Page 163 of Bliss & Her Idols

He marches across the bed, burying his hand in Cricket’s hair and hauling him to his feet.

He drags Cricket into his arms, staring into his eyes. “I hope that one day, you won’t need to ask that question. I would spend every dime that I have on all three of my little darlings.”

“How many dimes do you have?” I wave around at the dusty bedroom.

“Ouch, the wolf goes for the throat again.” Torin hesitates, as if he’s working out how to explain. “In this house, I was stashed where I could be forgotten. I grew up with nothing…less than the Idols had. I wouldn’t have survived without those Betas’ help. They’re my heroes. I had a trust fund from my parents, however, which I could only access when I turned twenty-one. I’m certain that my brothers and sisters have forgotten about it. I want to keep it that way for the moment. It’s why I haven’t touched it. But let’s simply put it that I’m independentlyextremely wealthy.”

I cock my head, studying him. “You’re scheming.”

“Always. Aren’t you?”

I rub Jin’s hand between mine. “You hate your family.”

“Do I?”

I can’t work out the tone in Torin’s voice. It’s cool but also, tinged with a deep melancholy.

“Bee is asking why you’d bring us back to the Idol Estate.” Cricket shakes his hair free of Torin’s hold. “I’d never return to my family, now that I know what it’s like to be part of a pack who don’t control and beat me. Won’t we be under the power of your Head Alpha, Mena? This estate is scarily isolated in the forests. I know the danger of living with a family who has territory that’s cut off from everyone else. They can act however they like in secret. I’m scared for us, Alpha.”

Shit, I should have realized that this would be triggering for Cricket.

One may be a poor Omega and the other a billionaire Alpha, but their childhoods are actually similar.

They understand each other because of it.

Yet it worries me because if Cricket is scared, then he knows that there is reason to be.

Torin puts out waves of pheromones to soothe Cricket, rubbing his shoulder. “Would you like to leave?”

Cricket startles, scrambling backwards. “I’m never leaving you. I want to bond with you.”

“A chroi?”

When Torin’s heavy gaze swings to me, I realize that he is serious.

I grit my teeth, dropping Jin’s hand. Then I sit up on my knees.

I point at Torin. “You’re lucky that I don’t want to leave Jin’s side, or yourballswould be busted right now, and I have the Knot Crusher here to help me. If you need us to be here, then we will always be. If there’s danger, then we face it together. That’s what being a pack means. Don’t try and treat us like elite Omegas who need to be coddled…who you need to stand in front of. No matter what you face, Crick and I will be standing at your side.”

Torin claps. “You’re writing all my speeches from now on, rebel Omega.”

Cricket growls, stepping forward and grabbing Torin lightly by the balls.

Torin’s eyes widen at the same time that I choke on my tongue.

Has our sweet Omega truly done that to the dominant Alpha?

Well, Torin did want to turn Cricket wicked.

Be careful what you wish for.

I wince.

Is Torin about to finally become stern or at least give us Omegas rules? Possibly,don’t grab your Alpha by the balls?

Instead, Torin’s eyes twinkle with amusement.

“Are you proving to me that you live up to your nickname? Although you may be confused about where my knot is.” Torin’svoice becomes more strangled, as Cricket yanks him closer by the balls. “Hmm, actually this is one of my kinks.Harder.”

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