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She licks her lips, scent rising. “Maybe I do.”

“Do you still want me to help you through your heat?”

Daphne toys with the hem of my shirt restlessly. I almost take her hesitation personally, but then I remember.

Eight years. Obviously, no bond.

Yeah, I’d be wary of alphas after that too. Fuck, I don’t even think it’slegalto be packed up for that long and not bond an omega.

“Yes. Will your pack agree?”

She bites her lip and something warm sparks in my chest as I tug the plump skin out of danger. Her upper lip’s fuller than the bottom but her mouth is so fucking plush I barely notice. “Definitely.”

Should I have asked my brothers? Yes, but I can’t regret it when Daphne gifts me the most incredible smile, leaning back so I can kiss her properly. It’s another first and fuck, I could drink air from her lips and survive on her alone. How do people work when there’s kissing to be done?

“Thank you,” she whispers. My stomach clenches with wariness she’s trying to hide.

“Trust me, I don’t mind.” How could I when she makes mefeel for the first time in so long? I may not understand what’s happening between us, but I don’t care either.

I want Daphne. End of story.

We’re still kissing, with a little heavy petting thrown in, when Connor’s irate hiss slithers between us. “Are you shitting me, Nate? This is a fuckingfabric store.”

His voice makes Daphne shiver, as does Dez’s low laugh.

“Close your eyes,” I bark, covering her long enough to finally tuck my dick away. It takes forever because Daphne’s laughter keeps distracting me. She’s just so fucking pretty when she smiles.

By the time I’m dressed, she’s beaming. “You’re cute.”

Hell yeah. My omega thinks I’m cute.

“I know you are.”

Daph rolls her eyes, whine slipping out the second I try to pull away. Nope. Not doing that. We both settle when I pick her up and I decide she can live here forever. A lifelong workout.

Instincts are fuckingwild.

“Kitten, these are my brothers. Dez, and our pack lead, Connor. Guys, this is Daphne. She wants us to help with her heat.”

As expected, Dez moves closer, peering over my shoulder to see our omega. Despite signing up for heat helping, Connor couldn’t do it, and Dez refused to go alone. He said it didn’t bother him, but I know my brother’s been struggling without an omega.

Now we have one, and the awe on his face as he looks at Daphne for the first time, the way his scent goes from muted to something far happier, makes my chest hurt in the best way.

Daphne scents him, shooting onegimmehand out to coax her alpha closer. Dez grins and takes it, letting her pull until we’re all touching. He brushes her hair back, feeling her skin with a frown. “Hey, gorgeous. I’m Dez. Are you feeling okay?”

“Hot.”

She frowns like she wishes she could be in my arms and his at the same time. I take pity on her, mostly because I need to handle Connor. He’s watching our omega likes she’s a cobra ready to strike, scent flaring bitterly, and I’m about to punt him through a wall. “Let’s have Dez hold you.”

Daph lights up. “Can he?”

Dez answers for himself. “Whatever you want.”

She gives me a sweet kiss before jumping into his arms, settling with her legs around his waist, nose to his throat. Her low hum goes straight to my dick, it’s so primal. “You smell good.”

I leave them to moon over each other, finding Connor’s eyes darting everywhere buther, body tense and ready for anything. His protective side body-slamming its way to the front of his brain because of the available, needy omega at hand.

“She’s ours, Con.”