Chapter Twenty-One

Silas

Now

It’s everywhere. In every single breath I take.

An omega in heat.

During my five years as chief of recruitment, I’ve supervised a lot of heat cycles. Adopting fertile omegas into our ranks was only one part of the job. The second part was making sure they had all the nourishment, nests, and knots they needed.

I venture into the cabin. White-hot instinct pumps through me.

I can hear her .

I stare at the single bed, my cock throbbing. Long auburn hair splays out across the pillow. Soft pink flesh gleams with sweat. She smells of berries and honey.

She manages to prop herself up, her glazed green eyes locking on to me.

Fuck, my inner alpha grunts, she’s gorgeous.

“Omega,” I announce myself. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Silas.”

Formalities can wait, my inner alpha rages. Omega needs to be knotted. Right. Fucking. Now.

I go on, “I’m here to take care of you.”

Her features pinch together, like she’s not quite sure if I’m real.

“I know you’re confused,” I tell her, “but I assure you, this is for your own safety.”

Still she says nothing. I fight the urge to slip into her nest—slip into her —before I’ve even undressed. For all my experience with heats, I can barely control myself. My pheromones surge toward her, determined to mark her as her mine as I wrap her around my knot.

“Sweet omega,” I purr. “May I enter your nest?”

Her scent bitters. She grips the sheets.

“Apologies.” I hang back—best she doesn’t see my raging erection until after we’re on a first-name basis. “What should I call you, little one?”

“K–Kane.”

I frown. Kane ?

“Where’s …” she swallows, “ Kane ?”

She must mean the rogue I dealt with outside. I could retrieve him for her, though the idea makes my inner alpha grumble.

“He’s nearby,” I answer at last.

Her glare sharpens. I don’t need to be an expert in omegas to know what it means.

“Alright.” I grit my teeth. “Listen to me closely, omega. I can’t leave you while you’re in this state—” unlike certain others, “— so if you want Kane, you’ll need to chirp for him. Do you understand?”

I’m surprised how quickly she answers—a short, desperate noise in the back of her throat.

“Good girl.” I stroke her hair. “So brave.”

Her eyes water. “Brave?”

That’s my opening . I inch closer, cupping her cheek in my hand. “Very brave.”

I mean it. To be out here, with no-one but that barbarian thug to rely on, for days of agonizing heat … this omega is a survivor.

It makes me want to mount her all the more.

Just as I unhook my belt, there’s a loud bang at the front door. I barely look up as the rogue— Kane— storms in.

“Alpha,” the omega breathes. “Alpha?”

He growls. “I’m here, omega.”

“I’m sorry,” she sobs. “I–I don’t want to die.”

Kane casts me a look. The told-you-so in my glare must be sufficiently convincing.

“You’re not gonna die,” he asserts, crawling over her. “I’m gonna take care of you.”

At that, the omega’s eyes flick to mine, no doubt reminded of my own words. Kane captures her attention with a devouring kiss. She gasps, arches, pushing her breasts against his chest. He snarls approvingly.

While I stand at the edge of the bed, so hard I can barely move.

I can’t deny the fire between them as their bodies writhe and overlap. Nor can I deny my irritation. This idiot’s been sitting on his ass for days, letting her suffer, and now he wants to take charge?

He’s doing it all wrong. Getting her worked up when she’s already at a breaking point.

I grab the back of his neck. “If you don’t put your knot in her,” I warn, “ I will .”

The omega’s breath hitches. I can scent the delicious wave of slick that pours out of her, and yet … she’s trembling.

Just like that, Kane stops snarling at me. He makes a throaty noise that could be a purr.

“Omega,” he gets out. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”

There’s something I’m missing. For all the care he’s shown this omega, he must have had a reason for refusing her heat. He can’t afford to break her trust. I see that now.

Luckily I have no such allegiance.

Kneeling into the mattress, I nudge Kane aside. The omega’s body draws me in—clenched thighs softening instinctively. “Is this your first time, omega?” I ask softly.

She shrinks. Kane’s scent turns bloodthirsty.

“That’s none of your fucking business,” he snaps.

Maybe not. But it would sure be helpful to know if I’m about to make this poor, sweet omega bleed.

She doesn’t resist as I run my hands up her calves, gently prying her knees apart. Arousal floods the room, making Kane groan.

“Your pants,” I order him, “take them off.”

For the first time since we’ve met, he doesn’t argue. I hastily unbutton myself. The omega’s eyes trail down, widening as I take my cock in my hand and give it a couple readying pumps.

My free hand finds hers. “Squeeze if you want me to stop.”

All she can do is blink. Her pink lips part with anticipation.

“Wait—” Kane growls, but I’m already nudging in. “ Fuck .”

The tip of my cock sings. Her pussy sucks me in, demanding more, but I take it slow. Watching as her sweet features melt with relief.

“There you go,” I purr. “Taking me so, so well.”

Her walls flutter. I catch a groan in the back of my throat. Beside us, Kane is oddly quiet, mesmerized. He strokes himself to match my pace.

“Feel good?” he grunts. I know he’s talking to the omega when she tilts her head back. He kisses her, and it’s like her whole body opens, letting me in the rest of the way.

Holy … god .

Her pussy grips my cock in a velvety chokehold. I can’t hold back anymore.

I rock my hips, drawing in and out with long, even strokes. She looks shocked every time I hit home. Shocked, but not in pain, so I do it harder—cramming every last inch into her hot, tight hole.

“Take it easy,” Kane grumbles. “You’re fuckin’ huge.”

The omega moans in agreement. She pulls her hand out of mine, and I halt, only to watch as she reaches for Kane instead.

I’ll choose not to take offence to that, omega.

He squeezes in next to her while I resume my long, deep thrusts. God, she’s soft—her walls molding around me, learning my shape.

I keep drilling. Harder. Faster. She squeals into another of Kane’s bruising kisses. I want to yank him off her—those sweet sounds belong to me— but I can’t deny she’s more relaxed with him around.

“Ah,” she gasps. “A … alpha!” She digs her nails into my bicep.

“Feeling good, little one?” I slow my thrusts, emphasizing each word. “Your hot … tight … pussy is all for me.”

She whines, and Kane darkens. “Hey.”

“That’s my good omega,” I purr, ignoring him.

“She’s not your anything,” Kane snarls.

I slide one hand beneath the omega’s waist, pulling her up my cock. Her eyes roll back with a strangled cry.

Goddamn. If she makes another noise like that, I won’t be able to hold back.

Kane fists his leaking cock like he’s trying not to burst. “Fucking hell.”

The omega claws at me some more. “Knot. N—need it.”

She could ask for the moon and sun and stars and I wouldn’t bat an eye. As long as I’m buried this deep inside her, she is mine .

And I take care of what’s mine.

“Rogue,” I bite out, “you just gonna sit there, or are you gonna help me make her come?”

Kane follows my gaze, grinning wolfishly. Credit where it’s due—he’s an apt multi-tasker: kissing and sucking at her neck, jerking himself off, and, finally, working his other hand down her stomach.

“Fuck yes.” He strums her clit. “Come on, bunny. Let me have it.”

She lets out a choked sound like she’s trying to warn me. Her orgasm is coming, hard, and she’s dragging me along with her.

“Take a breath, sweet girl,” I grunt, “I’ll give it to you … that’s it … that’s … oh, god .”

Kane growls as the omega breaks apart, his fingers never slowing, extending her pleasure. My knot swells, and I thrust it in, coming with a groan.

“Alpha!” the omega squeals.

Pleasure roars down my legs, surging up my knot—wave after wave of white-hot climax, my inner alpha doing everything in his power to make sure she’s filled to the brim. I sink down to my forearms, caging her in.

Faintly I hear Kane snarl, his hand trapped between us, but I don’t give a damn. I need to be closer to her.

“Woah. Hey, hey, hey.” Kane sits up. “What is it?”

Only then do I hear the omega’s sniffles. I pull back just enough to check her face—her puffy, glittery eyes.

“Get out,” Kane snaps, at me now. “Right fucking now.”

I don’t even look at him. “Can’t.”

“Like hell!”

“Do I really need to explain to you how knots work?”

We’re both surprised when the omega speaks up. “It’s okay,” she whispers.

Kane leans in, squeezing her hand. “You hurtin’, bunny?”

She shakes her head, the tiniest ghost of a smile gracing her lips. “No,” she answers. “Doesn’t hurt anymore.”

She dares to meet my eye.

And in that moment, I swear I’ve seen a miracle.