Page 12 of Fierce Claim

“I know. It’s just...” When it comes to Vera, I tend to default to checking in with Caleb first. He’s her first Alpha and they’ve been together for years. It feels strange to not defer to him and just do whatever, like I do with Mathew. With Vera, it’s... It’s different.

She’s my Omega, as much as Mathew is, so there’s no real reason for what I do, but I also feel it’s more correct, more polite.

I think we all defer to Caleb in our own ways.

Vera does it because she’s known him the longest and when she’s unsure or not feeling well, she always looks for him first. Mathew does it, probably because Caleb is one of his Alphas but also because he clearly respects the man, Caleb has taken over most of Mathew’s personal security and he feels safe around him. I do because...

I do it because I respect him. And because he’s usually the one who keeps the clearest head. He’s also the one who knows what it’s like to live with a bonded Omega and tends to know the best things to do in situations that are brand new to me.

Also, because he’s fucking scary when he gets angry… If I manage to truly anger him, he could kill me without even blinking and I don’t want to risk that.

“Jorge?” Caleb calls after me. “See if Eli has some of those yogurt squeezy things. If Mathew is this affected, Vera and Riley might not be in any state to leave the nest right now. It would be best if they could eat a full breakfast, but if not, those things are better than nothing.”

Oh, right. Yes. That makes a lot of sense.

“Will do.” I glance at Mathew, who’s chewing away on his breakfast, though the flush on his skin is getting deeper and he seems to be lost in thought again. Luckily, they seem happier than before, if his grin is anything to go by.

Another heat. But this time it’s with three Alphas and two Omegas.

That’s going to be interesting.

I open the door to the kitchen, finding Eli sitting at the back, Derrick at his side, who is intently looking at his tablet, mumbling to himself.

“Hi!” Eli stands up, wiping his hands on a towel. “Do you need a second round? I can fry you up some more eggs, but I’m afraid it will be without tomatoes or mushrooms, I’ve ran out of those and the delivery won’t be in for another hour or two.”

“No. Thanks. Do you have some of those squeezy yogurt things left? The ones we had when Mathew and Vera were in heat?” It was the easiest way to get something in them that was more substantial than cooled fruit and it didn’t make a mess.

“Yeah, sure.” Eli opens one of the large fridges and hands me one. “Anything else?”

“Another one?” I grin.

“You know it’s much easier to just have a bowl of the stuff, right?” He hands me a second one.

“They’re not for me. We think Mathew and Vera have gone into heat again and Vera and Riley haven’t had breakfast yet. They’ve also not been out of the nest yet...” I sigh. “So, ehhh... We might not be needing any meals for the next few days. But things that they can eat while they’re in the nest would be great.”

“I’ll prepare a few things.” Eli smiles. “You go be with your mates.” He pushes me out of the kitchen.

I stare at the two pouches in my hands. This isn’t enough energy for them if Vera is already in heat. But it’s better than nothing.

Right.

Let’s see if Caleb’s prediction is correct.

6

Riley

Vera smells so sweet. Her honey pheromones are all over the nest and all over me and it makes me want to lick her skin to see if she tastes as good as she smells. I’ve got my arms all around the small Omega, our bare skin touching as much as we can and her warm body promising of even better sensations.

She pushes up, looking down at me, her eyes glazed over and her lips slightly apart as she takes shallow breaths. She’s stunning and so damn fuckable.

I reach up, running my thumb over her plump lips and she opens her mouth, letting my thumb slip inside and then starts sucking on it.

Heat pools between my legs, though it feels different from normal, more intense, and so fucking good.

I stare at her face, at the way her lips are wrapped around my thumb, at the flush over her skin, and I struggle to look anywhere else. She’s got me under her spell and I don’t want to break it. I like being hers. I wish we could be like this forever.

I barely know her, but I already can’t be without her. I guess that’s the power of finding your scent match.

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