Page 94 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

A slow, almost devilish smile slid into place on Jason’s lips, revealing pointed canines. Shane growled. Ty squirmed, looking like he wanted to crawl out of his skin.

Jason’s gaze flicked to Shane’s, something unspoken passing between them. With a dip of Jason’s chin, his palm splayed over my throat, and I chased the touch.

“Do you want to play, Omega? Let your alphas hunt you and your beta?”

My pulse thundered in my ears so loudly that I could barely hear the crackle of the fireplace. I swallowed, offering a shaky nod.

“Yes. Please,” I said, confidence returning to my voice.

“Oh, this is going to be so much fun, two on two. At least I won’t be outnumbered anymore.”

Ty winked at me, scurrying to get out of bed.

“Not so fast, Mate.”

Shane yanked him back, whispering something that made Ty’s dick thicken under his briefs.

That doting expression on Shane’s face shifted into something wolfish. I felt small under his dark gaze. The rabbit to his fox. I perfumed, slick sticking to my thighs. A low, ominous sound filled the nest. And it took me a moment to realize it was Jason.

He lapped at my gland, nails scraping over my navel.

“Good luck, baby girl. You’re going to need it. Because there will be no way to hide that honeyed cunt from me.”

I gulped, flames licking at the base of my spine.

“Get changed, love. Sneakers, leggings, things you don’t mind getting ruined. Because when we catch you, we’re going to rip your clothes and knot that sweet pussy until you’re begging us to stop.”

“Shane,” I whinged.

My vision tunneled for a second as I sucked in a breath. I slowly crawled out of the nest, fumbling like a spring foal learning how to walk.

THIRTY-FIVE

MIA

Isquinted under the cloudless sky, shielding my eyes with my hand. It taunted me, feigning a warmth that wasn’t there. Despite the chill, heat coursed through my blood. As molten as the fiery colors dappling the treetops.

My gaze locked onto the three men following my every move.

I never considered Ty small, but our alphas dwarfed him. Shane and Jason’s eyes flashed with a darkness I hadn’t seen before. An overwhelming need to kneel at their feet and bare my neck overtook me. A low frequency hummed in my bones. Something different from nerves. My skin felt electrified, my senses heightened.

The sounds of the birds were louder, the crunching of leaves under my sneakers more deafening.

My newly awakened omega thrived, her claws digging into my tendons as she prowled a restless circle behind my ribs. I couldn’t decipher which emotions were hers and which ones were mine. Maybe they were the same. Maybe it didn’t matter.

Ty flashed me a dimpled smile. He palmed the back of my head, pulling me into a silent embrace as his forehead fell to mine. I breathed him in, forcing the long drags to steady my racing heart.

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his lips lingering.

“Do you want to stay together or separate? We could stay together and I’ll protect you.”

“I’ll slow you down.”

Every one of his strides was easily two of mine. The smarter strategy was to go in different directions and force Shane and Jason to split up to find us.

I looked past him toward the edge of the woods. The trees were a maze of maples, sprawling acreage that Ty knew better than me. I mused about taking him up on his offer.

My omega released a defiant snarl. She didn’t want safe. She didn’t want easy. She wanted to feel the hard earth pound under her feet.