“I don’t like it,” I said simply.
They would probably tell me to figure out how to fix it. We could add some lighter colours, maybe, to make it better. My father never would have entertained anything like this, so there was something freeing about being able to voice my opinion when I knew I wouldn’t be completely belittled for it.
“What don’t you like?” Dash asked, patting his thighs.
I nibbled on my bottom lip, going over and depositing myself in his lap. His arms wrapped around me immediately, stroking me in places that made me blush. Leighton growled softly, possessively. It wasn’t anything I was concerned about. It kind of seemed like a kink between the two alphas. Who could have me more?
“Angles,” I said. “And it’s dark. The rooms aren’t the right size. There’s something off about it.”
Mercury got out his phone, a serious expression on his face. Ambrose’s lips quirked in a smile. His hand was resting on Leighton’s thigh, fingers squeezing occasionally. It made her blush, and it made me want to prove I could pleasure her better.
I totally did not have any lingering jealousy about Ambrose having her first.
At all.
At least, not any that my pack could see. I was very good at hiding it.
“If you don’t like these angles, what angles would you prefer?” Dash asked.
I shrugged. “Um… I’m not sure. These just feel wrong.”
“I’ve got a few showings booked for different houses to see if you can figure out which angles seem right,” Mercury said, looking up from his phone.
My eyes widened. That was like… half a minute. Were they seriously going to move because I didn’t like this apartment? I couldn’t even put into normal words why I didn’t like it. I was running purely on vibes.
“Are we… moving, then?” I squeaked.
“Did you not just say that you want to?” Mercury asked.
“Well, yes, but—”
“Then we’re moving.”
I swung my gaze to Leighton, pleading for an explanation on why they were so accepting. This was their home. They’d lived here for years.
Leighton shrugged, grinning. “This place doesn’t have enough rooms, anyway. Some packs are comfortable with sharing spaces, but I’m a fan of privacy. We need enough rooms for each of us, plus a proper nest for you. We’re a couple rooms short here.”
Dash grabbed my chin, turning my face to give me a soft kiss. “None of us are attached to this apartment, little omega. This place was from a time when we thought we wouldn’t have an omega. Or a fourth pack member.”
It still felt a little wrong that they would drop everything so easily to please me, but it may be my upbringing talking. My family never cared about my feelings at all. To have people that did… was odd.
“We’re not bonded yet, and you’re still going to uproot yourselves?” I asked.
“Are you having second thoughts about having us claim you?” Mercury asked. “I was under the impression it was a sure thing.”
My eyes widened and I frantically shook my head. Mercury’s pinched expression softened into a tentative smile. I couldn’t feel what he felt—my bond with him was too weak at the moment. It was a pain trying to constantly refresh my claim, as much as I loved giving the bites.
“You’re our omega, princess,” Ambrose said. “Bond or no bond. We’ll find a house that you love.”
I blinked rapidly, shoving back tears. My emotions were still swinging back and forth, a lingering aftereffect of my heat. Or maybe the trauma.
Leighton wanted me to go to therapy, but I wasn’t completely comfortable leaving the apartment yet. I had to unlearn my father’s fucked up perceptions of the world, and there were plenty of things I knew nothing about. I’d been watching a lot of TV and episodes of Dash’s show.
I think he liked me watching the Dirt with Dash backlog. He was incredibly flirty with some of his guests, and whenever I got through a particularly intense episode, I ran to scent mark him.
And do other things to claim him.
“I want the bond, then,” I announced.
