26. Max

Chapter 26

Max

L eading these cocks to the formal living room, I slam the door behind me. I'm going to tear them both a new one before this day is out.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Jack and Sam are both staring at me as if I've lost my mind, and maybe I have.

"What. The bloody fuck. Happened?" I growl.

Jack steps forward, his voice calm but firm. "Look, it wasn't an accident. I've been in love with Lily for as long as I can remember, and Sam has realised what I've known all along but didn't want to admit to myself."

Sam steps in, adding his own plea for mercy. "We're sorry, Max. We know we messed up by not telling you, but it happened so quickly. One minute I was talking to her, and the next I was fucking her. Then Jack found us, and it snowballed. We know we fucked up."

"Sorry doesn't cut it," I snap. "Do you have any idea what this means for the pack? For me?"

Jack runs a hand through his hair again, clearly frustrated. "We should've come to you, but this is it, Max. She is our mate, whether you like it or not."

The words hang in the air, heavy and final. Jack's declaration feels like a punch to my gut. I stagger back a step, my mind reeling. Our mate?

Jack's eyes bore into mine, and I can see the determination there. It's infuriating, but also admirable. I knew it in my soul, but my head is having a hard time catching up.

"Look," Sam pipes up. "This will get your mum off our cases. Lily is our mate. Two out of the three of us agree. You need to go out there and get to know her. She is sweet and gorgeous, and kind. She is everything we need."

But am I everything she needs?

"We haven't exactly got off on the right foot," I snarl. "She probably thinks I'm a total prick."

"She does," Jack snickers. "But we know different. You can change her mind. We need this, Max. We need you to get on board with this, because living without her isn't an option for us, and it shouldn't be for you either. We're a pack, and we need to be united in this."

The resolute look on Jack's face is maddening. If this omega is the glue holding our pack's future together, I need to figure out how to make it work—and fast.

I scrub a hand over my face, feeling the sting of frustration and resignation setting in. "You aren't even giving me much of a choice!"

"There is no choice!" Jack shouts back. "Don't you see, Max? She threw us into a rut. She is our mate. Our fate. Our future. She needs us as much as we need her. I'm not letting her fucking go, not now, not ever."

"So what? You're going to threaten me until I give in? Is that it?"

"Don't be absurd! But you have to see why this has happened. Why your rut suddenly came on like ours did."

"Is she in her heat?"

They exchange a look that speaks volumes.

"Not yet," Sam mutters. "Because you weren't there."

"And yet, you two went into your rut and dragged me into it as well." I pace back and forth, each step a mix of confusion and anger. "So, what now?"

"Now you go out there, apologise for being a dick to her and then, I dunno. Do whatever comes naturally to you," Sam murmurs.

"Right now? That's taking her omega pussy and sticking it on my alpha dick. Is that what you want me to do? Hmm?"

"Wow, ouch," Jack murmurs. "Okay, let's back up a second here…"

"No, let's not," I spit, flaming mad. "Let's go and see what Lily thinks about that plan?"

I take a step forward, but Jack is quick to move in front of me, hand on my chest. The pressure is light enough not to send my prime alpha into a rage, but it's enough to make me slap his hand away. "Go near her like this, and I will take you down," Jack says quietly.

The room falls into an uneasy silence, tension crackling in the air between us. I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly to calm the chaotic mess of emotions tangled up in a knot of frustration, desire, and confusion.

I need to see the bigger picture, get past this betrayal, and see what they're seeing. I already know Lily's scent affects me, and she is an omega I can't live without, but putting all of that into practice under forced circumstances has made my stubborn streak come forward.

"So, what now? We just play happy family and hope she doesn't bolt when she finds out she's stuck with an alpha she didn't choose?"

Jack sighs, rubbing his temples. "Fate has chosen for her, just like it has with us. But we've got to try, Max. For all our sakes."

Sam nods, his face more earnest than I've ever seen it. "We've already bonded with her on some level. She's special, Max."

I grit my teeth, hating that they're probably right. The thought of Lily keeps drifting into my mind like a siren call. Maybe it's the remnants of the rut, maybe it's something more.

"Fine," I grit out. "I'll go out there and behave myself. But if this goes tits up, it's on you two."

"Fair enough," Jack says, relief washing over his face.

Sam claps me on the shoulder, managing a small smile. "You won't regret this."

I grunt noncommittally and head towards the door, feeling like I'm walking into enemy territory rather than towards our supposed future.

As I make my way down the hall towards the kitchen, following that alluring scent that is potent and all around me now, I can hear the muffled sounds of cutlery and cupboards opening.

When I push open the door, I see Lily with her back to me, humming softly as she pours herself another cup of tea. How do I even go about introducing myself now? This is ridiculous. I imagined our intended mate would be someone I knew and liked. This is… well, in a word, this is a shitshow.

"Lily Bloom, I presume," I state and cringe inwardly at how much of a douche I sound.

Lily turns around, her eyes widening slightly as our gazes lock, and it's like I've been kicked in the head, the heart and the dick. She's holding the teapot mid-air, and for a second, I think she's going to throw it at me.

And I see what they see.

Fuck .

Instead of launching it at my head, Lily sets the teapot down gently.

"Yes, that's me," she replies coolly, wiping her hands on her shorts. "And you are Max Hamilton."

I nod, feeling like an idiot. "Look, I'm sorry about the other day. I didn't mean to come off as... well, as a prick. The flower delivery threw me, and your scent was off. It was confusing." I start sweating as her eyes bore into mine.

"Off?" she squeaks and gives her armpit a sneaky sniff as she turns away from me.

It is the single most adorable thing I have ever born witness to.

"I mean, it wasn't yours," I murmur, moving closer.

"Oh," she mumbles and turns back around. "Yes, well." Her face is flushed, and she has absolutely no idea where to go next. I know that because she looks how I feel. "So, what now?" she asks softly.

"Maybe we can start over," I suggest, holding out my hand. "Hi, I'm Max. Nice to meet you properly this time."

She hesitates for a moment before taking my hand, her touch sending a jolt through me that nearly makes my knees buckle. "Lily," she responds softly. "It's nice to meet you, too."

For a moment we just stand there, hands clasped, lost in each other's eyes.