Page 78 of The Rust in Her Hair

Something flickers across his face. He straightens, adjusts his glasses, and when he speaks again, his voice has gone careful, tucked back into its usual friendly tone.

"I mean…" He turns back to the sink. "Adrian's a roommate. Who he kisses is his business."

Roommate.

I look at the bite mark on Owen’s neck, then at the two marks that are hidden beneath his shirt, and I make up my mind.

This pack is mine.

I don’t care how sinful or taboo it is. These four men belong to me, and I’ll do whatever the hell is necessary to have them. Now.

A Year of Almost

Owen

Ipull into the driveway at 5:42, right as Nico’s company truck rolls in behind me.

Perfect timing.

I kill the engine and I'm out of my car before the others have even opened their doors. I cannot wait to ask Lyra how her day was. Talking to that omega when I get home has quickly become one of my favorite things.

Yesterday she'd made every bed in the house and reorganized the spice rack alphabetically. She also had very strong opinions about a daytime court show.

She recounted all of it in detail, the show, the spices, as well as the exact wording of some argument she overheard with the neighbor and the mailman, and I hung on every word.

Having her in our home feels so right.

Behind me the truck doors thunk shut and the guys spill out, none of them in a hurry.

"I'm just sayin'," Mack drawls, "if Tony had listened to me about the grade on that slab the first damn time⁠—"

“Tony never listens," Nico says.

"He needs to be nowhere near that re-pour. I’m not pulling up concrete again."

I leave my mates behind, taking the porch steps two at a time. I push the door open, step inside, and the thick aroma hits me like a wall.

Lyra.

Her scent is everywhere, thick and cloying, pouring through the whole damn house. Vanilla and warm almond, so dense even my dull beta nose drowns in it. It coats the back of my throat, making my head go loose on my shoulders for a second before I catch myself on the doorframe.

Oh fuck. Is she in heat?

Is that what this is?

I’ve never smelled an omega in heat before. And if it is, what will Nico, Adrian, and Mack do once they smell it? Will they go feral? Will they hurt her?

No. They’d never.

But I’d rather be safe than sorry.

I turn around, ready to tell my mates to stay outside, when the door opens and I walk right into Nico’s big, firm chest.

"No—" I go completely still, looking up at my alpha, watching as his nostrils flare.

Nico’s whole body freezes right inside the threshold, one hand still on the door, his dark eyes fixed on the floor. Every muscle in his neck has gone rigid.

My stomach drops.