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I ’d come to a decision. It was probably a bad one, but it was better than continuing the way things had been. Home didn’t feel like home, and the only times I felt grounded were when I was near either Tripp or Ollie. I needed them more each day, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

I’d get through the holidays, then I’d talk to one or both of them about some sort of relationship. I had to try.

I parked in front of Ollie’s house, then scrubbed a hand down my face. I was exhausted, but I didn’t want the sweet omega to see that.

It was later than normal as I grabbed a bag, and I still had several hours ahead of me. But I had the next day off—a sorely needed break.

I stepped down from my truck and walked towards Ollie’s door. I was just about to ring the bell when it opened.

He stood there, glasses askew, pink flush and a slight sheen to his skin.

My cock sprang up with how sexy he looked. Then his scent hit me—rich and laden with heat pheromones.

Mine.

“Alpha…” Ollie begged.

Mine, that voice inside repeated, and I was helpless against it. I couldn’t explain how I’d missed it before, but I knew to my core that Ollie was my fated omega.

I surged forward and wrapped my arms around him. “I’m here, Ollie,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I’m here.”

He nodded into my shoulder, then shifted. I looked down to see him gazing out at the street as if he was searching for something.

The pieces fell into place, and I understood: it wasn’t just me he was fated for.

I stepped back just enough to set my hands on his shoulders. “You’re looking for Tripp, too, aren’t you?”

Ollie swallowed, then nodded.

“It’s both of us?”

Another nod.

I pulled him against me again. “Oh, Sweetheart. How long have you known?”

“Months…” he whispered. “Day… we met.”

I tightened my arms around him, breathing deep his scent. Then I noticed two bags behind him: one with my name, the other Tripp’s. Bubble envelopes peeked from both bags.

I winced, understanding what was going on. The only reason for him to have done that was if he planned to leave the packages out for us.

Our omega had been about to face his heat on his own.

I kissed his hair. “Do you want us here, or do you want to wait until after your heat?”

He fisted my shirt. “Please… breed.”

“Are you sure? It’s not just your heat talking?” I shifted, lifted his chin, and looked into his pretty brown eyes.

Ollie swallowed again, then took a deep breath. I watched him fight through the heat-haze before he answered. “Want it.”

I nodded, then leaned in and claimed his lips.

He moaned softly, opening his mouth and allowing our tongues to dance.

We kissed until we were breathless, and I was forced to stop.

“I have to finish my route, you know that, right?” I asked.

Ollie nodded.

I looked him in the eye again. “I’ll be back, and I’ll bring Tripp with me. I promise.”

“How?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I’ll make him understand.”

“Ok.”

I kissed him again, then took a step back. “Hand me both bags. I’ll give Tripp his. You focus on whatever you need to do to be comfortable. Ok?”

He bit his lip and nodded.

I tipped his chin up to meet his gaze. “I understand now. I don’t know how long we’ll be. But we’ll be back tonight. Your alphas won’t leave you alone.”

He shivered, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or emotion.

I motioned to the bags, which he handed over, then I forced myself to step back out of his house.

Every instinct protested; insisted that my place was beside—and inside—my omega. But I still had a job to do.

Plus, I had to convince Tripp that he was supposed to be with both Ollie and I.

I carried the bags to my truck and scanned my pickups slowly. Unfortunately, Tripp still hadn’t arrived by the time I finished.

I growled and hit the ‘break’ button on my route recorder.

As expected, I received a call from Tammy a minute later.

“What’s up, Axel?” she asked, not waiting for a greeting. “Why are you suddenly on break?”

“Emergency personal matter,” I replied.

“It’s a couple of days before Christmas,” she snapped back. “You know I need more than that.”

“Look,” I huffed, “unless you want me to walk up to my next delivery with a raging boner, I’m going to need a few minutes. My mate is in heat.”

“Your…” she trailed off. “Oh… shit.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “It’s even more complicated than that. But yeah. I missed the signs earlier. Just trust me. I’ll finish my route, but I need a few minutes.”

Her voice softened, which was weird. “I can’t give you long, but I understand.”

“Huh?”

She chuckled. “That urge? I had my wife knocked up the same day I met her. I know how hard it must have been to return to the truck.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “There’s more, but I don’t want to discuss it now. I’ll get moving as soon as I can, though.”

“Ok, I’ll try to keep any heat off you. Just make it as fast as possible.”

“Uh-huh,” I grunted as she hung up.

I sat in the driver’s seat for several minutes, staring at my rearview mirror for any signs of Tripp’s truck. But the nervous anticipation soon got to me, and sitting wasn’t an option.

I zipped up my coat, hopped out, and started pacing the sidewalk.

How was I going to tell Tripp what was going on and have him believe it?

I paused. I’d been miserable—feeling out of place—since I’d met Ollie. The only times things had felt right were when I was with him or Tripp.

Tripp had also mentioned feeling off.

Was he feeling it too?

A familiar rumble caught my attention. I looked up to see the bright green ShipUS truck pulling onto the street.

I marched over as he pulled up behind me. I still didn’t know what I was going to do, but something inside insisted that it would all work out.