Page 29 of Omega's Triplets

“That’s something.”

“And then, there are our scars.” He pushed up his left sleeve and showed her a dark scar along his arm. “I got this when a bike fell on me one day. I’m the only one who has it.”

“Do the others have distinctive scars?”

“I’ll let them show you, if they want to.”

“I think they probably will, won’t they?” she said. “I mean, the three of you wanted me to be your omega. I’m guessing everyone’s going to start pushing for that real soon.”

He regarded her closely. “What would your answer be?”

“I barely know you, Harley,” she said. “I think I like you, but we just met each other. And I’m not sure I like your brothers at all.”

Harley let out a single laugh that wasn’t mirthful at all. “I’m not sure how much I like them myself at the moment.”

“Do you think they’re going to make me breed?”

He scrubbed a hand across his face. This was a difficult question, for more than one reason. He didn’t know the answer, and that made it challenging. But more than that, he found he wanted to reassure Maddy. He wanted to tell her she was safe and that no one was going to make her do anything she didn’t want to do.

We won’t force you to do anything. Jamie had said that back at the hotel. But he’d spoken without consulting Mark. Would Mark feel the same way? Or would he try to overrule Jamie, as he had back at the auction?

It was troubling to realize how little trust he had in his brothers right now.

Most overwhelming of all, he realized, was he suddenly wanted to be able to tell Maddy that she was safe. He wanted to be able to give her good news, and he wanted her to feel comforted.

But if he spoke now, he would drive the wedge between himself and his brothers even deeper.

Maddy took his silence for what it was and pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything different,” she said quietly.

“I don’t know what’ll happen,” Harley said. “I don’t know what Mark and Jamie are thinking.”

She looked at him steadily, not flinching away, and Harley ached to tell her that he wouldn’t hurt her. But he couldn’t bring himself to say the words that would fracture their family.

I won’t hurt her, though, he thought fiercely.I can do that much. I won’t take her until I know she wants me.

Chapter Eight

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