6. SASHA

Chapter six

My body is a bit sore but the heat spike is gone after both of my Alphas knotted me. Waking up to Kolsen rocking himself against my ass, his purr rattling through his chest before he filled me wasn't what I was expecting but goddess, the way he loses himself in my nest is a treasure. Amiri had already disappeared before we showered and changed for the party reserved for the private booth.

Kolsen returned to being his cocky self, a way to hide his true emotions but I can't help but think back to the fair and how that kiss went down. I probably sucked off every last bit of that girl's spring scent from Kolsen's lips, not that he minded. Catching his firm gaze in the mirror as I brush my teeth, I finally ask the burning question at the edge of my tongue. "How did you end up kissing her?"

"I didn't."

"But… "

"She kissed me, Sash. Asked how much it would be to kiss me instead of Ames. I thought she was joking until she-" His face contorts in a mixture of confusion and anger. "She tried to touch my scars."

I stare at his face through the mirror, focusing on the left side. The scars mask the face I first met but I don't miss it. Kolsen isn't any different than the Alpha that first courted me and I don't find him more or less beautiful because of what he looks like now. If anything, I love him so much more for the lengths he went to so that I was safe. So that I am safe.

The faint scars littered across my back and torso are from an Alpha that wanted to dominate but couldn't control his urges. Otis' desires quickly turned painful but with nowhere to go, I tried to stay strong. Until I met Kolsen and realized that there were Alphas in the world who would treat me as more than just an Omega. Add in Amiri and I was sold. On the cusp of a heat, however, Otis found me and threatened my new Alphas. The taunting threw Kolsen over the edge—I had never seen him so angry before but it was his rage that saved me.

I'll never fault him for it.

I reach forward and run my fingers down the mirror, across the reflection of his scars. Amiri and I are the only ones that have ever done that. Kolsen's partners just like the idea of a Temple owner's cock stuffed up their ass. The girl tried to touch his scars? She's already special in my heart.

The moment shatters when Amiri pops his head into the room. He's back in a business casual outfit, a black sweater, gray dress pants that hug his waist, and those glasses sitting high on his nose. He shuffles towards us before leaning against the entrance to the bathroom. "Sasha, are you okay for tonight?"

He knows I'm going to say yes. I already slathered on a healthy dose of that cream that will soften my scent. Besides, I'm in charge of the girls and any backstage routines. Kolsen and Amiri are more than capable of checking in, as well as our backstage manager, but that part of the business is my baby. I pat his chest and reach up for a kiss before heading for the door. "If there's a problem, you'll smell me."

That's a dangerous as fuck idea—waltzing out into a club while in preheat. However, I'm interested to see if a heat spike will have one of them fucking me in public. We've used the cages once or twice but the small space does nothing for the three of us. Getting caught in the hallway down to the bathrooms or backrooms, though? A+ shit right there.

I swallow my smile as I bound down the stairs in my usual dress pants and button-up shirt that has been left open to show off the twin bites on either side of my neck and my nipple piercings. The stairwell leads to a door that opens into the back hallway, hidden away from the rest of the club. Our main apartment is in the heart of the city but we find ourselves upstairs most nights. I don't mind, having a nest in both places. Correction, a nest here and two in the city apartment.

Two steps into the club, Lewis waves a bottle at me before starting to construct a drink for the patron standing at the counter. "Hey, Sasha. Didn't think you'd be coming down tonight." He winks, trying and failing to hide his smile. Bastard probably caught me attached to Amiri on the way in several hours ago. I throw him a middle finger before reaching over to grab the bottle he always stashes away for me and the girls.

The patron gasps, about to reach for me when I just glare at her. "What are you doing?" I ask her, leaning out of reach.

"What are you doing? I know you're an Omega but you can't just-"

Leroy bursts out laughing. "Hey. I'd stop talking. That's Sasha Fox. You know, one of the owners. " It's a mistake that most people make. If patrons have never seen my face, they assume that I'm just a really pretty Beta that everyone seems to know. I tower over most Omegas and if I ever decided to work out, I'm sure I'd get called out for being a small Alpha. It helps keep the weirdos away—the ones like Parker that don't know I'm an Omega. Alphas who believe Omegas should be attached to their pack or hidden away tend to leave me alone because of my looks.

I'll take it.

For the rare few that catch on that I'm an Omega, like this patron, I just get yelled at for not being a mild-mannered, meek individual. I'm not cuddly. It's a good thing neither Kolsen nor Amiri need that shit from me.

I slap the table in silent thanks before skipping toward the raised stage. There's a few gasps and hellos as I pass through, high-fiving some of the girls. We have a cordial relationship, each of them finding more comfort in my presence than some of the other Alphas we hired a few years ago. Stripping on stage and dealing with drunken individuals can be stressful enough. They don't need it behind the curtain as well.

"Girls!" I sing song as I sway into the back, shaking the bottle I grabbed. It's the coconut rum that I fucking love and have somehow gotten many of our dancers on board with. Giggling erupts through the back as they crowd around. Light touches and caresses of my shoulders make me preen for them, an Omega trait that I love leaning into. Before Temple came about, I thought that side of me was defective. Amiri and Kolsen soon helped me see otherwise—that being the center of attention is an Omega's nature, whether in their pack or outside.

Many–not all Omegas–thrive in situations where we are cherished and loved so my desire to head up the girls and ensure that they were taken care of on all fronts was only leaning into my biology not away from it .

A wild smile spreads across my lips as one of the girls plays with the little hairs on the back of my neck. There's nothing sexual about their touch. It may be strange, but neither of my Alphas mind. "You all got your routines? There's a party tonight and I bet there's a few extra tips in your future." Kolsen gave me a brief rundown but anyone reserving a private booth has money.

A lot of it.

I pass the bottle to the first Beta after screwing off the cap. They start around the ring, each taking a good luck shot. We don't do this every night but I'm feeling a little antsy and on edge. My Alphas' knots helped but now I just feel out of sorts. I didn't want to alert Kolsen but it's like there's something missing. Something I'm looking for.

"Hey, Sash. Where'd you go?" The Beta beside me, Natalie, asks. Her fingers move from my neck to my shoulder, squeezing a little to bring me back. She's usually the ringleader, making sure everyone is dressed and ready to go or voicing their concerns when some of the dancers are too shy to say anything.

"Huh? Nowhere. Just a little out of it, I guess." I rub my neck and then grimace when some of the cream comes off onto my hand. I didn't give it enough time to set. Fixing my expression, I plaster my smile back on, trying to pretend that I'm completely here and in this moment.

My girls aren't convinced. Natalie sighs and pulls me toward one of their benches as she shoos away the others. "Spill, Sasha. Yes, I know you have big bad Alphas out there that love and cherish you but something is wrong. You keep frowning and, I'm not sure, looking for something? That! You did it again. What is that?"

My brows furrow in confusion as I lean back against the dresser behind me. "What are you talking about?" Even as I ask the question, I turn my head toward the door and then shift in my seat, almost disappointed that what I need isn't there. I do that occasionally near my heat but I tend to actually seek out my Alphas rather than sit in one place confused.

Natalie pulls a seat up beside me before waiting for me to meet her eyes. "Alright, I'm going to ask you a few questions. You don't have to answer them but I think it might help you understand what's going on."

"Don't treat me like a-"

"Sash, I would never be so disrespectful as to demean you to your biological designation. However, in this instance, I think it's what is making you a little jumpy." Natalie waves at one of the girls, silence falling between us until Kolsen stalks in, a worried expression on his face. My shoulders sag as I realize this conversation isn't going to be a lighthearted one. "This is also something that I can't explain without one of your Alphas here. Not without their permission." I narrow my gaze at her. "Because this affects them as well."

Now I'm looking between the both of them as Kolsen crouches in front of me, his arms bulging in his suit, that one gorgeous pale blue eye staring at me. It moves across my face as he tries to read my expression before focusing on Natalie. "What is it?"

"Sasha keeps searching for something. He's looked over his shoulder a few times since he came down here with us. I have to ask; did you meet another mate?"

I still at the absurd question. How could Natalie possibly know that? Kolsen sports a silly grin, wordlessly answering Natalie.

She snorts. "My Omega did the same thing before we met. I found my Alpha first and then he went home to Benny and that damned Omega went on a hunt for my scent. Every few seconds he would scan the room. I only knew because he came to the diner I worked at before I started here and sniffed me out. Our first meeting was terrifyingly awkward but I wouldn't trade that memory for the world. What I'm saying is that Sasha, an Omega thrives under attention and when they find another mate, they want to bring them home."

"You make me sound like an attention whore," I complain, Kolsen patting my knee to keep me from making a bigger deal about it.

"Most Omegas are but you're cute about it. That's why we love you. I'm just saying, the sooner you can meet that mate, the better. Besides, this is a good thing. This means that you, Sash, your Omega has accepted that mate without ever laying eyes on them." She stands up and pats my shoulder, making a getaway with one last comment. "I'm due on stage but find them. Talk to them. Nothing good comes from stuffing those desires down somewhere."

I swallow nervously before turning to Kolsen, my gaze flicking to the door and then back to my Alpha again. This is going to be annoying as fuck, isn't it?

He stands and pulls me to my feet before wrapping his arms around me and smothering me against his chest. "I'll make sure that you meet her, babe. This is new territory for all three of us and as much as I'd love watching you charm her; I don't want to terrify her. Her father is Ezra, remember? Baby steps."

I pull away from him, scrunching up my nose in confusion. "Why do you—she's here. She's here, isn't she?"

"Yes," Kolsen purrs, dragging me back against him. "Don't scare her away, alright?"

He's giving me full reign, permission to woo the Beta that captured my Alphas without even knowing it. I might only have tonight to catch this Beta's attention and I will do everything in my power to make her say yes.

I've never truly leaned into my Omega instincts but today, I'm going to lean so fucking hard I'll be irresistible.