In the Game Room

Dassy

“ Y ou look sad, little beta,” I snuggle up next to Everly on the couch. She’s been sitting wrapped up like a burrito for the last hour, watching me play video games.

“I’m okay.” Everly gives me a very unconvincing smile.

“That won’t do.” My character gets shot and his arms flail as he falls to the ground. I set down my controller, not interested in playing anymore. “Talk to me, gorgeous.”

Everly turns her pretty face toward me and her smile falls. “I wish Mari was here. I don’t like her being gone. Betas are supposed to be with their omegas at all times.” Her lashes lower to the soft pink blanket wrapped around her. “It feels wrong.”

“I know.” I wrap my arms around her, pleased when she rests her head on my shoulder. I’m sure Everly would feel better if I made a joke or teased her, but I don’t have it in me either. “I wish Mari was here too.” I kiss the top of her head, then I force myself to say something positive. “But Izan knows what he’s doing.” I remind her. “He created this pack and he won’t do anything to break it apart.” I kiss her temple. “We have to trust him with our omega.”

“I know.” She nods at her lap.

“You know,” I drop my voice to a throaty purr, “watching you tend to Mari last night was one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen.”

Everly’s head snaps up, her eyes wide behind those glasses. “I didn’t do anything special,” she says, tilting her head as if confused.

“Oh, yes you did.” I push her glasses up her nose for her, pleased when she smiles. “When you helped her take both mine and Hutch’s cocks.” I let out a moan of pleasure, and Everly’s smile turns bashful before ducking her head. “You were so sexy, helping our sweet girl get stuffed full of cock.”

“Dassy,” Everly says my name with a breathy giggle. My beta is so wild in the bedroom, but out here in the real world, she’s shy and easily embarrassed. I love it.

“You are such a good girl.” I place a finger under her chin, urging her to look up at me. She looks almost drunk on my pheromones. I know she isn't. Betas don’t connect with alphas on the same level as omegas, but I like to think she’s drunk off of me—having me so close, touching her, kissing her.

“Where’s Mari?” Hutch’s hard voice breaks the soft mood of the room, making Everly pull away from me.

“She’s with Izan,” Everly says, her sad mood firmly back in place. “He took her to his office this morning.” She leans forward, grabbing her phone off of the coffee table. “He texted first thing this morning.” She pulls up the message, then turns the screen to Hutch. My brother barely glances at it, before turning away.

“You okay?” I ask, hoping it’s not work related. Izan has been trying to reschedule a few projects so we can focus on Mari for the next few weeks, but I honestly have no idea how that’s been going.

“I’m fine,” Hutch says, but his voice is too tight. “Did Izan say when he’s bringing her back?” He flexes his arms forward, then swings them as if to stretch. But he’s not fooling me. He’s restless, obviously wanting Mari here too.

The need to be near your freshly fucked omega is very strong.

“He didn’t say.” Everly re-reads Izan’s message.

The distant sound of footsteps drifts down the hallway. Hutch and I both turn to the sound, but Everly continues to stare at her phone, her weaker ears not picking the sound up yet. I don’t know how she can’t hear it. Izan’s dress shoes clack loudly, drowning out any other noise, but then I hear it—the soft patter of Mari’s feet. Hutch’s eyes meet mine, and I smile widely.

“I told you I’d be able to find them based on scent alone,” Izan says as he escorts our omega into the room. Mari nods as if impressed. But all I can smell is the thick scent of dried omega slick. That bastard rutted her in his office. Lucky fuck.

“I’m so glad you’re back!” Everly erupts off of the couch, rushing across the room. “Did you have fun in Izan’s office?”

Mari’s cheeks flush pink and her eyes narrow, as if struggling to find the right words. “I’m not sure what I expected,” she finally says. I notice one of her hands is curled around her wrist, squeezing gently. Is she nervous? “It was definitely an office,” Mari says as if making a joke.

“She got to meet Tonia,” Izan says to Hutch with a knowing snort.

A laugh erupts from my chest and Hutch grimaces. My brother can’t stand the chatty beta. Her energy is draining to him, but I adore her. Tonia is interesting, friendly, and always has a story to share.

“Well, we’re glad you’re back,” I say, pushing my hands into my pockets to keep from snatching her away from Everly. The urge is unreal.

“Are you done for the day?” Hutch asks Izan. Our pack alpha lets out a long breath, telling me his answer. He works so damn hard for us.

“I’ve got a few more phone calls to make,” Izan says. “I handed off the Stroke case to Maria and spoke with Bear about pushing our meeting with Stanley. He seemed fine with it. Tonia is working right now to reschedule everything else that isn’t pressing.”

Hutch opens his mouth to say something else, but Izan leans down to Mari, making it clear he’s not talking business anymore.

“If you need me, tell Hutch or Dassy. They can call me, and I’ll rush right over.” He holds Mari’s gaze, not looking away until she nods.

“Don’t work too hard.” Everly pushes up onto her toes, kissing Izan’s cheek. The second our pack alpha disappears, Everly is alight once again. “What should we do today?” she asks Mari. “The weather is good for a walk.”

“Actually, I’d love to see that cemetery,” Mari says, and I instantly know she’s made Everly’s whole damn day.

“Really?” Everly’s eyes go wide, as if struggling to believe it. I love my beta, but she’s a bizarre girl. Cemeteries are for mourning, not for exploring.

“Can I go to the bathroom first?” Mari laughs at Everly’s bright energy.

“Let me take you.” Hutch holds out his elbow, bowing down so Mari can comfortably take it. Then he escorts her the five steps to the bathroom door. Everly and I quickly share a smile, trying not to laugh.

Mari steps inside the bathroom, and for a moment, Hutch stands there, staring at the bathroom door like it’s a fortress for him to protect. I can’t help myself. A laugh erupts from my chest and Everly covers her mouth to hide her smile.

“What?” Hutch turns, looking from me to Everly. “What’s so funny?”

“You,” I say simply. “You look like a lost dog.”

Deep lines settle between Hutch’s brows as his face scrunches. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means you look love-struck,” Everly says in her sweetest voice.

My brother frowns, crossing his arms. “I’m not love-struck.” He scans the room as if looking for a threat.

“You always have fallen fast,” I say, teasing my stern brother.

“I like it,” Everly speaks up, defending him.

My brows shoot up, a little surprised by that. Love-struck alphas are seen as weak. Maybe even pathetic. “You do?”

“Yes,” Everly says with a firm nod. “The moment I met Hutch I knew I’d love him forever.” She slips her hand through his arm, resting it over the crook of his elbow as she looks up at him adoringly. His eyes instantly soften as they look at one another. “I was scared it would take forever for him to warm up to me,” Everly says to me, but she’s still staring at Hutch. “But when Hutch falls in love, he falls hard and fast, making you feel like nothing else in the world matters.”

I swear to god, my brother’s complexion deepens in color, but he turns away from us, hiding his face.

“You’re right about that, little beta,” I say with a snort. “When Hutch decides what he wants, he goes for it like a fucking shark in blood-infested waters.”

“You know you’re the same way.” Everly releases Hutch, turning her attention to me. Her lashes look so long behind her glasses.

“I don’t fall in love fast.” I deepen my voice to a throaty purr as I lean down. “I fell in love with you fast. It’s impossible to go slow when the perfect woman is standing right in front of you.”

Deep warmth fills Everly’s pretty eyes. “And Mari?” she whispers, her priorities right where they need to be— with her omega. “Do you love her?”

“I love Mari so much I’m scared to think about what I’d do if someone tried to take her from us.”

“What would you do?” Everly’s voice is breathless with excitement.

“I’d fucking kill them,” I growl.

A shiver of excitement works through my beta, making her breath hitch.

“You love me?” Mari blurts out from the bathroom doorway, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. I can’t tell if she’s happy by my confession or terrified, but either way, this wasn’t the way I wanted to tell her.

“Yes,” I say, standing to full height. “You are absolute perfection, omega.” I cross the room, cupping her cheek. Mari doesn’t say a word, but I swear her face is paler than usual.

“But…but…” Her eyes narrow on my face as if struggling to see me. “But I’ve only lived here a little over a week,” she says as if I’m completely ridiculous. And maybe I am, but I don’t give a shit. “You don’t even know me.”

I can’t help but laugh at that. “We have spent the last few months talking every week on the phone,” I remind her. “I know that you love chocolate and hate cabbage. I know that you're mouthy and honest to a fault. I know you’re a little wild and very determined.” I lower my voice, hoping I don’t upset her. “And while there are a lot of things about your past that you can’t remember, I’m confident I’ll love those parts of you too if you could share them.”

The deep lines between Mari’s brows melt away, replaced by what I can only describe as shock.

“I…” Mari’s throat works as she swallows hard. “I don’t…” Her eyes dart past me, I’m sure looking at Everly.

“It’s okay.” I caress my omega’s cheek. “You don’t have to say anything.” I try to soothe her, thinking about all that paperwork Havenfield gave us. “I know that it can be hard for abandoned omegas to connect with their alphas, but when you’re ready to open up, I’ll be right here.”

Mari nods, but she doesn’t look relieved. In fact, she looks terrified. Shit . Did I say too much? Not enough? Or was all of it wrong?

Hutch moves in my periphery, but I don’t look at him.

“Everly?” Mari looks at our beta, her eyes pleading.

“How about we go and change into some pants and sneakers for our walk?” Everly takes Mari’s hand. I step back, watching the pair drift out of the room.

I definitely just fucked up.

“Like a shark in blood-infested waters?” Hutch’s hand lands hard on my shoulder, making me scowl. “Next time, skip all formalities and shove your fangs directly into her throat.”

“Fuck off.” I shrug his hand off of me. “Life is too short to hold that kind of emotion in.” I glare at my twin. “But at least I can admit how I feel.”

He gives me a shitty smirk. “And I’m sure Mari is thrilled about that right now.”

I want to snap back that it’s not my fault that Mari isn’t normal—any other omega would be thrilled with a declaration of love. Our kind move fast, rushing from meeting, to affection, to mating in a matter of weeks, but not Mari. She’s different. She’s special.

I hope I didn’t overwhelm her.