Page 29 of In Doubt

I have to admit, the nest and the heat thing sounds pretty damn good. Maybe even the snuggling bit too. It’s been a long time since I held an omega in my arms and purred until she fell asleep. And I’ve never shared an omega with another alpha, with my packmates. It’s the ultimate fantasy.

Giorgie points to one of the pillars and Jake follows her over. They pour over an inscription and then the bickering starts. Giorgie’s hands fall to her hips and Jake’s brow falls over his eyes.

Yeah, maybe I was wrong about all that stuff.

“Should we intervene?” Dylan asks.

“I like watching the way that woman makes him squirm.” Although the whole business in the aeroplane was a bit bloody extreme. I wondered at one point if we were going to have to hold our packmate down. The effect of her scent is definitely lessened by the fresh air and a bit of a breeze. Lessened but not completely removed. I wonder if that’s why she gets under his skin so much.

Eventually, Jake shakes his head and stalks towards us.

“Everything OK?” I ask, trying not to grin.

“Fine,” he snaps, flopping down beside me. “It’s been a trying morning, let’s just say that.”

“Why did you bring her then?”

“Fuck knows,” he says, his gaze flicking back towards her.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

I chuckle. “Bullshit.”

“She did the thing with her eyes, OK?”

“What thing?” Aiden asks.

“Made them all big and wide and pleading. Went on about how much she wanted to see the temple. How important it was to her.”

“And you couldn’t resist.”

Jake kicks at a loose pebble on the ground.

We watch as Giorgie makes some scribbles in a notebook before eventually turning to find us.

She smiles at us all with a hint of shyness, then peers at her watch as she walks towards us.

“It’s getting late. I guess I’ll make my way back to the hotel.”

“On your own?” Jake asks, sounding like a grumpy kid.

“Yes,” she says, lifting her chin.

I decide this could spiral into round two of whatever the previous argument was about. So I leap to my feet.

“I’ll escort you back, Giorgie,” I tell her. I’m looking at her, not my packmate, but I can guarantee he’s staring daggers right through my back.

“We can all escort you back,” Jake says, and it doesn’t escape my notice how she pales at that and takes the tiniest of steps backward.

I cock my head to one side, examining her. “All of us a bit overwhelming?” I ask her.

“I … it’s …”

I knock my fist against Jake’s shoulder. He can be an oblivious arsehole sometimes. If we find one omega’s scent overwhelming, what does he think it’s like for her when there’s four of us?

I motion with my head towards the exit and the small gift shop waiting for us there.