At first glance, he was the kind of guy you crossed the street at night to stay away from. But danger wasn’t even close to the thing I felt from him. I let him pull me into a fierce embrace, scent washing over me in pure waves. A purr just as deep as his voice rumbled through both of us.

When he let me go, my hands were fisted in his shirt and I hadn’t remembered doing it.

“And finally,” Bennet said, “this is Avery. Our watercolorist.”

The last of their pack was large. Red hair and full beard, he was burly. He somehow reminded me of a lumberjack and a teddy bear at the same time, and I wasn’t complaining.

His scent was subtler than the others, but no less delicious. Spicy—that’s what he was. Herbs like cardamom and cinnamon. Even sharper, like Anise. The closer I got, the more threads there were to follow in his scent.

I imagined spending all the time I needed breathing him in, just so I could trace down every little element of his spiciness.

Avery’s hug was full and comfortable, enveloping me in warmth and softness. “I know we’re a lot,” he said quietly, “but I hope you know we’re very glad you’re here.”

When he pulled away, I wasn’t sure what to do. My scent permeated the room like it did only during my heats. I wasn’t there yet, but with this many Alphas I responded to? I wouldn’t be surprised if one came on soon.

Bennett pressed a hand to my lower back, guiding me back to the couch. But he didn’t let me sit alone. He sat first, guiding me to sit between his legs, and I didn’t protest. Being pressed up against him and surrounded by his scent along with everyone else’s? I was pretty much in heaven.

One arm looped around my waist like he was afraid I might run again. Which was fair.

“Now that we’ve been introduced,” he said, “let’s talk.”

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

________

KADE

I flexed my hands before crossing my arms. It seemed the easiest way to keep them under control.

The little Omega now sitting between Ben’s legs was jumpy and skittish, just like he’d said. What he hadn’t made clear was how absolutely fucking beautiful she was. Her scent was already everything, but the combination of the two nearly put me on the floor.

Jealousy flared at the fact she was sitting with him and not me, even though there was no room for that here. She knew him the best, and the last thing we wanted was for her to bolt. If I had my way, she’d be sitting with me plenty.

More than sitting.

Riding.

My face, my cock, and any other part of me she chose.