Page 14 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

“You must be hungry. Join us for dinner? Ty made pasta.”

Ty, one of his packmates. I’d have to meet them sooner or later. Granted, I didn’t revel in the idea of our first introduction being now, when I looked like I’d lost a fight with a feral cat.

The thought of food, however, made my traitorous stomach growl. Something between a laugh and a snarl caught in Jason’s throat, his biceps threatening to bulge out of his T-shirt as his gaze dared me to tell him no.

“I—yeah. Thank you, Jason. I just need to… Let me get cleaned up a bit.”

“You look perfect, Mi,” he said, gently coaxing me out of the doorway.

His massive palm splayed over the small of my back, not so subtly sliding to the curve of my waist and tucking me into his side. A sigh rolled over my lips, all the tension in my body fading away as I instinctively relaxed in his hold.

The pad of his thumb drew small circles there. My stomach flip-flopped, my omega desperate to let out a quiet purr for our alpha, but I choked it down, silently admonishing her.

Now was not the time to roll over for intoxicating, scent-matched alphas.

Even if she really, really wanted to.

Okay. So did I.

I needed time to think and get my shit together. Which was increasingly difficult with Jason’s searing touch steering me into the kitchen.

Bright light spilled from the space, the heavenly aroma of garlic, basil, and simmering tomatoes making me groan.

A lithe, toned figure with chocolatey, messy curls stood by the stove. Ty, if I had to guess. He hummed something under his breath as he stirred a massive pot of linguine, swaying slightly to some tune in his head.

At the sound of our footsteps, he turned, his olive skin pinked from the stove. A wide smile slid across his lips, making two dimples frame his mouth.

Jason didn’t hesitate, walking straight up to Ty, crowding him against the counter. Ty was clearly a beta, but I wouldn’t call him small. Yet next to Jason, he appeared it. Granted, I’m sure most people looked small next to an Apex alpha.

Brilliant green eyes sparkled under the beta’s hair as Jason gently closed his fingers around his neck. Ty smirked, a silent challenge in his stare that drew a dark sound from Jason.

The alpha took what he wanted, pressing his lips to Ty’s in a slow, demanding press that spoke of devotion and demand.

It was as claiming as it was worshipful. I was a voyeur rooted to the spot, unable to look away. I didn’t know who I wanted to be more at that moment, Jason or Ty; if I wanted to claim my beta or be claimed by my alpha.

Warning. Warning.

Dangerous territory. Abort. Shit.

Jason nipped Ty’s lip, pulling away just enough for his blazing blue eyes to meet Ty’s glazed green ones.

“You’re so fucking handsome.”

“Thank you, Daddy,” Ty whispered, melting into him.

My mouth went dry, and my eyes blew so wide that they watered. Slick soaked my panties, my clit throbbing in response. A whine morphed into a moan before sounding like a strangled cough as I squeezed my thighs together.

Blush burned my cheeks. Ty turned with a grin, looking positively disheveled and smug, and entirely too pleased with himself. He turned the burners down to a simmer, striding toward me with that adorable, dimpled smile.

Jason snorted, running a hand through his mussed hair.

“Mia,” Ty said.

So much affection and longing curled around his words. It made my chest ache.

There was something familiar about him, something I couldn’t place. His strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a tight hug. I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder.

Despite being a beta, I still caught a whiff of something distinctly musk and clove, but laced with his alpha’s scent; Jason’s cedar and something sweeter—caramel, maybe. It wasn’t his, but clung to the walls. I wanted to burrow further into the crook of his neck and make him smell of me.