10. Jade

ten

Islyly glance at Kandi. She looks my way and winks before she returns to reading her romance book. It worked. Haha, it was almost more than I could bear to go back into Adrian's room and not dance around. Watching them kiss last night was hot, more than hot. It was surprisingly sweet, and, yeah, it was hot. Our briefly clandestine conversation in her house last night while Sven was on the toilet was a stroke of genius. I needed to remind Adrian of what he was giving up, and she needed to break Sven's control.

But he's staying. Kandi was right. Sven was the only one of us who could convince him to stay, and right now, she's getting way too much enjoyment out of watching our good doctor suffer.

To be fair, I'm quite partial to his suffering, too. Especially as he was going to leave me. But I'll never admit to it in the light of day. I'm a polite omega after all.

"What are you smiling about?" Adrian asks and plops down beside me. His weight makes me roll in his direction, and I just go with it, cuddling up to his side.

He makes me feel small and delicate. I love that feeling.

"I'm just happy you're staying."

"Three weeks. I'm only promising three weeks."

"Why are you staying?" Kandi asks with a confused frown. "Did you decide to bond with Jade?" She clearly heard his three weeks and is innocently batting her lashes at us, while her dimple keeps floating in and out of sight.

I glower at the beta, and then get lost in the way she licks her bottom lip, turning it shiny and…was it always so plump? She's really pretty with her streaky brown hair and her eyes like melted chocolate. They're so soft. I shake myself and blink back to reality.

"I did not decide to…we're seeing how things go," Adrian rumbles.

"Are you? Have you told her that? She looks surprised." Clearly, the beta is on a warpath this morning.

Kandi sits beside me, her knee folded up so she's facing me. I glare at her while Adrian splutters.

Kandi's eyes darken, and she casually plops an arm on the couch behind me. She drags a finger along my nape. I shiver and have to resist leaning into her, hard.

"You should tell her now," Kandi says in a deeper voice. "Tell her you want her. Tell her you"re going to try."

Adrian clears his throat and lets out a snarl that rips my attention away from the beta.

I blink, released from her spell. Was she flirting with me? She was. She was absolutely flirting with me. This glowing coil of smug pride takes up residence in my chest. Adrian looks like he's going to explode, though.

"Let's just wait for Sven to get here."

Kandi looks at the time. "Sorry, Adrian, but he's running again. You know it, I know it, hell, she probably knows it. He's never an hour late to anything. He's early or on time. If he's not here, it's because he's not coming."

Adrian drops his head in his hands and gets up in an explosive movement. He pulls his phone out and puts it to his ear.

"Get over here now, Sven. If you disappear again, I swear to god, I will do something we're both going to regret."

Kandi leans back and closes her eyes. She looks like she's in pain; I put a hand on her thigh and squeeze.

"He's not coming, Adrian. Let it go."

I look between them both. "I don't understand what's going on?"

"The most commitment-phobic alpha on the planet is our mate, and he's running because he promised something he's not sure he can deliver."

"Fuck. This," Adrian growls. "Darion, do not hang up on me or I will give you all laxatives next time you need a shot."

My eyebrows raise. "Well, that sounds unpleasant."

"Pays to be a doctor. You can heal, hurt, maim, or kill, and no one would be the wiser," Kandi whispers. "I might be a kickass warrior woman, but your doc scares the stuffin' out of me."

I snicker. Stuffin'.

"Oh, I have some people I'd love to give an infectious disease. Maybe something with lots of pus and oozing sores?" I look hopefully at Adrian, who is arrested, staring at me in fascination.

"No, baby. I'm not giving you an infectious disease to poison your enemies with."

I pout, but he returns to his phone call.

"None of your damn business, Darion. If I want my omega to go spreading typhoid, then she's going to. Keep your nose out of my pack. Get ahold of him and tell him that if he's not here by dawn, I will," he pauses, and then his face darkens, "fuck it, I'll crash his bike."

Oh, damn, if that isn't one of the hottest things I"ve ever heard. I squirm on the couch, almost panting.

Kandi gasps. "You can't hurt Serge."

"I can, and I will," Adrian says firmly. "I know a guy with a crusher."

"Serge?" I whisper.

"Sven loves his bike, more than he loves most people. It's a good threat." Kandi leans back. "But will the good doctor follow through?"

"You fucking bet I will. I'm not a doctor right now, I'm just the guy he-" Adrian cuts himself off, flashing Kandi a guilty look.

"You kissed him. I know," Kandi says in a bored tone. "Honestly, I'm surprised you two waited as long as you did. Your love affair got boring about a year ago."

"Are you mad?" Adrian's cautious, but I don't care because they are actually speaking. Communication is what will save us and keep us happy until we're covered in wrinkles.

"Fuck no. It was clear as day that he loves you, and he loves me. But our darling Sven, he won't have his cake and eat it, too. I"ve been trying to get him to admit it for months. It's his determination to deny that's been driving me crazy and has been causing me to lose my shit."

"Hmmf." I cross my arms and start pacing. "Why? Does anyone know why?"

"Bits and pieces," Kandi says. She looks at Adrian, who nods in agreement.

"He's told me some, but I'm not sure it's the whole thing." He hangs up the phone, and when I slip up beside him, he pulls me into his body, kissing the top of my head.

Which is a feat because he's tall, and my ass is short.

"Hey, Kandi," I say, grinning while I stand perfectly still, clinging to the stroke of genius that's got me. "I have an idea. We need a phone to record video, and we need an alpha to record us."

Kandi glowers at me. "This isn't a good idea."

"Trust me, it's a great idea," I purr and straddle her legs, dragging myself up against her until our chests brush with every touch. She's not sure. But the minute I lean in, lowering my nose to her throat, she relaxes, her hands rising to rest on my back. All I want to do is squirm and get closer until our bodies are pressed even more firmly together. She is so soft and beautiful.

"Jade," Kandi moans.

I pull back. "Start the recording." I lean in slowly, in measured movements. The trouble with this plan is that I'm half using it as an excuse to touch the beta. I want her.

I do, and I want to know what she feels like and tastes like. I just want.

I angle my face towards her, but she turns her head at the last second. The rejection hurts, but I ignore it, pretending to kiss her, just like we said we would. I'm close enough that the air from our lungs is mixing before we both breathe it back in. The angle will make it look like we've locked lips, but in reality, there's space. I hate the space.

Her hands roam up my back, and I moan, not at all feigned. I love her hands. Her citrus scent strengthens just a little bit.

I open my eyes and watch her. What would she do if I kissed her? I'm so tempted, more than I can say, but I remember the way she turned away. I can't risk it. Instead, I thread my fingers through her hair and grind myself on her lap.

She gasps, and her head tilts back. I look at the long column of skin and lean in close, running my nose up until she's shivering.

"You're going to beg me for this one day," I whisper to the beta.

She shudders, and her fingers flex on my skin. "I think you're confused, Omega, it's you who'll be begging."

We've almost got enough, but because she challenged me, I lean forward, pressing our chests together, feeling the softness of her breasts, and the way her hips jerk. She wants me. I can feel it in the tension in her body, the way she softens under me, those pants. I lean in, pressing my cheek to hers.

"You'll keep running. As long as I have to chase you, you'll do the begging and whatever else I say."

Kandi hisses. "Wrong."

"Oh, I'm so fucking right, Beta. You want me. I don't know why you're resisting. Why all three of you are, but I'm not going to just let you go. But know this, it's going to cost you."

I stand up, ignoring her rock hard nipples, and step back. Right now, I want to strip her naked and lick every part of her body. I want to explore. I want to taste her. She watches with what can only be a predatory gleam in her eyes as I back away.

Adrian holds up a phone showing Sven's name. I walk over to it, snatch the phone out of his hand, and hang up on him.

I'm angry. I'm so freaking angry with these people. They are supposed to be mine. We're supposed to be a family. A unit. Look at us, this is awful.

I fold my arms around myself and try to imagine my life any other way. First, I imagine that they all want me and each other, and we're happy and together. The image bursts in my mind, refusing to stay. Next, I imagine myself at home, and I shudder.

I guess this isn't that bad.

"If Sven doesn't come back and join the party like he agreed to, will you leave?" I ask Adrian absently. The question has been playing at the edge of my mind.

"I should. Yes. I will leave. But I'll stay for the promised three weeks."

I squeeze my eyes closed at the pain of his admission.

Kandi moves close, but I shift away from her, putting the room between me and the two of them. Rejected thrice. My poor little heart can't stand much more.

"Well, this is fun. Let's get some dinner and watch a movie." My voice is too happy, too high, and I can't make eye contact with them.

Adrian organises to have food delivered while Kandi brings out the blankets and organises them on the couch. She sits down and opens her arms.

I don't want to want her. I hate that I crave their touch. Kandi curls her arms around me, and I find the pain easing.

She kisses my forehead and strokes my back. "It won't look so bad in the morning."

"How do you know?"

"I don't, but my mum always said it to me. I don't think she was wrong."

"Why is your house so orderly?"

Kandi chuckles. "I don't really know. Perhaps because I never feel like it's a home or because I'm always ready to move. Things aren't important to me, people are."

"I don't do well with order. I bring chaos."

"I had noticed that. But it's okay because I like a bit of chaos," Kandi whispers, and my heart lightens.

We hear a bike, and I grin happily.

"Sven's here," Adrian says and frowns deeply.

"How are we playing this?" Kandi asks. "Guilt won't work."

"Seduction will just piss him off. Last time I tried, he vanished for a month," Adrian grumbles.

My mind blanks with panic. "He vanished for a month?"

"Yeah, but he came back," Kandi says, watching me intently. "Hey, it's all right, he's here now."

I can't breathe. I keep opening my mouth, trying to suck in air, but there's nothing. Black tinges my vision, and my legs collapse.

"What's wrong with her?" Sven shouts.

"Panic attack," Kandi says near my ear. "Just relax. It's okay, you're safe."

I'm lifted into someone's arms, and then we're moving. He sits down and drags a blanket over me.

My chest tightness is easing, and I look up to find Sven staring down at me. His gaze is concerned but more, it's penetrating, like he can see deep inside me and know what triggered it.

"Here, drink this, Jade," Adrian says gently. He hands me a glass, and I take a mouthful. It burns, and I cough, but not for long.

"Where were you?" I ask Sven.

He closes his eyes as if he's in agony. I can almost feel the pain he's in, and suddenly, my wants and needs feel selfish. If being with us is so painful to him, wouldn't it be wrong to force him here?

I struggle free of his lap and pace away, finding myself on the other side of the lounge.

"You three should talk. I'm going to be in the kitchen. I'll wait for the food."

"Are you all right now?" Kandi asks.

"I'm fine."

"Sit down at the table, just in case you're still dizzy. There's a barrel of biscuits on the counter. Eat some," Sven snaps.

"Yes, Daddy," I murmur.

His glare turns scorching, and I make a mental note for later.

I sit in the kitchen on my own for a while before the doorbell rings. I can hear them talking. No one comes out, so I get up and open the front door.

Trevor smiles at me, all charm and sinister intent. His eyes are black and murderous, but maybe I'm imagining that because his eyes are brown. His hair is light brown. He's taller than average and a bit overweight. He's powerful and stronger than he looks. There's nothing special or sinister about him until he looks at me the way he's looking at me. Before I knew anything about him, my instincts screamed to be wary of a man wearing this expression. It's a face that says, ‘I will hurt you, and I will love every moment of it.'

I'm so shocked I'm almost frozen. I can't see anything but the twisted sneer of his lips and the hate-filled eyes.

"Hey, bitch. Found you!"

I slam the door on him, screaming. He fights for a moment, and then turns and runs. I open the door, going out onto the porch, trying to see where he's run off to.

"What the fuck was that?"

"He found me," I say weakly.

Sven charges out of the house, running for the street. A car starts up and squeals its tires as it takes off.

"He found me," I say louder.

Adrian spins me around and bends until his head is on my level. "I don't care if he found you. He can't have you."

"I agree," Sven says darkly. He wraps one arm around my waist, pulls me up against him, and picks me up, walking us back into the house.

Kandi and Adrian come inside and lock the door.

"Now, let's go have a chat," Kandi says and ushers us all into the lounge room.