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My cock’s been hard since she got here. Weeping the closer she gets, aching the more I inhale. It’s torture.

In the safety of my new room, I can admit she calls to me. Her vulnerability, the sweetness, the desperate hunger for affection. I want to give it to her. Swaddle her in blankets and plop her on my lap where she’s safe and warm and loved.

No, not loved. Appreciated. Yeah, that’s better.

From the moment our eyes met, I knew Daphne was like me. A little broken from her circumstances, but she’s braver than I’ll ever be. Even when she pulls away, I can see she still hopes for a future that’s different. One I already know doesn’t exist.

Yet here we are instead of the pack house; a decision I didn’t even fight my brothers on.

I’m so screwed.

Nate

Quit being a chickenshit and get down here.

His text lodges next to all the others I’m struggling to get through.

From the moment I turned my phone on after Daph’s heat, it’s been going off nonstop, and I truly meannon-fucking-stop. Emails from vendors and potential clients, calls and text from employees and a few high-level clients that have my personal number. Our employees are rockstars, but going off grid has set me back more than a week.

I’m a workaholic. Without romantic entanglements or the desire for sex, I prefer to spend my time in the office, making a future for my pack. I haven’t had a sick day in years, and this is a good reminder why.

I’ll have to spend some time on admin after dinner and consider hiring an assistant again. Years of Dez nagging at me for more work-life balance, and I still haven’t even looked at the resumes languishing in my desk drawer. The break would be nice, but it’s hard to let go of even a little of control. Who knows, maybe Daphne will be just the excuse I need to make it happen.

Not that I’m going to court her with my brothers, but if she agrees to their proposal, it would be best if there was some flexibility in my schedule in case they need me.

Yeah. That’s totally why I’m considering it.

Dropping the device into my pocket, I head downstairs, almost wishing I could fake a work emergency and leave. But the image of Daphne expecting to be ignored for a fucking phone call is still vivid in my mind. The way she avoided eye contact when I asked about her exes walking out of her nest.

Who the fuck does that? It’sOmegas 101: Never let them feel neglected.Whether I court her or not, I refuse to let Daphfeel like that again. Even if I want to hide in my room until she leaves. Away from those blue eyes that see through me.

The second I hit the first floor, Nate calls me out. “Finally made it, I see.”

“Wanted to be pretty for you, baby.”

I blow him a kiss he catches before tossing me the finger. “Love the shirtless look on you, snookums.”

What?

Looking at my chest, all I see is skin.Shit.I was so distracted by the omega waiting for me that I didn’t even get dressed. Apparently, I’m not the only one. Nate’s broad chest is in full view.

“Seems like we match,” I droll.

He grins as Daphne’s head whips around, mouth dropping as she realizes we’re half naked.

Even exhausted and clearly starving, she’s so fucking beautiful it takes my breath away. Pouty lips, freckles I’ve followed with my tongue and teeth, all that strawberry blonde hair tossed onto her head in a mess of curls that bare her neck. The love bites we gave her have deepened into bruises and fuck me if it doesn’t turn me on.

I like seeing my mark on her. Like seeing her in general. Fuck, I can’t get a boner right now. These sweats don’t hide a damn thing, andI am not interested in courting.

Daph’s eyes rove over me, catching here and there on my ink. A visceral memory of her mouth tracing each tattoo rushes through me, and I nearly stumble back. Having her attention is like holding onto a live wire. This powerful, dangerous energy that begs me to give in. Cede control and let my instincts run wild even when I know it’ll end badly.

Her tongue darts out, wetting that bottom lip I can still taste, and finally—fuckingfinally—she speaks. “You have matching tattoos.”

Daphne’s voice is raspy, like it was during the heat when she sucked my cock so deep she was nose to skin. I practically shout at my brain to stop reminding me of fucking her, but it doesn’t help.

“They’re pack tattoos.”

“What do the bands mean? I’ve seen them before.”