Page 12

Melanie

I stood in front of the bed we’d spent hours fucking in, telling myself not to move even though I was still naked. Kai sat back against the headboard, his legs crossed, face flushed, as he kept a firm hand on Caspian’s thigh as Caspian held him.

I hadn’t realised how much I needed to see Caspian until he finally left the retiring room, his face a storm of rage.

Sin had a quiet conversation with him while Kai just silently glared at me.

And now it was time for me to go. My heat had finally subsided enough that I could think clearly, even though the bite that Kai and I shared was still driving me crazy. I wanted to leap on him so badly, but he was staring at Caspian like he was expecting something.

My clothes were shredded thanks to Caspian, but I still had my spare uniform in my trolley outside the room. The security cameras must have picked up that I'd been inside the room for almost the whole day, and I couldn’t avoid them when I finally left. I needed to find a way to get my clothes on and get out of the Spa without it being suspicious. I was still surprised no one had come to find me. There were no clocks in the room, but the sun had already set. I thought Lucielle would’ve at least tried looking for me.

I needed to get through the door as quickly as possible. If they said anything about going back into bed with them, I was screwed. From the outside, they’d treated me like scum, but inside I was thrilled at finally being fulfilled for the first time in my life.

I hovered near the door, not sure how to say goodbye since we’d fucked each other raw and I’d suddenly bitten someone, even though I still didn’t have a clue what was really going on with my body.

I needed time to research why I had suddenly presented, and what I was supposed to do with my life now.

Sin slipped on a white shirt as he padded across the floor towards a chair on my left.

He was even more stunning than I realised. It was the perfect moment to grab my clothes from the pile at my feet and pull them back on, but I was too mesmerised by him. The shirt didn’t hide the hundreds of white scars dancing across his body, rippling as he moved.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of him, and it was only the rumbling growl from Caspian that made me stay focused instead of dragging me back into a heat wave where I begged Sin to fuck me as well. Because it was already trembling and building inside me again.

I needed to go home. The reason I was so desperate to get to my bed, stuffed with soft pillows, vibrant throws, and my art supplies was obvious. Even though the temporary nest Kai had built around us looked so similar to my flat, it wasn’t mine.

Sin lifted a pair of black trousers from a folded pile on a plush chair, pulling out his wallet. He gave me an empty look which rattled me, considering how gentle he’d been when we were fucking.

“I apologise for our behaviour. We can be quite erratic during Kai’s heat,” he said as he walked over to me.

My brows shot up as I looked at him, trying to work out if he was being serious.

“Um, I don’t think erratic is the right word for what’s happened.”

Kai barked out a laugh and crawled to the edge of the bed on all fours, conjuring more images of what we could do together if I climbed back in. He must have felt my pulse of desire, as his lips twisted again, still glaring at me.

“That is true.” Sin nodded. “Despite that, I’d like to ask if you would remain with us for the duration of Kai’s heat.” By the time he reached me, he was holding out a white business card. “I think you understand why.”

I reached for the card with trembling fingers, and he cupped my hand instead.

Scent match. My mind whispered, but I shook it away, even though my body had been crying for it since I stepped into the room.

“I have to get back to work,” I said, looking up at him with wide eyes. He’d never left the bed when I was awake, so I didn’t notice how tall he was until now.

Sin pressed the card into my hand, curling my fingers around it.

“Yeah,” Kai snapped. “I bet you fucking do. How many other alphas are you going to be spreading your legs for as soon as you leave the room?”

I flinched back. It only took a second, but as my fingers closed around the card, realisation plunged into me. I took the card, bile building in my stomach, creeping up to my throat as I met his eyes, and I saw he was completely serious.

“You…You think I’m a host…?” I asked, all my whirring anxiety suddenly quiet.

I couldn’t quite believe what I’d heard. My gaze danced between Sin and Caspian, but they weren’t giving anything more away.

“That’s your job, isn’t it? Fucking people for money?” Caspian growled. “We don’t give a shit if you’re a host or my mother sent you. Whatever the fuck it is, you got the dick you wanted, so just get out.”

Any other words were lost under the ringing in my ears as hurt and disappointment suddenly bloomed in my chest.

They thought I was a host…

They thought someone had paid me to come to the room and fuck them… That I’d sold myself out for sex.

“I told you I was a beta, that I’m a maid at the Spa,” I forced the words out.

The moment I stepped out of the room, my life was over. Because I couldn’t call myself a beta anymore, not after how deeply they’d changed me.

“Sure, keep playing that card as long as you want. We’re not buying it,” Kai snapped again.

Did they think all my struggling and crying and telling them I needed my job was just a part of some act I was putting on?

I drew in a sharp breath as I looked at the card through the gaps in our fingers.

Sin Risler was embossed in silver, with an email address and phone numbers beneath.

“I was gonna compromise because Sin and Cas were in rut and horny as fuck. But, after this shit,” Kai thrust up his pulsing finger, “you better stay away from us.”

Was he really saying that everything we’d just done together was fake?

“But…I bit you…” I said softly, meeting his eyes. Kai’s lips pulled over his teeth, his shock morphing into rage, but Caspian cut in before Kai could respond.

“What the fuck does that have to do with anything? You think we’re just gonna accept you just because you stole a bite? Do you know how many fuckers have tried that in the past?”

“Enough, both of you,” Sin pressed, turning to look at his mates. “We can’t have a civil conversation with you acting like this.”

My brow tightened with hurt and confusion as I stared at the fresh wound on Kai’s finger.

A deep breath rattled through me as it really hit home that they didn’t see it the way I did.

Suddenly, it wasn’t only my heat that was firing up my body. I clenched my teeth hard, trying not to show my pain.

It was my habit to swallow it all down rather than releasing my anger. It was easier to hide than defend myself and apologise afterwards for making a scene.

Sin turned back to me, still looking professional even though he was nearly naked and I was standing in front of him drenched in slick.

“I assume you need money, since you made such a bold attempt to capture us,” Sin continued. “Whether you work for our parents or the Spa, we can still provide for you.”

I wanted to escape. I needed to get out of there so I couldn’t listen to any more of it. If I got out of the door, I could protect myself from the pain lashing through me.

“You want to pay me to have sex with you?” I whispered, trembling in front of them.

I swore to myself I would never become a host. I couldn’t sell myself that way. But…

They were my scent matches…

They were meant to be loyal and strong and noble, and not think they could rent out my body like that.

“Not necessarily, no,” Sin said carefully. “We have a specific role we would like you to fill.”

“I don’t even want to fuck you as a fucking bonus,” Kai spat. “You can keep your pussy to yourself.”

A whimper fell from me as agony stabbed my heart. I tried to meet Kai’s eyes, to confront him about the hate that he was spewing, but he looked away. His hate was so different when our bodies weren’t connected.

I guess it all was a lie. It was our heats that made us want it.

Just because I caught the shake of Kai’s hand against his thigh as he sat back on his heels, and I could feel his hurt and jealousy, didn’t make any of it okay.

My breathing grew heavier as I dropped my head, my heart pounding in my ears, staring blankly at the card.

“Melanie?” Sin asked. I didn’t want to look at him, but I couldn’t stop the need that flowed in me at his voice, my body answering for me.

All of that, everything, it was just a lie. The way Caspian threw himself at me, how Kai unleashed his fury on me, Sin’s endless strokes and touches filled with softness. I knew it was too good, that something like that couldn’t really be real.

I dragged in a ragged breath, but I couldn’t control it anymore. And Kai knew. He could feel everything that was happening because I was stupid enough to bite him. And now he knew how angry I was at myself for letting go for them.

“Brandy?” Kai hummed, a dark smile stretching his lips. “What’s wrong? Being paid to fuck isn’t a problem, is it? Seeing as you had no issue with us.”

With one clench of my hand, the card crumpled. I kept my mum fixed in my mind. I worked for her. I earned money so she could be comfortable. I wasn’t letting all of that go to waste because of some rich pack and their fantastic cocks, no matter how amazing their cum tasted.

I could have made a deal with them there, given them a price and agreed to their request, and then I would lose my job.

“What Kai really means is: we need help,” Sin said practically. “And I think the past day has shown we’re more than compatible. We need a female omega to present to our families at various social events. And even though the three of us are not in agreement with this particular method, I think you are the best person to ask.”

Every word he said just made it worse.

“I don’t feel it would be too taxing. All we ask is you pretend to be our mate. The Selection Ceremony is in a month, so it’s a time-sensitive offer. We can provide you with everything you need as long as you fulfil your end of the deal. Once we have attended the Ceremony, we can go our separate ways. It would just be a matter of discussing payment.”

I pressed my lips hard together. There had been times when I had so little money that I would sneak food from the staff room into my purse just to have something to eat later that night. When I’d been so desperate that I sold my last paint supplies just to buy pasta. For the first six months moving into my flat, I had no furniture and slept on a camping bed because all my money went to paying for Mum’s carers.

And, even then, after all that, I didn’t become a host and sell myself for sex. Because I knew I could survive. I knew I just had to hold on.

And it had come to this. To my heart breaking and my body shaking as I tried to control the rage swirling through me. Because I’d already sold myself to them; I just hadn’t realised it at the time.

“I told you, I need to keep my job,” I replied through gritted teeth. “I have a life beyond my vagina. A family, people who rely on me. And I don’t need your money,” I said coldly, lying through my teeth, and neither confirming nor denying I was a host.

We’d spent so much time making love, and they really thought that I’d been paid to fuck them?

“Well, whatever,” Kai brushed me off. “It’s not like you’d be good at the parties, anyway. We need people with actual class.” He smirked, raking his eyes over my naked body, making me feel like the ugliest thing in the world, especially when his gaze slid to my stomach, and the large horizontal scar that slashed under my belly button.

He froze, sucking in a breath at the sight of it. I gasped, slapping my other hand over the scar to hide it. I’d been so wrapped up in fucking them I’d forgotten.

I knew what he saw. Everyone who saw that scar assumed the same thing.

I was only twelve when Mum had crashed the car. Luckily, she and my sister only came out of it with some bruises and scratches. But I was in the passenger seat, and we hit the barrier at just the wrong angle. And everyone who saw the scar assumed that it was—

“You have a kid?” Kai spat, his lips curling, his eyes dark as his aura flared and his fury suddenly beat at me. “You have children and you’re out all day fucking us? What the fuck are you?”

I flinched back, my heart spiking in pain. He poked at the exact wound I hated touching.

The doctors had had to cut me open to get the shard of metal out of my stomach, and even at twelve, my body had gone haywire. I’d thought that’s why I never had periods, and why I hoped I was an omega back when I became of age.

I guess I had the real answer now…

It looked exactly like a C-section scar, and pain cut me whenever I had to tell people I couldn’t have children.

And I watched my omega sister find her pack and raise her Tommy in perfect bliss while I barely managed to scrape by myself, knowing I couldn’t ever have what she had.

“I don't have children,” I croaked, but they didn't hear me.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Caspian growled as he scanned me like he was looking for even more proof of my evilness.

“I said, I don't have children!”

They were throwing out assumptions with bitter hate. Like they were trying to do every single thing they could to hurt me. And not in the same way we were when we were fucking.

It was too much.

I couldn’t take it.

I needed money, but I didn’t need it so badly that I was going to give in to the heat that was building in my body again. I needed a knot, and Sin was standing nearly naked in front of me, looking like sex on legs. But I couldn’t feel anything from him. No aura or scent or even emotion on his face. It was like he was a totally different person.

But I wouldn’t give in. I had worked too hard to submit like this. I’d let go when I thought there was something there between us, but if it was just a business transaction, I wasn’t sure my heart could take it.

“He didn’t mean it like that,” Sin said, stroking me with his thumb as I trembled. He was completely composed, while I thought I was going to pass out.

Heaving in breaths, my chest tight, my eyes stinging from tears.

“We simply meant that we are happy to pay you for your services.”

That was the final straw.

“Get off me!” I shouted, yanking my hand from his, stumbling backwards as my tears finally escaped.

I wheezed, my blood racing, years’ worth of anger bursting out as I looked at the three men who probably had enough money that they’d never had to struggle in their lives.

Sin reached for me again, but I jerked away.

“What’s wrong?” Sin asked in that voice I knew was going to echo in my ears for weeks. If he touched me now, I was going to fall into his arms and sob.

“What’s wrong?” I screamed back. “Are you really asking me that?” The hole in my heart burst open as pain sliced through me.

And then it happened.

I felt it like a snap ringing through my body. I gasped in surprise, and Sin’s hand shot to his heart as Caspian suddenly doubled over. Kai choked out as they all looked at me wide-eyed.

Every beat of my galloping heart pierced me like a knife. My stomach turned, and I nearly threw up as another scream rang from me.

Kai slammed his hand on the bed frame to keep himself upright, choking as he looked at me like I’d just betrayed him.

The air burst with their furious scents and auras, and agony blurred my vision.

“I can’t fucking believe you.” Kai laughed bitterly through the pain we shared. “You fucking bit me and now you’re rejecting us?” He pushed himself back up to sit on his heels, drawing in a rasping breath as he shook. “I guess we can cross ‘gold-digger’ off your list of fucking titles.”

He was still there. I could still feel him inside me, but it was as if his presence was muffled.

It was like I’d cut through the cord connecting us. Not just me and Kai, but the need I’d felt for Sin and Caspian vanished into a pool of pain.

I let out another cry, my tears freshly streaming down my cheeks.

Their scents were still there around me. My mouth watering, my heat ignited, but it was only the amaretto that meant anything. As if I’d carved Sin and Cas out of my body, and all that was left was a pounding ache.

But I couldn’t let it stop me

I used their shock as a distraction so I could dart forward. Even through the haze of my mind, it was so important I got out of there before I began apologising. Like it was my fault they’d driven me into a corner.

I was suddenly so empty and lonely that I couldn’t stop my tears, blurring my vision as I grabbed my shredded maid’s dress, tugging it on as quickly as I could.

Caspian groaned from the bed as he dragged himself towards Kai.

“Melanie, you—” Sin gasped, his face mirroring the shock I felt. I gathered up the rest of my clothes as he took a step towards me.

But I jumped back. I didn’t want him to ruin me any further.

“I need to go,” I rasped, running my hand over the front pocket of my torn dress. Keys, earbuds and phone. I was set.

Everything hurt too much and I just wanted to leave. I was going to have to abandon the Hoover and the trolley, and the fresh uniform inside it.

“Please call us if you need anything,” Sin called after me, his breathing heavy, looking at me with eyes that were too soft for what I’d just done. “I don’t want you to go through your heat alone.”

I couldn’t listen to him anymore. It was even worse that he was speaking so kindly.

“It’s not about what you want,” I replied, lost in the sight of his face twisted in pain, his fingers digging into his chest like he was trying to rip out his heart.

Caspian reached for Kai, who batted his hand away, both of them still glaring at me

“I really can’t wait to see you again.” Sin sounded genuine, but it just upset me even more.

I was at the door before he’d even finished speaking. I didn’t want to look around, but I needed to make a point.

“If that’s true, maybe you could have just asked me to stay instead of…this.” I lifted the card, my brow furrowing at the hurt running through me. I threw a glance at the bed, sending them a scowl as I kicked at the door. I prayed that no one would catch me or my scent as I shot through it. I gripped my bra and leggings to my chest, awkwardly pinning the front of my dress together as I fled through the corridor, down the stairs, and on to the car park.