24. Max

Chapter 24

Max

T he numbers on the spreadsheet in front of me blur together, my focus slipping for what feels like the hundredth time this morning. I blink hard, trying to clear my vision, but it's useless. My skin feels too tight, and my body temperature fluctuates wildly. I loosen my tie, feeling like I'm suffocating in my usually comfortable office. My cock is rock hard all of a sudden, making me shift in my chair.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath, glancing at the clock on my computer screen. It's barely noon, and I'm already a mess. My rut has hit early, and it's hit hard.

I lean back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. This isn't normal. My rut wasn't due for another couple of weeks, at least. The urgency, the intensity, is like nothing I've experienced before.

"Lily," I murmur.

This has Jack and Sam written all over it. It's why Sam wants to talk later, I bet. The fury that they've left me completely in the dark is irritating at best. Reaching for my phone, I check for messages from Jack or Sam. Nothing. Of course not. They've been AWOL for days now, and I'm starting to suspect I know why.

The pieces are starting to fall into place. They've been with Lily and that has triggered their rut and thus mine. Fucking pricks.

A wave of possessiveness washes over me, followed quickly by confusion and frustration. I'm the prime alpha. They should have come to me first. We should have discussed this as a pack.

But another part of me, the part that's currently being driven mad by this unexpected rut, understands. If Lily's scent affects me this way, Jack especially must be driven mad by it.

I stand up, pacing the length of my office. I need to get myself under control because I can't cancel all my meetings for the day just because I'm in a rut. That's not how I operate.

Usually.

Groaning as I brush my hand over my pants, trying to get comfortable, I know there is only one thing for this predicament right now: I need to get home.

Gathering up my keys and phone, I hurry out of the office, calling to Jamie that I have to leave. He tries to ask why, but I ignore him, marching past Claire and out of the doors of the bank to my car.

I fumble with the keys for a moment before slumping into the driver's seat.

"Lily," I mutter again, gripping the steering wheel tightly. I can smell her scent lingering in the car from the roses. It's a scent that's both calming and maddening at once. It fills my senses, making it hard to think straight and making my cock even harder.

As I drive home, every mile feels like an eternity.

By the time I pull into the driveway, my frustration has morphed into a potent blend of anticipation and dread. I slam the car door shut and storm towards the house, already stripping off my tie as I go. My jacket follows quickly, and I throw both on the bed as I enter my room.

The house is eerily quiet. Too quiet. My senses are on high alert, and every noise seems amplified.

Closing my bedroom door, I lock it and cross over to the bureau in the corner. Opening the bottom drawer, I pull out a box with a grimace. It's been a while since I had to use this contraption, but unexpected ruts need dealing with and I can't just go out there and grab the first omega I meet to satisfy my need for a knot.

Placing the box on the bed, I strip off and then lift the lid. The rotation, suction, vacuum pump, masturbating toy for the alpha in need is lightweight in my hand as I carry it to the en-suite shower room. Shutting the door and locking that one as well, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My cock is stiff, twitching with need. I insert my cock and, glaring at myself, I switch it on.

A loud growl escapes me as the silicone tongue at the base swirls over the tip of my cock, driving me into a state of unfettered lust. Closing my eyes, I picture Lily with her chestnut waves and big green eyes. That scent that drives me to insanity fills my senses as I imagine driving my dick into her tight pussy.

"Fuck," I groan and push the button to speed up the suction.

The pressure builds quickly, the device working its magic as I thrust into it. My mind is a haze of lust and frustration, every thought consumed by Lily. Her laughter, her smile, the way she smells... it's all too much. I need her.

I groan again, louder this time, my body trembling as I reach the brink. My hand tightens around the device, moving in rhythm with my desperate thrusts. "Lily," I pant, imagining her beneath me, her legs wrapped around my waist, her breathy moans filling my ears.

The scent of lilies feels almost suffocating now, wrapped around me like a veil. The excitement builds until I can't hold back any longer. With a final cry of release, I climax hard as waves of pleasure crash over me, and I dump my cum into the device as the knot at the base of my cock expands almost painfully, probably protesting the lack of a slicked-upped pussy to milk me until I'm drained of my entire soul.

Panting heavily, I switch the device to the low throbbing setting that feels so fucking good, I could keep it on forever. The room spins slightly as I open my eyes and see the crazed desire in them caused by the rut. Turning, I lean against the cool wall by the door, trying to catch my breath. But the urgency hasn't fully dissipated even in the afterglow of release. The rut is still there, simmering beneath the surface, wanting what it can't have.

"Sorry, buddy," I tell my cock. "This is about as good as it gets this time."

I know this because not that deep down, I'm starting to suspect that my mate, our mate, has already been found. By Jack and Sam. And now it's up to me to figure out where I fit into this equation, seeing as no one bothered to tell me or even give me a hint.

Getting more and more restless, when my knot deflates, I pull it off my still-stiff cock and clean it out. Staring at it, I unlock the shower room door and carry it back into the bedroom. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I start all over again. Sliding it over my cock and turning it on.

"Jesus," I pant as I turn it as high as it will go. "Fucking hell, yes."

It's not good enough, not by a long shot, but this is all I get, one hundred per cent. This is it because I know it's futile. Whatever is happening between Lily, Jack, and Sam, I'm already caught up in it. My early rut is proof of this, and that means no other omega will be good enough or have me. It's over. I've been swept away in this would-be mating without my knowledge or consent, but for the life of me, I can't stay mad at them.

The disrespect is astounding, but that aside, it is clear to me now, as the device pumps and rotates and sucks and swirls over my cock, that this omega has drawn us to her. It's fate, or whatever you want to call it.

With a loud growl, I dump my cum again and knot the device with a low whimper as the pain in my stomach rips through me.

It's still not enough.

It'll never be enough.

Leaning over the bed to grab my phone, I text Sam.

Get your arses home now, you absolute fuckers. You have got a shitload of explaining to do.

I wait, and the message comes back a few minutes later.

We know. Give us twenty minutes. Sorry.

Chucking my phone across the room as I flop back to the bed, my cock still gripped in the vice of this rut device, I groan. "You will be fucking sorry, bastards."