Page 6

With a last look at Isam, Mostyn stepped under the water, then let out the most sinful groan that shot straight to Isam’s cock. He wanted to hear Mostyn make that sound again…but preferably while Isam was inside him. But he could be patient. After all, they were off to a great start, weren’t they?

3

Servas whistled as he measured the last piece of the floorboard, then cut it to size. God, he loved his job. He liked it when he could work on a house by himself, but he loved it even more when he was with his crew, with him in charge—which was still a shock to him.

Losing his cousin Jawon had been horrible because Jawon had been his best friend and Servas missed him every single day. But his death had made it possible for Servas, an omega, to lead the construction crew. Who would’ve thought? It only proved that this pack and leadership truly valued talents and passions above one’s designation. Yes, Lidon was his cousin, but that wasn’t why Servas had gotten the job. It had been based on merits. They didn’t do nepotism here. Joining the pack had been the best decision he’d ever made.

He put the floorboard in and double-checked his work before he clicked it into place. Yup, perfect. All he had to do now was attach the baseboards and the last house would be finished. Well, the last one for now, anyway. If the pack kept growing, he’d have to build more, but for now, he was done.

Not that he’d be out of work anytime soon. The various requests for renovations kept him plenty busy. He’d knocked out a wall in the house Naran, Lev, and Sivney now shared—and there was a combination he hadn’t seen coming. They hadn’t announced they were fated mates yet, but they had to be.

Naran and Sivney, yes. That wasn’t hard to picture, especially after the stories he’d heard about how Sivney had bulldozed his way into Naran’s life, all but forcing him to get his shit together. Servas had only dealt with Sivney a handful of times, but boy, had he been impressed. He’d never met a fellow omega who was as strong, opinionated, and absolutely fearless as Sivney. He respected the hell out of Sivney just for that, but Sivney also had a good heart. Underneath that relentless pressure on Naran had been genuine care, and it had shown.

So yes, Naran and Sivney, that had made sense. But Lev? Hell no. Fate sure worked in mysterious ways, didn’t she?

When Lev had first arrived on the ranch, Servas had been curious to meet him. As much as he loved being in the pack, it did mean that pickings were slim if you were single, and so the arrival of a new alpha had definitely raised some interest.

But one look at Lev and Servas had known he wasn’t the one. How, he couldn’t explain, but it had been crystal clear. Lev was super cute and attractive, though perhaps a bit young for Servas, but the problem was that he was too…soft. Not a word usually associated with an alpha, but in this case, it fit.

Servas had heard the stories about how Lev had basically been used by Naran to get the information needed about where Professor Melloni was being held. After he’d met him, he could understand that. Lev wasn’t a typical alpha. Not only did he have a slimmer build than most alphas, but he simply lacked the power and charisma most alphas had. In fact, Servas wouldn’t be surprised if Lev turned out to be like Enar, a man presenting as an alpha but who really was a beta in every way.

Servas had zero issues with that, but it wasn’t what he needed, what he was looking for. Or maybe it was because he already knew who he wanted, who Fate had picked for him, even if that alpha had never so much as looked at him twice.

Isam was… God, he was perfect. Tall with short-cropped brown hair, brown eyes, broad shoulders, and thick thighs, he was the kind of imposing alpha that made Servas so very much feel like an omega.

He’d even gone as far as letting Palani know that he was reasonably sure Isam was his mate. He’d planned on asking Isam to help him through his heat, so he’d wanted to make sure the second-in-command of the pack was aware. Palani had given his blessing, but Servas had chickened out and asked someone else instead.

He’d been too scared to ask Isam, afraid he’d either get rejected or that the reality wouldn’t live up to the very hot, very detailed fantasies he so often spun in his head about the two of them. Equally terrifying was discovering he’d been wrong about Isam being his mate, which would’ve crushed Servas. Another worry had been that he had no clue who their third would be, their beta. Lucan was the only candidate, but Servas knew where Lucan’s heart lay, even if Lucan’s mates weren’t aware yet.

So Servas had decided to wait for Isam to realize it too, or maybe for their third to show up. He was in no hurry, even if he did long to start a family. Maybe right now wasn’t the best time anyway, what with all the political turmoil. Better to wait until things had calmed down a bit.

Of course there was also the challenge that his admiration for Isam was apparently not mutual. The alpha had never spoken more than a few words to him. Now granted, alphas had to be careful in the pack because omegas had a sort of protected status, but not to this degree. But maybe Servas could help things along?

His heat was coming in a week, which offered the opportunity to get his shit together and ask Isam to help him through his heat this time. If he didn’t, he’d never know for sure, now would he? Worst-case scenario, he’d find out that Isam wasn’t interested in him or that they weren’t really mates, and he’d be forced to let go of that fantasy. Yes, that would hurt, but it would also allow him to move on with his life and open himself to the possibility of someone other than Isam. Wouldn’t that be better, all things considered?

By now, he had the baseboards all measured and cut, ready to be attached. He did a quick check on the time. Lunch break. Perfect. He could catch Isam while he was doing his rounds and ask him before his courage evaporated.

His mind made up, he straightened. Oh crap. He wasn’t exactly dressed to impress, wearing his usual cargo shorts, his tool belt, steel-toed boots, and the hard hat he insisted his crew wear at all times. He’d lost a coworker once whose skull had been split open from a falling beam, and he wasn’t taking any chances, even when he was working inside a house.

Should he change? Maybe take a shower? But then it would look strange to Isam, who always saw Servas dressed like this anyway. Like he’d gone through too much trouble, which could raise suspicions. No, he’d do it like this. Like he was. If Isam didn’t want him that way, he wasn’t worth Servas’s attention anyway.

He took a deep breath and headed out. The guards’ schedule was easy enough to figure out, so all he had to do was wait in the right spot for a few minutes, and yup, there he was. Isam was dressed as always in black cargo pants, a tight black T-shirt that highlighted those powerful muscles of his, black boots, a black baseball cap, and a pair of sunglasses. He looked like he’d come straight out of an ad for personal bodyguards, and Servas’s mouth watered.

Before he could chicken out again, he called out. “Hey, Isam.”

Isam stopped, surprise visible on his face even behind his sunglasses. “Servas. What’s up?”

Servas forced himself to come closer, praying his voice would sound normal. “I wanted to ask you something.”

To his credit, Isam gave him his full attention now, taking off his sunglasses. “What’s on your mind?”

Servas was now close enough that he had to look up at Isam, who all but towered over him. He cleared his throat. “My heat is coming next week, and I was wondering if you’d be willing to help me through it.”

It had come out calm and collected, and relief filled him. He’d done it.

Isam scratched his short beard. “Thank you for asking me. It’s always an honor when omegas trust us as alphas with that.”

Servas’s stomach sank. That sounded like the polite intro to a rejection. He forced himself not to jump to conclusions and wait for the rest of Isam’s answer.