Page 16

I think we might’ve got sucked into a parallel dimension. What does Ziggy call it? Oh, right. The Omegaverse. I almost wish I had my phone so I could text him and get the details on that, cuz this shit is wild.

Flint and Elliott are walking about twenty feet in front of us, hand in hand, talking softly and looking comfortable in each other’s presence.

“Yo, do you think she got body snatched?” Raff whispers out of the corner of his mouth.

Sy’s rough chuckle sounds out from behind us, and I glare at him over my shoulder.

“No, please, keep going. I could use a good laugh right now,” the Beta quips.

“That woman right there is not the same woman who has sniped at us the last half a decade,” Raff mutters.

Sy’s hands are in the pockets of his black dress shorts, his baby blue short-sleeved button-up showing off some damn impressive biceps as he steps up beside me. Shaking his head, his disappointment is obvious.

“She’s the same woman. She’s just finally made the decision to let you fuckers in. For her sake, I hope you don’t fuck it up.”

Raff and I share a look. It’s loaded with a fuck ton of questions we won’t ask because neither of us is willing to let this opportunity pass us by. To be honest, I don’t care what’s changed or if we were somehow transported to a parallel universe. I will happily exist in any world where Elliott Mitchell is willing to give me the time of day without putting an arrow through my heart.

Following a path that leads to the opposite side of the island, we pass by small intersections with crossing signs. When it lights up, instead of the normal silhouette of a man, it’s a couple holding hands with a little heart between them. This place definitely nailed the romantic theme. I’m not against it by any means, but there’s only been one woman who’s inspired anything close to that feeling and she likes this shit about as much as I do.

Others are out and about, the sun just beginning to set and a cool breeze rustling through the trees. It’s gorgeous, and I’m suddenly beyond thankful I get to spend the week here with my brothers and the woman I can’t get out of my damn head. I owe West big time.

The sound of a steel drum up ahead draws us in, and we step onto the beach. A small cluster of people stands around a makeshift bar, and the band is set up in a copse of trees, playing Caribbean music that suits the laid back atmosphere. A large swath of white sand is empty, leaving room for the guests to take in the beautiful view of the setting sun. Way down on the beach, a group stands, rummaging through equipment and practicing small tricks. While a woman spins one of the rods between her hands in a hypnotizing display of skill, a man lights one end of a smaller baton, setting it aglow with blue flame. Seconds later, fire appears to spew from his mouth like a dragon hurling angry heat.

“So cool,” Raff murmurs, clearly in awe.

“Told you so.” Flint winks at Elliott, and her responding giggle nearly has me tripping over my own two feet.

It reminds me of the first time I heard her make that particular sound. We caught the girls ogling us from Cadence’s upstairs window that overlooked the side yard where we were playing a game of football. It was a little silly then. Years later, it was cute. Now, it’s sexy enough to have my dick rising to attention.

The last rays of sun splash across her face, making her eyes sparkle as she looks up at Flint with a wide smile. It’s open and real and quite possibly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. This softer side of our Omega is so rare, it makes every single instinct I have go a little berzerk with his need for her.

It’s been this way for years—the need and the subsequent denial—but something about the mood in the air since I walked into the kitchen earlier feels different. My usual tight grip on my control seems strained at best. I’m wholly unprepared for her to give back even a tiny bit of affection, and now that she has, it’s basically threatening to burst the dam holding back years of hidden thoughts and feelings.

“I’m going to go get a drink. Anyone else need anything?” Elle asks.

“I’ll go grab the drinks. Why don’t you stay here and?—”

A bit of fire flares in her eyes, and her hand lands on one of her curvy hips. “I can appreciate that your Alphaness probably doesn’t comprehend the art of today’s independent Omega, Romeo, but I’m fully capable of ordering drinks on my own. Now, what does everyone want?”

Her tone brooks no argument, so we swiftly give our orders. This version of Elliott—the one that’s strong and fierce and confident—is equally as impossible to ignore. It heats my blood in ways that make it hard to remember I have to keep my hands to myself. There’s always been something about her sharp tongue and quick wit that does weird things to my head, but add in the fact that her usual disdain seems to be MIA, and I’m a goner.

As Alphas, we’re fed this line about meek, eager Omegas who are ready to please us at every opportunity, but I know I speak for the other Alphas in my pack when I say that image isn’t enticing at all. We don’t want our future Omega to be some doormat that jumps when we say how high. We want our Omega to have spirit and sass. Want her to challenge us and keep us on our toes. Want her to fight with us so we can enjoy making up.

And damn, how fun it will be to make up with Elliott Mitchell.

I adjust my dick in my pants. Something is most definitely in the air tonight, and if I’m not careful, all this blood rushing to my dick is going to make rational thinking damned difficult.

Raff leans in toward Flint, eyes darting to where Elliott is waiting in line at the bar. “Bro, tell us. Is your dick magical or something? You didn’t even get it inside her . How did you manage to change her mind?”

Flint runs a hand down the back of his neck. “I took a risk, just like you said, and…it worked. You should’ve seen the look on her face when she exposed a little about her background. My heart was fucking breaking for her. She wanted me to share it with you guys and asked us for our patience—as if we don’t already have that in spades when it comes to her. Now, the ball’s in our court.”

“I thought you all were hockey players?” Sy deadpans.

When all of our eyes turn to him, he suddenly looks like a deer in headlights. “What did I say?”

Even though Flint’s words have added to the hope that’s been building in my chest the last couple of days, there’s one piece of this puzzle we’ve yet to officially put into place. More and more, I can see the benefit of adding a Beta to our pack. He doesn’t let us take ourselves too seriously. He’s always there, offering advice, even though sometimes it’s a backhanded compliment. And he truly loves the woman we all can’t stop staring at…but there’s no reason to make this easy on him.

I cross my arms over my chest, straightening to my full height. “You don’t look upset about this new development. What gives?”

He shrugs, his eyes darting over to Elle before looking back at all of us. “All I’ve ever wanted was for her to be happy, and in less than forty-eight hours, I’m watching her open up more, smile more , than she has in the entire time I’ve known her.”

Raff’s eyes narrow. “Why do I feel a but coming on?”

“Because you all should know I’m not going anywhere. I want to be right here experiencing that happiness with her. You’re not the only ones working to take down those walls. I’m doing some of the heavy lifting too. So you either let me in or I’ll do whatever I need to in order to make sure she doesn’t forget who’s been by her side this whole time.”

Rafferty’s eyes flick to me, then over to Flint, whose jaw muscles are working overtime. What the Beta doesn’t realize is that we’ve already agreed to accept him.

“And what does letting you in entail, exactly?” Raff asks.

He pushes his dark-rimmed glasses up his nose, sharing a brief look with Flint. We already know about their earlier conversation, but it’s never a bad idea to make sure everyone is on the same page.

“If she joins this pack, then so do I.”

“Okay.”

His eyes dart to mine then back to Flint, who’s now wearing an easy smile as he stares at the Beta he’s crushing on.

“Works for me,” Raff adds, drawing Sy’s attention. “But just so you know, my dick is permanently zoned for Elle and Elle only . No exceptions.”

Flint laughs, and Raff and I join in. Sy starts to relax, a grin splitting across his face until his gaze wanders to the line at the bar.

“Oh shit,” he curses.

When my eyes find Elliott, every possessive bone in my body goes into overdrive. She’s surrounded by five different men, all vying for her attention. She doesn’t look nervous or tense. There’s even a small smile on her face as the man closest to her hands her a rose. One of the others draws her attention away, holding up a sheet of paper that he starts to recite something from. Another interrupts him, offering her a milkshake with two straws as he shoots her a wink. Every possible romantic cliché is being thrust in front of her by a bunch of imbeciles who only want to get in her pants.

Like so many other times before, I try to tell myself that she’s not officially mine. That I have no claim on her. That I just need to be patient because I can’t afford to mess this up.

Then her head turns, our eyes meet, and my control is decimated. The look she’s sending me—one I’ve hoped to see a million times before—might as well be a white flag of surrender as far as my instincts are concerned.

My Omega needs me.

A low growl works its way up my chest and past my lips.

“Nix, don’t do anything stupid!” Flint shouts, but it’s drowned out by the whirring in my head. My feet carry me to the woman who’s probably not ready for what happens when an Alpha is simply pushed past the limits of his restraint.

Stalking toward the group, green eyes stay locked on mine with every inch that is erased between us. I’m not sure what she sees on my face, but her lips part and one hand raises to her chest.

“This one’s mine,” I growl, lifting Elliott off her feet and throwing her over my shoulder. “Find your own.”

With one hand on the back of her upper thigh, I carry her away from the group of stunned Alphas and past our friends who look like they’re two seconds away from trying to rescue Elle…from me.

“Nix, where the hell are you going, man?” Raff calls out, but I ignore him.

“Nixon!” Flint yells.

I just snarl in reply. Whatever hint of civility still exists inside me at the moment, it can't be bothered with actual words. Her scent has gone impossibly sweet, her perfume seeping from her pussy which is inches from my face. It’s like gasoline to an already lit match. Need explodes through my blood, and I know there’s little that can stop the inevitable at this point.

“It’s fine, Sy. I’ve got him,” Elle shouts behind us, her delicate palm landing on my back to keep herself from face planting into my shoulder blades. “Cupcake, I really hope you’re in there somewhere and I’m not about to come face to face with a fucking feral Alpha because I just sounded way more confident than I feel right now.”

In a matter of minutes, I’m stalking up to the villa, entering the code, and letting the door slam behind us. I’ve got just enough brainpower to pause in the front living room, my chest heaving and my free hand fisting at my side.

“This is the only chance you get, baby doll. Tell me to put you down, and I’ll let you walk away.”

“And if I don’t?” she rasps.

“Then you’re finally gonna find out what an Alpha knot feels like when it’s stuffed into your tight little Omega cunt.”

One second.

Two.

Three.

Fighting against what little patience I’ve managed to scrounge up, a growl rumbles my chest.

“Elliott…” I manage to grit out through clenched teeth.

“Well?” she murmurs, her voice low and husky. “What are you waiting for?”