4. Chapter 4

Chapter four

Luke

G enesis Valentine was going to be a goddamn problem.

Luke took one look at her big anime eyes and plump, pouty pinup girl lips and his cock immediately stirred to life. A whiff of her scent and he was rock hard, shifting uncomfortably in his jeans. The woman looked like a sex doll and smelled like spring—jasmine and oranges with a sweet honey undertone that was the perfect match for her golden-brown skin.

“Genesis, these are my packmates, Luke Wyatt Wilder and Gabriel Acosta,” Lando said, all cool and composed in that way that annoyed the shit out of Luke. He’d bet the asshole probably wasn’t even hiding a stiffy.

“Pleased to meet you both,” Genesis Sexpot Valentine said in a husky voice that went straight to Luke’s cock.

Gabriel smiled warmly and shook her hand with both of his, holding on for a moment longer than necessary while he studied the omega with his sad, puppy dog eyes. Luke saw a blush spreading across Genesis’s cheeks, highlighting a spattering of freckles he hadn’t noticed before. Her scent rose and Luke suppressed a growl in response. It irritated him how quickly and intensely his instincts were reacting to her presence.

He stepped forward and took her hand, shaking it quickly before releasing it and stomping over to the couch. He could feel Lando’s disapproving gaze on his back, but his pack leader didn’t comment on his rudeness. He simply offered the women refreshments before guiding them into the living area of the huge, open-concept space. As Lando left to get drinks, Luke watched Genesis assessing the place, taking in the high ceilings, the skylights and reclaimed wood beams, and the huge glass sliders that opened onto a lush courtyard. He used the distraction to study her body, which did not fucking disappoint. Small, pert tits beneath a white silk top that invited you to speculate about the color of her nipples. Wide hips, thick thighs, and a nice, round ass. When she noticed the enormous fireplace, her painted red lips formed an o of surprise that Luke wanted to stick his finger in, to feel her hot little mouth wrapped around him, to watch her cheeks hollow out—

Genesis’s eyes snapped to his as if she could hear his lascivious thoughts. She licked her lips anxiously and the flash of pink tongue did nothing to curtail the fantasy he’d been building. They stared at one another for a long moment.

“When I read that you’d retired to restore your grandfather’s farm, Mr. Wilder, I was expecting something less…opulent,” she said finally, a glint of sarcasm in her big, dark eyes.

Luke wanted to fuck the sass right out of her mouth. She would look so pretty on her knees, rope around her wrists, those full lips wrapped around his cock. He would have so much fun punishing her, dragging out her orgasm until she was begging him to let her cum.

Jesus Christ, Luke Wyatt, get a fucking grip. It had been a while since he’d had a woman, but it damn sure wasn’t the longest he’d ever gone. There was something about this goddamn omega that was turning him absolutely fucking feral.

“It was in bad shape, but when the pack decided this would be our main residence, we wanted to make it our own,” Luke said gruffly when he remembered how to speak. Luckily, talking about the property was something he could do on autopilot. “Gabe worked with an architect on the design. They incorporated elements from my granddad’s old farmhouse—like making the mantle from the original wood.”

Genesis reached out and stroked the mantle gently, and it was like she’d run her hand down Luke’s chest. How could she make a simple movement so sensual? Luke averted his gaze as Genesis joined the doctor on a couch across from where he sat. If he kept looking at her, he was going to embarrass himself by saying or doing something stupid.

Lando strode back into the room with glasses of lemonade for their guests. Luke watched the way his pack leader eyed Genesis as she drank. When she smiled, Lando’s shoulders relaxed and he took a seat beside her, not quite close enough to touch. It all looked very natural, but Luke had known Lando for most of his life and could read his smallest tics.

Genesis was affecting him too.

It wasn’t like their other temporary omegas hadn’t been appealing. They’d smelled nice and soothed his instincts. Both had been sweet, interesting women, mostly, and Luke had liked them well enough. But none of them had impacted him so immediately and completely. He hadn’t felt anything like this in a very long time.

Not since Evelyn.

Luke sobered at the thought. He clenched his fists and glared out at the courtyard’s Zen Garden, which Gabe used all the time and Evie would’ve loved. It was a constant reminder of the peace she used to bring to their lives. Luke doubted he’d ever feel truly at peace again.

He knew that Lando thought he hadn’t moved on from Evie—that he was martyring himself out of loyalty to her memory. But that wasn’t true. He’d mourned the loss of their omega every day of the last decade, but his reluctance to bond again wasn’t simply out of duty or grief. It wasn’t that he didn’t want another omega, it was that he couldn’t want another omega. He didn’t deserve another omega.

Luke hadn’t protected Evie. He’d failed her, and she’d been killed, murdered by a petty thief in downtown Smyrna City. She’d died alone in their art gallery’s parking garage.

Someone cleared their throat, snapping Luke back from his bleak memories. Genesis was watching him, those big eyes of hers seeing more than they should’ve. Had he missed a question? He couldn’t even remember what they’d been talking about.

“So, you’re a journalist,” Gabe said, breaking the silence, and distracting Genesis with a disarming smile. “I looked up some of your work and really enjoyed it.”

Of course he had. Lando probably did a full background check, while Gabe scoured the internet for more meaningful intel. Meanwhile, Luke barely glanced at the file Dr. Gardiner sent over. He knew jack shit except that Genesis was twenty years younger than him, an unbonded omega, and that she was fucking trouble. That’s all he needed to know.

“I want to do more investigative stories—to highlight real issues, like the epidemic of violence against omegas in this country,” Genesis told Gabe, lifting her chin proudly. “The entertainment stuff is great, but it’s not where my passion lies. I want to expose the poverty and neglect feeding the nation’s criminal underbelly, starting in Smyrna City.”

“That’s too dangerous,” Luke blurted, before he could think better of it.

Genesis’s expression tightened, her pretty mouth taking on a stubborn set. “Impactful journalism isn’t safe, Mr. Wilder. Besides, your pack is going to help change my scent to provide some additional protection.”

Lando gave him a warning look and Luke clenched his jaw against a retort. Maybe Lando had already known her plans—it was probably in the files Luke had ignored. If so, then how was his pack leader still infuriatingly calm? He should’ve been outraged at the idea of Genesis investigating criminals who’d be all too happy to get their hands on an omega that looked and smelled like her. Luke’s instincts were telling him to throw Genesis over his shoulder, carry her to his room, and never let her out of his sight.

“There are lots of ways to tell impactful stories,” Lando said smoothly. “I’m sure Genesis has put a great deal of thought into how she’ll keep safe while doing good work. It’s clear she is quite adept at taking care of herself.”

Luke saw Genesis relax, the tension around her mouth softening. Great. Now he looked like a fucking caveman while Lando was her goddamn white knight. The thought of Genesis preferring Lando over him shouldn’t have bothered him as much as it did.

“Honestly, I haven’t figured out my exact angle yet,” Genesis admitted, looking shyly at Lando through her lashes. Luke considered throttling his pack leader when Genesis leaned toward Lando, so close that her small breasts pressed against his arm. “I just know that I want to write stories that matter, stories that need to be told.”

“You’ll find your muse,” Gabriel said confidently. “That’s how art works. You keep looking in the right places and it reveals itself.”

What in the Vincent Van Fuck was this hipster asshole talking about? It must be a creative people thing, because Genesis was nodding and smiling at Gabe as if he’d said something meaningful rather than a random string of unrelated words. How was it that both of his packmates were so much better with people than he was? There was a time when he’d been just as good in a boardroom as Lando, though he’d always had a hotter temper. Luke sat back against the couch irritably, crossing his arms and trying not to scowl.

“I can already see that you’re going to get along quite well,” Dr. Gardiner declared brightly, drawing everyone’s attention. “While we’re finishing up the paperwork, why don’t you tell Genesis about the living arrangements you’ve used with your other temporary omegas. I know she’s going to love it.”

“Luke Wyatt,” Lando said—his full name a warning Luke knew all too well. Be nice , it said. “Why don’t you tell Genesis about it, since you built it.”

Luke grimaced at the exaggeration, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. “I helped the contractors build an in-law suite in the back garden. Nothing too fancy. It’s a sort of replica of the main house but different.”

Sort of a replica but different? He sounded like a fucking moron. Maybe the omega’s scent had short-circuited his brain.

“A cowboy and a handyman?” Genesis smirked at him, that pretty mouth playful though her eyes were wary. “Is there anything you can’t do, Mr. Wilder?”

Luke was torn between the urge to spank her for her sassiness and frustration that she was obviously less comfortable with him than his packmates. He felt himself blushing like a lovesick teenager who finally got the nerve to talk to the fucking prom queen. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Gabe grinning.

“Yes ma’am, there’s a fair bit I can’t do,” Luke replied, his southern roots finding their way into his voice all of a sudden. “I doubt I could’ve built the guest house myself. It’s a sight more complex than raising a barn.”

“It’s incredibly impressive, nonetheless,” Genesis replied, giving Luke a genuine smile that made his stomach do a weird little flip. “It’s been a long time since I lived in a detached home of any sort. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if it was as fancy as this main house.”

“Well, don’t get your hopes up too high,” Luke warned. “It’s only about twelve hundred square feet.”

“It’s more of a whimsical little cottage,” Gabe added.

“But it’s completely self-sufficient—even has a kitchenette,” Luke explained, trying not to think about Genesis living in such easy reach. “We have spare rooms here in the main house if that’s preferable, but I think the other omegas appreciated some privacy as we got to know each other. Of course, we all decided together how to manage alone time versus pack time, and where to have the nest.”

Genesis’s huge eyes widened further, her cheeks pinkening again. “Of course. The nest.”

“It’s all about communication,” Lando interjected, resting a hand on Genesis’s arm. Luke saw her relax beneath his touch. “We’ll discuss everything and make sure we all understand your boundaries and needs. Your comfort is our first priority.”

Luke wondered if she’d ever built a nest, given that she’d weathered all her heats alone. He felt another surge of instincts—an intense desire to give Genesis the safety she needed so that she might want to build her first real nest. For them .

He was so fucked.