Forget Me Knot (PoisonVerse #2), page 4
A duchess was an omega who’d rejected her mates.
Malakai
Two weeks.
Two weeks we had to survive without doing anything to piss off the universe.
I’d expected a curveball, but the ashen-faced duchess in the middle of our oil stained disaster of a garage—well, that was beyond what even my cynical brain could have conjured up.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“Why?” She looked startled.
“We’re—”
“Scent matches. Right.” I cut her off. “But why did you come? We’d have never found you if you didn’t.”
Scent matches or not, no woman from the other side of the tracks would willingly hunt down a pack like us. At least not one in her right mind.
King glanced between us, trying to figure me out. His bond was wide open in invitation. I took a breath, opening up mine, knowing all they would get from me was my unease and suspicion.
Onyx jumped at a loud clatter in the kitchen.
What the fuck was Ice doing? A filthy stack of pans almost toppled onto him as he wrestled a mug from its midst. It was bloody distracting. We needed to deal with her right now, not put teapots on to boil.
Our mate. A fucking rich duchess.
Onyx set her purse on the table, then straightened her top carefully before meeting our eyes. She was thrown off—this night was clearly going about as well for her as it was for us. Still, she levelled us all with gazes as if we were misbehaving school children.
“You’re my mates. I don’t take that lightly.”
Arsenal snorted, drawing all eyes to him—well, all but Ice—who was currently rinsing the mug out in the sink.
“Is that so, Duchess?” Arsenal’s voice dripped with sarcasm. I didn’t blame him. If there was any omega in the world I’d believe put less stock in mates, it was a duchess. A duchess omega was born of declining a princess bond. Rejecting her mates. But then… that begged the question; how had she matched with us if she already had mates? The only way she would have another chance, was if the last pack were—
“Think we’ll be an easy catch?” Arsenal’s voice halted my thoughts. “Looking to double your title?”
A flicker of fury crossed her eyes as Arsenal cracked her perfect demeanour.
“Nah. I don’t think so.” Arsenal didn’t give her a chance to speak. “We have an omega. You aren’t welcome—”
Arsenal cut off as Ice slammed a mug onto the counter with a snarl. If it wasn’t metal, it would have shattered. “She is welcome.”
I paused, glancing at King. I could feel his confusion through the bond. Ice didn’t like visitors. He didn’t like anyone.
Arsenal bristled. “Now you’re fucking social?” he demanded of Ice. “I’m pack lead. She’s out.”
“I’m the omega. I’m homemaker. If I say she’s welcome, she’s fucking welcome.”
“Homemaker?” Arsenal’s hateful voice was twisted with incredulity. As if in agreement, the tower of filthy pots Ice had just agitated groaned as it swayed threateningly.
The kettle’s whistle grew.
Arsenal was on the brink of losing control of his aura, we could feel it through the bond; it was why he never closed it completely. I tensed, ready to reach him if needed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw King do the same. The teapot got louder, rattling violently as Arsenal went on, though I only caught a few words over the clamour. “You—” He jabbed a finger at Ice. “…A little rat… leeching off…”
Onyx’s mouth dropped open, and she took a step back from where Arsenal stood. Ice looked furious, but he spun to grab the teapot from the burner. I’d never seen someone aggressively pour a cup of tea, but Ice managed it. Then he turned his back on Arsenal, and when he stepped toward Onyx, his whole demeanour shifted.
Ice took her hand in both of his, his touch brushing up her wrist affectionately. Despite being an omega, I’d never seen him initiate affection with anyone in his life outside of heat. “Ignore them. Sit with me?” he asked, voice gentle. Onyx might have forgotten there was anyone else in the room at all by the way she looked at him.
Worse though, was that every single one of my alpha instincts switched to overdrive when I saw the two omegas together. Something fell into place. Something that was absolutely not allowed to fall into place. We had nine fucking days to get through. No disruptions. No tempting fate. Of course, Ice didn’t know about our plans with Riot, and he couldn’t. But two omegas?
Onyx was fucking trouble. I was sure of that—as sure as I was that it was Ice who’d switched all of my dust jackets the last time I’d left the pad.
I glanced at the other two.
Arsenal’s jaw ticked and King’s head was cocked slightly as if puzzling out what he was looking at.
Ice led her to one of the wooden bar stools while his touch lingered on her lower back, and she didn’t seem to mind at all. I couldn’t stop staring. Ice moved the cup toward her and then poured his own, settling in beside her, hand still lingering on her waist as he flipped Arsenal the bird.
Arsenal looked like he was warring with himself. Ice was challenging his authority and ignoring us all. He could let it slide, but then… that would set a precedent for Onyx, right? But he didn’t want Onyx—we couldn’t have her. So why did he care about that?
He could chuck her out, but that would piss off Ice. Ice lived in a perpetual state of pissed off, but he did get pretty fucking nasty if he had a tantrum. Ice was capable of ruining it all before the nine days was up—even if that sabotaged it for him, too.
I sighed. What Riot offered was more important than anything we’d done. It was our ticket to freedom from this miserable fucking life.
Arsenal turned and stalked back across the garage, taking the two steps down to his space, and I heard a clatter or two as he prepped to work on his bike. I relaxed, and I felt the same from King. Working on broken bikes unwound Arsenal better than anything else.
King shrugged, and sat back down on the couch, but I noticed he picked a spot that made it easy to eye the two omegas. I understood that. I didn’t want to take my eyes off them either—but only because it was goddamned suspicious, the whole damn thing.
FIVE
Onyx
“Here’s the thing,” Ice said. “They’re not nearly as bad as they look—even when they’re in bad moods. Swear it. Bit rough around the edges, but they’re good.”
I clutched my mug, letting his words settle me.
The cat was out of the bag. I could stay, just for a short while.
The others had drifted off. It was me and Ice, and I felt… comfortable. I always got comments about how standoffish I was for an omega, very picky about contact, even with clients. But I didn’t care one bit that Ice’s hand was still lingering on my arm—in fact, goosebumps trailed up my skin every time his touch shifted. Perhaps it was because he was an omega, too? He would know the importance of touch, and I felt I could trust him with it. I hadn’t been near omegas very much since the academy.
Okay. So perhaps another omega wasn’t a bad thing after all.
Up close, he was even more stunning. I could see the faint blush to his cheeks and a scattering of freckles.
His hair was just long enough to tuck behind his ears, though it hung in chaotic messy waves across his face and he kept nudging it out of the way. His nose was curved, and he had cute pointed canines that flashed when he smiled. He could be a poster boy for male omegas. His outfit was… Well, it was curious. He wore light, baggy jeans, and that half unbuttoned shirt. My eyes kept getting caught on the pale skin of his chest and lines along his upper abs that the buttons revealed. It was low-key, and extremely seductive in a messy way. Everything about him was, and not just because he was an omega.
I hadn’t considered the possibility of an omega mate; they were much less common, but everything about him made me feel comfortable down to his scent of roses and cookies.
“Malakai—bit of a misanthrope, but you’ll get used to him,” he was saying. I bit back a smile, peering back to find Malakai shooting us both a dark look from the couch, but he said nothing.
“King’s got a shell, but he’s a softie once you crack it. And Arsenal…” Ice trailed off, and I noticed his eyes dart toward the huge alpha, who was still working on his bike.
“What?” I asked. Had that been fear in his eyes?
“He’s fine. You just gotta be careful.”
“Careful how?” My voice was low.
“His aura’s a bit all over the place. I mean, you know what he was in for?”
I nodded. Arsenal had one of the two murder charges.
“Well…” Ice was pale. I noticed the alphas in the room were stiff. Each was obviously paying attention. “He’s fine most of the time.” Ice swallowed. Had he not noticed the others were listening? He was fixed on me so intently. “You just can’t always tell mid-fuck, you know, and I have a mouth on me.” He lifted his top and I had to stifle my gasp, my hand jumping to my mouth. Across his rib cage were silver scars that looked like angry claw marks.
I was on my feet in a moment.
“Don’t worry.” Ice was much too calm as he lifted his hand. “Said it was an accident and all—”
I jumped at the sound of metal clanging on metal. Arsenal was staring over at the two of us. The tool in his hand had slipped to the floor. There was murder in his eyes—pure, unadulterated murder. Then he was making for us, a snarl in his chest.
King and Malakai were on their feet in a moment to intervene. Arsenal was fixed on Ice, though.
“You lying piece of shit!” he snarled. “I’m going to fucking kill you—”
“Oi!” King grabbed Arsenal by the shirt, blocking him. Malakai made for Ice, who staggered back, and I didn’t miss the fear in his eyes. “Nest. Now!” Malakai snapped with cold eyes, looking ready to pounce.
“Hey!” I stepped between the two of them. “Don’t touch him!”
Malakai glared at me and rolled his shoulders as if not sure what to do with me. “Ice.” He spoke through gritted teeth, a warning in his tone.
Ice’s breathing was ragged. Then he darted around the kitchen counter as if fleeing. Malakai shoved past me, making a break for him. Behind Malakai, Arsenal pushed King free. He cut Ice off on the other side of the island. Ice, who had been more distracted running away from Malakai, didn’t see Arsenal until the alpha had him pinned against the kitchen counter. I heard the crack as Arsenal shoved him hard against a stack of old plates.
“NO!” I tried to launch after him, but Malakai caught me. Ice was tall for an omega, perhaps six foot, but Arsenal was massive, and his tattooed muscular frame dwarfed Ice’s slender one.
“You lying piece of shit!” Arsenal snarled. “Take it back!” He was all but shaking Ice now.
“Let him go!” My voice was desperate, blood roaring in my ears. I couldn’t think straight. This was abuse, right in front of my eyes. Did they think they could lay hands on him because he was gold pack?
“I take it back.” Ice’s wide-eyed gaze found mine. “I was lying.”
“Arsenal!” King had a hand on Arsenal’s shoulder, but his eyes were darting between the two of them, clearly confused.
Arsenal was lost to fury. “More convincing, or you're going in the vault.”
“I believe him, alright!” I was still fighting to escape Malakai’s grip.
“P-please,” Ice choked out. “I’m sorry. D-don’t put me in there.” His voice cracked.
I couldn’t believe what I was watching right now. I tried again to fight from Malakai’s hold. To my relief, Arsenal’s grip loosened as he recoiled from Ice.
“The fuck are you playing at?” Arsenal demanded. Ice was glancing between all the alphas now, his breathing ragged.
Then, without warning, he reached for Arsenal, drawing himself intimately close and slipping his head beneath Arsenal’s chin for a moment. I felt his aura tremble in the air, his scent—roses and cookies—leaching into the space, even if it was laced with anxiety.
We all froze. Had he just… scent marked Arsenal? It was a desperate, vulnerable thing for him to have done, but he was desperate, even I could see that. Arsenal, however, let out an enraged sound. I gasped as his aura split the air. It was laced with fury and violence. King dived for him—just in time, since it looked like he was going for Ice’s neck.
“Don’t!” I shouted. I’d never seen an alpha respond like that to being marked by an omega. His own omega.
“Arsenal!” King was trying to haul Arsenal back. “Calm down!”
Arsenal’s aura was thick in the air, and he barely noticed King’s attempts.
“Let him go!” I begged. I couldn’t see anyone but Ice and his terror.
“You don’t come in here and tell us how to deal with our omega,” Arsenal snarled. His aura was the most aggressive thing I’d ever felt from an alpha before. I’d been around auras, but Arsenal… His was untethered. “Get her the fuck out!”
“No!” I fought against Malakai’s grip, but he was hauling me across the room. “D-don’t! Wait, just don’t hurt him!”
King had pulled him back a bit more, but Ice was still cowering. Arsenal clearly didn’t want to do anything in front of me, but… what would happen the moment I was gone?
King
The moment the door slammed, Ice went limp in Arsenal’s grip. He was shaking. I rubbed my face with both hands. “Fuck.”
Slowly, Ice’s breathless choked laughs rose across the silent room.
“Just… fuck,” I groaned, ripping Arsenal back from Ice. His grip came free with ease now. “You can’t take bait like that.”
Now she was gone, Arsenal looked dumbstruck, his aura vanishing as all his rage was swallowed by shock. Beyond all reason, he cared what Onyx thought. That much was now painfully obvious.
Well.
It was too late; she was never coming back.
Ice slipped by me, tears of mirth still rolling down his cheeks. I grabbed his shirt. “You’re playing with fire, you little shit.”
Ice raised his hands defensively, expression much too smug. “Hands off alphahole, or are you like those other lowlifes after all?” His eyes twinkled with the dare.
It was one of the things we swore to him when we bonded him: that we’d never hurt him. Easy goddamned promise—or it should have been. At the time, we had thought it was about self preservation. I’d since concluded it was a challenge.
Ice, it turned out, was fucking insane, and there was no bear he liked to poke more than Arsenal. The guy’s aura wasn’t fucking stable—we all knew that. “He is going to lose it one day. Pull shit like that, it’ll be your fault.”
Ice just grinned as he picked up the half finished mug from the table and dumped the rest in the sink.
“Go shower,” I muttered to Arsenal. I could smell Ice’s scent mark on him. Roses and sweet fucking cookies on steroids. Everything Ice had just done was the perfect set up. Of course Arsenal had lost it when Ice had scent marked him; we lived in a bond with an omega who didn’t want us. One who took great pleasure in rubbing that in at every turn.
Sleeping with Ice’s scent was fucking torture. As in ‘wake up with a frustrated hard on every goddamned hour’ kind of torture.
Somewhere down the line, Ice had figured that out.
“Two for two.” Ice practically sang the words as he crossed toward the trapdoor and pulled the wooden hatch open.
“What?” Malakai asked, returning to the room.
Onyx was gone.
“Omegas that’ll never fuck Arsenal.” Ice saluted with a grin before disappearing into his nest, Onyx’s empty mug clutched in his hands.
SIX
Onyx
It had been ten minutes since Malakai shoved me outside. My voice was hoarse from screaming and my fist bruised from banging on the door. I was sitting on the broken down concrete steps, hugging myself when I heard the crunch of gravel. I looked up to see a car pulling into the broad lot that surrounded the building.
I squinted at it.
A cab?
It idled, lights on as if waiting.
Finally, the door behind me opened. I jumped to my feet in an instant. “Where’s Ice?”
Arsenal folded his arms, leaning against the door frame. “Why do you care?”
I took a tentative step forward, not wanting to look afraid, though my scent was likely giving me away. Everything about him was more frightening now—his massive frame, the scatterings of tattoos across his face. I spotted a knife above one of his eyebrows. None of it mattered in the face of what I’d just seen. “If you don’t let him out, I’ll—”
“What?” Arsenal asked. I lost the ground I’d been making up. “Call the cops? You think they’ll give a shit what’s going on between us and our gold pack omega?”
I stared at him in horror. “Is it about that for you?” I asked. “Why not dark bond him then?” If they’d wanted control over their omega, they could have dark bonded him.
Arsenal snorted. “Get in the cab, Duchess, and don’t come back.”
I swallowed. “I won’t leave until I see him.”
“Not your business what goes on in my pack.”
“I’ll make it my business. I’ll bring the press, make a—” I cut off as Arsenal straightened, closing the remaining distance between us in a moment. It took everything I had not to stumble back down the steps. I’d seen what he had just done to Ice—how unhinged he’d been.
“Bring a single eye down on my pack and it will not go well for any of us. Not you. Not me. And certainly not Ice.”
A threat.
And I knew I couldn’t win. They had him in here with a bond on his neck. No matter how I came at it, police or press, Arsenal would have the upper hand. He had an all male pack, and Ice was a male gold pack omega. Vilifying him to society would be all but impossible. His face was twisted in a snarl as he glared down at me.
I fought another urge to flee.
“I c-can pay you.” I just had to know he was okay. I opened my purse, rummaging in it for a moment. Arsenal groaned, running his fingers through his dark hair.
