AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I bare my teeth in a confident smile when he stops beside me, our shoulders brushing. He lets out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping.
“I can’t resist anymore. I can read the writing on the wall. Let me know what you need.” Then he walks out of the room.
Change the terms of the agreement. I smirk to myself and then start making the bed.
That’s the first thing I’m going to be negotiating, and unlike Taylor, Scarlet is going to find I don’t play fair or even. I play for keeps.
nineteen
Scarlet
The knocking on the door wakes me. I reach for my phone and check the time. Almost midnight. Who the hell is here? I’d spent hours cleaning my cottage when I got back. My visitors trashed it. But, strangely, I found a chest that had clothes from the pack in it, Gold’s whiskey scent-soaked jumper, Acton’s shirt, Jet’s pants, and a tie from Taylor. One of them must have brought it here for me. But I can’t imagine why they didn’t say anything. I get up and crack open the door only to yank it back when Bar bounces into my cottage, followed by Acton.
“Um, what are you two doing here?”
“Sleepover,” Bar says happily.
I watch him look around. There’s no judgment, just curiosity. He spots the bed and walks over to it, sitting down and bouncing a little. He pulls off his t-shirt and lays down, rubbing and rolling his scent into my bedding. It’s so adorable that I find myself just staring at him in bemusement.
Acton stands in the doorway awkwardly, he clears his throat and puts a bag on the couch. His sheer size makes my cottage feel tiny. I wonder if he’s thinking he might break something. Hell, I’m wondering if he might break something. But I like it. Him being here, in my space. It feels…right.
“Come in and…” I trail off. Get into bed? Sit at the table all night? Freeze on my wooden floor? What exactly do I offer here?
“Acton, come get into bed. You’re going to cuddle us both.”
I jerk a startled look at the alpha, and to my intense surprise; his cheeks turn pink. I bite my bottom lip as he levels a heavy glare my way.
“Not a word.”
I hold my hands up and then wave him through. “Please, come get into bed and cuddle us.” I bite my lower lip again and stare at the floor.
He sniffs.
I wait until they take their shoes off, and then I climb in beside Bar. He snags my waist and swings me over him and into the middle. I peer up at Acton and feel my cheeks burn. Our eyes meet, but I quickly pull away.
It takes a bit of squeezing and shifting until we all get comfortable. I end up nose to nose with Bar, while Acton is wrapped around me from the back, his large hand sitting heavy on my waist. I try to ignore it.
“Do you know I grew up in a family that wasn’t terribly well off? But my parents were great. I had a happy life. I was the first omega in my family.” Bar kisses my nose and laughs as I swipe the spot. “They were so happy. I was so happy. I loved to be loved. I loved the attention. Being in a room and having all eyes on me was like my favourite thing.”
I watch him remember, the love he has for his family bleeds into his voice. He grins and I lean forward and kiss the tip of his nose. His smile is wicked and inviting.
“I loved to dance, the gifts, the way alphas cared for me, the envy from other omegas and betas. It was all so intoxicating. Jet was the first of the pack I scented. I was in a room of cloying perfumes at a nightclub, and his just struck me dumb. One minute I was having the time of my life, the next I was following the scent to the carpark, standing in front of the car, headlights shining on me. I hadn’t even seen him yet. I just knew.”
“They courted me so well, Scarlet. I’ll show you all the gifts one day. But it was incredible, that whirlwind few weeks. My whole life changed, and I found that just being with them was enough. More than enough.”
“You were made for us,” Acton rumbles. I feel his breath in my hair and shiver.
“Do you know the worst thing about being an omega?”
I shake my head. I could guess, but I’m not an omega, and I don’t know or understand.
“It’s the assumptions that people make about who you are and how you should be. Lack of control, putting your lives in the hands of other people, and you just have to hope and pray they are enough. You have to hope they want to protect you, care for you, shelter you. You have to know your own worth, what you’re betting.”
I shudder as Acton’s hand clenches on my hip.
“I like superficial things, but I like deep things, too. I run my own business. I can cook. I can clean. I’ll make you laugh. I’ll cuddle with you, play with you. I’ll be your best friend.”
I frown, the almost desperate words are ripping me apart. I press my fingers to his lips to stop the stream of words. “Where are you going with this, Bar?”
