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“Huh?” Lloyd tossed on his shirt with a frown. “Oh, no. The designer thought it fit my vibe.”

I smothered a smug grin. So I was right about the designer. My gaze traveled over his shoulder to the wall of boxes that occupied his shelving space.

“What in the…” I brushed my fingers along the side. They were boxes of dried noodles, hundreds of them. Lloyd slammed the cupboard doors shut. His chest heaved as he planted his palms on the white shutters. Color drained from his face.

“Shall we see if any pancakes survived Walden’s efforts?”

I crossed my arms, not to be deterred and nosy. “You talked about needing food. This isn’t…?” I didn’t know how to put into words what I was trying to say.

A shadow passed over Lloyd’s face before he burst into laughter. “No, gods, that would be worrying. I gotta say, I’m getting a real ego boost from you seeking me out when you’re afraid.”

He was right. As soon as I heard the crash, I fled straight to Lloyd. I ran a featherlight touch down his arm, enjoying the way his muscles bunched under my barely there touch. I should have felt nervous in his presence, if not outright fear. But I’d never felt more at home. Especially after having one of the best sleeps of my life.

“Do you believe in fate, Lloyd?”

“Like the gods?” His gaze burned into me like a blazing sun.

My parents used to make offerings to the beta god, the Sage, until I presented as an omega. I guess their faith dried up when I presented as the one Designation they couldn’t understand. The omega god, the Oracle, was supposed to hold the threads of fate and she’d been vicious with me so far. What use were gods when you didn’t have a roof over your head? It seemed like something for the wealthy to waste time on.

“No. There’s something about you, Lloyd. You make me feel safe.”

“Even though I’m not an alpha?” his voice hitched as I slipped around him.

I hung on the door for a moment.

“Alphas are overrated.”

“Is that so?” Ajax chuckled from down the hall, crossing his arms over his bulk. “Breakfast is ready.”

“Yup,” I gulped, edging past the solid alpha.

Lloyd chuckled under his breath as we walked to the kitchen. The piles of food distracted me from Ajax’s invigorating scent. There were two towers of waffles leaning precariously over bowls of raspberries and blueberries. Fresh whipped cream, maple syrup, and honey. The sweet breakfast choices taperedinto savory, with fried chorizo, hash browns, and various vegetables chopped into small bites. Ajax returned behind the counter and whipped eggs in a bowl, and I admired the way his thick beard twitched on a smile. Lloyd hadn’t been exaggerating. Dishes covered the kitchen counter. Walden picked up shards of a plate, his cheeks flushed, and dark hair mussed.

Even in the early morning, he still wore a suit.

“Careful, there’s been an accident.” He waved at the mess with a grimace.

“Pancakes are off the menu, but we have literally anything else.” Ajax wiped his hands on his apron that readCaution: Extremely Hot.

Ajax jiggled the coffee jug. “Want a cup?”

“I better not,” I sighed, rolling up my shameless omega tongue.

Stimulants were the worst thing to give an omega approaching heat. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who is a disaster in the kitchen.”

Walden hovered with the dustpan and brush. His eyes narrowed as I contemplated the juice. Lloyd took a seat beside me and passed a plate.

“You don’t like coffee?” Walden queried in a rough voice, as if it hadn’t warmed up for the day.

I imagined it rasping in my ear, his thick arms snaking around my middle.

No. Not the thoughts you should have, I chastised myself. Walden cleared the mess and sat down in front of his open laptop.

“I love coffee normally, but ah—” I paused, I didn’t feel comfortable admitting I was on the cusp of a heat. One delayed by stress. “I’m craving juice this morning, if you have any?”

“Anything is possible if you want it, Tully.” Ajax spread his arms over the plentiful fair, looking like he’d rather be eatingme. The heat in my stomach intensified. The feeling was alarmingly mutual.

“Walden is jotting down what you like, anyway.” His beard twitched again.