kissed and caressed me.

The exhaustion from previous orgasms hadn’t hit, and I smiled to see us like an erotic work of art. So tender after a fervent coupling.

Then a flicker of movement drew my gaze to a darker part of the reflection. My breath caught in my throat and my eyes widened as panic gripped me.

Behind us, in the doorway, stood Quill.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - Quill

Once Aubrielle finally noticed me, I grinned. I loved the way she looked freshly fucked. All wild and flushed and glowing. I’d almost backed away when I caught Konstantin pounding her on the sofa in the sunroom, but I couldn’t look away. While I’d prefer it be me giving her such pleasure, just seeing her in the throes of her climax made me happy.

I quietly clapped my hands and walked into the room. “Beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous, baby. I love watching you when you come.”

Konstantin had one arm wrapped possessively around her middle and narrowed his eyes at me, lips twitching as if they were ready to pull back with a growl. My split lip said he might bite, but I was determined to show him that we could share.

Aubrielle, on the other hand, had gotten over her dismayed surprise. Her gaze gave me a very different message. She might have just had her mind blown with that orgasm, but she was still wanting. Heat made Omegas hungry for their Alphas’ dicks in all sorts of ways. And if I managed to spin this dance with her and Konstantin, all of us could see how this could work.

“Watch the teeth and claws, brother. I’m not here to try to steal her from you.”

“Screw off, Quill. I have her.” The vicious claim in that had me scan Aubrielle’s body for a mark. There was none, but he was close to doing so. Fuck, I’d almost bit her in the garden today. The thought of life without her left me feeling hollow, but I needed to know it was truly what she wanted as well, and seeing her with Konstantin made it clear that it was only going to work if it was both of us.

“Oh, I see you do.” I gave the sofa a wide berth as I walked around the room. Slow and purposeful. I was cautious, but no way was I going to back down. I stood at the end of the couch facing Aubrielle and winked at her. “Looks like Kon rocked your world, baby, but you still want more, don’t you?”

Aubrielle’s lips parted as she licked them. Konstantin grunted as she butted her ass against him. Likely she squeezed his knot with her sweet pussy too.

Yet she hesitated to say anything. She glanced over her shoulder at my brother and sucked in her lower lip, worrying it between her teeth. This part of the dance was tricky. Fuck if I knew how I was going to do it, but I refused to lose her.

“I’m not asking you to choose between us. It’s clear that not only are you compatible with both of us, there’s a deeper connection.” I didn’t want to give them a speech. That would be bullshit. All I could do was let my heart spill its truth. “In such a short period of time, you’ve become a vital part of my life. I want to be with you, Aubrielle. I want you any way I can get you, and if that means sharing, I’m willing to do so.”

“Quill.” Konstantin snarled and his glare intensified. “This isn’t the time to discuss this.”

Aubrielle eyed the exit. Not that she could run with a knot in her. We needed to sort this out, and it had to be right now.

“It’s totally the time to do this. I want you to know, baby, what you mean to me and what I’m willing to do to have you in my life. And I need you to know it too, Kon.” I looked from her to him, making certain I had their full attention. “So yeah, I’m willing to share, but only with Kon. I know he’ll take care of you as well as I will. I’d give you the Earth, sun, and moon. Fuck, I’d give you anything and everything. And I know he will too.”

Konstantin caressed her hip, and she shivered at his touch. “I would.”

I waited a half minute thinking he might say more. He didn’t add that he would share, but he didn’t say he wouldn’t. I’d count that as a win.

Stepping forward, I leaned in to place a hand over Aubrielle’s. Her soft skin was hot, blazing with her heat. I ran my thumb over her knuckles and reached to brush my fingers over her cheek. “What do you think, baby? I know you like both of us.”

She whimpered softly and squirmed against Konstantin again. A war of emotions marched across her pretty face. “I… I shouldn’t. I do. I like both of you, but we… I shouldn’t make big decisions while I’m in heat.”

While a little part of me was disappointed she didn’t just jump right on the boat, I admired her all the more for her will power and sense. “Well, I guess it is kind of hard to think straight when a knot is locked in you.” I chuckled and brushed a lock of hair back from her face. Glancing at Konstantin, I jerked my chin toward him. “You and I haven’t had the easiest of lives, and we’d never been buddies. Yet this past year, I’ve gotten to know the man you’ve become and I like him. You’re not the Julian Birk clone our father tried to make you. You’re a good man. Sometimes you still seem stone cold, but the tenderness I see you use for Lilli, you use with Aubrielle too. Just not in the same way. Not at all.”

A little smile perked up Aubrielle’s lips, and I knew I was on the right track. I had to get this right. I couldn’t lose her.

“Jesus Christ,” Konstantin huffed and rolled his eyes, but there was no hostility in it.

I made a rolling gesture with my hand. “So now is the point in this conversation where you say your piece, Kon. Lay it all out there.”

He skimmed his hand over Aubrielle’s bare back, up and down with little swirls. Finally he exhaled heavily. “I’m not very good at sharing.” No shit. “Even Lillianna mentioned it.”

“My niece is a fucking genius, you know.” I nodded and earned another smile from the beautiful Omega between my brother and I. She almost seemed to be holding her breath as she waited to see what would happen.

“And you can be a fucking pain in the ass.” Konstantin shot me a look, and I shrugged. I’d cultivated those skills for years. He couldn’t make me feel bad about it. He worked his jaw back and forth as if trying to loosen something. “I would give you anything, Aubrielle. While I do agree this isn’t the time for such a definite discussion, know whatever decision you make, I will honor. I want to be in your life as your Alpha. I couldn’t be anything less. And if that means Quill is in your life too… Fuck. I’ll learn to deal with it. Because yes, he will take care of you as well as I would. I trust him to keep you happy and safe.” He locked eyes with me. “I trust him with your life.”

Fucking victory!

Aubrielle let out a little sobbing hiccup, and I bent in to wipe her shimmering tears and kiss her smiling lips. I kissed her face all over. “See, baby? It’s all going to work out. You don’t have to worry about anything. Kon and I are like a superhero team. Right, bro?”

I held up my fist for him to bump.

Konstantin sighed and shook his head. “That’s not appropriate right now.”

“Are you sure this is what you both want?” Aubrielle’s voice trembled. I could see the fear in her eyes. She was afraid to hope this could work out.

“One hundred ten percent yes.” I nodded and offered my fist again only for my brother to ignore it once more. Hey, it was classier than a high five and less formal than a handshake.

“Yes.” Konstantin rubbed her shoulders. “Is that what you want?”

I wanted to shout out that it totally was what she wanted. Yet I realized it was me needing it more desperately than anything else. I needed her in my life. She was the ray of pure light that touched parts of me which hadn’t been seen in a long time, if not ever. Girls in my past were mere shadows compared to Aubrielle.

Not even realizing it until my knees hit the floor, I had sunk down in front of her. Fuck, I loved her. If she didn’t want to be with me, I didn’t know what I was going to do.

“I…” She started and faltered, squeezing her eyes shut. Taking in several deep breaths, she tried again. “I came here for a wonderful job, and I found it. Being a nanny to Lillianna is the best. I didn’t expect to be compatible with any Alphas, and when the two of you were… I was torn. You’re my employer and my best friend’s brothers. I don’t want to make a mess out of anyone’s lives. Plus you’ve been fighting about me. Like punch each other in the face fighting. Don’t think I don’t know. I can’t ruin a family.”

“You’re not,” I assured her at the same time Konstantin said, “Never.”

“If you were a pack, you know like Kienna’s, maybe you wouldn’t fight, but you’re brothers…” Her voice cracked again, and she hid her face against the corner of the couch.

Both Konstantin and I rubbed her back and arms, trying to soothe her with our touch. Yeah, we fought over her, but if we had a falling out, it would never be her fault. She was innocent in all of it. I refused to let her blame herself for anything.

“Listen, baby.” I took one of her hands in mine and kissed the back of it. “Kon and I may be related, but we were never brothers in the way you’re implying. He stuck with his uptight little crowd and I caused trouble with mine. We didn’t know each other. Hell, we hardly had anything to do with one another. Then when our father died, we met again as two different people and had to get to know each other as full grown men. We bonded not because we’re brothers, but because we respect and like one another. That’s just what a pack does.”

Aubrielle peeked at me over her arm. Her eyes shone, wet and vulnerable.

“Well said.” Konstantin agreed, almost looking surprised at doing so. “We’re a pack, and you’re our missing piece, bella.”

“A pack,” she breathed as if she couldn’t believe it.

I motioned to Konstantin to shift them so that he was sitting down with her on his lap. She needed to be more comfortable and be able to see us both at the same time. I’d never been more fucking sincere in my entire life, and I had to let her feel it.

Once they were settled, I sat beside them and lifted her lower legs onto my lap. “What do you think, baby? Is this what you want?”

She swallowed and rested her head against Konstantin’s shoulder. She took my hand in hers and my brother’s in her other hand. “I want to try, I really do, but—”

“No buts.” I cut her off right there and grinned. “We’re going to make it work. You’ll be ours forever.”

“You make us sound like villains.” Konstantin rolled his eyes and kissed the top of Aubrielle’s head. I didn’t really remember what he was like with Giovanna, but it wasn’t like this. He was natural and content, and totally relaxed knotted in Aubrielle while sitting beside me. That was far better than a fist bump.

“Well, if you’re villains, you’re very handsome ones.” Hope had returned to her smile and something else glimmered in her eyes. I breathed her sweet scent in deeply to make certain it wasn’t my own hormones talking.

Oh yeah. We would make this work. We’d convince her that becoming part of the Birk pack was the only thing she ever wanted.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Aubrielle

“I’ll be fine for one afternoon.” I folded my arms and tried to look intimidating, but neither Quill nor Konstantin were convinced. Their furrowed brows were much more domineering than me in a flowery skirt and peach lipstick.

“Yesterday, you were a total mess.” Quill’s bluntness was usually sweet, but it annoyed me at the moment. “You’re not done with your heat yet.”

I hated that he was right. The day before, I couldn’t get enough of their knots. They took turns taking care of me, starting in Konstantin’s bedroom on Monday night, and then I dragged them into the garden. Of all the places I could have felt the instinct to nest, I never imagined it would be outside like I was some wild animal.

Like the wonderful Alphas they were, the brothers didn’t complain. They erected a small canvas tent over the nest and filled it with blankets and pillows from their rooms. Water and food were stored in a cooler, and I brought out my sewing supplies so I could finish making the mermaid tails.

Tuesday was a blur of frenzied sex, snuggling, snacking, and sewing. I didn’t fall asleep until after Quill knotted me one more time just after midnight. My body was pleasantly sore, and not a single heat pang had plagued me since I woke at eleven.

I wasn’t going to let my heat bring my life to a complete stop. So I pulled out my trump card. “Lillianna has been looking forward to seeing her aunt and cousin for days. I won’t have her miss out because of me. She’d be devastated, and I would feel horrible.”

“I’ll take her myself.” Konstantin said it as if it were a done deal. I wasn’t going to let him change my mind.

“She needs girl's time.” I raised my chin, daring them to say anything about that. And to add the cherry on top of my argument, I added, “I need girl’s time.”

“And what if you suddenly need some knot time?” Quill smirked. Damn him for being so smoking hot even when he was trying to interfere in my plans.

“I had knot time all day and night!” I huffed and glanced at the clock. If Lillianna and I were going to go, we had to leave within the next few minutes to make it on time.

“You can never get enough.” Quill waggled his brows and winked.

No, I couldn’t. Not of either of them, but I wasn’t going to play into that right now.

“I’m going.” There. I put my foot down.

Konstantin and Quill shared a look that was kind of amused. Amused!

“I’m going,” I repeated and bent to pick up my sandals from the floor, slipping them onto my feet. “You two have your big important meeting. We’ll be back by dinner. Talis is with us, and Callista is bringing Levi. We’ll be inside a children’s museum which has its own security. That’s plenty of protection.”

Konstantin took my hand and helped me straighten. His touch made me tingle, and I almost thought it would trigger another round of heat with me begging him to knot me. Thankfully it was just the sizzle of our connection. “Bella, you must understand our worry. Just because you feel normal at the moment, doesn’t mean you’re not in heat. No matter how many bodyguards you have, if an Alpha who is compatible scents you, and he has no self control, it would take an army to keep him away from you.”

I was ready for this argument. “There are sections of the museum where Alphas aren’t allowed. Areas for Omega mothers and their children to feel safe.”

“Then that’s where you stay until we’ll get there.” Konstantin seemed to have been ready for what I said too. “We’ll be joining you after our meeting is over.”

“A family day out.” Quill leaned in and kissed me with a grin. “That way you can get in some girl’s time, but we’ll be there if you need some knot time.”

I readied a protest in my mind, but then tossed it away. A family day out sounded good. Callista wanted to spend more time with her brothers, and Lillianna would be thrilled to have all of us there. She rejoiced in being surrounded by family. No doubt she missed it since it had been only her father and her since she was two.

And I really liked the idea of all of us together. While I’ve been bonding with Quill and Konstantin over the past few days, getting to know them outside of the nest excited me. It would be like a sneak peek of what life might be like after my heat was over.

A life I might have been fantasizing about a lot lately. My own pack. I’d never thought I’d have more than one mate, never mind a pack. And it was more than just the two of them with me. Lillianna was part of our family. I haven’t said anything out loud yet, but knowing I might be a permanent figure in her life made me extremely happy. Then giving her siblings…

I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. Time to focus on today.

“Alright. That will work.” As if they hadn’t already decided it was going to happen anyway. I loved that they looked out for me. I was still getting used to someone else taking care of me, but they’ve proved very capable on all levels. “I’ll have to say something to Callista. I need to think of the best way to tell her what’s going on.”

No matter how much Quill and Konstantin assured me, there was still a small part of me that was afraid I’d lose my best friend. Even more so, if things didn’t work out between me and her brothers, she might never speak to me again. The thought made my chest hurt.

“Whatever you want to do. You lead the way on this. Whenever you’re ready to tell Callista, we’ll support you.” Konstantin dipped his head and kissed me, soft and long.

“Calli will be good about it. Trust me.” Quill swooped in and wrapped his arms around me, dipping me down to dramatically kiss me. I giggled against his mouth and tapped his arm when he started to get more carried away.

“I need to go. Lillianna will be waiting, and I don’t want to be late.”

Leaving them proved more difficult than I expected. The pull to my Alphas kept tugging me even when I was seated in the car with Lillianna and driving away from the house. A little thread of panic ramped up, and the only way I calmed it was repeating to myself that they would join us in a little while.

“Are you sure you’re feeling better, Aubrielle?” Lillianna asked again. So sweet in her concern for me.

Little kids shouldn’t have these sorts of worries though. I squeezed her hand and smiled. “I’m sure. I think maybe it was just allergies. So no one has to worry about catching anything from me.”

“Daddy wouldn’t even let me see you.” She kept a firm hold on my hand, her grip tightening. “I was scared.”

I wrapped my arms around her. Poor girl. She definitely didn’t need this sort of stress. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I took some medicine and it helps. Your daddy is very protective of you because he loves you so much. He just didn’t want you to get sick.”

“I know he loves me. Just like I love you and I’m very protective of you.” Lillianna snuggled into me and I totally melted. “Stay with me forever.”

Oh God. This sweet, darling child. She had owned my heart from the start, but this… I had to bite the edge of my tongue to keep myself from crying. I wanted to tell her that I would always be there for her and soothe her worries, but nothing was set in stone. I was trying to stick by what Kienna had told me about not making big decisions while in heat.

The very least I could say was, “I love you too, Lillianna.”

Talis glanced back at us from the front seat with a smile and turned the car onto the road toward the children’s museum.

Lillianna and I chatted about the things we would see and do in the museum, and what she wanted to show Isabella. We’d brought our mermaid tails to model, and the gift baby tail for her cousin. It was the first thing Lillianna had to do when we arrived and met up with Callista and her daughter.

A sense of joy settled over me as we started our afternoon at the museum. My best friend and I getting together and entertaining our children. Not that Lillianna was my child, but if Konstantin claimed me, I could adopt her as my own.

I mentally pinched myself. I needed to stop it with these daydreams. No big decisions.

Entering the building, Talis gave us bracelets with the museum logo on them. They had chips in them with info of who we were, so if a child got separated from their guardian, security could just scan it and call the adult. Plus, it was a cute blue and gold band that would make for a nice keepsake.

An hour after we arrived, Lillianna found herself a friend her own age in a room with several water features the kids could play with. It was also an Alpha free room and not quite as busy as the others. Levi and Talis waited outside by the entrance as Callista held Isabella, letting her bare feet wriggle in a gently swirling whirlpool.

“You seem distant today.” Callista gave me a nudge.

I blinked, glancing at Lillianna who was about ten feet away discussing mermaids with her new friend. “What do you mean?”

“Usually you’re very attentive. You ask about everything and help out before you’re even asked. You haven’t even asked me about our trip yet.”

My cheeks heated with shame. What a crappy friend I was. I turned my full focus to her. “I’m so sorry. All this excitement, and this being the first time I’ve taken Lillianna to a place as busy as this… How was your trip? Did you get to relax at all? I know Isabella is barely two months—”

Callista laughed and lifted her daughter onto her lap, patting her feet dry with a baby blanket she had over her shoulder. “It’s okay, Aubrie. I was just worried about you. I hope being a full time nanny hasn’t stressed you out or that my brother hasn’t demanded too much of you.”

“Oh no. Lillianna has been a dream. She’s so bright and creative and mermaid obsessed. I don’t mind that though.” I smiled, feeling warmed at that thought, but feeling hotter at thoughts of what Konstantin had demanded of me. “Mr. Birk has been very supportive of whatever I’ve wanted to do with Lillianna.”

“Mr. Birk?” Callista gave a little snort.

Should I tell her? The fact Kienna hadn’t already called up both Callista and Nicolette to spill it all was surprising. Her pack must be keeping her super busy in Ireland. Yet she was certain Callista would understand. Quill and Konstantin felt the same way.

If things worked out… It would be harder to tell her later. I had to take the chance.

I swallowed and breathed out slowly. “So, there is something I need to tell you, and it’s the real reason I’ve been distracted.”

Callista bounced her baby on her leg, looking like the very picture of patience.

“So, uh…” Just spit it out. The faster the better. “I’m compatible with your brothers. Both of them, and they triggered my heat, and now they want to claim me and share me, but I don’t want to make any big decisions while I’m in heat, and I don’t want to lose you as my best friend. Please don’t hate me!” I covered my face with my hands, so embarrassed. My heart pounded as I waited for her reaction.

Laughing, Callista slid an arm around my shoulders and pulled me in for a hug. “I could never hate you, Aubrie. You’re too sweet. I’m absolutely on board with my brothers claiming you.” She released me and put on a serious expression. “They better be treating you right.”

She could never hate me! A laugh that burbled like a sob escaped me as my stress bubble burst. “Yes, very well. They’re way overprotective, and they barely allowed me to come today. You really don’t mind? You can be honest with me.”

“Good. Overprotectiveness is the standard mode for Alphas.” Callista chuckled. “If they claim you, that means we’ll really be sisters. Sisters! You’ll be Auntie Aubrielle to Isa.”

Oh God, I loved the thought of having her as family. I was an only child with no cousins. The Birks were a huge family in my eyes, and to be surrounded by so much love and happiness swelled in my heart and threatened to make me cry. “Thank you for being so good about this. I worried you might hate me. I never set about for this to happen. In fact, I fought against it, but…”

“Yes, I know. It’s always when we least expect it.” Callista continued to bounce Isabella who gurgled contently. “Now I can confess that I already knew.”

My eyes went wide and my breath hitched in my throat. “Kienna told you?”

“No. Does she know?”

“I needed to talk to someone about it.” I hung my head and glanced at her. “She actually gave me good advice.”

Callista grinned. “Kienna, the surprise wise woman.” We both giggled at that. “No, Evander told me. So I’ve had a few days to sit on it. At first he thought it was just Quill, who was ready to fight him to keep him away from you. Then Konstantin did the same thing.”

I gasped. “They didn’t!”

“No one fought anyone.” She shook her head.

“Well, Konstantin and Quill did have a fight, but they worked it out now.” Worked it out surprisingly well. The past day and two nights had been bliss. They took turns with me, sharing without any threats or growls, and both of them made me feel like I was the center of their worlds.

“They had a fight?” Callista exhaled with her surprise as I nodded. “It’s good that it’s out in the open now. Evander said it was important that they knew you were in heat, so they could better provide you with protection. That’s why both Talis and Levi are here.”

“Quill and Konstantin will be joining us soon too.” I couldn’t stop my smile at that.

“The whole family together on a day out. I love it!” Callista gave me another hug. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to them, and I’m so excited you’re part of the family now. I was worried you’d become a teacher, move away, and never have time to see your friends. But now that you’re family, you’re obligated to spend time with us!”

I laughed, feeling on top of the world. “You could never get rid of me. We’re friends forever.”

“Yay! Friends forever!” Lillianna was suddenly there and joining in on the hug.

Oh God. Hopefully she didn’t hear the rest of the conversation.

We each gave Lillianna a hug, and she kissed Isabella on the head. I adored her. She would make the best big sister in the world.

“What’s up? Ready to do something else?” I asked.

“I’ve got to use the bathroom. I got some water on me.” Lillianna pointed to the wet spot on her shirt.

“That was bound to happen. Mermaids simply cannot stay dry.” I stood and took her hand as she laughed. I gave Isabella a little wave and smiled at my friend. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“We’ll be waiting.” Callista gave her daughter a tickling kiss and lifted her to let her feet swish in the water again.

Lillianna and I exited the water room. Catching Levi’s eye, I motioned towards the bathrooms down the hall and mouthed that’s where we were going. The corridor was packed and noisy with tons of little kids running around. Levi winked and gave me a thumb’s up.

We got into the restroom and stood to one side as a mom and three kids squeezed by leaving. The stalls were occupied, so I grabbed a paper towel and squatted to coax as much water out of Lillianna’s shirt as possible.

She let out a puff of air. “Whew. It’s really crowded here. I’ve never been to a place so crowded except an airport, and then Daddy carried me.”

“Yeah, popular places can get like this, especially on rainy days like today. Parents want to do fun things with their children, and there are only so many places to go.” Satisfied I squeezed as much as I could out of her shirt, I tapped the air dryer. “Here, sweetie. Stand under this to dry it the rest of the way.”

Lillianna nodded and put the damp spot as close to the dryer as possible. A woman and a girl came out of two of the stalls as another woman with a stroller came in. I smiled and gestured that she could go ahead of us. She went into the larger handicap stall.

An older woman came out of the final stall, washed her hands, and left with the others.

My mind drifted, still soaring on the happiness and relief from Callista’s reaction to my news. She was ecstatic for me. It made my heart ache for it to work out even more. If everyone was supporting us, and Quill and Konstantin could share, I was going to do my damnedest to make it work. My very own pack. A life with those two gorgeous men and this amazing child here.

The dryer stopped and Lillianna inspected her t-shirt. “I think it’s dry now.”

Before I could respond, the brunette in the big stall peeked her head out. “Excuse me, miss. Do you think you can give me a hand? I think one of the buckles on the stroller is stuck or something.”

I gave her a sympathetic smile and went into the stall with her. Going around to the front of the stroller, I moved the sunshade up and bent down. It was some foreign brand I didn’t recognize with a thick black canopy and a plush seat with a few blankets and no child.

No child.

Furrowing my brows, I stood to find the woman pointing a gun at my face.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - Aubrielle

The world spun. I raised a hand and pressed it to the side of the stall to keep myself balanced. Outside of a movie, I’d never seen a gun before. Never mind having one aimed at me.

My first thought was Lillianna. I opened my mouth to tell her to run, but the brunette shook her head. She spoke in a hard and quiet tone. “If you scream, I will shoot you. If you do anything that I don’t tell you, I will shoot you. Do you understand me?”

I nodded numbly.

Lillianna. I had to get her away.

“Put your phone into the feminine products bin, and then reach into the basket under the seat and take out the jacket. Put it on and put the hood up, hiding your hair. Finally take the sunglasses out of the pocket and put them on.” Her expression didn’t change. It remained cold like she was void of emotion.

“Aubrielle?” Lillianna’s angelic inquiry echoed in the bathroom.

“Lillianna, vieni qui.” The stranger didn’t take her eyes off me as I slowly did as she asked. My hands shook as I tried to think of any way out of this. Surely whatever this woman was planning wouldn’t work. We could only leave the bathroom by going into the hall. Talis and Levi were out there. They would see…

Then it dawned on me. I was being made to wear a disguise. Shit.

Lillianna walked into the stall, saw the gun, and squeaked with fear. She went immediately to me and buried her face against my side. “What’s going on, Aubrielle? What’s happening?”

“Tranquillo,” she hissed at Lillianna. It suddenly clicked that the woman was speaking Italian. Oh God. The Pacettis. No. “Sedetevi nel passeggino e copritevi con delle coperte.” When Lillianna didn’t move, she barked, “Now!”

“Don’t yell at her. She’s frightened.” No matter what was going on, I refused to let anyone treat Lillianna badly. I crouched down to hug her and managed to keep my voice calm so as not to scare her anymore. My heart was racing and my stomach twisted. “What did she tell you to do, sweetie? We need to do as she asks.”

“She wants me to get into the stroller and put on the blankets.” Lillianna’s chin trembled. Tears spilled from the corners of her eyes. “I’m too big for a stroller.”

“Oh, baby.” I hugged her again and kissed her forehead. If anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself. “We’ll be okay just as long as we do what she says. You really are too big for a stroller, but you’ll fit in this one, and it won’t be for long.”

I helped Lillianna get in and tucked the blankets around her.

“Cover her face.” The stranger instructed, and I gave Lillianna one more reassuring look before I did so.

Standing up, I found the sunglasses and fumbled with them as I put them on. They were big ones and covered half my face. I swallowed a whimper and faced the stranger again.

“You are going to push the stroller. I will walk beside you with the gun always pointed at you. So don’t say or do anything. We will go the opposite way than your security. Got it?”

I nodded, feeling a few tears slip free behind the big glasses. Sniffling, I pushed the stroller out of the stall just as another woman and her toddler came into the bathroom. I could say something, but that would put the innocent people in danger too.

We exited into the hall. I mentally screamed for Talis and Levi to look our way, to notice that it was me in the bulky jacket and sunglasses. Because I knew if we left the building, if the kidnapper took us someplace else, we were screwed. Lorenzo wouldn’t kill his own granddaughter, but her life would be miserable. I couldn’t let him have her.

And me, I was inconsequential. I was dead.

Or worse, merchandise to be sold off to the highest bidder.

The brunette poked my side with the muzzle of the gun hidden now in her jacket pocket. My tears came faster as we walked to the other end of the hall and then down a curving ramp which led to the front entrance. No one looked twice at us.

We went out the front doors and walked down the ramp to the parking lot. My gaze darted desperately around for a security guard or anyone that I might try to give a subtle sign that I needed help. All I saw were tired parents and grandparents with energized kids.

“Keep moving.” The kidnapper poked me again, hard enough it would leave a bruise. “Go to the far end of the lot.”

A large family group came toward us. If I pushed Lillianna into them, there was a chance she’d get away. I’d be shot, but Lillianna… Would then be alone. The stranger could still grab Lillianna and run off with her. Wherever we were going, I had to be there for Lillianna. She was terrified of being abandoned, and she needed me now more than ever.

I had to be strong. I couldn’t let anyone see me freaking out, especially not Lillianna. But inside, oh God, I was screaming with terror.

A black Sedan with blacked out windows pulled slowly into the far corner of the lot. The kidnapper gave me a shove. “Get the girl out and get into the car with her.”

I said nothing to her, didn’t even look her way. Bending over, I removed the blankets from Lillianna who stared at me with teary eyes. I picked her up and let her wrap her arms and legs around me before turning to open the car door.

When I sat inside with her, the stranger immediately shut the door behind us. The sound of the locks triggering sent a wave of fear through me. But not as much as the sight of Lorenzo sitting on the seat opposite of us.

Lorenzo was dressed more casually than he had been on the beach, but he still held himself like the master of all Alphas. Danger rolled off him, even when his thin lips curled up in a smile. He didn’t reach for Lillianna, thankfully, but tapped the glass separating the back of the car with the front, and the vehicle glided forward to the parking lot’s exit.

“Now, now, mia piccola tesoro, you needn’t hide from me. There’s nothing for you to fear here.”

I didn’t want him scaring Lillianna, but I didn’t want him pretending to be a kindly grandfather either. I rubbed her back as she peeked out at him. “Nonno?”

“Si, cara mia. You’re safe with me.” Lorenzo opened his arms as if expecting a hug, but it was as if I could see the devil’s horns on his head and the red gleam in his eyes. I wanted to tell Lillianna she would never be safe with him, but he already knew I understood that. His act wasn’t so good that he was trying to convince me of anything.

Lillianna didn’t leave my lap, but straightened a little and rubbed her eyes. “I don’t understand. Did you save us from the lady with the gun and run her over? She was mean.”

“Of course. You never have to worry about her again, especially since we’re going far away from here. We’re going home.” Lorenzo leaned back, unbothered by the fact that he wasn’t hugged by his granddaughter.

“Good. I want Daddy.” Lillianna rested her head on my shoulder with her little hand still clutching the front of my jacket.

“Ah, my sweet, I don’t mean the house here in America. I mean your true home in Italy.”

As if my heart wasn’t racing already, now it was thundering in my chest. He was going to take us across the ocean. There would be no way for anyone to find us then. I held Lillianna more firmly and glanced at the doors.

I could jump out with her in my arms and protect her from a fall, but the doors were locked. Or maybe, at the airport, I could… No. I couldn’t risk Lillianna’s safety. But surely Lorenzo couldn’t take us out of the country. We didn’t have passports, and there was a law that a child couldn’t travel without their parents unless they had a document with their permission. While I’m sure that paper could be faked, the passports…

Lorenzo smiled again. It was as if the monster knew what I was thinking. He probably already had fake passports for Lillianna and I.

“I want Daddy.” Lillianna repeated with a sniffle.

“We’ll see him soon,” I whispered. If Konstantin ever got his hands on Lorenzo, it would be murder. And hell, I wanted him to do it. I never wished violence on anyone, but this man sitting across from me… He was pure evil.

Would I ever see Konstantin or Quill again? I had only started to dream of a life with them, and now that was ripped to shreds. If they somehow managed to save Lillianna, and I would do everything in my power to make sure she got out of this with as little trauma as possible, I was nothing to the Pacettis. I would be lucky if I was even in the plan to fly overseas to Italy. I could be shot and left in a ditch.

My stomach roiled, and I bent my head to breathe in the floral smell of Lillianna’s hair. Soft and sweet. I would do anything for this child.

“Please take off your sunglasses, Miss Smyth. You have no need to worry about the sun in here.” Lorenzo’s accented baritone was lazy and yet commanding. He lightly drummed his fingers on his leg.

My hand shook as I lifted it and removed the glasses. There had been a small sense of safety behind them, but now I felt totally bare in front of him.

“That’s better. Now I can see your pretty eyes. They match your pretty scent.” His smile turned into that of a predator’s. No, no, no. He couldn’t… He was an Alpha. Of course he could. A pair of tears trickled down my cheeks. My only saving grace was that nothing in me responded to him and he didn’t seem to be at all interested in me in that way. “Yes, I know you’re… in the middle of your cycle. Quite the predicament for you. But not to worry. I have Alphas who will be happy to help you. You’ll be very well taken care of.”

Bile rose in my throat. This was every Omega’s nightmare. It scared me even more that I wouldn’t be able to fight it if my body needed to be knotted. If only I’d listened to Quill and Konstantin and stayed home. But I’d been so confident that I could handle an afternoon with my best friend.

“You’re not claimed, are you?” Lorenzo scrutinized me, and no matter I turned my face from him, determined not to say a thing, he didn’t need me to. “You’re not. Excellent. Whoever the Alpha is that triggered such a beautiful Omega and let her out of his sight should feel like a fool.”

“What’s Nonno talking about, Aubrielle?” Lillianna asked softly. He tilted her head to look at me, and like an angel, she gently wiped away my tears.

“Nothing for you to worry about, sweetie.” I should be comforting her, not the other way around. “Know that I love you so much. And so does your daddy.”

“I know. I love you too.” Lillianna snuggled into me and closed her eyes, but I didn’t feel her body relax. I couldn’t even make myself stop trembling to give her any peace.

We traveled through town and went farther inland. I didn’t ask where we were going. It wasn’t in the direction of Seattle or Portland. A million escape plans ran through my head, and every single one of them ended with me dead.

Lorenzo didn’t say anything for a while. He didn’t seek to comfort Lillianna or even make conversation with her. He didn’t truly care for her. I hated him all the more for it. If I thought he might have been a grandfather missing his granddaughter, there could have been some hope for him, but no, not this bastard.

After fifteen minutes, he regarded me with his sharp, pale eyes. “You’re very good with Lillianna. She needs a proper Omega in her life to nurture her and teach her her place in our world. Perhaps I will keep you on as her nanny.”

God, I hoped he meant it. If we couldn’t escape now, there would be chances later. I could protect her from all the horrors which lay ahead, keep her safe and loved.

“Of course, I’ll only be able to trust you if you behave, Miss Smyth.” Lorenzo smirked and there was a gleam in his eyes as I paled. “I think a little re-education may be in order once we get to Italy.”

The way he said ‘re-education’ made me shudder. The word itself was full of blades. I would endure whatever it took for me to stay with Lillianna. I would never abandon her, even if that meant losing myself in the process.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - Konstantin

I would tear down every building in the city until I found them. My daughter and my Omega. There was no life for me without them.

Quill hit the wall of the museum security office again, snarling as he shook out his hand. “We’re wasting our fucking time here! They’re out there somewhere. We need to get in the car—”

“Calm down.” Talis’ tone was hard and even. He straightened from looking at the computer screen over Levi’s shoulder and folded his arms. “If you can’t restrain yourself, we will escort you out, Quill. I know you’re worried. We all are.”

“Worried? Oh, I’m way fucking beyond worried.” Quill paced the small room, hands fisted and hair wild.

When we’d arrived at the museum, they had just discovered Lillianna and Aubrielle were missing. Levi swore he was watching the women’s restroom door and didn’t see them exit. There was no other way out, though. So what the fuck happened?

They’d found Aubrielle’s cell in the bin of the restroom. There was no way she would lose it. It had to be purposely placed in there, but by whom?

“Okay. I’ve got a shot of them going into the restroom.” Levi gestured to the screen. The camera was at the other end of the hall, but it was clearly Aubrielle holding Lillianna’s hand heading in. I gripped the back of Levi’s chair, staring at the screen as he slowly played them entering.

Quill stomped over to stand beside me with the head of museum security behind us. Talis leaned forward on the other side. “Keep the feed going, but at half speed.”

The corridor in the recording was packed full of people. Lots of kids running around, parents with strollers, and families laughing and hugging. That’s what I wanted for us today. All of us just out doing what normal families did together. No worries about insane in-laws ripping your very heart from your chest.

It felt like it took forever. Five minutes in the feed passed. Ten. “There’s no way they were in there that long.”

Levi rewound the recording and started it again after they entered the restroom. This time at five times slower. We all leaned in closer to the screen.

My heart hammered and I barely breathed.

Just after the five minute mark, Levi paused the feed. “Look!” He pointed at two women, one who was pushing a stroller. “That’s Aubrielle. You can’t see her face, but that’s the flowery skirt she was wearing.”

I could barely see the figure’s skirt amidst the crowd. Squinting and focusing on that one spot, there was a glimpse of blue with pink flowers. Now taking the whole woman in, she was leggy with generous hips. The bulky jacket hid everything else, but the way her hips moved as she walked told me that was my Omega. “Yes! That’s her.”

“But if it’s her, what the fuck is going on?” Quill growled.

Levi tapped on the keyboard and entered in a few commands which closed in on Aubrielle. We couldn’t see the child in the stroller to know if it was Lillianna or not, and I didn’t recognize the woman beside Aubrielle. She walked very closely beside her. Neither of them said anything to one another.

“Fuck.” Talis cursed and hissed through his teeth. “That woman has a gun in her pocket. She made the girls put on disguises and took them out at gunpoint.” He turned to the older man in uniform. “Call the authorities. Amber alert.” Then to my brother and I, “Konstantin, Quill, text him any pictures you have of Lillianna so he can send them in.”

He was taking charge of the situation and acting fast, but this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. If they had been protecting Lillianna and Aubrielle the way they should have been…

I shouldn’t have let them come to the museum today. Not only was Aubrielle still in heat, but the threat of Lorenzo doing something was still hanging over us. And I didn’t doubt for a second the kidnapper was on his payroll.

Talis stepped back toward the rear of the room and spoke quietly into his phone with orders to send a temporary travel ban to the nearby airports. He glanced over at me and added, “Pacetti will move them fast. I have contacts at both the international airport and the regional. We’ll keep them on the ground and find them.”

I nodded. What else could I say? Lorenzo would take them immediately back to his home territory. We’d never get Lillianna and Aubrielle back if he did that. The only way would be if I hired a small army to go in and extract them, and fuck, if it took my entire fortune, I would do it in an instant.

Here in town, we still had a chance. Lorenzo would have to go into hiding if he couldn’t fly, and he wasn’t a man used to hiding in sewers. No, he had luxurious tastes and would settle for nothing less.

“Found the departure point.” Levi froze his screen on a black car in the back of the parking lot. Aubrielle had picked up Lillianna from the stroller, and my daughter was clinging to her. The image was farther away and grainier than the one inside the museum, but it was them. “Add the car’s description and send it in to the local police. I’ll try to get the license plate, but I think it’s too far away from the camera and not at the right angle.”

The image seared into my brain. My daughter was terrified, and Aubrielle, fuck, she was so strong keeping it together. I would find Lorenzo. I would find him and make sure he would never hurt anyone I loved again.

Quill slapped the desk, his face red. “Follow the car with the traffic feed. Find them!”

“I can’t do that from here. Let me work on seeing if I can get the plate. They’ll already be on alert downtown at the station and start checking their feeds for the Sedan.” Levi didn’t even glance my brother’s way. His fingers flew over the keyboard, trying to close in on the image and make it clear.

“Fucking hell. I can’t just stand here and wait.” Quill was about to lose his shit. Dealing with him was the last thing I wanted to do, but I also felt what he was feeling right down to my core. My instincts were bellowing at me, telling me to do something, and it was to chase down Lorenzo myself.

It was time to hunt.

I grabbed Quill by the arm. “Once Lorenzo can’t fly out, he’s going to lock himself down in some swanky hotel penthouse. We can drive around to the hotels, give them Lillianna’s and Aubrielle’s descriptions, and be one step ahead of them.”

Talis exchanged a look with Levi who nodded, and then turned back to us. “That’s a good plan. Go to the places you think he might be. Let the people see your faces. Concerned family is sometimes more powerful than a criminal trying to bribe them to keep quiet. But stay nearby in case we do locate them.”

“We’ll keep our phones in sight and give you our location each place we go.” I didn’t wait for them to say anything else. Marching out of the office, I resisted the urge to push and shove my way through the people in the halls as Quill and I left the building.

Once outside, I nearly ran to my car with Quill right on my heels. We hopped in and I sped out of the lot, tires squealing.

Time was of the essence. Every second the girls were gone tore another layer of sanity away.

“You know fucking Talis told us this was a good idea to get us out of the way, right?” Quill grumbled from the passenger seat. He buckled his belt and pointed west. “Go to the resorts on the side of Young’s Bay. They’re the fanciest fucking shit in town.”

“I know,” I said through clenched teeth. I slammed on the brakes at a stop sign and then headed south. “Let them do their job. It’s what I hired them to do. They’re good at it. If they find them, they find them. The sooner, the better. Yet we weren’t any help there. But here’s the thing: none of them know Lorenzo like I do. I know the way the bastard thinks.”

“We’re going in the wrong direction.” Quill pointed at the next street that went west.

“No, we’re going out of town. Lorenzo’s not idiotic enough to draw attention to himself. I don’t think he’ll head north to Seattle or go as far as Portland to fly out. He’ll have his own plane. The closest small airport is Astoria Regional.” I zipped through a yellow light just as it was turning red. Nothing was going to stop me from following my gut. Lorenzo didn’t play by the book like Talis and the others thought. He was crafty and not above doing anything to get what he wanted. “Once he’s told there’s a travel ban, he’ll buy off someone there or kill them. And if he doesn’t get off the ground, he’s going to stay nearby, so he can leave as soon as possible.”

Quill scowled at me. “So why didn’t you say that to Talis?”

I could have had their professional team go in, but they would capture Lorenzo and his goons. They’d be put in jail and their sleazy lawyers would get them out and bring them back to Italy. Lorenzo would still be alive to torment everyone I loved another day.

I hadn’t said it out loud. I hadn’t even really said it clearly in my own head, but I wanted Lorenzo dead. I couldn’t trust anyone else to do it. It was bad enough the trouble he was causing our business, but he took my daughter and Aubrielle. There was no coming back from this. I didn’t care what happened to me as long as Lorenzo was dead and my girls were safe.

“Because I’m going to kill Lorenzo.” As the words came out of my mouth, it felt right. This was what I had to do.

“No, you’re not.” Quill came back immediately. “I am.”

What the fuck? No way. I refused to let my brother go down that path. Lorenzo was my responsibility. “He was my father-in-law, so he’s my problem.”

“He’s everyone’s problem now.” Quill shifted in his seat so that he partially faced me. His face was hardened and serious. Not an expression I’d ever seen on him before. “Look, Kon. Lilli needs you. If you get put in jail or shot and killed, she’ll never recover from it. Doesn’t matter if you kill Lorenzo and rescue her. She needs her dad, and you need her. Uncle Quill is expendable.”

“You’re fucking not.” I growled at him, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

“Okay, I’m not. But you are far more essential to Lilli’s well-being than I am.” Quill infuriated me all the more because he was right. Not that I was going to let him take on the weight of this. “I love that little girl to the moon and back, but you’re her dad. As for Aubrielle, fucking hell, I think I’m in love, bro. I’ve never felt this way about any woman. Someone has taken her from me, and now they’re going to die. I want her to have a happy life, and you can give it to her. She’s already the mother Lilli needs, and I’ve seen how Aubrielle gets past your cold exterior. You’ll be the perfect family.”

Coming to a stop sign, I slammed on the brakes and turned in my seat to grab the front of his shirt. “We are a family. Lillianna, you, me, and Aubrielle. Without you, it won’t be complete. So don’t be a self-sacrificing ass.”

“Pot.” Quill poked me in the chest and then jerked his thumb at himself. “Kettle.”

I snarled and turned back to face the front to drive on. I hated this. What I wanted, what the world needed, was to have Lorenzo gone. “Our family will never have peace as long as Lorenzo’s alive.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s why you should let me—”

“No. It needs to be me.”

“Well how about neither of us?” Quill raised his brows. “How about we call Talis, give him the info, and let them take care of it all? That way we can both be there for the girls. Lilli gets to keep her dad and uncle, and Aubrielle gets two hot hunks to be her mates.”

Fuck. The thought of not being there for Lillianna and Aubrielle tore at my heart. Yet letting Lorenzo live made me so furious that I couldn’t think. There were other ways than me pulling the trigger, like hiring a hitman. Even if I did kill him myself, I could say it was self defense.

All these dark thoughts, the lying and plotting murder. This was who I fought not to be. I promised myself I would never be like my father, but here I was.

Lillianna deserved a better father, and Aubrielle needed a good mate.

For them I’d do anything.

So I let it go.

“Alright. Call Talis and tell him to particularly look at Astoria Regional.”

Quill already had his phone in hand and tapped Talis’ name in his contact list. He put the call on speaker.

One ring and it picked up. “Wyndham here.”

Quill nodded as if our brother-in-law could see him. “Talis, we think maybe Lorenzo took the girls to Astoria Regional Airport. Have you check—”

“We just confirmed not a minute ago that Pacetti was there. The airport grounded all planes, and Pacetti left with orders for them to call as soon as they could fly. We have three teams already on their way.”

I was fucking right. The girls were still here. They’re still on the ground somewhere nearby.

I stepped on the accelerator.

“Where are you now?” Talis asked.

“We’re heading in that direction.” Quill gripped the door handle as I sped through the streets. “How close are your teams?”

“First team will arrive at the airport in twenty.”

“They won’t be at the airport.” Didn’t he say Lorenzo left? He wouldn’t stay with the girls in plain sight.

“We know, but we’ll set up an ambush and call them to say they can fly. They’ll come to the airport and we’ll nab them.”

Quill and I exchanged a look. That sounded messy. Too dangerous.

“Kon, Quill.” Talis’ tone hardened as if he knew what we were thinking. “We have experience with this. I’m personally leading the operation. Doing this in a place of our choosing will allow us to control the situation and get the girls out safely.”

“You’re the professionals, but we’re going to be there.” Quill nodded at me.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less. Just do as we say and stay safe. Lillianna and Aubrielle will need your comfort once we rescue them.”

“Gotcha.” Quill ended the call and shook his head. “I don’t like this. They could easily get shot. Hell, Lorenzo wouldn’t think twice about using them as human shields.”

I should trust the professionals and not do anything impulsive.

“Look up hotels closest to the airport. Black Sedans can’t be that common.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - Aubrielle

I swallowed back another whimper as my heat pains ramped up once again. It was inevitable that they came back, but it couldn’t have been at a worse time. I couldn’t allow myself to wallow in my misery because I had to be strong for Lillianna.

She laid curled up on the bed next to me. I tenderly stroked her head as she slept. She usually didn’t take naps, but today was emotionally exhausting. If my heat wasn’t tormenting me and I wasn’t hyper alert for Lorenzo or any of his men, I would have conked out too.

I wiped at the tears that never seemed to dry up and stared out the window at the beach. When we couldn’t load onto the plane at the airport, Lorenzo was furious, and from the looks he’d been giving me, I thought it might be the end. This was where I ended up shot and tossed into the ocean.

Instead, we drove to a rental house where he’d been staying. It was a surprisingly modern and minimalist house on the beach. Of course it had all the luxuries a man of his stature would need, and most importantly, it was private. The nearest neighbors were just out of sight over a dune.

While I preferred a cozy seaside cottage with homely touches, I could imagine this place would be somewhere Quill and Konstantine would take us on a family vacation. We’d play and laugh on the beach, and Lillianna would have us all be mermaids.

My fantasy future had slipped between my fingers. No, it was viciously yanked away by a real life monster.

I gasped as another twisting cramp grabbed a hold of me. The sun was lowering to the horizon. In a few hours, my pain would be so bad, I wouldn’t be able to move. I’d be useless to Lillianna when she needed me the most.

Sucking back a sob, I slipped off the bed and leaned against the wall as I made my way to the bathroom on shaky legs. Despite the danger of our situation, all I could think about was being knotted. Quill’s playful and hot kisses with his hands everywhere, and Konstantin’s demanding touches and dominating manner. Both their cocks in me. One in my mouth, sucking hard and thrusting down my throat, and the other pounding my pussy, stretching it to its limits with his knot.

Slick drenched my panties and made my inner thighs slippery. I made it to the bathroom and splashed my face with cold water. Wetting a washcloth, I dabbed it on my chest and over my stomach before lifting my skirt to try to combat the heat radiating off me there.

Instead, my hips tried to rock against my hand. I sobbed, muffling it with my arm. Nothing I could do would help. I needed Quill and Konstantin.

The door to the bedroom opened, and for one brief second, I thought God had answered my prayers. My pack was here. They’d come for us.

Yet reality hit me like a train when I caught the foul scent of tobacco and black pepper. Everything in me recoiled from it. The smell was so thick, bile bubbled up in my throat and I nearly vomited.

A massive figure stalked past the bathroom door to peer into the bedroom and whipped around to stand in the doorway. A wolfish grin split his face.

Lorenzo’s nephew. Matteo.

Not him. Please God, anyone other than him.

“There you are, pretty little Omega.” Matteo exhaled deeply as his eyes dilated. “I could smell you from across the house. Fucking ripe.”

I shook my head, as if it wasn’t true, and pressed my back against the far wall of the bathroom. There was nowhere to run. No one would come to save me. I couldn’t even scream or else I would frighten Lilllianna.

“Sweet like honey. Mm-mmm!” Matteo lazily shrugged off his suit jacket and hung it on the doorknob. He was easily six and a half feet tall and wider than a fridge. His suit might have been expensive, but there was nothing classy about the Alpha. “Lorenzo said to let you be until we were back home, but you need my big cock, don’t you, Omega? You need me to fuck you bloody and knot that tight little cunt.”

“No. Please, no.” The words came out as tiny squeaks. I wrapped my arms around myself. I could scream and let Lorenzo know what was going on, but again, Lillianna. Tears streamed down my cheeks and dripped off my chin.

“I’ll have you begging for it, bitch. Soon you’ll want nothing other than my knot.” Matteo walked forward, undoing his shoulder gun holster and setting it on the sink.

“No!” I managed to get more volume and retreated into the corner with the toilet. I banged on the wall to the hallway outside the bedroom.

Someone please hear it. I don’t know if I could survive this!

Matteo’s hand struck out and snatched my arm, yanking me toward him. “You better be quiet, or you’ll wake the girl.” Seeing my alarm at that, he grinned. “Oh yeah, maybe I ought to go get her. She’s not too young to learn her place.”

What the fuck? This man was a sicko. He was worse than a thousand Lorenzos.

I wiggled and tried to break free, but it was like I was a fawn caught by a mountain lion. My struggles were barely an annoyance to him. I grabbed a towel and threw it at him, and when I took hold of another, he back-handed me across the face.

My world spun, black around the edges. I barely hung on to consciousness. A trickle of something warm slid down to my lips.

Blood.

“I like that you’re scared and yet you’re still fighting. It fucking makes me harder.” Matteo dragged me out of the corner, ripping my shirt’s sleeve. “I think I’m going to keep you. Put a Pacetti boy in your belly. It’ll be another reason Lorenzo will let me take over when he’s done.”

I was barely hanging on to my sanity. This was worse than hell. This was… His cell in his jacket beeped, confusing me with the discordant noise.

“You’re going to take everything I give you real quiet.” Matteo growled and leaned in, licking the blood from my mouth. I pounded at his chest with my fists, but he took no notice.

“Matteo!” A shout came from the hall.

He snarled and punched the tiled wall. “What?”

“Get your ass out here. Birk’s people are closing in!”

Rescue was coming! A sob coughed out of my throat.

“God fucking dammit!” Matteo released my arm and snatched a handful of my hair to drag me out of the bathroom.

Rescue was so close. I only had to last another few minutes.

Desperately, I snatched Matteo’s gun from the sink as he pulled me past it. I tried to get it out of the holster, but he hit me again, and I fell to the floor. My head pounded as nausea made me curl up on my side.

“Get up!” Matteo just wouldn’t let up. He squeezed my throat as he picked me up and brought me so close that our noses were almost touching. “You’re mine now. I’m going to breed you, you little Omega bitch. Once we take care of these American idiots, I’m going to fuck you so hard, my knot will rip you end to end.”

I didn’t belong to him. I’d never belong to this bastard. Only Quill and Konstantin owned my heart. It didn’t matter how much he hurt me or if he bred me. He could never touch that sacred place inside of me where only my pack resided.

I spit in his face.

Matteo’s beady eyes bulged and he raised his fist again.

The door to the bedroom opened and the other suited man glared at us. “Stop fucking around, Matteo. Lorenzo wants you to hide the girls and guard the back.”

“Aubrielle! What’s going on?” Lillianna cried from the bedroom.

Everything in me suddenly became solely focused on Lillianna. I yanked myself free from Matteo, the sleeve of my shirt tearing off into his hand, and ran into the room to gather her in my arms. I rubbed her back and shushed her. The less fuss she made, the safer she'd be.

“It’s okay, sweetie. I’m here.”

Lillianna gently touched my cheek, and tears pooled in her eyes. “You’re hurt.”

“Get moving, you two.” Matteo pushed us toward the door. He gave me another shove as I picked up Lillianna. “Walk. I know just where to put you two.”

There was a cruel gleam in his eyes that made me cringe inside. As long as I had Lillianna and we were out of the middle of whatever was going to happen, I could get us through this. My head throbbed and my heat pains clawed at me from the inside out, but this little girl in my arms was all that mattered.

Matteo forced us on a staggering march through the house and out the back door onto the patio. He led us off it and down under it where a large water cistern hummed, half buried under the ground. It had to hold tens of thousands of gallons of collected rainwater. Enough to keep the house supplied through weeks without rain.

He twisted a wheel and opened a hatch. Wait. He was going to put us in there?

“You can’t do this!” I darted toward the beach, and he hooked me around the middle, tossing me against the steel side of the cistern. I cradled Lillianna against me as she started to wail.

“Get inside or I’ll put you in.” Matteo didn’t have the cold calm of his boss. He was near feral, and that made him unpredictable. No one was supposed to hurt Lillianna, but I didn’t trust him. I had to do whatever it took to protect her.

I squatted with Lillianna and set her on the ground. She flailed, trying to keep a hold of me, but I cupped her face and wiped at the tears. “So this thing is like an underground pool. We’re going to swim for a bit while everyone here deals with their business. It’ll be dark and scary at first, but we’re mermaids. Mermaids are fine in the water.”

Lillianna slowly quieted and stared at me with her big trusting eyes. God, what I would give to never have her afraid again in her life.

“Get the fuck in there!” Matteo had no patience and stepped toward me as if he was about to pick me up and stuff me into the cistern.

There was no ignoring him, but I didn’t acknowledge his command. “I’ll go first, sweetie.” I stood and pulled myself up on top of the container. Lowering myself inside, I had to let myself drop as there was nothing to hold onto. There was about six feet of water. Enough that I couldn’t stand on the bottom, and crap, it was cold. The shock of it did nothing to eliminate the pains from my heat, though. “Okay, lower Lillianna down to me. Gently.”

If that bastard was rough with her in any way…

Lillianna whimpered as she was lowered into the portal and then unceremoniously dropped. I grabbed her immediately, hugging her to me as Matteo slammed the hatch shut. Lillianna coughed out water and clung to me, making it difficult for me to stay afloat.

There was a tiny green light at the far end of the cistern closest to the house, but that was the only light we had. It was dark and cold, a watery tomb.

I couldn’t let myself think like that. I had to make sure Lillianna got out of here. The pain in my head became a stabbing and my heat twisted my guts. I couldn’t keep us both afloat. I needed her not to be attached to me like a barnacle.

“Okay, sweetie. We’re safe in our underground pool. I need you to be brave and do your best starfish. Do you remember how to do that?” I kissed the top of her head, almost slipping beneath the surface of the water as I did so. Goosebumps covered my skin, but at the same time, I was burning up from the inside-out.

“I don’t want to let go.” She sniffled and tightened her grip on me.

“Oh, my sweet girl, I know. But I can’t keep swimming forever. I don’t have my mermaid tail on.” Not that would help in reality, but I had to play to her imagination and lessen the danger we were in. “Mermaids are very good at swishing their tails, even when they’re asleep. Have you ever seen a fish asleep in their aquarium? That’s exactly what they do.”

“Really?” Lillianna’s arms loosened a fraction.

“Yes, fish can absolutely swim in their sleep, and so can mermaids. I can’t without a tail, though. That’s why I need you to starfish for me. You were super good at it in the pool.” I assured her.

“But I’m cold and I have to pee.” She lowered her chin, embarrassed about it.

“It’s okay. If you need to pee, just do it. This pool has a filtration system to clean it out. I think that’s what the light over there is for. I’m cold too, but we’ll get used to it, and hopefully we won’t be in here very long.” I kissed her cheek and moved to float as much as I could on my back with her. “My head will be right beside your head. We can hold hands too, if that helps.”

“Okay.” Lillianna slowly let me go and turned to float on her back with her arms and legs spread like a star. She kept one hand on mine, and she was so cold. Poor tiny thing. “I’m scared, Aubrielle.”

I gave her hand a squeeze. “It’s okay to be scared. Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means doing something even though you’re scared. We’ll be scared and brave together.”

There was a muffled gunshot from outside, and a few seconds later, there was a shout. The sound of the water in the metal cistern was weirdly loud, and the beat of my heart drummed in my ears.

A heat pain lanced through me, and I couldn’t stop myself from curling up. I dipped underwater and gasped as I fought against it, trying to keep my legs and arms straight so I could float. I refused to let go of Lillianna’s hand, but there was no hiding my struggle as I splashed around.

“Are you okay? What are those noises outside?” Lillianna’s voice hedged on panic.

“I’m okay. Don’t worry. I banged on the edge of the tank when I fell in here and it’s sore, but I can keep floating.” God, I hoped I could. “Maybe those are fireworks outside. I don’t know, but we’ll be good mermaids and keep safe here. Can you tell me a story about what sort of friends and treasure we’d find in a dark sea cave? I bet the fish would glow in the dark.”

Lillianna started slowly at first, but then her narrative picked up. Hopefully it would distract her from our dire situation for a bit. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing back my cries at my increasing agony. Of all the ways the Omegas were told that their heat could be the death of them, drowning inside a cistern was never one of them.

My world became an excruciating watery blur. Several times I slipped below the water, my body not wanting to straighten out.

I couldn’t die. Not yet. Lillianna needed me.

It was the only thing that allowed me to keep fighting.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - Quill

When we finally found the Sedan and called it into Talis, I leapt out of the car as soon as Konstantin parked out of sight on the side of the beach road. The setting sun was turning the landscape orange and gold, and there was nothing but a few sand dunes between me and the girls now.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Konstantin slid out of the driver’s seat. It surprised me that once we saw the Sedan—not even hidden in a garage or anything because the rental house was so secluded—that he didn’t drive his car through the front of the house.

I would have. I was going to burst through that front door and take back what was mine. “Going to get Lilli and Aubrielle.”

“What you’re going to do is get yourself fucking shot.” Konstantin snapped. “I don’t know how many men Lorenzo has there, but you can guarantee every single one of them has at least one gun. The second you step into firing range, you’re dead.”

“I know!” Fuck, did I know, but I couldn’t stay in the car. Every second that the girls were in there was one more moment of torture for them. I slammed my fists down on the roof of the car. I’d be of no use saving the girls if I was dead. “Goddamn those mother-fuckers! How fast is Talis’ team getting here?”

Konstantin bent and reached into the car to open the glovebox. He took out a pistol and checked to see if it was loaded. “They’re not going to be here fast enough.”

“Well, fuck. Okay.” Who knew my brother was packing? “I guess we’re going in then?”

“We are.” Konstantin walked around and popped the trunk. “Grab the flare gun, flashlight, knife… And the handle to the carjack.”

“Shit. Aren’t you a boy scout?” I picked up the orange plastic flare gun and put it in the band of my shorts along with two extra flares. I popped open the safety knife. Its blade was only a few inches long, but it still could stab out someone’s eye. “I don’t think we’ll need the flashlight. It’s still light enough. And the handle?”

Konstantin had taken off his jacket and put it in the trunk. He rolled up the sleeves to his button-up shirt. “The flashlight isn’t for illumination. It’s heavy and metal. We’ll use it and the carjack handle to hit people… If it comes to it.”

Oh, both of us knew it would. “I’ll take the handle then, since you have the gun. It’s longer.” I rummaged around in the trunk, ruining the order of things. A pair of lifejackets and a bottle of sunblock. An adult’s snorkeling set and a child’s. I tapped the fins. “Hey, they’re going to be watching all around the house, but they won’t expect anyone to be coming from the water. We could take them by surprise by swimming up.”

He pursed his lips, scowling as he thought about it. “You want to do it?”

“Yeah, no one would expect it. The flare gun was already in a plastic bag here. I can keep it dry. I’ve been snorkeling several times. We can zip down the coast and BAM!” I made a shooting motion with my hand.

“If you can do it, it’s a good idea.” Konstantin slowly nodded. His face set in a hard, determined expression. “I’m going in from the front. Make like I want to talk to Lorenzo. You sneak in from the back while they’re distracted with me and get the girls out. He probably has them hiding in a closet or bathroom.”

“I thought we decided we weren’t going to be stupid. Going in like that will get you killed.” There was no way I was going to let Konstantin die.

“Going in without Talis’ team is stupid.” Konstantin gave me a leveled look. “But here we are.”

Damn him. He was right. I considered for a brief few seconds hitting him and knocking him out. That way he’d be safe here in the car, and I could go on this mission alone. Yet he’d give as good as he got. Our fight the other night proved we were equally matched.

“Lorenzo will want to talk to me.” He undid his shirt’s top two buttons and ran his hands through his hair. It struck me how much he looked like our father. I knew he hated it, but there was a hardness in him. Being the eldest son sucked for him. I was basically tossed to the side, but steely pressure made Konstantin what he was today. “He took Lillianna to get to me. She’s the ultimate bargaining chip. He doesn’t want to kill me. He wants to make a deal. Maybe even wants me to hand over everything and work for him. He couldn’t do that with Dad because he didn’t give a shit about us. I wouldn’t doubt that our father would have killed Callista if it served his purposes. But I love Lillianna, and Lorenzo knows it.”

“Fuck them all to hell.” I growled and yanked off my t-shirt. I was going for a swim. Imagine Aubrielle’s face when she saw me all wet and half-naked coming out of the water. She’d be begging for my cock.

As if Konstantin knew who I was thinking about, he put his hands on his hips. “Unfortunately for Aubrielle, she just happened to be in the wrong job at the wrong time. If it had been Paula still as Lillianna’s nanny, she would have been buried under a dune already. But Omegas have value to the Pacettis. Especially ones as beautiful as Aubrielle. Lorenzo doesn’t know what she means to me, to us,” he corrected. “And I can’t let him know.”

“So what you’re saying is that she’s probably still alive, but Lorenzo won’t take as much care about her safety as Lilli’s.” I seethed with that thought. If any of those fuckers in the house laid one hand on my Omega, I’d tear their dicks off and stuff them down their throats.

“And that’s why it’s better if we do this with just the two of us. If a whole team comes charging in, they’ll kill Aubrielle as she’s just more baggage. This is our best bet to get her out alive.” His hands closed into fists and he gritted his teeth.

“We’ll get both of them out alive, bro. Both of them.” There was no choice in the matter. We’d do it or die trying.

I gathered the rest of the snorkeling gear and bagged the flare gun and flares. Stuffing them into one pocket of my shorts, I stuck the knife in the other. I’d have to swim with the handle in hand, but that would be no problem. The power was in my legs when I was in the water.

“I’ll give you fifteen minutes. Then I’m walking up to the front door.” Konstantin didn’t ask if it was enough. It was the most amount of time he could wait. “Talis and his team will likely be here in twenty-five to thirty minutes.”

My patience had run out as well. “So there’s backup, but we’ve got this.”

Without warning, he wrapped me in a tight hug. “Be careful. Pick your moment. I’m not losing you either.”

The shock of his embrace wore off and I patted his back as I squeezed him in return. I couldn’t ever remember hugging my brother before. He rarely let anyone in his personal space. “Don’t do do anything fucked up either. We’re going to get the girls and have our pack back together again.”

“There’s no other option.” Konstantin released me and shut the trunk, stepping back as if we had never had that moment at all.

“No other option.” I agreed. Oh, I wasn’t an idiot. I knew he would sacrifice himself in an instant if he thought it would save his daughter and Aubrielle, but I wasn’t going to let it happen. I meant what I said. Our whole pack would be together.

Carrying the snorkeling gear, I jogged down the road and past another house. I crossed the dune between it and their neighbor to get to the beach. No one else seemed to be around, and I was grateful there would be no people to witness this.

I kicked off my shoes and strapped on the fins. Next came the goggles and snorkel. I took a few test breaths to get a feel for it. The dull plastic taste told me it had never been used. Likely something Konstantin bought to swim with Lillianna. I would make certain he got to do that.

Never could I imagine him as a father when we were growing up. I always thought he was too much like our dad. This past year, he surprised me with how wonderful a parent he could be. Aubrielle had opened him up in ways I never thought possible as well. He needed those girls as much as they needed him.

And fucking hell, I needed them all. For too long, I fought everything alone. I was the cool lone wolf that anyone fucked around with found out my bite was as bad as my bark. This past year being back at Birk Manor, reconnecting with family, I found what I was missing. My family, my pack. They reminded me I wasn’t alone.

Then Aubrielle came along and she was the missing piece. She fit perfectly with us. She was the mother Lillianna needed, a sister for Callista, and the nurturing mate for Konstantin and I. She’d been with us for such a short period of time, but it was like she had always been there.

I waded into the water and sucked back a breath at how cold it was. No time to get used to it. I dove right in and started swimming.

It was harder to swim close to shore, but I didn’t want to go out too far. Plus there was the danger of rip currents. I’d rather be able to stand if I needed to.

Picturing Lillianna alone in a dark room, crying quietly, thinking we all abandoned her, had me kick faster.

Waves pushed me. My heart pounded.

Aubrielle cornered by a bastard of an Alpha, touching her in ways that only Konstantin and I were allowed to.

I almost bit through the plastic of the mouthpiece. My breathing came in great pants. Fuck Lorenzo and all his goons. Fuck them all.

There was no way to know how much time had passed when I slowed and popped my head a little bit out of the water so I could see the modern rental house. There was a big patio that jutted out over the sand with Adirondack chairs and a striped umbrella shielding a table. A guard stood just inside the sliding doors with his back toward the beach.

Waves knocked against the back of my head. No other guards at the back. None on the roof. I crawled on my belly to the shore and removed the snorkeling gear, abandoning it where I dropped it.

Time to be like a fucking ninja. Keeping low to the ground, I raced up to the patio, hiding behind a thick foundation post. I swept the dripping water from my face and quietly took out the flare gun. It had survived the swim dry, and after making sure it was loaded, I gripped it in my right hand while holding the carjack handle in my left.

I briefly closed my eyes, taking in a few deep breaths. Praying to whoever was listening, I didn’t care, I wanted the girls and Konstantin to come out of this unscathed. I wanted Lillianna to laugh again and live the happiest of lives. I wanted Aubrielle to light up the world with her smile and get everything her beautiful soul deserved. I wanted Konstantin to have the family he’s always needed and to finally find some peace.

Me, I wanted to be the guy who made those things happen. And right now, that meant playing commando.

One more breath. Fuck.

Gripping my weapons, I peered around the post. My head and shoulders were above the patio, but most of me was still hidden. The man by the patio door was still there. I needed to get his attention to draw him outside, and hoped there was only one of them.

I scooped up a rock from the sandy ground and tossed it onto the deck. It thunked and rolled, coming to a stop against a table leg.

Hidden behind the post, I heard the swish of the glass door opening and the footsteps of a heavy man. I bent my knees to keep as low as possible, but up enough to see where he was. The big ugly bastard looked bored as he glanced to the left and then the right. Not in front of him or even down to where I was hiding. He was shit at his job.

He took out his phone and, seeing nothing that got his interest, put it back into his pants pocket. Then he pulled out a thin piece of torn white fabric. Rubbing it between his fingers, he brought it up to his nose and inhaled.

What the fuck?

That was the same color of the shirt Aubrielle was wearing today. He had a piece of her fucking shirt.

I bared my teeth with a growl as rage surged through my veins. Fuck him.

I raised the flare gun and fired.

The bastard lifted his head just as the flare hit his chest. He let out a shout as his shirt erupted in flames and ran to his right to fall into the sand, beating his body to try to put the fire out.

Dropping the gun, I ran up on him with the carjack handle in both hands and roared. I would smash in his skull. This fucker touched my Omega. He wouldn’t live to see another day.

He saw me at the last second and raised an arm to block my first blow. I whacked him again, and he kicked me in the gut, sending me falling backward into the sand. Scrambling to my feet, I fought to get in a good breath.

Pushing himself up, he let out a pained cry as he glanced at his chest. The flames were gone, leaving behind a sizzling raw mass of flesh and blood. One of his nipples was completely gone and a tattoo seemed to be melting as it continued to bubble. Bits of his shirt had been fused with his body as everything oozed down his torso like a grotesque landslide.

“I’m going to fucking kill you!”

I dodged his first punches and swung with the handle, but the few hits I connected with didn’t seem to phase him at all. He’d gone berserk with the pain, and fuck, he was a solid wall of muscle.

“Look at what you did!” He smashed a fist into my shoulder. “You’re dead, Birk! Dead!”

All I could do was duck and weave. He knew me. I tried to pick out his face from my memory, but all I came up with was that he was one of Lorenzo’s nephews.

His name didn’t matter. He’d hurt Aubrielle. The burn was the least I was going to do to him.

I kicked up sand and tried to take him out at the knees, but nothing worked. The bastard was insane.

He frothed at the mouth and wasn’t slowing. I had a metal bar and all he had were his fists, but I was the one starting to falter after each hit. My arms were burning and sweat was stinging my eyes.

A fist connected with my jaw and sent me stumbling.

I spun back around and slammed the handle against his side. Once, twice.

He grunted and hit me again. This time, my feet went out from under me and I lost my weapon.

The fucker was instantly on me. His heavy weight pressed me into the sand as his hands wrapped around my throat. I elbowed his legs, jabbed his ribs, and kicked my feet, but I couldn’t get away.

“I’m going to fucking choke the life out of you!” His fingers dug into my flesh as he squeezed. The world grew hazy around the edges.

I hadn’t gotten the girls yet. It couldn’t end like this.

Smacking his burnt chest, I dug in my nails and ripped the flesh like crepe paper. He bellowed at me, but didn’t let go.

My lungs screamed for oxygen and my head felt like it might implode.

Gunshots blasted from the other side of the house. Several of them.

But they wouldn’t be able to get to me in time.

I couldn’t die. Not yet. My job wasn’t done.

The knife!

With the last of my desperate strength, I dug into my pocket and fumbled with it. For a second, I thought I wouldn’t be able to grasp it, but I locked my fingers around the handle and flicked out the blade.

I jammed it upward into the asshole’s side and jerked it out in a slicing motion. He howled and slammed my head into the sand. Blackness was taking over the world.

Yanking back my arm, I aimed for his head. I nicked his ear. So close.

He leaned in the direction opposite of my hand with the knife and I drove it sideways.

Right into his eye.

The pressure on my throat was immediately gone, and I sucked in a huge lungful of air. I kicked him off and rolled toward the deck, my throat on fire with each inhale.

The fucker screamed and kicked, flailing about on the ground with his hands pressing against his wound. He became coated in bloody sand like a real life horror movie monster. Then just when I thought he’d never die, he suddenly went still.

Shouts echoed from within the house, but no more shots.

I waited, not daring to move. Watching his chest, it didn’t rise for ten seconds. Twenty. Thirty. A full minute.

He was dead. I coughed out something that was like a laugh or sob.

“Quill!”

I sat up at the sound of my name and nearly vomited.

Talis slid onto his knees at my side. “Are you alright?”

I nodded, motioning to the dead bastard and my throat.

“I can see. The police and EMTs are on their way. Let’s get you into one of those chairs and put some ice on your neck to stop any swelling.” Talis, ever the calm and cool professional.

I let him help me up, and I stood for a few seconds trying to find my balance.

Konstantin burst out from the open back door. Thank fuck he was alive.

“We can’t find Lillianna and Aubrielle. They aren’t in the house.”

No fucking way. They had to be here.

I shook my head and stumbled toward the door. Both Talis and Konstantin grabbed me before I fell over.

“They checked everywhere? All the closets and bathrooms? Is there an attic or crawlspace?” Talis quickly questioned.

“Nowhere.” Konstantin repeated with a frustrated grunt. He seemed cool, but in his eyes, the panic threatened to spill out. “I was certain Lorenzo had them here with him. He wouldn’t have trusted them to be anywhere else.”

“Leave me. Find them,” I croaked, swallowing hard. All of this was for naught if we didn’t save Lillianna and Aubrielle.

Talis cursed under his breath and then pressed the button on the radio attached to his bulletproof vest. “Ping the house.”

I frowned. Konstantin was immediately on that strange order. “Ping? What do you mean?”

“Aubrielle and Lillianna were wearing museum bracelets. There’s a chip in them that allows security to locate someone if a child goes missing or is looking for their parent—”

“Why didn’t you do that before? We could have found them much quicker!” Konstantin seethed.

“Because the ping only works in a block’s radius.” Talis explained, holding up his hands in a calming motion. “We pinged their bracelets at the museum, but they weren’t there.”

The radio crackled. “They’re here.”

My heart leapt. Konstantin darted back into the house, and I was right on his heels. My legs felt rubbery, but I ran on pure adrenaline. Aubrielle and Lillianna were here. Likely in some stupid hidey hole that no one found yet.

We pulled shelves away from the walls, ripped up carpets, and yanked paintings off the walls. Talis’ team even smashed holes in the plaster. All the while, we shouted for the girls.

I was going out of my mind. None of us could find them.

Talis pinged the house again. “They’re here. Or, at least, the bracelets are.”

No. I wasn’t having that. They were here.

I ended up back outside looking for a shed or a boathouse. Even a tent by the beach. Nothing.

My world was crumbling. I wanted to scream at the fiery setting sun. Where the fuck were they and why weren’t they answering?

They weren’t dead. They couldn’t be dead.

I slowly turned to stare at the beach in front of the house. No.

Not dead. I refused to acknowledge that possibility.

Then a flash of light against metal drew my gaze to the space under the deck. A giant fucking cistern. My heart beat so hard, I thought it was going to launch itself out of my chest.

“There!” My voice cracked as I sprinted toward the rainwater containment unit. “The cistern!”

Konstantin and another one of Talis’ team came out the back door and ran around to it.

“How does it open?” The anguish in my words sent me into a coughing fit. I still ran up to it and banged on the side. “Lilli! Aubrielle!”

Konstantin was immediately on top of some type of wheel, cranking open a hatch. His chest heaved with the effort. Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes.

He threw open the hatch and peered inside.

That’s when we heard the blessed cry from Lillianna. “Daddy!”

She was alive. She was fucking alive!

I raised my arms in a silent cheer of celebration as spun around to set itself right again.

“I’m coming in to get you.” Konstantin was already climbing up and thrusting his legs through the hatch. “Watch out so that I don’t jump on you.”

But everything was thrust out of harmony once more when Lillianna added, “Hurry, Daddy! Aubrielle isn’t moving.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - Aubrielle

Somewhere in the distance, I heard voices. At least I thought it was faraway. Lillianna’s hand was still in mine. It was warm. She was floating like a champion starfish while I could barely keep my head above water.

My heat pains were so bad, I could only try to remain as still as possible. I wanted to cry and thrash, but all of that would scare Lillianna. She needed me to be calm.

More voices and then a splash. Was that me? My limbs were numb and yet pain ruled every inch of my body.

Lillianna’s hand left mine and terror struck me. I turned, sinking and kicking myself up from the bottom. Please let nothing have happened to her! “Lillianna!”

A muscled arm hooked me around my middle and pulled me against a hard body. “Calm down, Aubrielle. I have you.”

Konstantin. Was I dead? How did he get into the cistern? Figures an angel would look as hot as him.

Lillianna cheered and hugged her father from the other side. “Yay! You’re okay. Were you being a sleepy mermaid?”

I choked on a sob at hearing her sound like we just had another beach day. I nodded, not trusting my voice, and hid my tears against Konstantin’s shoulder. My body shook with relief and then was suddenly seized by another wave of heat pains. I clasped his arm so I wouldn’t sink as I curled up into myself.

“Hoist the girls up and we’ll get them.” A voice I recognized as Talis’ called down.

My chest heaved with each breath. It was all I could do not to scream.

“Okay, Lillianna. You’re first. I’m going to lift you up onto my shoulders. See if you can stand up and reach for Uncle Talis and Uncle Quill. They’ll get you out, and then we’ll help Aubrielle out.” Konstantin’s words were like music in my ears. Lillianna was saved. I did what I needed to do. Now if I sank to the bottom and didn’t come up…

Being six foot two, Konstantin could stand on the bottom and his head still was partially above water. He didn’t tell me to let go of him, but deftly lifted Lillianna with one arm up onto his right shoulder. Her little feet balanced there as she carefully stood and stretched up. She was swiftly lifted out of the cistern by her uncles.

Both of Konstantin’s were fast around me. “Stay with me, bella. I know you’re hurting. Your scent is strong even in the water. Let us get you out and someplace safe.”

“Please… it hurts so much.” I whined, rubbing my cheek against his. I slid my hands over his chest and down his back. My fingers brushed over the cold metal of his gun and recoiled. Oh God. What did he do? We were kidnapped and stuffed in this metal coffin. How angry was Konstantin? “Lorenzo. Is he…?”

“Dead. You don’t have to worry anymore.” He kissed the top of my head. “You’re safe. I have you.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks. “Did you… uh… did you?”

He sighed and rubbed my back. “No. Neither of us pulled a weapon on each other. I was willing to give him everything for you and Lillianna, and he was that close to having it. He caught a stray bullet in the crossfire when Talis’ team arrived.”

Give it all up for me? I whimpered and glanced upward. “Matteo?”

Konstantin frowned and shook his head. His jaw hardened. “Dead. Why? What did he do?”

Dead. I couldn’t stop crying now. The brutal monster was dead.

“Okay. Send up Aubrielle now.” Quill shouted down. His voice sounded odd, but it was still so good to hear.

“I’ll duck down underwater and you sit on my shoulders. I’ll stand and they should be able to reach you.” Konstantin cupped my chin and kissed me. “Thank you for keeping my little girl safe. I owe you everything.”

“You don’t—”

“I do, and I will spend my entire life making you as happy as possible.” Konstantin caressed my cheek. Even in the dimly lit cistern, powerful emotion shone in his eyes. “If you’ll let me.”

“Yes.” I never thought I would get a happy ending. Even as my heat pangs wracked my body, my love for him rang true and gave me strength. “Oh yes.”

“I claim you as mine.” He growled the declaration and kissed me hard. “Later, bella. Later I’ll knot and mark you. Mine forever.”

Now! My whole body demanded it, but he was already dipping under the water and directing me to sit on his shoulders.

Faster than I could ready myself, I was situated and he was standing. I yelped at the suddenness of the movement and was gripped under my arms by Talis and Quill. Emerging into the rosy dusk, I wiped at my tears and wrapped my arms around Quill.

“I have you, baby. I’m never letting go again,” he murmured, kissing over my cheek to my neck. His body was hot against mine, and heck, he was wonderfully shirtless. I rubbed my chest on his, needing much more than just kisses.

“Aubrielle!” Lillianna joined in the hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay. Daddy and all my uncles are here. They were worried, but they said Nonno has gone and we can go home after we get checked out by the ambulance people. I told them that we were mermaids and being in water keeps us safe, but they really want us to see the ambulance people.”

My vision adjusted to the bright world around me, focusing on this amazing girl. I hugged and kissed her cheek. Behind her, Konstantin was being helped out of the cistern. “Well, most people don’t understand mermaids. I think it best if we get checked out just to give them some peace of mind.”

“Excellent advice, Miss Aubrielle mermaid.” Talis gave me a small smile and mouthed a thank you. He gestured to Konstantin and then Quill. “Kon, if you could take Lillianna around front. The first of the ambulances has arrived. Quill, take Aubrielle into one of the empty bedrooms and… get her warm.”

My cheeks flared from embarrassment that all the Alphas around here knew that I was in heat, but I was more than eager for Quill to get me alone.

Konstantin leaned over and kissed me before picking up Lillianna. No one batted an eye at his display of affection, not even his daughter. She hugged him tightly as they walked off.

Quill bent and scooped me up, cradling me in his arms. I stared into his gorgeous face surrounded by his wet and wild hair… with a bruise forming on his jaw and his neck. Oh fuck! I gasped and hovered my hand over the ugly marks. Not just marks, hand prints. Someone had tried to choke him.

“Put me down. You need to get checked out too. Your neck…” As much as I was aching to wrap my legs around his sexy body, I hated knowing he was hurt. “We should put some ice on it and get you to the hospital.”

He didn’t listen. Of course. He moved quickly inside and down the hall to a small bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him with his bare foot. “You’re worried about me when you have bruises on your pretty face and were left to drown in a water tank?” His voice was hoarse, and there was a glint in his dark eyes. “If I could kill that mother-fucker again for touching you, I would.”

I blinked as he set me on the bed. Matteo? He killed Matteo? Shock and relieved giddiness tangled with my desperate arousal. “He didn’t… you know. I fought him and he hit me. Then he threw us into the cistern.”

Quill nabbed a fluffy towel from the bathroom rack and came back. “Fierce and brave. You couldn’t turn me on anymore than I am right now. Just so you know, when you take off those wet clothes and I dry you off, I’m not going to be able to control myself anymore. I thought I’d lost you, and now I need reassurance that you’re really here.”

I didn’t dare look toward the mirror in the room. Focusing on him alone, I nipped my lip and yanked off my shirt and bra. The cool air over my skin did nothing to ease my vicious yearning.

“Oh yeah, beautiful.” Quill nodded and tossed my wet clothes toward the bathroom.

My skirt and panties came next. No sense of timidity slowed my movements. I needed both of us naked and fast, but that feeling was blocked as he wrapped the towel around me. He held it on me and kissed me, long and slow.

“I was ready to tear down the whole city to find you.” His nose nudged mine as he began to tenderly dry me. “I don’t know what I would do without you in my life. You are the bright light that made me realize I was sitting alone in the dark, and instead of just shining down on me, you took me by the hands and let me into the sky with you and all the other stars. You make me shine, baby, and I love you so much for it.”

Tears trickled down my face, not from pain, but from the intensity of what he felt and what I felt in return. He loved me.

“Oh, don’t cry, baby.” Quill dabbed at my cheeks with the towel and then gave me one of his magnificently wicked smiles. “Unless it’s from how huge my dick is and how great it feels in you.”

A little laugh bubbled out of me. “Well then, take off your shorts and let me see you.” My thighs tightened with anticipation. I was surprised that I wasn’t begging by now. “Then I’ll show you how much I love you.”

Dropping the towel, Quill wasted no more time and pushed down his boxers with his shorts. His erection slapped against his abdomen with its freedom. Red and swollen, and already with the growing bulb of his knot at the base of his member.

Oh yes. Give me! I reached for him and pulled his body against mine. So hot, so hard, and all mine.

Quill pushed me back onto the bed. “You love me!” He grinned even as he kissed me madly. “I’ve never been so happy, baby.”

I wrapped my limbs around him and lifted my hips to rub myself against his throbbing length. Slick soaked us both and our scents grew muskier by the second. My hands were all over him. In his hair, over his shoulders, and down his back. His caresses and gropes were just as frantic. We could not get enough of each other fast enough.

Poking me with the head of his cock, I mewled and squirmed. “I need you, Quill. Take me now.”

With a growl, he plunged into me. We both cried out and clung onto one another. He fucked me with hard, ragged strokes. The swelling of his knot expanded to rub me in all the right places.

Having almost lost everything today, all of me hung on to him as if he were my only tether to life. My back arched as the electric mass sizzling inside of me built and teetered on the edge of eruption.

“Oh God! Yes!” My toes curled as he rocked me harder yet. My orgasm exploded, breaking me into a million bits and putting me back together again with a blissful embrace. Every time with this Alpha was better than the last.

Quill rode me through my climax and then slowed his pace. My body trembled as he still pumped and positioned me in the center of the bed. He skimmed his fingers over my cheek. “Look at me, baby. Let me see those gorgeous blue eyes.”

I forced open my eyes to stare into his dreamy ones. His long lashes framed his dark chocolate orbs like the unfolding of two tiny universes. I would never get tired of looking into his eyes.

“I love you. I never want to lose you again.” He tenderly kneaded one of my breasts and toyed with the nipple. “I want to bite you, Aubrielle. I want to claim you as my own.”

I had promised myself I wouldn’t make any big decisions while in heat. I’d always been the sensible girl, the good one. And it made sense to wait before I agreed to any such thing.

But there was nothing rational about the love I felt for Quill, for Konstantin too. I’d already promised that Konstantin could claim me. I hadn’t even considered saying no when he’d asked me. Because nothing felt more right in my life. Same with Quill. We were a pack. No matter how many excuses I made before, they were my mates and my heart had known it all along.

“Yes. Claim me. I love you so much.” My voice quivered with the words, with the raw truth of them. “I’ve always been yours and Konstantin’s. You’ve always been my pack.”

His rhythm was slower, but somehow the strokes were deeper. He groaned against my mouth as we kissed. “Oh fuck, you feel so good.”

I rolled my body against his, matching his smooth movements. We moved together as one. Not driven by my heat, making me horny with the need to breed, but with our love for one another.

“Quill,” I moaned his name, loving the sound of it on my tongue. A second orgasm began to balloon inside of me. Hotter, more intense than the first.

He hooked one of my legs over his shoulder and pushed our bodies more firmly together. His knot stretched me, almost hurting, bringing the euphoria of riding that line. He kissed down along my neck and nibbled at my skin before trailing the tip of his tongue back up to give my earlobe a wee suck. “You’re mine.”

Quill kissed back down, lifting his body partially off mine to send his mouth over the top of my breasts. “Aubrielle.” He licked the spot on my left breast near my heart. “I claim you.”

He bit me, teeth breaking flesh. I cried out and fisted his hair. My hips bucked as I climaxed with a great squirt of slick. Quill came not a few seconds later, his knot feeling bigger than it had ever before.

I never knew the importance of the bite other than a physical mark to ward off other Alphas. But it was far more than that. Yes, it hurt, but it was like we were truly linked together on every level now. Whether it be in my mind or not, it was as if I could feel his love for me. Even if we were bodily touching, I knew I would be able to feel that connection no matter where we were or what we were doing.

As the last bit of his cum spurted out, Quill released the bite and licked it before softly kissing my lips. “Mine, baby. Mine forever.”

“Mine forever.” I echoed and squeezed his cock with my inner muscles.

I giggled as he grunted and gave me a playful spank. “My very own naughty mermaid.”

My body tingled, still alive with wanton energy, and I wiggled under him. The exhaustion hadn’t hit yet, which surprised me after the physically and emotionally intense day I’d had. I just needed him to knot me again. It shouldn’t take much to convince him.

The door clicked open, and I startled, huddling under Quill. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled lazily. “You couldn’t resist, could you, bro?”

I lifted my head and peered over Quill’s shoulder to see Konstantin shut the door behind him. He walked slowly around the bed, his hot gaze on me as he unbuttoned his shirt. “Neither could you, it seems.”

“She needed it. And fuck,” Quill moaned as I squirmed some more and tightened my pussy around him again. “Seems like she needs more.”

Konstantin tossed his shirt over a chair in the corner and came to stand by the head of the bed. “Before you worry yourself, Lillianna is perfectly fine. Not even a bruise. She’s with her uncles, and she’s enchanting the emergency technician with a story of mermaids in a dark undersea cave with glowing fish and a talking octopus.” He undid his belt and pulled open his pants. “She insisted it was okay that I check on you.”

I watched his every movement, hypnotized by his raw sexuality.

“Lillianna seemed to think that her Uncle Quill might not know that mermaids needed to rest after a big adventure.”

How I loved that little girl. She was so sweet and hilarious. I laughed and was tickled by Quill for it.

“What she doesn’t know is that this mermaid needed a naughty end to her adventure, and I was the sexy sea god who could do it.” Quill waggled his brows, and I chuckled again.

“Sea god?” Konstantin snorted. “Well, since we’re brothers, I guess that makes two of us, and good thing too, since it seems like she needs another round.” He jerked his head at Quill. “Roll her on top of you, and move so that her head is near the edge of the bed.”

“Here we go, baby.” Quill kissed me before he wrapped his arms around me and rolled us so that I was on top. He then scooted us so his head was right on the edge and I was facing Konstantin. All that moving around had me grinding against his knot, and both of us groaned with the delicious sensations.

My stomach flipped, reveling in having both of them together at once. They’d only taken turns before, but this was beyond exciting. I felt a little greedy, but at that moment, I needed it. I needed both of them so badly.

I licked my lips as Konstantin drew his big erection out of his pants and stroked it.

“I want you to ride his knot as you suck my cock. Do you think you can handle it, bella?”

Already a new wave of slick was drenching Quill. He cupped my breasts and groped them, lifting his head to flick his tongue over each of the hard nubs. Reflexively, I pushed my hips down against him as my body thrummed with hot arousal.

“Yes. Let me taste you.” I opened my mouth, leaning toward Konstantin’s erection.

He stroked himself a few more times and stepped forward. Gripping my chin, he traced the head of his cock over my lips. His pre-cum smeared on them like glistening chapstick, and I licked up the pearly sweetness.

“Mm, you like that, don’t you?” Konstantin purred as he continued to tease his shaft over my mouth. “You want to be stuffed full of two big dicks.”

I nodded as my tongue lapped at his bulbous head and thick length. He never let me have more than a few licks before, but knowing I would get to pleasure him until he came, thrilled me. Even more so, doing it with Quill’s knot in me. My hips made little circling motions as I ground down on the Alpha under me.

Quill kissed over the mark on my breasts and flopped his head down with a moan. He grabbed my ass with both hands, kneading it as I worked both of us up again. “Fucking hell, this is heaven. Your pussy is so tight, baby. You’re going to milk me dry.”

I needed my hands to balance, resting them on Quill’s shoulders. So all I had was my mouth to please Konstantin. I suckled on the tip of his cock, drawing out more drops of pre-cum. He tenderly swept my hair back from my face and gathered it at the back of my head, holding it there in a firm grasp.

“Take it all in, bella.” Konstantin coaxed. I could feel him tremble trying to maintain control. A growl rumbled in his chest as I widened my jaw and eased his length farther in. My tongue cradled him, and when he hit the back of my throat, I slid it partially out before it triggered my gag reflex.

Again, I took him in and jerked back. Each time, I could get him in just a fraction more. I wanted to be able to take him fully, to be able to feel his sac against my chin.

My hips jerked more eagerly against Quill. His knot rubbed my clit just right, making me whimper and groan. He gave my rear a few spanks, whispering his encouragement.

Konstantin’s fingers tightened in my hair and his hips began to pump in rhythm with my head bobbing. Faster and deeper, always right on the edge of making me choke on his cock, but pulling back in time.

Filled with my mates’ cocks, pleasuring them both. It gave me a new sort of high. This was the sort of story I used to hear about it, and I would blush and want to plug my ears. But now I was the Omega taking two Alphas, and I loved it.

I rocked faster against Quill, racing toward orgasm.

“Yeah, baby. That’s right. Let me feel you come.” Quill clutched my hips as he pushed up in me as much as he could with his knot. He braced his legs to angle himself and give me more friction. So good, so close.

My saliva dripped off of Konstantin’s erection. My breaths came in short pants. I sucked hard every time he was fully sheathed in my mouth.

“Yes, bella. You’re so good at this. Take it all.” Taking control, Konstantin thrust into my mouth. His balls were tight and slapped against my chin. Tears blurred my eyes and I could barely breathe, but he didn’t stop.

My climax smashed into me, and I screamed about Konstantin’s huge cock. He took my head in both hands and drove himself into my mouth once more before he, too, exploded. His bellow shook my eardrums and cum shot down my throat. I drank it back as fast as I could, but I could feel some dribble out the corners of my mouth.

“Yeah! So hot. Oh fuck!” Quill fucked me harder and let loose with his own load.

Something in me was so immensely satisfied with being filled with their seed. I floated between their hot bodies, shuddering with orgasmic pleasure. I never wanted it to end.

I made a noise of protest when Konstantin pulled his shaft from my mouth. Still holding my head, he turned it sideways and bent forward. “I claim you, Aubrielle. You’re mine.”

My cry echoed in the room as he bit me.

The rush of pain and joy had me come a second time. Quill held me solidly on his knot, running his hands soothingly over my body.

“No one will ever take you from us again.” Konstantin kissed the mark he’d made. He softly wiped my mouth and leaned in to kiss me. “You’re ours forever.”

“Forever.” I repeated with a smile. Twice marked, twice blessed.

Surrounded by their love and warmth, I tugged Konstantin down so I could lie between them. My eyes fluttered shut. Despite everything that had happened earlier, I felt safe. I might be an adventurous mermaid, but these two Alphas were my mighty heroes. I didn’t doubt for a second that they would make sure our story had a happily ever after.

EPILOGUE - Aubrielle

Three months later…

“Hello, my name is Lillianna Birk.” Lillianna beamed a smile at her new kindergarten teacher. She looked like the perfect little lady in her blue school uniform and her hair done up in a simple braided twist. She held her mermaid backpack in front of her and bounced on her toes.

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Lillianna. I’m Mrs. Hector, and I’m so happy to have you in my class this year.” The teacher bent down to greet her new student. Her hair was graying, but she had a youthful smile.

I was bursting with excitement and sadness. Lillianna was starting school, which she would be so great at, but I wouldn’t be able to spend all my days with her. Though I’d be starting up my own classes again, the summer we had together was the best of my life. Of course, that also had to do with the two Alphas standing beside me.

“Oh! Like Hector's dolphins. I remember that, because they’re the world’s smallest dolphins.” Lillianna lifted her chin, proud to remember that fact.

“What a smart girl. I think you’re really going to love the Oceans unit when we do that next month.” Mrs. Hector praised and stood to hand Lillianna a name tag. “If you please write your name on this and wear it for this week, it would help me out. I have a lot of new students’ names to learn. If you need one of your parents to help write your name, that’s okay.”

“I can write my own name. My mommy taught me to read and write this summer.” Lillianna turned her smile to me and my heart swelled.

June had been a chaotic month with the kidnapping and leftover legal issues with the Pacettis. When things settled in July, Konstantin, Quill, and I sat down with Lillianna and told her we loved each other, and that we were a pack. She wasn’t surprised at all, and said she already knew that. It was when we told her that we were going to have a small and intimate wedding in October, and we would like her to be our flower girl, that she asked if she could call me Mommy.

I burst into tears. Lillianna wasn’t my blood, but she was the daughter of my heart. Just when I didn’t think I could love her more, my love for her grew even stronger.

“That’s excellent.” Mrs. Hector held out her hand to me. “Your daughter is marvelous, Mrs. Birk.”

While I wasn’t officially Mrs. Birk yet, I didn’t correct her. I shook her hand. “Please call me Aubrielle. It’s so nice to meet you.”

“Mommy’s going to be a teacher just like you.” Lillianna piped up.

“How lovely.” Mrs. Hector gave my hand an extra squeeze.

“I’m Konstantin Birk, Lillianna’s father.” Konstantin shook the teacher’s hand next. Of course he wore a suit to drop off his daughter on her first day of school, but I never complained about it. He looked smoking hot in his tailored suits.

“And I’m Uncle Quill. I couldn’t miss seeing my favorite niece off on her first day of school.” Quill grinned as he shook Mrs. Hector’s hand, already charming her with his drop dead gorgeous smile.

“Uncle Quill, you can’t say that. Remember Isabella!” Lillianna heaved a sigh, and we all had a laugh.

Mrs. Hector moved on to greet her other students and their families. Lillianna put her backpack in her cubbyhole which already had her name on it, and then we all dove in to hug her goodbye.

“I love you, sweetie. Enjoy your first day, and I’ll be here to pick you up this afternoon.” Konstantin kissed her cheeks and stood, chest puffed out like the proudest father on the planet.

Quill picked Lillianna up and gave her a tickling kiss. “Kick some butt, Lilli. We all know one day you’ll rule the world.”

“Quill.” Konstantin grunted and gave him a narrowed eyed look.

Lillianna giggled and gave her uncle a high five before he set her down. We then simultaneously moved to embrace one another. My heart was full to bursting. “Have fun today. You’ll do spectacularly, I know it. I love you so much.”

She squeezed me tightly and then pulled back with her angelic smile. “I love you too, Mommy. And you’ll do spectacully with your school work too. Then you can open up your own mermaid school!”

We giggled together about that and I gave her one more kiss before she skipped off to write her name on her tag. Another girl sat next to her, and Lillianna introduced herself. Then they started a conversation as if they had been friends for years.

I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to walk out of the classroom and leave her there. I started to tear up as we stepped outside. Both Quill and Konstantin wrapped their arms around me as we walked through the busy lot to the car.

“She’s going to be fine.” Konstantin kissed my temple.

“She’ll be queen of the class before the day is out.” Quill chuckled as I leaned my head on his shoulder.

“I know, but knowing how great she’ll do doesn’t make it any easier.” I sighed, dabbing my eyes and trying to be as calm about it as they seemed. “I don’t know how I’ll concentrate on my own school work today thinking about Lillianna.”

My mates exchanged a certain look, and I eyed them suspiciously.

“If that’s the case, then it’s good you won’t be doing any school work today.” Quill smirked and hopped ahead to open the car door for me. He held it for me, bowing like a gentleman but winking at me in a wicked way.

“What do you mean?” I looked to Konstantin as he helped me into the car.

“We have a special celebratory brunch planned and reservations at a spa.” Konstantin went around to the driver’s side.

“We got the whole pack package at the spa. Damn, that sounds weird.” Quill snickered as he closed my door and got into the seat behind me.

I twisted to gape at them both. “But I thought you two had several important meetings today, and I really need to get started on my classes.”

“We lied.” Quill shrugged and then leaned forward to lightly kiss my lips. “Also, you can start your stuff any time you want. Today you’re playing hooky with your pack.”

God, I loved these Alphas. I pretended to be shocked at his suggestion. “Play hooky? But I’m a good girl.”

“Mm, yes, you are.” Konstantin’s smoldering eyes bore into me, and I had to squeeze my thighs together with how easily he made me wet.

“Well, today you’re going to be a naughty girl and let us fuck you senseless before and after our spa visit.” Quill reached around the seat and groped one of my breasts before his hand slipped down to rest on my belly. “We need to thoroughly enjoy all the time we have when kids aren’t around since this little one will be stealing all our time next year.”

I covered his hand with mine. There was no bump yet as I was only a few months pregnant, but it was as if I could already feel our baby inside of my womb. This amazing being who will help us grow our pack even more.

Konstantin put his hand over mine, and I smiled as their love surrounded me. The three of us together were going to be the ultimate parenting team.

“Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I can play hooky just for one day.”

Quill gave me one more kiss and sat back, doing up his seatbelt. He gave a little snorting laugh. “Just one day? Oh no, baby, at least twice a week, and lunch breaks for sexy times.”

I grinned and rolled my eyes as I buckled in. “I do have to take time to focus on school work and not spend all my days having sex.” I looked over at Konstantin. “You’ll help me be studious, right?”

He started the engine and tried to hide the smirk that I could see twitching up his lips. “I’m with Quill on this one. We’re going to have to get all the sexy times in before the baby comes, and even after, we’ll have to get a nanny so we don’t lose any sex slots in our schedules.”

They had me squirming in my seat, and they knew it. “Incorrigible. Both of you.” And heck, I loved it. I loved them. “But we’re not getting a nanny. I already told you that I’m not going to start working fulltime as a teacher until our baby is old enough to be in school themselves. I don’t want to miss a minute of them growing up.”

“You’re not just the best mom, but the sexiest mom. Fuck, I’m so hard already. Can we just skip brunch and go right to the fucking?” Quill groaned and sent me into a fit of giggles.

“Aubrielle?” Konstantin looked to me for my decision. I took note that he also had a huge bulge in his pants.

I settled back in my seat, thinking about drawing out their misery, but I couldn’t do it. My appetite was not for food right now either. “Maybe you can drive to a secluded spot in the woods nearby, and we’ll see what Little Red Riding Hood can do with two big, bad wolves.”

“Fuck, yeah!” Quill hooted as Konstantin put the car in gear and practically tore out of the parking lot.

I was once the girl that was left behind when all her friends found their packs. I never thought I’d find my prince, and I certainly didn’t expect to find two. My happily ever after had taken me by surprise and swept me off my feet.

What was more, I realized that it wasn’t an ending, but the beginning of my very own fairy tale.

END

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ALSO FROM ALORA JAMES

Knot On My Watch (Knotty Streak Omegaverse #1)

Knot a Chance in Hell (Knotty Streak Omegaverse #2)

Knot Dead Yet (Knotty Streak Omegaverse #3)

Knot Letting Go (Knotty Streak Omegaverse #4)

Knot My Secret Santa (A Festive Knotty Streak Omegaverse book)

Knot the Witch Next Door (A Halloween Knotty Streak Omegaverse novella)

Knot Your Fake Boyfriend (A Valentine's Day Knotty Streak Omegaverse book)

About the Author:

Alora James loves the sizzle and steam of naughty books, and you can often find her snuggled in bed with her book boyfriends. Because, why choose just one? When she’s not reading or writing, she loves to travel and explore ancient ruins and haunted houses as well as corny roadside attractions.

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Alora is the Omegaverse pen name of fantasy romance author Morena Silver. If you love magic, pirates, and supernaturally hunky men, check out her books.

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