Page 44 of Shades of Scars

“Welcome to our humble abode, sir.” Kate throws open the door, and I glance up from my spot at the kitchen table to watch Caito cock a brow at my obnoxious roommate.

“Sir?” He queries, and she shrugs, taking a step to the side so Caito can slip past her. He spots me practically hyperventilating at the table, but blessedly doesn’t say anything. He knows that sometimes I just need to work through my own shit without his input.

“You remind me of an Irish mob boss. Maybe some sort of leprechaun branch of the mob. Seems like you enjoy being calledsir.” Kate practically prances into our open plan kitchen to fetch her cup of coffee that she’d abandoned earlier. Inwardly, I groan at her analysis of the alpha that definitely shouldnotbe fucked with.

Instead of getting offended, though, Caito just snorts and shakes his head, eyes still trained on me as he comes to a stop close to where I sit. “I think your roommate needs alphas so you don’t feel obligated to stay here and keep her company. I’d love to wake up to you in my bed every day,mo chroí.” He leans down, brushing his lips against my cheek, making me shudder in response.

It should not feel that good to get a damn kiss on the cheek. Some days you’d swear I’ve resorted back to my school girl days whenever I’m around these alphas due to how I react to them.

“Oh my God,yesfuckingplease. Are you offering? In the market for two omegas?” Kate practically purrs, plopping down into the rickety chair across the table from me, and giving my alpha a coy look over the rim of her mug while she takes a sip from it. At this moment, I kind of hope the legs give out beneath her.

“Kate, seriously, I’ll shave your eyebrows off in your sleep if you suggest something like that again.” It feels good to bicker with her. That’s why I know she isn’t that serious about her thinly veiled offer. She knows how stressed out I currently am.

Caito stuffs his hands into his pockets in a move I innately know stops him from reaching out to touch me. “Nah. I’ve gotsome alpha buddies overseas that have been looking for an omega for quite some time. I can send their details or yours to them if you’d like?” He offers, because he’s just that nice of a guy.

Kate seems to ponder that, but I can see the hesitant interest sparking in her eyes. “I’ll think about it. Now that I’ve seen how stressed out Scar is with four overbearing alphas breathing down her neck, I’m not sure I’m ready to settle down. It’s easy enough to find a knot when I need one.” She shrugs like she isn’t bothered by the statement, and I arch a brow at her.

The look she gives me tells me to keep my mouth shut, so I choose not to bring up the fact that she spent her last heat two months ago holed up in her nest, sans the knots she claims are so easy to find.

“Alphas are overrated, anyway.” I shrug, finding it easy to tease Caito, the little growl he lets loose sending a delightful shudder down my spine.

“Says the omega who literally masturbates to the thoughts of her own four alphas going to town on her during her upcoming heat.” Kate blurts out before I can stop her, and I bolt to my feet, a cry of outrage slipping free from me to the sound of her unhinged cackle.

Before I can launch myself at her to strangle her to death, Caito’s soothing voice cuts in and stops me. “Your heat is nearing?” The way he makes those words sound should be entirely illegal.

When I chance a glance over at him, I swallow hard, heat suddenly pooling low in my belly at the way he’s staring at me. “I, uh, think I’m about two weeks out from one.” I admit, feeling my cheeks flame. My body has been showing all the signs the last few days. “I’d give it another two or three days before I start having the usual spikes.”

His eyes darken and swirl, and my thighs clench in response. My signature omega pheromones spike into the air around us,and my pussy flutters like a desperate butterfly at the answering rumbled purr he emits in response. When his own scent swirls with mine, I feel the beginnings of insatiable desire start to kindle deep in my core.

“Forgive me,” he murmurs, reaching out a hand to brush his knuckles over my cheek. The gentle touch is nearly enough to send me spiraling down into a state I’m not sure I’ll ever emerge from again. “I suppose I am surprised you don’t just take a suppressant, considering how we originally met.”

Before I can respond, Kate rises back to her feet, her coffee cup now empty. Tossing a look between the two of us, she says, “I need to get in the shower before my shift at the diner. Good luck today, Scar. Text me if you need anything.” She ducks in to give me a kiss on the cheek, before scurrying off into the bathroom, shutting the door softly behind her.

I meet Caito’s eyes again, and a spike of bitter anger surges through me. “I can’t take a suppressant during my heat.” I don’t know why I feel compelled to speak the truth. Perhaps it’s just an echo of the reckless omega I’m steadily morphing into.

The one that truly doesn’t give a single fuck how dangerous letting these alphas in will be.

It’s hard to care when each of them makes me feel like I can conquer the world, as long as they’re by my side.

“Why not?” I have a feeling he already knows the answer, but it’s obvious he wants to hear it from me.

I can’t stand to look at him when I say the words. One more truth I really can’t afford to let go, but I do it anyway. “It’s one of thetermsof my freedom. I must endure every heat without a knot and suppressants. And there’s no getting around it. He’ll know if I disobey. Fuck, I’m certain he already knows everything by now.” The thought should scare the absolute shit out of me, but it’s a stark relief when I discover that it doesn’t.

Especially not when Caito steps into me so he can wrap his arm around my waist, lending me his comfort without a single word. My entire body trembles as I lay my head against his shoulder, marveling at the way the tension just drains from me with the contact. I still don’t miss the way his scent shifts with his anger.

He waits a moment before he uses his other hand to lift my chin up to meet his eyes. They’re like twin pools full of glistening, raw uncut emeralds. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the way he takes my breath away with just a single look. A touch. It’s fuckingeverything. How can I possibly deny this man anything when I want nothing more than to give him every piece of me.

He already does. They all do. I just don’t think they know it yet.

I’m so damn tired of denying myself the things I want. For once in my life, I want something just for me.

“You can do whatever the fuck you want now,mo chroí. I’ll rip off the balls of any man that tries to tell you differently again.” I shudder—a typical response to these alphas lately—in response to his words, and my inner omega fucking preens at the not so idle threat spoken to me like a train passing in the night. Inconsequential.

“What does that mean?Mo chroí?” I test out the foreign word he uses often on me, but it sounds all wrong spoken from my lips.

A smile tugs at the corners of his lips. “It means my heart. My pulse. The very reason for my existence. It means that I won’t let anyone try to break your wings ever again. I’ll end them if they try.”

Be still my fucking heart. What is this alpha doing to me?

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