Page 55 of Unravel Me

Strangely enough, I don't mind it. I hated Mark's jealousy, but whatever's driving Mauro feels entirely different.

Veyron shoots Mauro a look, one eyebrow raised, but doesn't comment on it.

I take the phone and say, "If you don't mind, I'll step out onto the patio for a minute."

The moment I try to stand, though, a violent wave of dizziness crashes over me. My legs nearly give out beneath me, and I almost collapse, but Veyron, who's sitting closest, catches me around the waist.

That turns out to be a mistake.

Mauro is on him in an instant, shoving him back so hard that Veyron's hands lose contact with my waist.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Veyron growls, stepping forward with the classic alpha posture that says he's ready for a fight.

Mauro doesn't give an inch. A heartbeat later, they're standing chest to chest, low, vibrating growls rumbling from both their throats in an open alpha-only challenge.

Before either of them can do anything, Renato Santoro intervenes. He slips into the narrow space separating them, pressing one hand against each man's chest, and something fascinating happens. The instant he touches them, the aggression drains out of both alphas, and with it, the tension filling the room eases. They take a step back, leaving Renato standing between them like a mediator.

"Gentlemen," he says calmly, "I understand that Jared is an exceptionally beautiful omega, but I'm sure you're both aware that this kind of behavior won't lead anywhere good. Control your instincts. This is a respectable home, and we behave accordingly."

Really, I should be the one saying something, putting an end to this. For some reason, though, I don't want to. Maybe it's because, in a strange way, Mauro's behavior is kind of… sexy. Wild, yes. Intense, yes. Maybe even unnecessarily so. Simply hot!

As far as appearances go, both Mauro and Veyron are ridiculously attractive young alphas. Veyron has a cuter, boyish kind of handsomeness, with striking light copper eyes and copper curls, while Mauro's look is darker, more classically masculine. They both have incredible bodies, too. I'm almost certain they train regularly. I don't know what sport either of them plays, but neither physique comes from sitting around all day.

Renato glances toward me before saying, "Why don't we step out onto the patio and give Jared a chance to talk to his cousin in peace?"

I instantly feel guilty that everyone has to leave the room just so one person can make a phone call. Before I can even protest, though, they're already heading outside.

Through the glass doors I watch Renato say something quietly to Veyron while Mauro stands beside them, calm on the surface, though his eyes never leave Veyron for a second.

Dear Fate… this is so weird.

In normal circumstances I would put them both firmly in their place. I'm very used to unwanted male attention, and I've developed some neat ways of dealing with their pushiness.

So why am I just letting this happen? They're practically competing over me, and somehow I don't stop it.

My eyes focus on Mauro because… well. Because I just want to stare at him, okay? It gives me a strange, tingly pleasure.

Standing out on the patio, the sunlight catches his hair. Indoors it looked almost black, but now the light brings out deep burgundy-red highlights I'd never noticed before. His skin is beautiful too, lightly tanned with a warm golden tone.

I catch myself staring instead of making the call, my eyes lingering on the way his chest fills out his shirt and on how perfectly his biceps stand out beneath the tight black fabric.

Okay… enough of the ogling, Jared!

Time to call Alex.

He picks up after the second ring.

"Veyron? What's going on?" His voice is strained with worry.

"No, it's me. Jared."

A sharp, furious exhale crackles through the speaker.

"Jared, for fuck's sake! I've been losing my mind over here!"

"I'm so, so sorry, Alex! I went into heat, my phone fell into the mud and stopped working, and I was deep in the forest. I waited it out in a small ranger's cabin because I was afraid that going back out around people in that condition could've ended badly if I ran into any alphas."

Alex lets out a long breath.