Page 45 of Follow Your Instincts (Fairview City Omegaverse)

Instead of going to the car, Lucas pushed through a door into the stairwell and pushed my back against the wall, trapping my hips with his. He pressed his forehead to mine, breathing heavily.

“Mine,” he whispered, a hint of a growl in his voice.

Then suddenly his mouth was on mine, searching and hungry like it had never been before. This was not a sweet kiss, it was one of complete possession. I moaned into his mouth and wrapped my legs tighter around his waist.

After a few moments, he broke our kiss and panted into my neck. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s okay,” I said weakly. The last few minutes had been way too much, even if possessive-Alpha-Lucas was very intriguing.

“Are you debauching Maggie in a parking garage?” Ben asked, peeking his head into the stairwell. “And if so, can I join? ”

Lucas growled at him, but cut it off short. “Sorry,” he said again, and lowered me to the ground.

“Can we pick this back up later?” I asked, not letting him go. “I’m very into the Lucas that defends my honor and makes out with me in a dirty stairwell.”

Lucas gave a rueful smile. “I don’t know what happened.”

“Instincts, bro,” Ben said. “And my instincts are telling me that Maggie needs to get very drunk in public.”

“Actually, there is someone I’d like you to meet,” I said.

We met Kira at a bar she recommended near her side of town. I had insisted on something low-key after her first suggestion of karaoke.

While Ben and Lucas were ecstatic to be meeting my sister, Lachlan and Soren were more subdued.

“Is everything okay?” I asked Soren as we walked up the sidewalk to the bar. He was wearing a dark blue sweater that matched his eyes under a brown leather jacket. I intertwined my hand with his and squeezed.

He smiled tightly at me. “Fine, baby girl. I’m just pissed about what happened earlier. Should’ve done more to protect you, show that asshole you’re off limits.”

I bumped his shoulder lightly. “You did, though. I always feel safe with you.”

Soren stopped abruptly and kissed me hard. “You are safe with us, baby.”

We caught up to the group, and I was drawn to Lachlan. His face was tight with tension and he was scowling. Once, I would have interpreted that look as unhappiness, but I knew better now.

“You don’t have to be nervous,” I said softly. “She’s going to love you.”

Lachlan looked at me in surprise, then smiled. “Am I that transparent? I’m very anxious for her approval. I know how important she is to you.”

I smiled and tugged his hand closer to the door of the bar. “ Quit stalling.”

The bar wasn’t exactly lowkey . It was a dive bar, or at least trying to be one. I didn’t think real dive bars had patrons that mostly looked like models. Kira was wearing a bright pink dress that looked amazing against her brown skin and she rushed me as soon as we walked in, scowling.

“If you ever go that long without calling me again, you’re going to regret it, babe,” she said, glaring at me. Then she threw her arms around me and squeezed.

“I don’t have any excuses, but it has been an eventful couple of days,” I said, squeezing her back. Her ocean scent was comforting as always.

Hard rock music was playing over the speakers, but we didn’t have to shout as I made the introductions.

Ben bounded up first to shake Kira’s hand. “It’s so great to finally meet you. Maggie has told us so much about you.”

“All good things?” Kira said, glaring at me threateningly.

“Mostly,” Ben said, laughing. “Remind me to get the details of the time she had to bail you out of jail in Florida.”

“Kira, Ben. Ben, Kira,” I said. “The two of you are going to be insufferable together.”

I smelled Lucas’s sweet scent a split second before his arms wrapped around my waist and his chest pressed against my back. “Hi Kira,” his voice rumbled through me. “I’m Lucas.”

Kira looked up, a little dazed. He was over a foot taller than her, and if she wasn’t my sister, I would’ve had more than a small twinge of jealousy at the way her expression had gone a little slack. Yes, he was beautiful, but he was mine . I frowned and pushed the thought away.

Soren stepped up next. “Soren,” he said in his gravelly voice, but he was smiling and shook Kira’s hand warmly.

“The cop!” Kira said. “Thank you so much for being there to help Maggie the night she presented.”

“We’ve got Maggie’s back,” he said, echoing our earlier conversation.

Lucas released me as Lachlan stepped forward, and I gravitated towards him, tucking myself under his arm. “It’s lovely to meet you, Kira.”

Kira looked a little intimidated by his intense gaze and general aura of dominance, but she shook his hand, too. “Nice to meet all of you,” she said, looking around at the pack and then back to me and winked.

She led us to a three-sided booth in the back that she’d reserved, another clue that this bar was more trendy than seedy. Lucas went to get everyone drinks, and we sat in awkward silence for a moment before Ben jumped in to save us all.

“Tell us the most embarrassing story about Maggie in high school you can think of,” he said to Kira with a mischievous grin at me.

Kira launched into a story about the time I’d gotten caught making out with a boy in the backstage area of the auditorium while we were supposed to be rehearsing for a musical.

That led to stories about my “goth phase” when I’d worn the only black sweatshirt I had for weeks at a time and so much eyeliner I looked like a raccoon.

I was sitting between Lachlan and Kira, and I let the conversation flow around me.

As I suspected, Kira and Ben didn’t need my help to get along amazingly.

Lucas, Soren, and even Lachlan also joined in with their own embarrassing stories about each other.

Kira had already given me a sneaky thumbs-up of approval.

“You’re quiet,” Lachlan said after our second round of drinks. I was leaning heavily into him, my head on his shoulder. His whiskey scent was making me feel just as tipsy as the beers, and I had never been much of a drinker to begin with.

“Tired,” I said. “And happy. I’m really glad you like her.”

Lachlan kissed my temple. “Whenever you’re ready to go home, love, just say the word.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, are we keeping you awake, Mags? Don’t bitch out on me,” she said, pointing her finger at me .

“If I didn’t bitch out on you, would it be one of our nights out?” I said. “I’m exhausted. It’s been a wild day.”

Kira sighed dramatically, but then smiled at me. “Yeah, yeah, we all know you just want to go home with your pack of dudes.”

We made our way out, but Kira pulled me aside, her face uncharacteristically serious. “You know I love you, right?”

“Yes, and I love you,” I said warily.

“If you do not hold onto that pack, you’re an idiot,” she said and threw her arms around me again. “I know this wasn’t your plan, but I’m happy for you.”

Tears pricked at my eyes. “Thanks,” I whispered. We pulled back and just looked at each other for a moment. For so long, Kira had been my only connection, and the change was bittersweet.

“Love you,” she said and kissed my cheek. “Please call me more often.”

“I promise,” I said.

I followed the guys out, holding Ben and Lucas’s hands, and we made our way home. And it did feel like home.