“Once. It was really good.” But there’s no lift in Beth’s voice. Almost as if scared.
“Was it chocolate?” Jeremy asks, trying desperately to distract the omega. But she doesn’t need distractions. She needs to know she’s safe here, and that we’ll protect her no matter what.
“Um, no,” Beth says as if struggling to remember. “It was a white cake, with berries on top.”
“That’s not a cake,” I say as I step into the kitchen. Beth spins around as if expecting a monster, but then her eyes focus on my face, and her shoulders visibly relax. “Real cake has chocolate in it.” I grin, trying to lighten the mood.
“Is that so?” Beth tries to copy my expression, but her smile doesn't reach her eyes. She looks so…muted. I fucking hate it. Someone as sweet and pure as her doesn’t deserve to live with such fear.
“Is Killian on his way home?” Jeremy asks as he pulls a bag of flour out of the pantry.
“Yes.” I move a little closer to Beth. The urge to hug her is so fucking strong. “He and Basil are on their way home right now. And you,” I say to Beth, bringing myself down to her eye level, “you aren’t allowed to worry anymore.”
Beth pulls a face like she doesn’t know what I mean. “I’m not worried.”
“Liar,” I say forcefully, and the omega’s eyes go wide, catching her off guard. “You’re worried that your father might show up here.” I let that fact hang in the air for a moment. “But we’ll protect you, Beth. I promise you have nothing to worry about.”
The small omega sucks in a deep breath, pushing it out slowly, but she doesn’t look like she feels any better. “You don’t understand,” she finally says as she touches the side of her face. The bruises there are all pretty much gone, and I can only assume her father is the one that put them there. “Burke issadistic. He’s unhinged. He won’t st-stop until he finds me.” Her voice cracks and rage pounds in my chest.
“I hope he does find you.” I snarl, flashing my teeth as I speak.
“Tristan!” Jeremy gasps, shocked I’d say something like that.
“What?” Beth shakes her head, taking a small step back, but I move with her, not letting her get away from me.
“I hope that piece of shit finds you,” I repeat. “I want that motherfucker to show up at our front door so I can tear him limb from fucking limb.” My voice comes out cold and slow, savoring every fucking word. “I want to hear his bones crack and feel his skull pop.” My voice rises as my anger grows. “I want him to know what true violence really is, before I snuff him out forever.”
Jeremy’s mouth hangs open as the color drains from his face. But Beth stares at me, her brown eyes holding mine. I can’t for the life of me figure out what she’s thinking. But I’m sure it’s not good.
The fact is, I’m a monster when I have to be. I never wanted her to know that, but there’s no hiding something like that. I pray she’s not spiraling into distress.
“Beth?” I whisper the omega’s name, trying to snap her out of her trance, but she just keeps staring, shoulders stiff and eyes wide.
I should have kept my mouth shut.
“Omega.” Jeremy touches Beth’s shoulder. “Let’s go up?—”
Beth launches herself at me, locking her arms around my neck. I catch her, but before I ask what’s happening, she crashes her mouth to mine. I’m stunned, frozen in place for a moment, but then the gorgeous omega hums, and my eyes float closed.
She’s all over me, tongue twisting with mine and hands in my hair. My arms circle her waist, holding her tighter. Closer. My heart pounds and my blood heats as I consume the sweet omegain my arms. She tastes exactly how she smells—soft and sweet, and dripping with lust.
It makes my canines ache.
“Alpha,” Beth gasps when I lick her bottom lip, before taking it between my teeth and nipping. She moans softly, melting against me, and my cock grows.
“Fuck,” I growl, able to feel her pebbled nipples through both our clothes. “You taste like heaven.”
“You too,” Beth whispers and deep crimson crawls down her cheeks and neck.
Awareness prickles my skin and I glance over. Jeremy is watching us, completely dazed with his mouth hanging open and his hard beta cock pushing at the front of his pants.
“Are you okay?” I cock one eyebrow, zeroing in on his tented pants. I want so badly to drop to my knees and suck him long and slow.
He nods and swallows hard. “Yeah. Do you want to go upstairs for a bit?” He already sounds breathless. And as badly as I want to take both of them to bed and fuck them stupid, I made a promise to my pack alpha.
“Kill and Basil will be home in an hour.” I force myself to release Beth, despite every instinct screaming to snatch her up and fuck her raw.
“No,” She pouts, refusing to release my neck. “Stay.” The desperate lift in her voice makes my cock weep pre-cum.
