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S omething was off. Axel was outside his truck, but didn’t appear to be either going toward or coming from Ollie’s house.

In the middle of the holiday rush, his truck was just… sitting.

I double-checked that I was only there for a pickup, then hopped out.

“Ax?” I asked as he strode over. “What’s…?”

My question was cut off as he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me against the side of my truck. Then his lips were on mine, his tongue demanding entry.

I moaned, unable to deny myself what I’d been craving for weeks.

Axel’s hands shifted as our kiss deepened. One cupped my cheek, the other plunged into my hair.

I wrapped my arms around his waist to keep him close.

As much as I didn’t want the kiss to end, my lungs started screaming for air, and I had to break away.

“Wha…?” I tried again.

“Ollie’s in heat,” Axel interrupted.

There was a pang in my chest. The kiss hadn’t been for me, but because he needed an outlet. “Oh…”

“ Our omega is in heat.”

I blinked. “Huh?”

Axel scrubbed a hand down his face. “We’ve had this same route for years now, right?”

“Yeah?”

“How many times were you offered what was considered a better route?”

I blinked. “I… lost count.”

“You wanted to stay on this route, didn’t you?”

“I guess?”

He kissed the side of my mouth before continuing. “I don’t know how many times I turned down different routes. I always had some excuse that made sense. I liked my customers, I was used to it, maybe the other driver had something going in in their life that the other route would make easier for them. Something inside insisted I stay here.”

“Same…” I whispered.

He kissed me again, and I melted into it.

“For months,” he whispered when he pulled back again. “Months. I’ve felt like the world was upside down. The only times things felt right were when I was with you or Ollie. It was like that for you, too, wasn’t it?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

He swallowed. “We kept these routes because fate was keeping us here. We both needed to meet Ollie, and we needed to know each other.”

I stared for several seconds, until his words finally started to make sense. “You mean…?”

He nodded. “We’re fated, the three of us. Ollie said he’s known since we met. I don’t know why we didn’t figure it out, but that doesn’t matter. Our omega is in heat. He needs us.”

I shrugged out from under Axel’s hands and took a step toward the house.

Axel grabbed my arm, and I turned to see him shaking his head.

“It’s overwhelming,” he warned. “Ollie’s scent is so strong, he was prepared to put the pickups outside for us. It took all I had to leave him there.”

“But…”

“I promised him we’d come back—both of us—after we finished our routes. I’ve got your outbound.”

I paused, then nodded. “Ok. How do we want to do this?”

“Finish as quickly as we can. Call as soon as we’re done. Then we can coordinate coming back here.”

“Got it. How much longer do you think you have?”

Axel licked his lips, making me want to kiss him again. “Two, maybe three hours.”

“I’m about the same.”

He chuckled. “A pretty short day, considering the season. We’ll be done before eight.”

I laughed in agreement.

Axel pulled me close for another kiss. “I have to get moving. I’m pushing what I can get away with for a break.”

“Ok.”

I followed him to his truck and grabbed a bag with my name on it. My mind raced as I scanned the packages, but no matter how I looked at it, everything made sense.

I’d been dreaming of Axel and Ollie, and now it seemed I’d have both.

I cast a longing glance at the house as I started my truck. Now that I knew, the drive to go in and breed my omega was strong. But I trusted Axel. If he said it was overwhelming, then it probably was.

It wasn’t worth risking my job to get a whiff of Ollie’s heat scent. Not when I’d be back in a few hours.

I went through the rest of my route on autopilot as my mind kept drifting to the way Axel kissed me, and to the realization that he was right. Like him, I didn’t know why the immediate mating drive had been absent. But now that I knew, it was unmistakable.

I had two mates, and I’d be with both of them that night.

My phone rang just as I parked in front of my final stop. I grinned when Axel’s name appeared on the screen.

“Hey,” I answered.

“I just got back to base,” he stated. “How far out are you?”

“Last stop. Then I gotta get back, unload, all that.”

There was a beat of silence. “Ok. Sounds like I’ll be done a few minutes before you, but not too much.”

“I think that’s right.”

“I’ll stop by the store once I’m off and grab some sports and energy drinks. Ollie was prepared to wait out his heat alone, so I don’t know if he has enough supplies for all of us. Got any requests?”

I rattled off my favorite flavors, then told him I’d call once I was off.

Anticipation built in my middle as I unloaded my truck and had a brief meeting with my supervisor. Then I was done for the day.

I called Axel as soon as I exited the building.

“You done?” he asked as he answered.

“Walking to my car now.”

“Perfect. I’m in line to check out. I grabbed us some food too, since I figure you haven’t eaten.”

“You’re a lifesaver.”

He chuckled. “Meet there?”

“Sounds good.”

My hands trembled as I drove. Everything in me wanted this—craved it. And while I trusted Axel, I needed to hear from Ollie too.

I turned onto the street and paused as I approached Ollie’s house. Did I park on the street or the driveway?

I chuckled when I saw Axel’s car on the street and wondered if he’d had the same dilemma. I pulled up behind him and got out.

Axel strode over as soon as I closed the door and pulled me into a kiss, a grocery bag bounced against my leg.

“Are you ready?” he murmured as we parted.

I nodded. “You’re sure?”

“Hmm?”

“About the three of us? That Ollie wants this?”

He gave me a gentle kiss. “I’m sure that we’re fated. I knew as soon as I smelled him, and he was pretty clear it’s you, too. I asked Ollie, and he told me he wanted us to breed him. But I won’t be offended if you ask him yourself.”

I laughed. “You better believe I’m going to ask. I don’t touch until I know it’s cool.”

Axel smiled, his expression highlighted in various colors from the neighbor’s Christmas lights.

He was stunning, and while I knew love would grow between us, the seed had already sprouted.

He took my hand in his free one. “Come on. We don’t want to make Ollie wait any longer.”

I nodded and allowed him to tug me toward the front door.