12. Jade

twelve

Iknow what I'm doing is all kinds of wrong, but I can't help it. I take three steps and pause behind the geranium bush. Where is he? Ah, there he is. It's late, like really late. I've padded the bed with pillows and snuck out the window.

Adrian's out here somewhere, and I need to talk to him. I need to tell him that he doesn't have to stay. He can leave. I sniff, already perilously close to tears. I'll be the bigger person and let the alpha go.

He moves again, and I quickly pad after him. Only to find that he's disappeared completely. I move out into the open and grumble when I realise he's managed to evade me again.

"What are you doing out here?"

I freeze because that's not Adrian, that's Sven. "I'm looking for Adrian."

"He's inside, curled up on the window seat in his attic. Probably watching us right now," Sven growls, and there's something darker, something menacing about his tone. "You should run, little fox."

"Fox?"

"Cunning, diabolical little fox." I try to turn, but as soon as I move, his hands land on my shoulders, holding me still. He moves closer, the heat of his body warming mine.

"I'm not cunning. I'm just me."

A low growl pierces the night, right near my ear. "You shouldn't be out here. You make me lose control," Sven growls. "Maybe that's your plan."

I frown, but my nerves are shot. I don't think he will hurt me, but the way he's speaking doesn't sound like him, either.

His fingers tighten on my shoulders, and he leans down. I can feel it as he runs his nose through my hair. It should be creepy, but it's not. It's hot. I squirm, my chest heaving as I fight every instinct I have and try to remain still.

One of his hands leaves my hip, trails up my side, leaving a path of burning sensation. My knees feel weak, and I lean back into him.

"You want me."

It's not a question, so I don't answer him. A low sound breaks from my throat, and his growl drowns it out. His hand completely misses my breast but slides up over my chest to encircle my throat.

He tightens his fingers and drags me back so my entire weight is resting on him. My eyelashes flutter closed, and then open again to find him staring down at me with huge black eyes.

Wait.

"Sven?"

He ducks his head down, and I lean to the side, angling my face towards his. I can smell the mint chewie he had on his breath as it bathes my face.

Oh, god, please kiss me. Please. He ducks down closer. His lips just barely graze mine, but it feels like an explosion has gone off inside me. He pulls back, and I stand up on my tiptoes, chasing him, but just before we touch, he steps back, completely letting me go.

I whirl around as he walks behind the trees. There's no other option. I have to follow him. Licorice is in the air stronger than ever, so powerful.

"Kandi broke up with me," Sven says conversationally.

"I'm sorry."

"Are you?"

"No."

"You don't pull your punches. I like that."

I smile at that as he walks further away from me. I follow like there's a string tied between us. I can't help it. His back muscles flex under his tight t-shirt, and I find myself absorbed with watching how they move.

"Do you shave your head?"

"Such a personal question, Miss Greenway. I'll allow you one." He turns his head back. "Yes."

"What colour is your hair?"

"Dark brown. But that was two. Why don't you get on a bus and find somewhere far away?"

I glare at the nape of his neck. "Because this is my home, and I won't be chased away. Not by a bully, not by my family, and certainly not by you."

Sven pauses but doesn't turn around. "Interesting."

"What is?"

"You're this victim, bruised and broken, but that's not who you are at all. You have a fire to succeed, to keep what's yours. I find it fascinating."

"I'm not sure it's a compliment coming from you."

"Oh, don't mistake me, it's not," Sven says with a grin over his shoulder. "I think you're foolish, pushing this need to stay in a city with people who want to hurt you, who dislike you. Pushing for a pack that doesn't exist."

I flinch but straighten my shoulders. "I'm not scared, Alpha. It will be worth it when I'm wearing your bond."

He turns so suddenly that I'm almost tripping as I step back. He catches me in three steps, gripping my upper arms tight. "You should be scared of me. Terrified." He's growling, but the scent in the air, it's so strong, it's rich, it's intense.

Intoxicating.

"And yet, I know you won't hurt me."

"How do you know that?" Sven growls, his tone sending shivers up my spine.

"For the same reason,I know you're my alpha. My heart tells me it's true. You'll give into me, Alpha. Of that I can promise you. You will be mine."

"You sound insane," Sven hisses.

"Perhaps I am, but you're still going to be mine, Alpha." My purr comes out challenging, and I can't hide the grin that stretches across my face.

"You really are a fox," he whispers. There's a delightful mix of awe and horror in his voice.

I tilt my head to the side and bite the inside of my cheek. "No, I'm just an omega who knows what she wants." I lift my arms as much as I can and rest them on his stomach, ignoring the way his fingers flex around my upper arms. "I want you."

He visibly shudders, his eyes closing for a moment before he recollects himself. "I'm not going to fall for your manipulations."

"I'm not going to manipulate you, Sven. I'm going to stay right here with your alpha and your beta, and they're going to be mine, and when you can't resist the three of us, you'll be mine, too."

"You're fucking crazy."

"For you," I coo at him, and then laugh. "You should see the look on your face!"

He throws me away from him, and I'm caught in another pair of muscular arms.

"What are you doing here, Addy? Checking up on me?" Sven grumbles.

"Just making sure," Adrian says. "Come on, Jade."

Everything in me wants to protest. Sven belongs with us, and despite my teasing, I can see the pain in his eyes, the torment. Something is wrong with him. There's a reason, but we won't know unless we push.

"Come with us, Sven."

He snorts hard. "I don't think so."

With one last long glare at Adrian and me, he turns on his heel and disappears.

Adrian sighs heavily and turns me back towards the house. "Inside."

"Ya know, as much as I love the cave dweller look on you. I think it's only fair that we establish some boundaries and courtesies before we enter this relationship. Take you, for example. I can see you like to issue polite suggestions in a growly and rude manner. What you really mean is ‘come inside, sweet omega, where it's safe. I was worried about you'." I peer over my shoulder at the big alpha. "I'm right, aren't I?"

He presses his lips into a firm line.

"While I," I continue, touching my chest with my fingertips, just to get a thrill when his eyes follow. "Will simply do as I wish to do, and what I really mean when I ignore your caveman orders is ‘I love your concern, but you"re wrong, and I'm doing it, anyway'. How does that sound, Adrian? Hmm, wait, can I call you Addy, too?"

"No."

"I want a nickname," I grumble and fold my arms over my chest as he pushes open the front door.

Kandi, bless her heart, swings into the porch from the roof, landing heavily behind us. I turn back, fascinated with the way she moves.

"That," I point out, "was really hot."

Kandi winks at me and squeezes past me into the house. Her entire front brushing up against me.

"Phew!" I say and fan myself. "Are you sure you don't want to be with me? I could really use a knot right now? Or a beta with a wicked tongue."

Adrian swallows hard and jerks his eyes off me. It's fun to watch the adam"s apple in his throat bob so frantically.

"Don"t worry, Alpha, I won't jump you in your sleep. Can't promise that in a week, though. I"ve never been through a heat before off the drugs. They normally take the edge off enough that when mum locks me in my room for the week, it's bearable. This is going to be exciting."

Adrian, who was reaching for a glass, turns, and the entire shelf falls behind him. He stares at me, uncaring of the glass, but I'm shocked. He doesn't even notice.

"Adrian, are you all right?" I step closer, but Kandi grabs me from behind and puts me on the table.

"Stay."

I grumble as the beta goes into the pantry and comes out with a dustpan and broom.

"You okay?" I ask the frozen alpha.

He blinks, really slowly, but still doesn't respond.

"Hey, Adrian, what's the matter?" I slide off the table, but he explodes into action, picking me up. I wrap my legs around him and search his face.

"Your mother locked you in your room during your heats?"

I snort a laugh. "Yeah, to keep me pure. When I was alone, the first thing I went and did was find a doctor who prescribed me suppressants, and then I doused my heats. But, alas, the drugs are gone, and it's coming. I can feel it now."

He lets out a savage growl and turns. Kandi's crouched on the floor staring at the glass, but she's not sweeping it up.

"So, you wouldn't have any relief?" Kandi asks hoarsely.

I look between the two of them. "Well, no. But it's okay-"

"That's not okay," Adrian rasps out. He peels me off him, opens his mouth, shuts it abruptly, and whirls towards the front door. "I need a minute."

The door slams shut, leaving me with the beta. She glances up at me and looks away.

I sigh heavily. "I overshared again, didn't I?"

"Just a little."

"Will he be okay?"

"Oh, sure, when he stops imagining tearing the throats out of your parents' bodies. He'll be fine." She stands up and empties the glass into the bin.

"I do that sometimes. Well, a lot. I get nervous, and I overshare. It's uh, a thing."

Kandi glances at me, and with a tiny smile, closes the distance between us. She grips my hands and holds them. "Apparently, so is twisting those poor fingers into different shapes."

"Ah, yes. That."

"Sven and Adrian don't let anyone in. People don't include them or talk to them much. They are happy to be on their own for the most part. I think that perhaps they don't know what to do with you. And when you say things like that with so much indifference, it brings out their protective instincts."

"So, I should stop. That would be the right thing to do?"

"Sure. Stop." Kandi hesitates. "Or you could just be you and let the cards fall where they fall."

"I like how your brain works, Kandi."

Kandi leans in closer, and I stiffen, watching her intently as that citrus scent drugs me into a happy stupor.

She's going to kiss me. Oh, my, she's going to kiss me. How's my breath? Can't check right now. Damn it. I hope I don't embarrass myself. She's so beautiful.

Kandi pulls away, a mug from the table in her hands and a knowing, evil smile on her lips.

No! That was cruel and humiliating.

I fold my arms under my breasts and glower at her.

"Something wrong, Omega?"

"Yes," I snap. I slide off the table and stalk into the kitchen. She turns to face me, and I reach up and grab her hair at the nape of her neck.

"I can't stop thinking about kissing you. What you taste like," I snarl at her. "And you keep teasing me."

"So? What are you going to do about it?"

The seductive challenge in her voice sets my arousal on fire. I stand up on my tiptoes and brush my nose along her jawline. She's so soft compared to the alphas. Everything about her is different. Even where our chests meet, feeling her breasts press against me is a different kind of torture.

"Kiss me," I demand.

She turns her head towards me, just a little. My lips brush the corner of hers.

"Kandi, kiss me," I whine. "Please."

She inhales on a shudder and turns her face towards me, our mouths latch together, her tongue presses into my mouth, flooding me with citrus, the softness of her lips is so erotic that I'm instantly lost in her. In seconds, I'm lost to her.

She tears her mouth away and ignores my whimpers. "There. You got what you wanted. Go to bed."

I sink back onto my heels and glare at her. "Kandi, I can smell how wet you are. I know you want me. You can pretend, but at the end of the day…you want me, and I want you, too."

Kandi turns away from me, her body brushing mine. It's so frustrating that I just stare while she, too, runs from me. Eventually, I go to bed, but my dreams are full of frustrating depictions of me chasing my alphas and my beta through a maze of my own making.