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The coffee room was large, clean, and comfortably populated by persons who did not bother to look up when two alphas and an omega entered. The publican, however, was quick to serve, scraping a low bow and ushering us up the stairs before Pax mentioned his name.
“You wrote ahead?” I asked. “They know you here?”
“Naturally. I stable horses here.”
“How wealthy are you?”
“Enough.”
Jack chuckled beside me. “He spends his money on two things: horses and art.”
“And now my mates.” Pax’s seductive smile stole my breath.
The private parlour they’d taken was on the first floor and peaceful, with the windows open to admit a soft summer breeze. But my body froze as memories of Stimpson, the ugliness on his face and sharp pain when the bullet had hit me. My scent went bitter and my eyes darted about the room as if Stimpson might appear out of thin air.
“Vixen?”
“I don’t want to be here.” I pulled away from my mates and backed towards the door.
“Stimpson,” Jack growled.
“Take her to the room. Would that be better? Beatrice?”
I nodded. “Please.”
He led me to a large, well appointed bedchamber. The bed was huge and built for a pack. The moment I heard the door close, I began stripping off the borrowed dress, until I was in nothing but the chemise. Warm hands found my waist and a strong chest pressed against my back.
“You’re shivering. Get under the covers. Food will be brought to us here.” Jack kissed my head.
The bed was soft, and I sank into the scentless mattress and pillows. It was nothing like my nest but so much more preferable to the parlour, which looked like so many other parlours in an inn fit for the gentry and aristocracy. And therefore such a perfect canvas for my memories to work upon. The stench of his breath when he bent over me to whisper those horrible words.
“Omegas, always so melodramatic,” Stimpson sneered. “But you’re no good to me dead. I’ve plans for you yet. Even without your virtue intact, an omega could make me enough money to set me up for life. I’ll find a buyer for your loose holes and morals.”
I rubbed at my throat.
“Here, let me,” Pax whispered, and his hand slipped about my throat. “Why does this soothe you?”
“I don’t know…” But my heart rate slowed. I breathed in his soft pine and alpha musk. Slowly, the fear faded away as I catalogued more senses: the sound of carriages, the sight of silver eyes boring into mine. “But I like it.”
“Then we will keep doing that and anything else to keep you safe.”
I smiled. “You are not so bad… I can admit that.”
“Oh, vixen, you’ll be admitting far more than that soon.”
Outside of my heat, this was the eighth night we had shared the same bed. I was still not used to the feeling of being pinned between two large bodies, determined to touch me all night. And now, outside of the comfort and safety of my nest, I struggled to find my way to sleep.
Inside, my head was full of all kinds of thoughts.
“You are thinking very loudly,” Jack whispered in the darkness.
“Tod, we all need to be ready for this change,” I admitted, just as quietly. I shuffled so that I could look at my first love more closely in the gently flickering candlelight. “We did not finish the conversation before, but it must be had. I think that we’ve changed a great deal. I go my own way.”
“You always did.”
“I enjoy going out into society. Balls. Dancing. All of it. And I shan’t give up my friends simply because I’m your mate.”
“Don’t force me. To watch you…”
