32. Max

Chapter 32

Max

T he room is filled with the scent of our mingled arousal - a heady mix of scents, sweat, slick, and satisfaction. Lily is purring softly, nestled in my arms. It's a sound that makes my heart swell with pride and possessiveness. She's ours now, truly ours. An omega I barely knew only hours ago is now mine. My mate. Our mate. It sounds so ridiculous, but fate doesn't lie.

My knot still throbs inside her, keeping us locked together. There's something about this moment that feels more intimate than any I've had before with other omegas. It's not just the physical connection but something deeper - a bond that's cemented by the heat of our bodies and the intensity of the passion with your chosen one.

Jack's hand gently caresses her thigh, his eyes glazed with his own need. Sam leans over us, his fingers trailing delicate patterns over Lily's skin, soothing and calming her as she drifts into a state of pure bliss.

"Lily," I murmur, but there is no response. Her purring has subsided, and she is resting now. The worst of her heat will be sated for now with my knot inside her, but it will return with force soon. "Dammit."

"What is it?" Jack frowns at me.

"I don't want to mate with her?—"

"What?" he snaps, causing her to shuffle in her sleep. "You fucking cock?—"

"Shut the fuck up, would you and let me finish," I hiss.

He clamps his mouth shut, still glowering at me.

"While she is in her heat, I don't want to mate with her. I want her cognisant and fully aware of what she is doing."

"You want her consent," Jack murmurs.

"She already gave it," Sam says, carefully.

"No, she didn't. Not really. I need to hear the actual words from her mouth, from her soul, not because her biology wants it. Does that make sense?" I don't ask this because I think they're idiots, I'm just not sure I've expressed myself clearly.

"Do you want this?" Jack asks so quietly that I barely hear him.

I stare into his eyes, so he knows I mean it when I say, "Yes. I want this."

He nods, satisfied that I'm not bailing on our omega after she has satisfied my rut. The pain in my stomach has eased up now that I have my knot inside a pussy, but it's more than that. So much more. For the first time in my life, I feel content.

My knot deflates, and I reluctantly pull out of her, the sucking noise a delicious sound in the otherwise quiet room. Lily curls up, and Jack places a blanket over her lovingly, and I smile.

"You love her so much," I mutter, not even really meaning to say it out loud.

Jack stares at me for a moment before answering. "Always have. She is my everything."

"What did they do to her at the Trials?" Sam murmurs.

Jack tilts his head towards the door.

We climb off the bed and head to the living room, still naked and not even really feeling the need to cover up.

Jack heads to the kitchen and automatically, like he was born for the job, starts making food for everyone and handing out bottles of water, setting aside a pretty tray for Lily when she wakes up ravenous and in need of sustenance.

"It's not for me to say. If she wants to tell you, then she will," Jack says after a few minutes of busy work.

"That's fair," I say before Sam can protest. He is the kind of guy who needs to know everything so he can process with the facts. Me, I like facts, who doesn't, but in this case, I'm willing to let it go. I can imagine, and my imagination does not lack creativity. But there is one thing I need to know.

"Where is this Emily then? If she is in danger or could be bringing danger to Lily, we need to find her."

"It's okay," Sam says. "She's at the farm with George and my family."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Sam nods, "they've got her set up there. She's safe for now."

"Okay, well, there's not much else to say on that. I'm going to shower. Save me some food."

Jack waves me off as Sam roots through his bag for a pair of sweats and then a towel, which he throws to Jack. I have nothing but the clothes I laid out on the sofa and whatever towel I can find in the bathroom.

Closing the door behind me, I see it's a very pink bathroom. Pink towels, pink toiletries, pink bathmat.

"Cute," I murmur and turn the shower on and step inside.

The hot water cascades over me, washing away the remnants of sweat and arousal. I let it pound against my back, trying to clear my mind. It's chaotic in there, filled with thoughts of Lily, Jack, and Sam. Jack has known her for so long, and even Sam knows her, clearly well enough to have already fucked her, and here I am, just stepping into this intricate dynamic. Yet, there's no denying the chemistry between us.

My rut, which had eased after the sex, is building again. My cock is raging, but even taking it in my hand now feels like a betrayal. I can wait for Lily to ease me.

When I step out of the shower, I grab one of the soft pink towels and dry off quickly. Wrapping it around my waist, with difficulty around my hard-on, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and smile. It hadn't even entered my head before, but my mother is going to be ecstatic. She will love Lily. I know she will.

Thoughts of my mother deflate the erection that could put someone's eye out, as I head back to the living room, I hear quiet voices. Jack and Sam are deep in conversation but stop when they see me. They've set out a spread on the coffee table, sandwiches, crisps, fruit, and the sight makes my stomach rumble.

"Plenty for everyone," Jack says with a grin.

I grab a sandwich and take a huge bite. "Thanks," I mumble through a mouthful of bread and cheese. "What were you talking about?"

Jack and Sam share a look that speaks volumes but tells me nothing. "We were just… uhm…"

"Uhm?" I prompt when Jack stops speaking to look away awkwardly.

"We want to know who this secret admirer is of yours and if they are going to cause issues here," Sam states, never one to mince words. Kinda love that about him, but not right now.

Glaring at him, I sit in a chair and place my sandwich on a plate on the coffee table. "Firstly, I have no idea who it is, and secondly, which goes back to my first point, it won't cause issues. I don't know who it is, and I don't care," I reiterate.

"You sure you can't think of anyone?"

My thoughts momentarily drift to Lesley, but then I dismiss them. That's not her style. She is in your face and wouldn't sneak around. She'd slap a card on that bouquet with her name in capitals, wanting everyone to know. "No," I say slowly as they stare at me, waiting for an answer. "I honestly have no idea."

"Okay, here's a follow-up," Sam says, arms crossed. "Is there anyone out there that you would like it to be? Are you crushing on an omega and would be thrilled if it was her who sent you those flowers?"

"What?" I snap. "Don't be absurd."

"Man has a pint," Jack says in his quiet, calm way. "Answer the question."

"No," I growl. "I'm not crushing on anyone except the omega who had my knot inside her minutes ago, so fuck off with the interrogation. It is not appreciated." I lean forward and grab my sandwich, not quite gripping it firmly enough and take a bite out of it while the salad slides off and lands on the pink towel. I pick up a piece of cucumber and flick it at Sam. It slaps him in the face with a satisfyingly wet sound, and I smirk.

Sam snickers, peeling cucumber off his forehead. "Nice aim, twat."

"Thanks," I reply, grinning, and decide to leave it at that. No need to escalate things further. For a moment, the tension eases as we all chuckle, and I feel the camaraderie between us, but Sam has other ideas. He tosses the cucumber back at me, but it falls short, landing on the floor instead.

Jack shakes his head with amusement. "Alright, children, let's not start a food fight." He rises and adjusts the towel around his waist before bending to pick up the discarded cucumber piece and throwing it in the bin. He scoops up the overfilled tray and heads to the bedroom. "I'm going back to Lily."

Finishing my sandwich quickly, and join him with Sam. We settle comfortably around Lily.

She stirs and mumbles, "Knot."

Jack reaches her first, and this time, there is no stopping him from claiming her.