Page 38 of Scent of Sanctuary

Jonah snorts as a loud sound thuds against the door. “Keeping her locked up because you want an Omega is not the way to go.”

“It doesn’t matter what you think, Jonah. She’s not yours.”

Jonah pushes back anyway, my heart in my throat. “I just want to see her. She’s my best friend’s baby sister, and all I want is to know she’s okay. All three of you keeping her hidden from me and why? What’s the point?”

Lyle snorts, his next words for me. “She’s perfectly fine. Aren’t you, baby girl?”

I clear my throat, wanting all of this to be over but knowing that I need to keep my voice steady. “Yes, I’m fine. Hi, Jonah. I’m glad you’re back in town, but I’m just not ready to see anyone.”

Jonah laughs, the sound forced and it makes me feel uneasy. “They keeping you fed in there? Let me see you, Fifi. Just gotta check on you. I’m beginning to think something is wrong.”

I can’t argue with that especially since there’s some part of me that knows he’ll try and come back when my Alphas aren’t here. “You can open the door, Lyle.” I hope he hears the wariness in my voice and how unsettled I am. I move away from the door completely, stepping closer to the living room.

“You sure, Fi?”

I manage a small yes as the door creaks open, Jonah’s wild grin spreading across his face. I hold my breath as he steps inside, his sudden movement making me gasp but Lyle’s got me. He drags Jonah back by the collar. “Fuck that bullshit, Jonah. You wanted to see that she’s okay but that doesn’t give you the right to touch.”

He lets out a low whistle, his gaze dipping to my belly.. “Oh, they got you pregnant. Who’s the daddy? Can’t be sweet Lyle over here.”

Something tickles my nose, steadily growing stronger until I realize it’s Jonah’s scent that I’m having a problem with. I place protective hands over my belly, stepping back further. “You’ve seen me. Please leave.” When he doesn’t immediately listen to me, I glance over at Lyle who’s still got Jonah by the scruff of his neck.

My Alpha catches the panic and terror in my expression, dragging Jonah back outside without another word. The door slams behind him, jiggling on the hinges before cracking back open, letting me hear the full brunt of Lyle’s anger. “I was going to tell you to get lost, you asshole, like we have been doing for weeks. But Seraphina gave you a chance. What the fuck were you going to do? Charge at her?”

“Get off me, you big lug!” From what I can see, Jonah shoves Lyle off. “I don’t see a mark on her neck. Where did you claim her or did you forget to do that part?”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Lyle draws back a fist before letting it connect with Jonah’s face. “She invited you in as a courtesy, not as a guarantee. Stop asking about her, calling her, texting her. You’ve lost any privilege at all that you thought you had.”

There’s some other muffled disagreement that I don’t catch, Lyle stepping back through the door a second later. He immediately apologizes, my flight or flight response triggered until his scent hits me and I remember that this ismyAlpha, the one that just protected me. I wait until he locks the door and then step up into his chest, needing his warmth.

“I’m so sorry, baby, I had no idea he would do that.”

“It’s… it’s not that.” I’m trying to stay present, to keep from sinking into the nightmare that happened over three years ago but I can’t. And I’m not sure how I didn’t pick it up before. “His scent… that’s him. He… that’s him.” A sob tears through me as I sag against Lyle unable to believe that one of the Alphas who attacked had been so close to me.

Lyle strings his arms around me, pulling me closer. “What do you mean, Fi?”

“From that night. It washim.” I bury my face in my Alpha’s chest as he picks me up and carries me to the bedroom, into my nest.How could you?I whisper to myself, wanting to throw those words at Jonah. My brother had trusted him, loved him, brought him over at times. And this is how Jonah repaid him? By trying to steal my first heat?

And for what?

I don’t even know that I’m crying until I hear Lyle whispering in my ear that he’s got me and that Jonah won’t ever get close again. I curl up tighter to my Alpha, trying to block the memories of that night. The soft rumble of Lyle’s purr guides me into a peaceful sleep, allowing me to give into my Omega and just rest. However, I know that beneath his purr is rage, a feeling spreading through me, vibrating like it’s my own emotion.

I should be terrified and yet, I’m grateful. Grateful that someone else can fight this battle for me. That I’ll no longer have to deal with this nightmare alone.

When Lyle presses a kiss to my forehead and tells me to let go, this time, I do.

Lyle

Itrytoreinin my anger as I sit at the kitchen counter, my hand around the back of Ambrose’s neck to keep him charging out the front door. I waited until they got home to say anything, knowing that Jonah’s life would be in danger. As much as I want to rip his head off his shoulders, I need to know who else was in the room that night—a secret Seraphina finally gave up.

It hadn’tjustbeen Jonah and now I’m worried that the fucker has inserted himself much deeper into her life than we even know.

The fact that she broke downagain, whispering that she could still smell had me fighting my instincts to protect her. Instead, I drew up a bath and held her to my chest long enough for her to fall asleep, gently scenting her cheeks and her neck. Only then, did I dry her off and deposit her back in her nest, just in time for the other two to walk in.

Callum’s glaring at me, no doubt weighing his options. “I’m glad you said it when we got here rather than over the phone. Jesus Christ. Did she tell you anything?”

“She mentioned guys, likemultiple. I think Jonah feels like he’s owed her or some bullshit. It’s the only explanation for his renewed attention now that he’s back.” I already told them about his impromptu visit. I’m glad I didn’t trust the fucker to just step into my house or things could have been worse.

A deep growl tears from the Alpha in my grip, his jaw pulled tight even as he leans back into my palm. “You don’t think he set the fire to force her out of the house, do you?”

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