Bella has worked for an omega for months, but when her heat strikes, he brings her what she needs. Alphas.

Bella has been seeking stable employment and is surprised to find that dealing with the needy and attention-seeking omegas is right up her alley. They thrive under her care.

She works for a perfumer and model named Ulric for six months when a casual encounter with an alpha sets off a chain of events that ends up with her employer calling for an alpha to help her with her heat. That is fine until he calls another who recognizes the barely visible mark on her back, and then things get out of hand.

She gets a fiancé, an omega, and another alpha in a matter of days while her fiancé’s own assistant arranges things without a hair falling out of place. Bella also gets a friend in that other assistant, and with one generous offering from her boss, the assistant gets the ingredients for a life and a future that she would never have seen coming.

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

The Omega’s Assistant

Copyright © 2023 by Viola Grace

ISBN: 978-1-990635-21-2

©Cover art by Angela Waters

All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.

Published by Viola Grace

Look for me online at violagrace.com.

The Omega’s Assistant

Betas in Waiting Book 8

By

Viola Grace

Chapter One

Bella sat with her hands in her lap. “Yes, I have organizational skills. No, I don’t mind organizing your social life. Yes, I could move in if necessary. Yes, I would hand over fashion control so you can make me as unobtrusive as possible.”

Ulric sat and tapped his beringed finger on the arm of his chair. His multiple piercings gleamed. His ears each sported eight or so hoops, his nose was pierced, and one eyebrow had a discrete bar. The gold all stood out against his rich bronze skin and matched the thick waves of golden hair. He cocked his head. “And the last?”

“Oh, yes. I can give a neck or shoulder rub when needed.” She smiled. This wasn’t going to turn out in her favour. Ulric’s last three assistants had all been male, but the agency had grabbed her résumé and called her.

Ulric smirked. “So, do you think you can manage to be around me while I am in heat? I have been told I am a little wild.”

Bella sat up. “Well, you have stated your preference is for men, and despite your libido being active, I need only summon one of your companions for the heat.” She cocked her head. “I am guessing you have a list of trusted lovers who can assist you?”

He smiled slowly. “I do. You would really call them for me?”

Bella blinked. “Of course. Being your assistant would mean assisting you in all aspects of your life.”

He took a deep breath, and the necklaces shivered. He was wearing a silk wrap skirt and nothing else but jewellery.

She kept her expression polite but impassive.

He nodded. “Thank you. I will inform the agency as to my decision. You will definitely have to upgrade your wardrobe. We will take it out of your pay over a few months.”

She frowned. “Will room and board be deducted as well?”

He shrugged. “It could be.”

“Well then, given your taste, I will end up owing you money at the end of each fiscal year. Thank you for the interview, but I don’t consider my work to be for financial benefit to my employer.”

Ulric paused. “I don’t understand. This has worked out for my other employees.”

“They aren’t female. My fashions are more expensive. My upkeep is slightly more, and my shoes are exorbitant. I would start owing you the moment I started working, which defeats the purpose of working for you. Fashion isn’t something I have more than a passing interest in.”

“That much is obvious.”

“So amassing a wardrobe that would become useless the moment I ceased being in your employ would be idiotic in the extreme.”

He cocked his head. “Are you rejecting my offer of employment?”

“I am rejecting your offer of indentured servitude. Since sex doesn’t really hold much allure for me, there are no perks that this job offers. So, thank you for your consideration, and I am sure that any of the other candidates will be a better... fit.”

His eyes widened in surprise.

She rose to her feet and headed to the door. Her car was where she had left it, and as she slid behind the wheel, she cursed her ego and her sensibilities for getting in the way of a cushy job that could introduce her to all kinds of people.

Knock knock.

She jumped and saw Ulric leaning against her car.

“So, Bella Miller. You don’t want to have sex with me?”

“No. It isn’t in my job description, so no. I am here to work, not flirt.”

“First three months, all expenses paid in addition to your wage. You will need to be on call and in attendance when I am at events in town. I also ask that you get one facial piercing.”

“Why?”

“I use bio trackers for my employees for security. You don’t even have pierced ears, so I am asking for one piercing to put a tracker in.”

“Fine, but the moment I am no longer employed by you, it comes out.”

He smiled. “Done. We will do that as soon as you sign the contract with the agency. It is standard in the contracts that I have.”

“Fine. Anything else?”

“Come inside, and I will give you a tour and introduce you to the other staff. Cook, housekeeper, security, gardener, yes, I have fucked them all.”

Bella sighed and got out of her car. “That is a club I have no interest in.”

“You should. They are the first line of defense when I go into heat.”

“Ah. Right. I guess it would be convenient to have them here when it happens.”

“It is. It buys me time. I usually go through four lovers during a heat.”

“I am guessing by these references that your heat is coming up soon?”

“In about ten days. I need you settled in and familiar with my needs by then. I will give you access to all of my records so that you can begin to understand what I like and how I like it.”

Bella nodded. “Please. Any information is useful.”

She followed him and was introduced to the staff. She got a thumb drive with the information he had mentioned, and then the agency called and let her know that the contract was ready to go over.

Ulric had already shown her her room. “So, just bring your stuff here and put the rest in storage. I will get you a new phone and would like you to use it exclusively. You can lock yours up in my safe.”

“Security issues?”

“Yeah. Your phone will cycle through a private server. You will be privy to secure information, so your device will be scanned regularly.”

“Right. Is there an NDA?”

“Of course. It is part of your contract.”

Bella nodded. “Right. Okay, I will be on my way then. When would you like me to start?”

He smiled slowly. “Tonight?”

“I don’t think I could pack that soon.”

He shrugged. “Bring what you need for a few days and then make arrangements for someone to pack your things. Oh, and if you bring a laptop, it will be gone over as well.”

“Right. Of course. Well, sir, thank you for the tour.”

He snickered. “Call me Ulric.”

“Mr. Yorington.”

He winced. “Right. Sir if you must.”

She nodded and headed for the door. He lazily paced with her. He extended his hand to her. “Shake my hand, Bella.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“Just do it.”

She sighed and shook his hand. His skin was so soft that she wanted to rub his hand over her body. She twisted her lips and let him go. “Why did I need to do that?”

“Does it make you want me?”

She blinked and laughed. “No, but I thought it would feel nice giving me a neck rub on a stressy day.”

He looked stunned.

“Good afternoon, sir. Are you sure you want me back tonight?”

He blinked. “Uh, yes. Please.”

She nodded, headed back to her car, closed the window, and started her wheezy little vehicle to drive back to the city. It appeared that she had a job.

“Bella, come in the hot tub with me.” Ulric smiled and looked up at her.

“No. You need to be on the set for that video tomorrow morning. Are you going to get to bed on time?” Bella was tense as she stood with her short business skirt showing far more leg than she was really comfortable with, but in her contract, it was stipulated that he could dress her as he liked.

“I promise if you get in the hot tub with me.”

“I don’t have a suit.”

He paused. “We didn’t get you one?”

“It hasn’t come up.”

“Strip and come in anyway.”

“No. Now, are you going to go to bed on time, sir?”

He huffed. “Spoilsport.” Naked and dripping, he got out of the water. She handed him a towel.

“That is what it says on my coffee mug.”

He grinned. “That was a great birthday present.”

“Yes, sir. Very droll.”

Ulric chuckled. “Well, you owe me a neck rub.”

“Very well. Come inside and have a seat.”

She led the way and was going to settle in the living room, but he shook his head. “My bedroom.”

Bella huffed and wrinkled her nose, feeling the tiny stud move when she did it.

He flopped onto his bed, so she sighed, kicked off her shoes, and grabbed the lotion. She straddled his back, lubed up her hands, and went to work on his shoulders. Backrubs were in the job description.

He groaned, moaned, and grunted as she worked him over until all bits of tension were gone. She patted his back and dismounted. “Now, be good and go to bed.”

He chuckled. “It would be more fun if there was someone here with me.”

“Shall I call one of your regulars?” She looked up at him from her glowing phone screen.

He frowned. “No. I’m fine.” He sat up on the edge of his bed. “Thanks for the rubdown.”

She nodded. “All part of the service.”

Bella headed to her bedroom down the hall and set her phone on the charger before taking her clothes off with shaking hands. She pulled on an oversized men’s tee shirt and crawled into bed after confirming her alarm for the next day. She would kill for a day off. Ulric was a handful and a half. She hadn’t had a day off in over five months. She was exhausted.

She stood behind Ulric as he spoke with the director who would be running the perfume commercial. The director kept flicking glances at her, and when she saw his partner, she understood. The other omega was appreciative of females.

“Miss... Bella, was it?” Ford got her attention.

“Yes, sir?” She looked at him with polite attention.

“One of our models is home sick. You would fit her costume. Can you dance?”

“Uh, basic ballroom.”

“We can work with that. Head to wardrobe, and tell them you need Needa’s outfit and makeup.”

She looked to Ulric. “Are you good with me gone?”

“I am. Go ahead, have some fun.” He waved her off with his fingers gleaming.

She shrugged and went to wardrobe. At least this was different from pampering Ulric. She might be able to catch some sleep in the chair.

Bella blinked as an alpha stuck his head into the makeup trailer. “Miss Bella?”

She spoke softly. “That’s me.”

His eyes focused on her and trailed from head to toe. “Excellent. You definitely look the part. Abby, is she nearly finished?”

“Rushing this work of art? Yeah, she’s done.”

The little paper tissues were pulled away, and she got to her feet.

The alpha held his hand out. “Hello, Bella. I am Rick, and you will be dominating me today.”

She blushed. “Oh, boy.”

He laughed. “I am also the choreographer, so we can quickly go over what we need from you, and then Ulric will take my place, and you will do it again. Then we film it.”

She swallowed. “Right.” She closed her eyes for a moment.

“Praying?”

“Calculating my hourly wage.”

He laughed and held her hand in his with a very ren-faire grip. Impressive considering that she was dressed as a dominatrix with five-inch heels. Her back tattoo was just a shine under her skin. The corset covered most of it.

She squeaked as she walked. She muttered, “The noises are embarrassing.”

Rick laughed. “Just imagine if you had to wear it for a living.”

She made a face, and they walked to a space where none of the dancers were flipping around.

“Now, I want you to guide me to my knees with the whip.”

“Like what? Hit you behind the knees?”

He smiled. “Wrap the whip around my neck and tug me down.”

“Don’t say tug.”

He laughed.

They tried a few methods that all involved her pacing around him like a panther before she struck. The soft soundtrack let her pace slowly and move leisurely, folding the whip and stroking it down Rick’s neck and chest. She finished the move by putting her deadly boot against his chest and pushing him backward. He went over obligingly.

He looked up at her from the ground when she put her boot on his chest again. “You are taking to this.”

She blushed and stepped back. “Where should I have stopped?”

“No, you did it just right. Ford can edit around anything he doesn’t want. Better too much footage than not enough.”

She helped pull him to his feet, but her heels were wobbly, and she fell toward him. He caught her, and she blushed. “Sorry.”

“So, you will flirt with alphas but not me?” Ulric’s voice was irritated.

She closed her eyes behind her mask and stepped away from Rick. He let her go reluctantly.

She faced Ulric and was eye-to-eye with him. “I wasn’t flirting unless falling is foreplay. These heels are fucking high, sir.”

Bella looked to the very amused Ford. “I am sure that the video will be fine without my contribution. Right, Mr. Rassmussen?”

He cocked his head. “I think that we need your segment, I am afraid.”

“Well, then, it can be reshot when the proper model is available. The cost difference will only be one hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars.”

Ulric blinked. “Right. You know the costs. Fine. We will shoot this fucking thing.”

Rick nodded. “Did you want to run through it?”

Ulric frowned. “No, I think I can manage it. I watched fairly closely.”

Ford chuckled. “He really did.”

Bella shrugged and curled up her whip. “Ready when you are.”

It took a few minutes to get Ulric’s wardrobe set, but since it was similar to what he wore at home, she just had to trail the whip across his chest and back, but then she surprised him. She looped the whip around his neck from behind, pressed on the back of his knee with her heel, and he went down with a thud. He was surprised when she came around, trailing her whip down his chest, and when she put her foot against his chest, he gripped her ankle, but she pushed, and he went over. She set her foot on him, loosened the whip and cracked it sharply.

Ford called a cut, and she helped Ulric to his feet.

Ford grinned. “Can we do one more? I need to bring the cameras in for close shots.”

Ulric nodded. “We can. No problem.”

“Says you. But fine. You have other shots today. Let’s get this over with.” Bella nodded.

They waited while the cameras were set up, and she was ice cold by the time they got the shots they wanted.

When Ford called cut, she looked at him. “Are we good?”

He nodded. “We are good.”

She nodded and took long strides back to wardrobe. Time to get back into her normal uncomfortable clothing.

She was still ice cold when she returned to the shoot. No one noticed her against the grey backdrop. She checked her phone and occasionally glanced up as Ulric went through wardrobe changes and different partners. The men’s perfume was his most recent fragrance, and it was being advertised to appeal to women of all types.

Ford waved at her between takes, and she stiffened up as he approached her. “So, Bella, how long have you been working with Ulric?”

“It will be six months next week.” She smiled.

“You have seen him through a heat?”

“I called some of his lovers, and they managed it.”

Ford cocked his head. “I see. You didn’t participate?”

“No. He prefers men.”

“He prefers sex. He isn’t particular about who he gets it from.”

Bella swayed. “Yes, he is. He said so. There are no records of a female lover going back six years.”

Ford frowned. “Bella, do you wear any of Ulric’s perfumes?”

“No. That would interfere with testing new scents.” She swayed again.

A huge alpha with dark red hair walked up to Ford, and Bella started shaking. She murmured, “Please, excuse me.”

She left the stage and headed for the car. She knew what was happening, but it had been nearly a year. It had been an alpha that set it off then as well. She was going into heat and didn’t have an outlet. This was going to suck.

Chapter Two

Ulric looked around for Bella, and she was nowhere to be found. Ford finished talking with one of the stuntmen, walked over to Ulric, and chuckled. “So, why the fuck would you bring her out in that condition.”

“What condition?”

Ford paused. “Wait, you couldn’t smell it? She’s in heat.”

“Ha. She’s a beta; she doesn’t go into heat.”

“Some do. One of my neighbours does. A few of the ladies here on set do. They are betas who have been triggered by a specific type of alpha. The result is nearly that of an omega. They go into heat the same way.”

Ulric typed a message to Bella and waited. A few moments later, he read that she was resting in the car. He sent a message to Lenny and got a readout of Bella’s frenzied pulse and plunging body temperature.

“How many shots do we have to do today?” Ulric frowned.

“I think we have all of your shots. Do you want to go help her out?”

“I don’t think she would like that.”

“She wouldn’t, or you wouldn’t? She seems to think you are only interested in men.”

Ulric slid his shirt on and sighed. “That is because I told her that, so she wouldn’t be nervous. There aren’t any other women in the household, and I didn’t want her to feel like a target.”

“She smells like one of your perfumes.”

“I didn’t notice it on the way in.”

“Being around the alphas on set must have set her off.”

Ulric frowned. “Should I call one that she gets along with?”

Ford smiled. “Do you think she will exhaust you?”

He laughed. “No. I think I can handle this if she agrees.”

Ford nodded. “Make sure she knows you want her. That is really important.”

Ulric snorted. “I think she will figure it out.”

He headed for the parking area, surprised when he caught a trail of perfume that was exotic, enticing, and not something he had scented before. He got harder with every step, and when he got close to the car, he noted he wasn’t the only one. The alphas from the stunt team were milling near the car, intense looks on their features. Ulric hung back and called his driver.

“Mark, can you go to the car, hold your breath, and roll up the partition? I want you to open your windows and vent the driver area. Treat it like I am in heat.”

“Yes, sir. Are you?”

“No. Bella is. There is a cluster of alphas around the car, so you are going to have to walk through the gauntlet.”

“On my way. I thought she was a beta.”

“She is. I am hanging back until you can drive safely.”

“Got it. How bad could it be?” Mark chuckled.

Ulric called Bella. “Hey, Bella.”

Her voice was thick and throaty. “Sir.”

“Mark is coming. Can you put up the partition on your own?”

“Already done. Why is Mark coming?” She sounded nervous.

“He is going to clear the driver’s area so it’s safe for him to drive, and then he will drive to me and away from the cloud of alphas around you. I will get in, and we will head home.”

She whimpered. “Can you sit up front with Mark?”

“No. You need help. I am offering it.”

Mark eased through the group of curious alphas, got the car started, and with another call for a precise location, the SUV started to move.

Ulric heard the door open when it stopped in front of him, and he got into the cloud of musk and perfume that Bella was putting out.

“Oh, god. You poor thing.”

Bella was curled up on the floor with her arms covering her head and her body tight.

Ulric spoke through the intercom. “Mark, get us home.”

“Yes, Ulric.” There was a pause. “Is that Bella?”

“That is Bella. Home. Now.”

“Yes, Ulric.”

They started to move, and Ulric reached for Bella, and she flinched. He stroked her head and got her to look at him. Her eyes were glowing, and her cheeks were streaked with tears.

“Aw, sweetie. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t have a list.”

It took him a moment to realize what she meant. “Oh. Do you know who initially set you off?”

She nodded. “He only likes omegas.” Bella paused and looked at him sadly. “This isn’t my first heat. I was just able to feel the other ones coming on because I wasn’t surrounded by alphas all the time. It wasn’t like this.”

“Who was your triggering alpha?”

She shivered. “Not telling. I tried to explain it to him, but he said he was only into omegas, and my pathetic efforts to seduce him were useless. I wasn’t even trying. I was explaining it to him in his office. So, I quit, registered with the agency, and tried to pretend nothing was happening.” The words were spilling out of her, and her pupils were dilated. She swallowed. “As soon as this is over, I will leave.”

He shook his head. “No, Bella. I will see you through this, and then the contract will be up for renewal, and we will lock it in for five years. Okay? I am not leaving you.” He stroked her hair and cheek, marvelling at how soft she was.

He whispered a question, and she nodded. He lifted her onto his lap and buried his lips against her neck. She moaned and cuddled close.

She tasted sweet and hot. Her body felt molten. Bella’s fingers delicately stroked the chains around his neck.

He murmured, “If we were already lovers, I would be inside you by now.”

“If we had become lovers, I would have been out of your hair nearly three months ago.” She shivered. “There is a no-sex clause in my contract.”

“I know. It is what killed the contracts of my other assistants, but I am not going to enforce that clause on you.”

She lifted her head and looked at him seriously. “I will.”

“What if I order you not to?”

“Well, the moment we fuck, the contract is broken, so I won’t be working for you at that point.”

He looked at her dazed but earnest expression. “Can you make it through without sex?”

She swallowed and nodded. “I will just be out of commission for a week. If you could just have some fruit cups dropped in front of my door once a day, I will be fine. I should move to the garage apartment so I don’t disturb you, though.”

“You stay in your room. I want you where I can help if needed.” His tone was stern, and she pouted and lowered her head.

He held her against him, and she panted, her scent got sweeter, and he wanted to take samples to the workshop to copy. He could make a fortune with that scent.

“You smell amazing.”

She ducked her head until she was curled against his chest. She burrowed against him the entire drive home.

Ulric called George and had him clear a path through the house. When Mark pulled up, he remained in the car with Ulric carrying Bella through the house to her room.

Ulric sat her on the edge of the bed, removed her heels, and unbuttoned her blouse, easing it off her shoulders. He saw part of her back shine as he slipped the blouse off. “What is that?”

“The alpha mark. I got a UV tattoo of a fox with a lot of tails.”

He paused. “I know that alpha.”

Her eyes got wide. “Don’t tell him. Please, don’t tell him. I can’t take that humiliation again. I have seen contempt before but never had it aimed at me before. It was mortifying.”

He was loosening her skirt and slipping it off her hips. “I won’t. But, he could help you?”

“Sort of. Breeding would be the goal with him, whether I wanted it or not.” She looked at Ulric, and hot tears tracked down her cheeks again.

“I guess you are on birth control?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“Okay, I will leave you in here. Will you be all right?”

She nodded. “I will. I just have to get something from under the bed, and I will be fine for a few days.”

He nodded and knelt next to the bed. He found a low, flat box and brought it out, putting it on the bed. He flicked it open and blinked. “Oh. Right.” An impressive assembly of sex toys in pristine condition was set into the case.

She cleared her throat. “I’ve got this.”

He looked at her and whined. “I want to help you.”

“It’s best that we don’t cross that line. I don’t need you looking at me with pity the other fifty-one weeks a year.”

He looked at her in her underwear next to her sex toys and the longing looks she was giving them. “I want you looking at me like that.”

“No, you don’t. I know I am not your type. I don’t ever want to be a novelty.” She sniffled. “Can you go now?”

He got to his feet. “I can go. Call if you need me. Your phone is on the charger.”

Ulric walked out of her room and closed the door.

It took four minutes before the soft sounds of pleasure started. He stayed outside the door and closed his eyes as her body hit one soft crest after another. He wanted to make her cum soft and then hard and then surprise them both as he was buried inside her.

He headed down to the kitchen and briefed the staff. No one was to go up to her room. He would deliver all of the meals and make sure that she ate. He was going to line up an alpha or two to help her take the edge off if they were amenable. Rick seemed like a good place to start. After that, he would check her CV and find out where she had worked last outside of a contract job. He needed to find the alpha who had marked her, but first, he had to find out what was going on from Ford. Betas didn’t go into heat. Everyone knew that.

* * * *

Bella lost track of time. By late on the second day, she was too weak even to masturbate anymore. When Ulric walked in and saw her, he helped her sit up and fed her some fruit and toast. When he was done, he helped her lie down again and kissed her forehead. “I will get you some help.”

She blacked out and woke with her hand between her thighs, and then there was a low growl in the darkness, and a hand rode on top of hers. She caught his scent. “Rick?”

He kissed her and nodded. “I won’t do anything you don’t want.”

“Will you knot me, please?”

He shuddered. “Oh, Bella, I definitely will.”

He stroked her skin, kissed her until she was limp, and when he slid his fingers into her and found her wet and open, he positioned himself and eased into her. She sobbed in relief at the emptiness and the pressure of his knot against her opening.

“You okay?”

She whined. “Yes, please, more.”

“Hands on my shoulders, Bella. Let’s dance.” He chuckled and started slow thrusts that were deep, satisfying, and helped tamp down the burn in her blood.

* * * *

Ulric listened through Bella’s phone, and he finally understood what Ford had said. Make sure she knows that she is wanted. Rick had managed that in four sentences.

George murmured softly, “Listening to that is going to drive you nuts, Ulric. We know you want her, but she obviously doesn’t feel the same way.”

He looked at his cook with weary eyes. “You remember Carl?”

“Oh, geez. Yeah. He was obsessed.”

“After him, I had a clause put into the employment contract. Sex cancels it. The moment we fuck, she would be out of a job, and you know Bella, she abides by the rules.”

George blinked. “Oh. Shit. So she literally can’t come to you, or she would be out of a job, and you would be looking for a new assistant.”

“Correct. Rick was the lesser evil. She got along with him at the ad shoot and seems to be getting along with him now.”

A shriek came through the phone, followed by a whining grunt that meant Rick had knotted her.

Ulric closed the link on the phone, and he shuddered. He had found Bella’s linked alpha, had jumped at the chance for a date with Ulric, but had turned off the moment Bella had been mentioned. She was right. He was an asshole.

She would be stuck with a string of alphas in and out of her life until she chose one as a mate.

Ulric was depressed. He couldn’t even offer her status as a mate. Registered omegas didn’t have that option. He had kept himself free of a pack, but suddenly, he wanted one just to fold Bella in and keep her safe. That realization had been a shock to him, but it was what he wanted. He wanted to keep her.

* * * *

Bella’s skin was cool, her body ached in a satisfied manner, and someone had showered with her before they tucked her back into bed. There was an arm around her waist and lips pressed against her shoulder. “Morning, Bella. Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I am. Thank you, Rick.”

He leaned over her shoulder and kissed her cheek and then her lips. “It was an honour to have your omega call me.”

“He’s my boss, not my omega.”

Rick chuckled. “Tell him that. He explained the situation with you and him, and he was fretting something fierce. He’s terrified of losing you.”

She blushed. “Ah. He’s just gotten used to me.”

“No, there were definitely sparks between you during that video segment.”

“That was the outfit. It had a bunch of folks fixated.”

He stroked her cheek. “It did. The fit oddly suited you.” He kissed her again, and she turned her head toward him. The kiss was more intense, and she felt her pulse racing.

He sighed. “I have to get to work now that you are good. If you ever want to go out on a date or something, you can call me any time.”

She dipped her head, “Oh, sure.”

He stroked her chin. “I don’t want you to feel obligated to go out with me because of this.”

“Sure. I understand.”

“I don’t think you do. If you have another heat, I will come running.” He chuckled. “Well, maybe not when I am running, but having you in my arms again is going to be part of my dreams.”

The sweet words soothed the sting of having to call him to go on a date. “I don’t have your information.”

He nuzzled her temple. “Ulric put it in your phone, and I corrected it so that it works.”

She paused and chuckled. “That sounds like him.”

“I think we should get up, and you should show your face again.”

“How long were we...”

“It’s Friday morning.”

“Oh. Ouch. I hope he went to those marketing meetings.”

Rick grinned. “And she’s back. Come on. George can make us some breakfast, and then I have to get back to Ford. My omega has a policy to not sleep with his employees as well.”

“Well, Ulric only has that rule with me.”

“Ouch. Okay. Well, I would like to take you to a movie or go out for dinner.”

She smiled. “Okay. I will text you. It will be less awkward if you are too busy.”

He kissed her softly. “I might be busy, but I will never blow you off.” He raised his head, and his eyes gleamed. “Well, that brings other possibilities to light.”

Bella stared at him. She felt the breath leave her lungs. She had seen desire, she had seen attention, but this was the first time she had seen sexy affection. She wanted to keep him in her room, but he had things to do, she had things to do, and life needed to resume.

She sighed, and they sat up. She flipped back the bedding and saw the gnaw marks on her inner thighs. “No marks?”

He sighed. “No. No marks, just some light nibbles to get you over the edge. Pity.”

“Pity?”

“Maybe after a while, you will let me mark you.” He bit her shoulder gently.

She shivered. “Um, that’s doubtful. But, I urge you to try and convince me.”

He laughed, and they got up. She put on a loose dress and a robe while Rick got dressed and stood there in jeans and a tee that strained across his chest.

She patted his pecs and then curled her fingers up. “Sorry, I had to.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Let’s get something into you.”

She whined. “I thought that is what we have been doing.”

She grabbed her phone, and he grabbed her other hand. They left her room and headed to the kitchen for some food.

She notified Ulric that things were back to normal and she was just having lunch.

George looked at her, and he blinked a little. “You look... glowing.”

Bella frowned. “What?”

Rick squeezed her hand. “The flush of exertion. Your eyes are bright, and your hair is wavy. You look lovely.”

“Oh.”

They ate their meal, and she walked Rick to the door. She watched as a car pulled up, and Ford hopped out. Olivia was with him and looked at Bella with a grin.

Olivia walked up and took Bella’s hands. “You look amazing. So, how were Rick and Ulric?”

Bella frowned. “Rick was great. Ulric wasn’t there.”

Olivia frowned. “I thought...”

Rick shook his head. “His staff are under contract. If they ended up together, she would be fired. And Bella being Bella, she would leave.”

Olivia blinked with a surprised expression. “So, you said no to sex with an omega?”

“Uh, yeah. Of course. I had to spend a lot of money on clothes and makeup this quarter, so my savings are pretty tapped out. The agency forgot to write that into my contract. Again.”

Ford and Rick looked irritated. “Is Ulric here?”

“I don’t know. He’s not answering my texts... oh, there’s the car.” It pulled up the drive, and she stepped away from the visitors.

The door opened, and Ulric stepped out one side and a dark-haired male exited on the other side. She caught the silver glint in the dark hair and darted behind Rick.

Ulric smiled. “So, you have the first cut?”

Ford nodded. “I do.”

“Come on in. Bella, can you set up the file for viewing?”

She looked to Ford, and he held out the drive. Rick squeezed her hand, and she took the drive and headed inside.

She got the blinds closed and the lights dimmed. She brought up the files, and everyone sat, and then she played the first file. The ad looked good. The music was good, and on the second run-through, she stopped it where Ulric said to. She controlled the display and made notes at a frantic pace until she started to sway.

On the ninth pass of the third version, her vision got spotty. Rick caught her, and he growled at Ulric. “You couldn’t have given her a day? In what universe did you go back to work the same day your heat ended?”

She looked at Ulric through the bright spots. “He takes three days off after.”

Olivia smiled. “I take at least two.”

Ford nodded. “Same. Her heat finished this morning?”

“Yeah, it was a long one. Five days. I am exhausted, so I am guessing she is flattened.”

She nodded. “I can manage the files from sitting.”

The stranger frowned. “Your omega said he took care of you.”

“Not my omega. My boss.” She mumbled it. “He got me an alpha for my heat. I didn’t get him anything.”

Rick laughed.

The stranger, who looked like a version of her ex-boss, looked at them. “Can you hand her over? If her heat were just over this morning, the scent would still be there.”

Rick nodded. “Bella? Are you okay with that?”

She looked at him and nodded. She saw Olivia make a sweet face and look at Ford. She looked at Olivia. “Quiet you. This is not a romance novel moment.”

Olivia laughed.

Rick stood and brought her over to the stranger. The man had a lean body type, hard as hell, and he settled her against him and inhaled the scent from behind her ear and in her hair. He shuddered. “Oh, that’s perfect.”

She blinked and cringed away from him. “What is?”

He held her, and a wave of black and silver fox fur moved over him, leaving her sitting in the lap of a man-sized fox with a fan of tails behind him. She blinked, but he leaned in and pressed his muzzle to her neck. She squeaked, and he licked her neck. She bent her head out of reflex, then felt teeth in her skin. She yelped and whined, and there was a lot of shouting. She held still, and the teeth remained in her skin. When he finally released her, he licked at her neck. She felt a connection to him, and he had a desperate feeling combined with an emotion she felt when she happy-cried.

He licked softly at the mark, then nuzzled her cheek until she sat up.

She looked at Rick, and he asked, “Are you all right?”

“I am. It just stings. There isn’t any sexual attraction on his end, so that isn’t in the link.”

The lap she was on jolted. “Yes, there is. I find you extremely attractive. Especially when you smell like sex.”

Rick murmured, “She has a problem with attraction. She doesn’t know when it is aimed at her.”

Bella frowned. “I don’t?”

The men in the room shook their heads. “You don’t.”

“Oh.”

Chapter Three

Ulric finally cleared his throat. “Bella, that is Loki. Loki, Bella.”

She looked up at the man who dismissed his animal form. “Uh, hello. So, why did you do that?”

He smiled and stroked her shoulder, easing her robe to the side. “Because you smell like a perfect mate. I didn’t want you getting away.”

She nodded. “Plus, foxes are sneaky.”

He grinned, and his nearly feline teeth showed. “There is that as well. May I have a kiss, Bella?”

“I am still on duty, so no.”

Ulric sighed. “Take the day off, Bella. Take two.”

“Are you sure?” She frowned. That would put them into lack-of-contract territory.

He nodded. “It’s fine.”

She looked up at Loki and muttered, “Everyone is looking, Mr. Loki.”

He smiled and cupped her chin in long fingers. “I know. Call me Loki or alpha, Bella.”

She nodded, and he kissed her softly at first, and then his lips were more insistent as she responded, clenching her thighs together. Her body picked up on the signals he was giving her, and she felt slick gathering between her thighs. When his tongue slid along hers, she clenched her hands in her lap and held very still. Her body was relaxing, opening, and waiting. The throbbing at the back of her neck was hard to ignore. Her clit was throbbing at the same beat.

When their kiss slowed, he bent her neck again and licked at the mark he had just left behind. She shivered in his arms.

She gave Ulric a sad look, and he cursed, got up, and left the room. Rick walked over to her and stroked her cheek. “It’s okay, Baby Bella. He deserves to be smacked a little for this.”

Bella rubbed her cheek against his hand. “Sorry, you got tangled in this.”

“I’m not. Watching Ford so deliriously happy has been entertaining and irritating in equal measure.”

Ford snorted and pulled Olivia onto his lap. “I don’t know why? I just got an omega of my own, after all. I have been wishing on stars for it since I was a kid.”

Olivia smiled. “I wished for a kitten.”

Ford snorted. “Well, you got one. Well, four.”

Bella shivered as the soft, wet sounds of Loki’s licking tongue got into her imagination, and she squirmed. “Uh, Loki?”

He lifted his head. “Yes, Bella?”

“How did Ulric find you?”

Loki chuckled and explained. “Ah, he went to your former employer and spoke with him. He’s still an asshole, so Ulric had a detective check lineage. He knew what he was looking for, so he spoke with my grandmother and explained that he had a beta with an alignment to multi-tailed foxes. My grandmother called me immediately as I don’t really mesh with most omegas. Six interviews and no takers. I need a woman with competence and independence. That isn’t something you find in standard omega interviews. So, my grandmother is looking forward to meeting you. She would like a great-grandchild in the future, but we can negotiate that.”

She flinched. “Kids?”

“Please.”

She swallowed. “I haven’t given a thought to kids. Just learning how my body worked and how to deal with what it was doing. Managing that was all that I could focus on. Future plans didn’t really enter into things.”

Her phone chimed, and her heart sank when she read the list of events she would need to attend. She knew how expensive the gowns would be, and tears tracked down her cheeks. It was half a year’s income that she would wear on her back because Ulric didn’t like her to be seen in the same gown twice.

Loki whispered, “That is a lot of despair.”

She shrugged. “It’s fine. I have a few days to organize things.”

Olivia frowned. “What do you need?”

“I have a budget for clothing for formal events, but there are twelve dresses here that I have to buy, and that is going to take out half a year’s income. I can’t wear the same dress twice.”

Ford nodded. “Right. I think we can help with that, but Olivia will have to ask.”

She smiled, and her thumbs were flying. “They won’t be cheap, but we can get you a hefty discount.”

Loki asked, “He makes you go to these events, but you have to buy your own gowns?”

“Yeah. I have a budget, which would be fine if I was a guy, but I am not.” She shrugged. “We discussed it for the original contract, but it wasn’t added in as a covered expense on the first and was again forgotten on the second. Now my savings are gone, and I am wondering about the next contract.”

Rick nodded. “You need the money to replace the savings, so you have to work, but work costs more than you make.”

“Right.” She yawned, and Loki pulled her against him. He smelled wild and green. “I have two days to figure it out. I hope he stops pouting by then.”

Rick sighed. “It isn’t a pout. He is upset that he couldn’t give you what Loki can.”

“If it’s a dick, I am pretty sure he could, but his own rules would get in the way. So, he’s stuck.”

Rick smiled. “Yeah. He is.”

She typed on her phone and waited. When it pinged again, she nodded. “Well, that is the answer. I asked him if he wanted to make any changes to the contract. He said no.”

She looked at Loki. “I don’t know what you do, but do you know anyone who needs a personal assistant?”

He smiled and said, “I believe that I could find—”

“I do!” Ford put his hand up. “I am suffering from a bit of pregnancy brain, and with the baby at the house, it is hard to focus. I have Olivia and the guys to come with me to parties, so your wardrobe is your own business. We have plenty of room until a pack is fully assembled for you.”

“I don’t need a pack.” She blushed.

Loki snorted. “You do. Omegas have protections under the law. You don’t. You can have a legal marriage, and that is about the only benefit that a beta has. They don’t have the support that omegas do, no centre to run to and minimal support when alphas resort to violence. You need protection.”

Bella thought about the different disasters that she had been through since the tattoo appeared. She shivered and had to admit he had a point.

She looked at Ford. “So, what are your operating hours, and are there snacks?”

He grinned. “The hours are flexible; we live on a road referred to as Omega Row. There are two other omegas and a beta with omega characteristics.”

She swallowed. “Oh, right. I would have to move.”

Ford nodded. “I am sure that Rick and the other alphas on staff would help you.”

“Oh, that isn’t a problem. I can be packed and gone in ten minutes. I don’t have much stuff.” She looked around. “This has just been home for six months.”

Ulric came back in. “It’s still your home. Where are you going?”

The room was quiet. Bella sighed. “I can’t afford to work for you anymore. Last quarter blew out my savings on dresses I had to buy but didn’t need. I can’t afford all the events you just sent to me.”

“We can just deduct it from your pay.”

“The cost of the dresses is conservatively more than I make in six months. Are you trying to bankrupt me so I will have nothing left?”

He blinked. “I thought that I was reimbursing you.”

“Ask Anthony. There is nothing in my contract to cover reimbursement over four thousand dollars per quarter.” She waved it off. “I get it, but you took me so many places, and I now have ten dresses that I can’t do anything with unless there are drag queens in need somewhere.”

He quirked his lips and sent a text. It came back, and his eyes went wide. “Huh. I am sorry. I didn’t know.”

She pressed her fingers to her forehead. “I mentioned it weekly. You laughed it off.”

He stared at her. “I laughed?”

“You said that the jewellery around your neck could pay that bill, and then you sank into the hot tub.” She shrugged. “The renewal date on the contract is the day after tomorrow, and I honestly can’t afford to work for you anymore.”

“How much do I pay you, Bella?” He frowned.

“Thirty-six thousand a year, after taxes.”

The crowd looked at her in surprise.

“Uh, Bella, this job pays seventy-five thousand a year.” Ulric looked at her. “That is what is on my contract copy.”

She brought up her copy and held it up to him.

“Fuckers. Well, that is one thing cleared up. Can we draw up a contract outside of the agency?”

“Uh, I just got another offer.”

His expression went from surprise to outrage. “Who?”

Ford chuckled. “Me. With the household so busy, I have need of an assistant, and with the baby on the way, the help is welcome. I have been watching her in action for the last six months. Bella knows what to do and who to talk to. If she decides to start a family, I will hang onto her as long as I can, but when she goes, she goes.”

Ulric did something he hadn’t done before. He reached out for Bella and held her close. He whispered, “Don’t leave me.”

“I don’t want to, but I don’t have stupid amounts of money to stay with you just because. Can’t be independent and be with you.”

He whispered, “What about if you are my roommate for free, and then you commute to Ford?”

“He lives half an hour away.”

“I know. I can send a car for you when you are done work.”

She blinked. “What’s changed?”

He turned his head and kissed her. Her raw senses kicked into overdrive, and she moaned softly, pressing her hips to his. Bella sighed and held onto him as her body rioted, and she felt a trickle of moisture down her inner thigh. She pressed in tight until his hand touched the back of her neck, and pain flared in her. She yelped, and her shaking fingers touched her new mark.

Ford sighed. “Betas heal a lot more slowly than omegas.”

Loki walked up behind her and licked at his mark. “Sorry, sweet. It has to be uncomfortable. You will need to stay with me for at least two days to get it healed.”

She whimpered and leaned against Ulric while Loki worked on the bite.

Ulric sighed. “Loki is welcome to stay with us until you are healed.”

Loki paused. “Bella, do you have a tea dress?”

“Um, weirdly, yes?”

Ulric chuckled. “One of the events we had to attend was an afternoon tea.”

“I am going to contact my grandmother and introduce you tomorrow. Wear the tea dress.” He nuzzled the back of her neck and gave one more lick.

“Grandmother?”

He laughed. “Yes. She’s eager to meet you.”

“She doesn’t know me.”

“That is why she wants to meet you.” He chuckled. “I am eager to learn more about you today.”

She froze. “About me?”

“Yes, family, upbringing, education, ticklish spots.”

“Um, don’t have family. Born a bastard. Raised in foster care and got a community college degree.” She shrugged. “I don’t know where I am ticklish.”

Rick offered, “Inside wrist, curve of her waist, and tailbone. Oh, and back of her knees.”

She stared at him and shrugged. “I guess he would know.”

He smiled. “I was paying attention.”

She pressed her forehead to Ulric’s chest, and he stroked her back softly.

Loki murmured, “You don’t know who your parents are?”

“Oh, I know who they are. I had DNA testing done a few years ago. I needed to know. So, now I know.” She grimaced. “It is not a great story.”

Ford and Olivia got to their feet. “Rick, are you coming?”

Rick paused. “Yes. Bella, I will be back in the morning.”

She nodded, and he stood next to her. She turned into his arms, and he lifted her to kiss her sweetly. He smiled and rubbed his nose against hers. “See you tomorrow. Text me if you want to. Call me if you want to do that.”

Ford and Olivia said their goodbyes, Ford had made notes that Ulric wanted changed on the files, and Rick kept his gaze on Bella until they left. When he was gone, her shoulders drooped.

Loki put his hands on her shoulders. “It’s okay, Bella. You just spent four days with him. It is understandable that you miss him.”

She turned to Loki and burrowed against his chest. “I feel like my emotions are scrambled.”

He chuckled. “I can tell. Do you want to be calm?”

She nodded, and through the link, cool emotion rolled through her, and she stopped burrowing against Loki and straightened. “Thanks for that.”

Ulric blinked. “What just happened?”

She looked at him and looked down at herself. “I should get dressed.”

She left them and headed to her bedroom. She had wallowed long enough.

* * * *

Ulric looked at Loki. “Her scent changed. What did you do?”

“I calmed her down. She was rightly upset that her alpha was leaving.”

Ulric frowned. “But we are here.”

“But we haven’t been the ones soothing and satisfying her over the last four days. That was Rick alone. Even though you brought him to her, he did all the work, and she knows it.” Loki smiled. “He was careful, gentle, and didn’t leave her with any anxiety. That has gone a long way to developing affection. She feels safe with him. Now, I just need her to feel the same with me. It’s trickier since I snuck in the mark.”

Ulric looked at him, and rage filled him. “That wasn’t what we agreed.”

Loki chuckled. “I know, but as Bella pointed out, foxes are sneaky. The moment I caught her scent, I didn’t want to chance losing her. She is for me, and her scent screams it.”

“She’s mine.” Ulric knew he was pouting.

“So you have said, but what have you done for her? You have let the agency take advantage of her. You have ordered her to go through her savings. Her body is so tense it is like she is about to snap. She’s relaxed from Rick’s efforts but really needs some attention. Does she have a medical plan? Can she get a therapeutic massage or something?”

Ulric blinked. “She once said something about that. That my hands would be nice for a back rub or something. She was serious?”

“She spends all day on her phone or at a computer. Her shoulders burn most of the time.” Loki smiled. “So, what does she like to do during the day?”

“Work.”

“Well, when she has a day off?”

Ulric felt ill. “She normally goes where I go.”

“Why?”

“Because I tell her to.”

Loki sighed. “Do you have a pool?”

“Yes.”

“We will spend the day by the pool then. Lying out in the sun will do her good. Did she ride out her heat in your nest?”

“No, in her room. The door doesn’t lock, so it was easy to get supplies to her and check on her.”

Loki stared at him. “Does your door lock?”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“So that I won’t be interrupted... oh, I see what you did there.”

Footfalls warned of her approach, and the calm and buttoned-down Bella was standing there with her hair up in a twist. Her suit and blouse were excellent quality, and Ulric winced when he realized that he required her to wear designer clothing, and her income could not support it.

Loki walked to her and touched her elbows. “Do you have a swimsuit?”

She nodded. “Yes, alpha.”

He quirked his lips. “Go put it on. We are spending the afternoon by the pool.”

“Yes, alpha.”

She turned and headed up the stairs.

Ulric snarled. “What the fuck was that?”

Loki smiled. “I am continuing the waves of calm. If we ever do a three-way, I am going to keep her calm if she needs it.” He sighed. “Or Rick will if he sets his mark by then.”

Ulric growled. “I want that with her.”

Loki smiled. “You can’t have exactly that, but you can reach through an alpha to her.”

“Ford linked with Olivia directly.”

“Ford has veneered fangs. You would have to mark her with punctures or a knife. Are you confident in your knife skills?”

Ulric scowled. “No. I don’t.” He smiled.

“What did you just figure out?”

“Piercings. I can get her ears pierced and use that as my mark.”

Loki blinked. “She doesn’t have pierced ears?”

“No. The nose piercing with the tracker is her only jewellery.”

“Well, shit. There goes that idea.”

“What idea?”

“The family gems. I think they would look fantastic on her.”

“Well, if I use the piercings and set my mark in the fresh piercing, I can make the connection. It won’t be as strong as yours, but it should do something. It is worth a try. As her alpha, can you order her to do it?”

“You know it will also set an erotic trigger... in her earlobe, right?”

Ulric smiled. “I know.” He heard her approaching and turned his head. She was wearing sandals and a bikini, looking at him with total calm. “Holy shit. You said you didn’t have a swimsuit.”

Loki murmured, “Let’s get outside. I think I need to jump in a pool.”

Ulric glanced over, and Loki’s erection was unmistakable. He glanced down and realized he was in the same condition.

She walked through the house, past George, and out to the deck and toward the pool.

George stared at Ulric, “Did I just see Bella?”

“Yeah. Her new alpha is pulling the strings, for now, to get her over the panic of the new situation.”

His eyes widened. “He’s controlling her through a link?”

“He’s keeping her calm through the link. No matter what he tells her, she knows he is nearby, so she is safe.” Ulric nodded to him and headed outside.

Loki had set up a lounger for her and helped her settle into it.

He pulled another lounger for himself and stripped to his boxer briefs before lying down next to Bella.

Ulric went to the shelf and got out swimwear for himself and Loki. He tossed the alpha the shorts and stripped to change himself.

Loki got changed and then said, “Can I let her go? She was wriggling a little when we got naked. I don’t know yet if it was a good fight or bad fight.”

They settled in beside her, and Loki nodded. He smiled. “She’s out from under my influence now.”

There was a handful of heartbeats before Bella shouted, “What the fuck am I wearing?”

Ulric smiled. His Bella was back.

Chapter Four

Bella swallowed and looked down at a lot of skin and a little fabric. She remembered putting it on and walking around in a fugue state. She turned her head to Loki. “I wanted to be calm, not numb.”

He snorted. “There isn’t really a dial for it. I will get better with practice. Now, Bella, come here so that I can tend the mark.”

She blushed as he patted his bare thighs. “Loki...”

“Now, Baby Bella.” His voice was flat.

She got up and sat on his lap, pulling her hair away from her neck.

“Good girl.” He held her close and tended the mark. The burning sensation was fading. Now it was just warmth that rippled through her.

The longer he kept the slow licking up, the more it turned from tending to arousing. She saw Ulric move, and he was sitting on her lounge and kissing her. His hands gripped her waist, and his fingers rubbed small circles on her skin.

Loki stroked her back with sweeps of his hand, and she felt a tingle. He murmured, “There you are, mate.”

She knew her mark had risen to the surface. She broke the kiss and looked at him. “No matter what happens next, keep rubbing.”

Bella leaned into Ulric and straddled him as Loki continued to rub her back. Ulric cupped her hips and kept his tongue duelling with hers. Her voice got high as she whined and rocked against Ulric’s groin. His groans got intense, and his hands bruised her hips.

Loki’s hand kept rubbing her back, and she moaned and shook as she came. Ulric grunted, and she felt hot liquid on her inner thigh. She kissed him softly, and he threaded his fingers in her hair and held her head tightly as he ravaged her mouth with a growl.

Loki chuckled, and when Ulric loosened his grip, he pulled Bella back into his arms, lying back and holding her against him, idly rubbing Ulric’s cum into her skin.

She tucked her head under his chin and sighed.

“So, you get a burst of energy out of your mark. I can’t use it yet, but it is fun to know what you contain.”

“Why can’t you use it?”

“We haven’t completed the mark yet. I need to be inside you when you cum for that to lock in. After that, I can draw on you, and you can draw on me.”

She chuckled. “You make it sound like fingerpainting.”

Ulric chuckled. “He’s already doing that on your skin.”

“Sure, and if you didn’t jet like a fire hose, this wouldn’t be an issue,” she muttered as she got comfortable on Loki. She muttered, “Alpha, you are going to have a weird tan line if you let me sleep.”

He gave a throaty chuckle. “I will deal with it, Baby Bella.”

He and Ulric began discussing plans for her, and she fell asleep listening to them talk about the needs of her wardrobe.

Bella felt herself swaying, and as she opened her eyes, water was caressing her feet. Ulric smiled. “Now I find out if you can swim.”

He eased her into the water, and she floated away from him before turning and kicking into the deep end. She swam to the end, turned, and launched back toward the shallow end. She saw Ulric grab for her, and she dove and dodged before getting to the end, turning and swimming back. She dodged him again, but he was ready and plucked her out of the water.

“So, you can swim.”

He tried to grab her more securely, but she was slippery. She was laughing with genuine amusement as he tried to get a grip, and finally, he turned her with her back to his chest and wrapped his arms under her breasts. “Gotcha.”

“Yeah, well, I know boobs aren’t your thing.”

He sighed. “I like women. They just aren’t much use to me during a heat. They get too attached for one thing. They don’t do a casual fucking very well.” He kissed her neck. “Now, with you, I am anything but casual, and I would love to have you with me for my next heat.”

“You are due in two weeks.”

He grazed her neck with his teeth. “I know that. I am stunned that you remembered.”

She shrugged. “That’s my job. Or it was. Is? I don’t know what I am supposed to be doing the day after tomorrow.”

He leaned back against the edge of the pool and slowly let his hands wander over her. “You can still work for me. I will pay you directly.”

“Uh, that goes against my contract with the agency. They can sue my ass.”

“Not if you sue them first. My lawyer is on it. They had no right to undercut your pay like that.”

She groaned. “How much am I going to owe you for Seran’s intervention?”

“Oh, I think we can work on the barter system.” He slid his hand between her thighs and started rubbing. “You can make those strawberry tarts that I love.”

Bella held onto his wrist, and her hips bucked to get his fingers against her clit. She rocked and twisted her hips against his hand and then shuddered and moaned. Her body throbbed under his hand, and he chuckled. “I have been waiting months to do that. How tight is this suit?”

She laughed. “Pretty tight.”

“So, what do you think about naked swimming?”

“It is probably very freeing. Olivia does it frequently.”

“I think we should do that. A lot. Oh, and your ears are being pierced tonight.”

Bella blinked. “That was a weird turn. Why are my ears being pierced?”

“Because I don’t have teeth.” He chuckled. “I want the same kind of link between us that you have with Loki. I figured out a way to give you a wound that won’t be horrible if it becomes an erogenous zone.”

“Wait. My earlobes?”

He chuckled. “We are all nuzzlers. I think it will be very effective. Elara will be here after dinner to do the piercing. So, I was thinking your lobe and another at the top of your ear.” He stroked and tapped the upper portion of her ear. “We can hang a pretty chain from here to here on either side.”

“Why?”

“Because I am tired of you fading in behind me. I want you next to me.”

She blinked. “What?”

“All those dresses and you have simply moved in the shadows. I am sorry about them.”

“Well, at least Olivia is going to get me a discount with Yemeen. That should save you something.”

He chuckled. “People like you. Even Rick jumped at the chance when I asked him to come to you. He just needed to know where he needed to be.”

She sighed. “I like Rick. He’s good at telling me what to do and when I can improvise. But I think Ford will be mad if you take him away.”

“He will take himself away, but I can always use a bodyguard when out and about, especially if he is keeping an eye on you.”

“I liked the little bit of dancing I learned.”

“At the shoot? There wasn’t much.”

She chuckled. “Not at the shoot. He helped me trust my partner. Any time I felt unsure, he caught me and kept me safe.”

Ulric turned her in his arms. “I love partners like that. I want to be a partner like that.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Now, which of the guys is going to mark you?”

He chuckled. “We will figure that out later, but right now, I am leaning toward Rick. I like the way you describe him.”

“What if you get both marks? I am pretty sure I am going to be perforated all over.”

He hummed happily. “And you will wear my marks, and I get to see them each and every day. And even if Loki slips his family jewels into your ears, the marks will still be mine.”

“Wait. What!” She stared at him.

Loki laughed wildly from the chaise he was in.

Ulric grinned, and she hung onto him as he kissed her and spun her around in the water. It was a fun afternoon.

She groaned and flexed her fingers. Hands slipped over sweaty skin, and she twisted.

“Stay still, Bella.” Ulric was laughing. “You once told me that my hands were perfect for this.”

She shivered and tried to stay still while Loki watched her twisting as the omega rubbed her back. She turned her head and gasped. “Put that phone down.”

He grinned. “What? My beta is getting worked over by our omega. It’s a memory that I want to keep. Also, are you comfortable with your breasts mashed into the lounge like that?”

She glanced down, and the mounds in question were up to her collarbone. “They can take a pounding.”

Ulric chuckled. “I will be the judge of that.”

She turned toward him. “Dude, if you go off between my tits, you will drown me.”

He burst out laughing but kept rubbing oil on her back. “I will keep that in mind. Add it to my fantasy roster.”

“You have a roster?”

“It started as a list. Then it moved to a fantasy compendium, and now, it’s a roster.” He chuckled. “Now, flip over.”

“What?”

“Well, since you are concerned with your breasts being unfamiliar to me, doesn’t it make sense for me to get familiar as soon as possible?”

Loki chuckled. “Flip over, Baby Bella.”

She grimaced but did what he said. Ulric was kneeling over her, and he peeled the bikini top off and away. He put oil on his hands and massaged her breasts. “Hmm. I am going to have to do this regularly until I get used to them. What does this do?”

He twisted her nipple, and she arched and hissed at him. “Jackass.”

He snorted. “Should I kiss it better? I think I should.”

He leaned down and scraped his tongue across the abused nipple before he settled with his lips around it and sucked softly. Bella’s breath fluttered in and out of her lungs as little puddles of energy began to bloom around her body. She whined softly and trembled. He moved to the other side, and her thighs slid together.

He pried her bathing bottoms off and slid his fingers into her. She clutched at his shoulders and then just wrapped her arms around his head as he licked, sucked, nibbled, and squeezed. His fingers moved slowly inside her, and when his thumb hit her clit, she started thrashing. Her cries built to a scream, and he continued to draw every pulse out of her until she was spent.

When she was limp, he pulled his digits out of her and slurped his fingers. She covered her eyes, and he sighed. “That was gorgeous. I want to see that happen over and over.”

Loki murmured, “Move over.”

Ulric whined but moved.

Careful hands removed her bottoms all the way, and then her thighs were parted wide. Hands pulled her to the edge of the chaise, and she opened her eyes wide as Loki went down on her. The first contact with his tongue made her blink, and then she whimpered as it went deeper and flicked strongly. Hands pried hers from the edge of the chaise, and he wove his fingers through hers as he licked and nuzzled at her sensitive skin until she whined and started to shake. He growled between her thighs, and she felt the graze of his teeth. Pulses of pleasure started to shake through her, and he kept the soft contact going through her orgasm and started to wake her again.

“Nonononono.” She shook her head and tried to fight again.

He lifted his head for a moment and murmured, “After this, I am inside you, so I need you to relax.”

“Here? Outside?”

“Here, in front of your omega. He demanded that he supervise the first time, so since we are all here, I thought it was the right time.” He chuckled and resumed licking with a frenzy, his fingers flexing rhythmically against hers.

She moved against his mouth, and when she felt a surge of moisture from her, he pulled her toward him, and she landed in his lap. His cock was under her, and he kissed her, rocking her hips against him, slicking the length up with her own moisture. He groaned into her mouth, and she whined while grinding against him. He chuckled and lifted her hips, lining the tip of his cock with her before slowly lowering her into place. She gasped against his lips and descended over him until he was in deep and his knot pushed her opening wide while the rest of her fluttered around him.

“Aren’t you precious? You are taking my knot, Baby Bella.”

She shuddered and whispered against his lips. “I don’t mean to.”

“Did you get Rick to knot you?”

She nodded. “Yes, Loki. Every time.”

“Oh, you are an excellent little beta.” He brushed his lips against her cheek. “It will be good when I am in rut. I will be inside you, fur and tails out and won’t stop until you are flattened on the floor in a pool of cum with a kit in your belly.”

She shuddered at the image that his words painted. “I have birth control.”

He laughed and lifted her off his knot before lowering her again until she grunted as gravity pulled her around him. “Oh, this is going to be weird.”

He laughed, and they began a rhythm that stroked all the fun parts and left her on the edge. Something was going on near her, but it wasn’t until he pulled out and she felt cold that she paid attention. Loki flipped her around and bent her forward. “Take his hands, Baby Bella.”

She looked at Ulric, and he offered his hands to her. She took his hands, and he pulled her forward toward his thighs. Loki moved between her thighs again and drove deep, hard, and fast. She rocked back and forth against Ulric, and he held her while her cries got louder. She screamed and bit her omega’s thigh as she came, and Loki chuckled and grunted as his knot pressed in and swelled, locking them together.

Bella listened to herself sobbing, but a gentle hand stroked her hair, and then slow licks worked on her new mark.

“Tears, Baby Bella?”

She burned where he was locked into her. She sniffled and nodded.

“Your fox burned bright on your back. Can you feel it now?”

She closed her eyes and felt a tremendous bank of energy for her to call on. “I can feel it. You are... stronger than you look.”

She shuddered, and Ulric brought her hands up to kiss her palms.

Loki chuckled. “We are descended from a family of kitsune in Japan. It was a lesser family that got strong quickly in the new world when they intermarried with local foxes. I still visit family fairly often overseas. If you come with me, you will need a kimono and have to learn the tea ceremony. My family is all about tea.”

“Are you telling me this because you have me pinned, and I can’t run away?”

“Yes. Do you have a passport?” He rocked and tugged at her with gentle motions.

“Yes.” She whined, and he stroked her clit with a hand wrapped around her belly. He pulled her into another shivering orgasm, and she clutched at Ulric’s hands.

Loki stroked her marking for long minutes, and then she started to leak around him. He pulled free and pressed his fingers against her, shuddering. “Oh, you are closing to keep it all in. What a good girl.”

Bella shivered and held her boss’s hands. He licked at her mark again and chuckled when her opening flexed against his fingers.

She mumbled against Ulric’s thighs. “I am sorry I bit you.”

“It’s okay, Bella. I haven’t seen you like that before.”

“Keeping you organized rarely calls for it.”

He let her fingers go and raised her for a kiss. He rubbed her lips across his mouth before delving in and engaging in an eating kiss that warmed her body and started heat surging through all of her delicate areas.

Loki chuckled. “If you get her wound up, you will have to satisfy her. Her skin is cooling, so we have to do it indoors.”

Ulric stroked her arms. “You are right.”

Loki asked, “Bella, when did you last eat?”

“Rick and I had breakfast, but I wasn’t really hungry.”

Loki kissed her shoulder. “Then, a warm shower, a hot meal, and cuddling on the couch.”

She nodded. “Can I get my suit or a towel?”

“Embarrassed?”

“Well, so far, I am wandered past George, and Andre has paused to take a gander from the gardens. Streaking past coworkers isn’t really a great idea.”

Loki murmured, “If they give you trouble, you can come to me. None of my staff will bat an eye.”

Ulric frowned. “I will speak to them. Inform them that sex is off the table, and I am now forming a pack.”

Loki got a huge bath sheet and wrapped it around her. “Better?”

“Yes, alpha. Thank you.” She leaned her head against him, and he inhaled sharply.

“Are you doing that on purpose?” He chuckled and picked her up.

Bella looked at him with wide eyes. “Doing what?”

“Oh, you are trouble, little miss.” He carried her into the house. “My grandmother is going to love you.”

She watched him raise his head and follow her scent trail to her bedroom. He looked around. “You live here?”

“Yes. I can take a shower on my own. The bathroom is through there.” She didn’t mention George’s tyrannical housekeeping, and each item she tried to personalize her space with ended up in the garbage.

He carried her into the bathroom and set her on her feet. “Where is your body wash?”

She pointed to the cabinet.

“Shampoo? Conditioner? Moisturizer?”

“All in the cupboard.”

He smiled. “Razor?”

“Drawer above the cupboard. This is an all-male household. I can’t keep any of my stuff out where it can be seen. The housekeeper doesn’t like it, and my stuff ends up in the garbage.” She blurted it out and then apologized. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. It is just frustrating.”

He got the stuff and put it in the shower. The spray came on, and he took her towel away, climbing into the shower with her.

“This is a small space.”

She looked up and up. “You are taller than I thought.”

He chuckled. “You have more curves than I thought. I am guessing that both of us are pleasantly surprised.” His soapy hand caressed her waist and slid to her hip. “I really enjoy this curve. I can get a good grip and pull myself into you.”

She shivered as his hand soaped her up and long fingers reached inside to remove his cum from her. He whispered to her about holding so much, but Ulric was going to fill her up until she spilled, and then he was going to fuck her in the ensuing puddle.

“You have a one-track mind, Loki.”

“I do when it comes to you. I think that I will be competing with Ulric for the chance of first child.” His hand slid over her belly. “The thought of a little kit growing in here is enough to make me daydream, but Ulric planting another omega in you would be good for the pack.”

“But it wouldn’t be guaranteed to be an omega, would it?”

“Ah, in you evolved betas, the chance of an omega or alpha is nearly guaranteed. Your bodies have mutated. It is why I moved here, looking for possibilities.” He chuckled and kept his fingers trailing over her abdomen. “And Ulric spoke to me while you were in the heavy throes of heat with Rick, and he offered me the chance to be your alpha.”

“So you took it.”

“Oh, yeah. The minute that I saw you with Rick, all sleepy and sexy, I knew that I wanted to put that expression on your face.”

She sighed. “So you munched on my neck and called it a win.”

He laughed. “Indeed. I left your IUD in place, so I get a pat on the head for that.”

She blushed. “It’s the only thing that works against spontaneous alphas.”

He chuckled. “That makes sense. I will be on you twenty-four seven if I can be. Your scent is incredible, and there is nothing better than sex with a link. Every twinge and shiver came to me. It felt wonderful.”

She blushed. “The illusion of privacy is ripped away then.”

He nuzzled the back of her neck. “With one little bite.”

She had nothing more to say. He bathed her and wrapped her in a towel before going over his own body quickly. She looked for signs of Asian ancestry and found it in his thick hair, the golden tone of his skin, and the epicanthic fold. When he finished, she got him a towel and dried the broad swath of his shoulders.

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Curiosity is a good thing.”

They left the bathroom, and she took her brush out of her bedside table and quickly brushed her hair. Then, she stood on the bed and brushed his hair.

When she was done, she put her hairbrush back and went to get some underwear from a drawer and a dress from the closet.

“You are the neatest woman I have ever seen.”

She smiled as she got dressed. “Anything I leave out of place is disposed of. My swimsuit is probably in a garbage bin already.”

“Wait. You are serious?”

“Oh, yes. Even a drawer that doesn’t close all the way loses its contents.”

“You mentioned this to Ulric?”

“Yeah, he just said it was house rules for staff. Rooms must be neat at all times.”

“And your door doesn’t lock.”

“Um, no.”

He sighed. “House rules?”

“Yeah. Where are your pants?”

“Out by the pool.” He chuckled. “Are they in danger?”

“No. They will be fine. You are a guest.”

He frowned. “But your clothing is disposed of.”

She shrugged. “Life isn’t fair. I learned that early. And now I know not to wear swimwear to the pool if that makes any sense.”

She put on some low sandals and asked, “Shall we try to retrieve your clothing?”

He chuckled. “So, you live in a household full of alphas who don’t want you with an omega who does.”

“Yup.” They left her room and headed downstairs. She walked outside, and his clothing was neatly folded on the chair. She headed inside and brought his clothing to him.

He stroked her cheek. “No sign of your swimsuit?”

“Oh. No.”

He looked to George. “Where is her swimsuit? I have fond memories of that suit.”

George looked slightly ill. “It has been shredded, as per Ulric’s orders. Nothing is to be left in disarray by the employees. All clothing out of place is to be shredded, and no personal items are to be left in public spaces.”

“And out of place includes inside her own bedroom and bathroom?”

Ulric cleared his throat. “I defined it as any public place, and since her room doesn’t have a lock on it, I am guessing they took it very literally to keep her in her place.” He smiled. “I will make it right.”

Loki nodded. “If not, my housekeeper and assistant can make a much more comfortable environment for her. Polly is a master at keeping me in line and my house feeling like a home, not a showpiece.”

Ulric frowned. “Is that the woman with the cleavage and the necklace?”

Loki chuckled. “It is. She is spoken for, but her alpha isn’t in the country right now. The pendant is a tracker, similar to the one you have in your nose, but his is not tracked by tech, but by his own senses.” He snickered. “She really hates it when he’s mentioned, too. She adapted to his peculiar type of alpha, but as she says, she doesn’t have to like it.”

Bella smiled. “I think I like her already.”

“Well, she is coming over tonight to drop off some clothing for me. She has a lot of nanny tendencies.” He chuckled. “She’s also bringing cookies and ice cream for me.”

“Can you make requests?”

He grinned and got his phone out. “What would you like?”

She smiled. “Butter pecan?”

He nodded. “Done. She will be here in two hours.”

“You live that far away?”

He laughed and shook his head. He turned the phone toward her. I have some shit to do, see you in two hours.

“She has been getting more foul-mouthed with me since she and her alpha became aware of each other. He doesn’t tolerate that in his females, so she has to be a lot softer and sweeter when he is around. It is fucking hilarious.” He finished buttoning his shirt and stepped into his shoes.

“You and she never...”

“No. She is with me for one reason only... my scent. I have a strong scent that she uses to hide from those who are pursuing her. She and I rub cheeks and hands daily. It is part of her pay and gets me an excellent assistant who doesn’t mind travelling at a moment’s notice.”

“Where did she meet him?”

“In Japan. We were opening up a few western-style tea houses in his hotels. We all went for a soak in the onsen, and he saw the claw stripes across her back when she got out.” He smiled. “She didn’t know how she got the marks, but it must have been on one of our earlier trips. He certainly noticed. He hauled her back into the water and was sniffing her hair a moment later.”

Bella blinked. “What did she do?”

“Kicked him in the groin and broke his nose with the back of her head.”

Bella snorted with laughter. “Okay, now I have to meet her.”

“Well, she did have to apologize formally to him. Very formally. She had to rent a kimono for it.” He smirked. “That was a sight to see. Oh, wait. I have a photo of it.”

He brought up the image of an astonishingly beautiful woman in a kimono, her face wearing a composed expression, her rich brown hair in a loose bun with tendrils around her features.

Next to the woman were two men—Loki and a huge hulking brute of an alpha, who was looking down at Polly with fascination.

“He’s Japanese? He’s monstrous.”

“He’s mixed. There was a contract marriage with a hotel firm here for his parents, and he was the result.” He smiled. “Like my family, he keeps in touch with his grandparents, and regular visits are the result. Once he confirmed Polly’s compatibility, his grandmother sent her a kimono for the next time she needs to apologize.”

Bella laughed. “Oh, that is fun.”

“His mother did the same. Then relatives. She has quite the collection, and they are all sure that she is going to need them to apologize.”

Bella giggled. “She must be pissed.”

“Oh, you have no idea. She has gone completely polite manners every time he is nearby. No cussing, no fighting, no biting. It is almost like she is a different person.”

“So, why does she need to do a scent swap with you?”

“Her family. Her sister is an omega to a pack, and they don’t want to wait for her to go into heat for the next child. Since Molly and Polly are twins, they want to use Polly as a surrogate breeder.”

Bella blinked. “She has a specific scent.”

“Yeah. She uses nullifier, but hiding under my scent is easier.”

“Oh, because foxes have a stronger scent.”

“Correct.”

“So, her sister’s pack is hunting her. You have my encouragement to keep her as hidden as you can.”

Loki wrapped his arms around her. “You are wonderful, Baby Bella.”

She felt Ulric press against her back, and she felt wonderful. She hoped it lasted.

They were curled on the couch when a feminine voice said, “I am bringing supplies and a change of clothing for Loki.” There was a sigh. “Get out of my way, or I will drop you to the ground.”

There were grunts and a few thuds, and the stunning woman Bella recognized as Polly sauntered into the room.

“Hey, Loki. Here is the change of clothes. I got the other stuff you wanted as well. It’s rolling around with your boxers.” She held up the grocery bag. “This has the panorama of ice cream you were after. I included your favourite cookies.”

She set the bag down on the coffee table. “Now, Loki, do you need anything else?”

He grinned. “No. Thank you. Oh, Polly, this is Bella. Bella, this is Polly.”

Polly nodded. “Bella, can you text me your sizes? If I need to pick up clothing for you, it will speed things up considerably.”

“Um, all right.”

Polly turned to Loki. “Take her phone and put my number in, Loki.”

Bella smiled. “Wow. I never thought to see a woman bossing Loki around.”

Polly snickered. “He isn’t trying to fuck me, so as long as the work is done, he doesn’t need to control me. I get things done.”

Ulric cleared his throat. “Miss, I am Ulric.”

“Yes, omega, I know who you are.”

“You are in my house.”

“Not for long. Your security guards are wusses.” Polly stared at him.

Bella was laughing internally. Ulric was on her left, Loki on her right, and they were all mashed together on the couch.

Loki smirked. “Have you heard from Minoru today?”

Polly flushed. “No. He hasn’t been in contact, but another kimono showed up. This one has the word wedding on the wrapper. I am terrified to open it.”

Loki laughed. “Well, he has been specific about getting you in a formal capacity so that you can be at his side for all events.”

She groaned. “Yeah, but I didn’t realize it would involve so much trans-pacific travel. Learning a language at my age is particularly tricky. Japanese is trickier.”

“Are you still learning from anime?”

She snickered. “I use it to check my comprehension. If I speak using the voices, Minoru develops a tick.”

Loki laughed.

Polly nodded to Bella. “Pleased to meet you. Ulric, nice to put a face to the name. Loki, behave. Call me when you are done with your grandmother tomorrow. Ask her if she needs another kimono.”

He chuckled, and she left, growling at the security guards as she left.

Bella blinked. “I like her.”

Ulric pouted. “I don’t.”

“What kind of alpha is Minoru?”

Loki chuckled and whispered it in her ear.

Bella stared at him. “No way.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Well, that explains that she is on formal manners around him. Self-preservation.”

Loki cuddled her. “He has threatened that if she makes him lose his temper, he will take her there and then.”

Bella blinked. “Right. Well, that is an effective threat.”

Ulric blinked. “What is he?”

Bella whispered it.

“No way.” Ulric was stunned. “I thought they were imaginary.”

“Like nine-tailed foxes?”

“Yeah—” Ulric blinked. “Oh, never mind.”

Bella stretched and turned to cuddle against Ulric. The bodyguard staggered in, his lip was split, and he was definitely limping. “Sir, the intruder has left.”

Ulric blinked. “Yeah, she has. Her name is Polly, and she works for Loki, as we told you earlier. She will come and go as necessary.”

“She’s rude, sir.”

“She handed your ass to you, you mean.” He sighed. “I’m thinking about moving to Loki’s part-time. Your job might no longer be required.”

The guard jolted. “But... that bitch attacked me.”

Bella whistled. “And there it is.”

“Shut up, cow!”

Ulric tensed and sat up. “What did you say to her?”

Bella kept her mouth shut.

Ulric called a staff meeting, and Bella stayed curled up with Loki.

“Aren’t you going to join them?”

She sighed and snuggled closer. “Nope, it’s my day off. Me being in there would simply escalate things.”

She curled up while the guys shouted in the kitchen, and she traced designs on Loki’s chest.

There was a lot of stomping, phone calls, and slamming doors before a stunned Ulric came and sat next to her again. He pulled her 0nto his arms and buried his face in her neck. “They hate you and hate me for wanting you.”

“Yup.”

He lifted his head. “You knew?”

“Yeah, I knew. I know how to replace your staff quickly.”

He stared at her. “How?”

“Call Polly.”

He laughed, and Loki chuckled.

Ulric nodded. “Please, call Polly.”

Loki made the call and spoke softly to his assistant. When he finished the call, he smiled. “She is on the way with a locksmith and a reliable security team, oh and an overnight bag. She doesn’t trust those bastards. She’ll check the windows and make sure that this is a secure building. Polly is aggressively protective of me and refers to me as her puppy.”

Bella snorted. “Really?”

“Oh, yeah. That and asshat. Minoru is going to have his hands full.”

Bella looked around and found her phone.

Loki asked, “Who are you calling?”

“Rick. If I got my face beaten in and he wasn’t here to prevent it, I would never hear the end of it.”

Bella tried to call, but his line was busy, so she sent a text instead.

In two minutes, her phone rang, and she heard a party in the background. “Bella, I am on my way.”

Loki chuckled as he read a text from Polly. “She says that she has gotten Rick and some of Ford’s bodyguards to come out for the night until she can get more permanent guards for the property.”

Bella smiled. “She’s fast.”

“No offence, Baby Bella, but she’s the best.”

Bella nodded. “I gratefully concede.”

Ulric frowned. “I can’t believe they were all holding out on the off chance that I would need them for sex.”

“Of course they were. That is why they hated me the moment that you gave signs of being interested. Interested in one of them meant the others could join in. I am a one-way street. I would take him off the path.”

Ulric pulled her in close and sighed. “They aren’t wrong. Once I realized how much I wanted you, I was lost.”

She stroked his arm. “Now you are found. You have two trustworthy alphas and an exhausted beta at your service.”

“Exhausted?”

“Two alphas in a day? That is tiring for anyone, and I am wondering if you are up for anything tonight?” She looked at him.

“Oh, Bella. I would do whatever you will let me do tonight. I am just waiting for the piercer to arrive.”

She blinked. “Oh, right. My ears.”

“At least she’s a she.” He sighed. “I may have mishandled my staff.”

“It is your penchant for handling staff that got you into this mess.”

Loki snickered.

They moved to the kitchen, and Bella made them hamburger salad. By the time the food was done, Polly had arrived, and Rick was pulling up with his guys. They did a sweep of the building and started locking and blocking all exterior doors. Soon, the main entrance was the only one open.

Polly asked, “Are we expecting anyone?”

Ulric nodded. “A piercer. She’s due any moment. I need her here.”

Rick frowned. “What are you getting done?”

“Bella’s ears. I am trying a theory to get my DNA into her bloodstream in lieu of a mark. Since I can’t bite her and have it not look like a massacre, I am going to have the piercer do it for me.”

Rick’s eyes widened. “That just might work. How is Loki’s bite healing?”

Bella sighed. “Still sore, but the skin has sealed. I can’t describe how much I am looking forward to having my ears violated.”

Rick laughed. He kissed her softly, and then the doorbell rang. The piercer was standing there with her kit. It was time to test Ulric’s theory.

Chapter Five

Bella sat with her head throbbing, but she could feel the silver and gold threads connecting her and Ulric. He could too, and his licking took on a frenzied pattern.

Bella nodded to the piercer, who was watching in shock. “Just leave me that bottle of alcohol and the wipes, and I will manage this when he has proved his smartness.”

“Uh, okay. Leave the studs in for a few weeks and turn them every six hours.”

Ulric paused in his slow licking and handed her a thick stack of bills. He then resumed working on the punctures. Every slow lick and suck worked on her body, and she felt slightly aroused and squirmy before he took a break. The link between them was delicate, but it was there.

He smiled and started to treat her with antiseptic. “I will take turns with this over the next few hours. I could feel it when you responded through the link. It was amazing.”

“I think if you have your way, my ears are going to fall off.”

He chuckled and kissed her temple. Then he thoroughly cleaned all four piercings.

Polly snorted. “So, you two just need a direct DNA exchange, and the marks are set. Does anyone need a more substantial dinner?”

Rick smiled and raised his hand.

Polly nodded, and she ordered on her phone. “I need someone to come with me to pick it up.”

Rick blinked. “Why?”

“Minoru’s orders. He’s getting back into town in a few days, and he would be pissed to have me snatched. I am pretty sure that this time they would come with appropriate numbers.”

Loki nodded. “Right. Come here, Polly.”

She walked up to him and sniffed, then she laughed. “Sorry, boss. Won’t work now.”

Loki paused. “What?”

“You smell like Bella. It’s coming through your link. When you add the omega to the mix, you will positively be pretty scent-wise. Useless for my purposes. Hey, Rick, do any of your guys smell nasty? Like... old socks or lower?”

Rick blinked. “Toby has a definite locker room undertone to him. I will just go and get the food with you.”

“Fair enough. I am going to have to arrange some kind of bodyguard for myself. That sucks.”

Loki looked at her and hung his head. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“Dude, I should not have been in your thoughts when you were planning to get laid.” Polly snorted.

Her phone rang, and she looked at it and froze. “I will be right back.”

She walked out of the room, and Bella stared. “Her entire body changed when that call came through.”

“Minoru has that effect on her. A lot of attraction and a little bit of threat.” Loki chuckled. “He’s been working like a demon to get the wedding set up. I believe we will even get an invitation. Kimono for everyone.”

Bella blinked. “Really?”

Loki nodded. “Oh, yeah. As he says, we have a distinctive formalwear that reminds folk of our family origins. If they see us in public in kimonos, they know we are partying.” He chuckled. “I am sure Polly will help you wear one, but we will get you your own.”

She smiled. “That’s... I don’t know how that would even be a thing. Can you buy them here?”

“Of course. There are artisans who are making them here as art pieces. I have some pictures of Polly wearing one and showing her mark off. She has sworn me to secrecy on that, though. Minoru would consider it a bit of a red rag to a bull.”

Bella leaned over to watch while Ulric hummed as he cleaned her ears.

The images were in black and white at first, and Bella gasped. The robe was open and slipped down to mid-back. Deep slashes glowed in UV light and made Bella shiver with the image of pain they depicted.

Her hair tumbled softly over one shoulder, and the only part of Polly that was naked was her back. As the camera moved, it showed that the front of her body was completely covered. She was just flashing a little spine.

“Wow. How can she be so covered and so sexy at the same time?”

“It’s what Polly does best.” He chuckled. “This is the one that would blow Minoru’s head off.” He showed her an image of Polly looking to the side, her hips wrapped in red silk, and what looked like monster claw marks made a path from left shoulder to right hip.

“Aw... I want to look like her when I grow up.”

“We will commission some photos once our pack is set.” He chuckled. “I am sure that Minoru wants some couple photos as well. Of course, what he wants may need to be captured by a programmed camera. I don’t know if Alexi wants to take pictures of Polly blowing her husband when he is alpha’d out.”

Polly’s voice was clipped. “I am not going to be going down on him for photographic purposes. Loki, are you showing those pictures again?”

He chuckled. “But you look so pretty.”

“Bite me. Minoru is going to freak out when the campaign hits the internet.”

Bella blinked. “Campaign?”

“Oh, yeah. It is a line of limited edition teas imported from Japan, based around seasonal festivals. That kimono, underdress, and the marks on me are all for the new year. Not traditionally, but the past is behind you, kind of thing.” She snorted. “I bet he didn’t show you the image when I was fully dressed. No, of course not. Pervert.”

She checked her watch. “Well, I have to get dinner. Rick?”

“Yup. My car or yours?”

“Mine. Mama Tsubaki’s is hard to find.”

Loki got excited. “Seriously?”

She grinned. “See you in forty-five minutes.”

Polly left, and Rick went with her.

Bella was sitting on Ulric’s lap, and he was sucking at her earlobes one by one. The sensation echoed deep between her thighs, and his fingers between her thighs were checking on his progress. He paused in his teasing and whispered what he wanted to do with her as soon as dinner had been had and they were secure for the night.

Polly and Rick walked in with wooden boxes and big grins.

Rick grinned. “I met Mama Tsubaki. I thought she was an urban legend.”

Polly smiled. “She’s a legend, all right.”

Loki helped unpack the boxes on the table, and each one looked like an elaborate display from a high-end restaurant. “Minoru throwing his clout around? This looks amazing.”

“Uh, this is my clout. Mama Tsubaki is Minoru’s great-aunt. The family is desperate that I don’t change my mind, but I had to explain why I ordered food for ten alphas while I was driving back, and Rick giggled his ass off. Minoru was... curious.”

Loki paused. “He’s keeping tabs on you?”

“Yup. I told him, but he was surprised I spent that much on dinner, so I told him I would charge you back. Sorry.” Polly handed out the chopsticks and small plates and grabbed beverages from the counter.

Bella was part of the feeding frenzy, and she watched as Polly opened a small box and ate her own private stash of sushi.

She winked at Bella with a dark green eye and kept eating. Bella walked over and asked, “You have a special order?”

“Yeah, Mama knows I like barbequed eel, so she made me a special container.” She smiled. “She’s trying to fatten me up for Minoru.”

“Fatten you up?”

Polly chuckled. “Minoru prefers a little more curve to his ladies. He likes me just fine, but his family is delighted with his move toward matrimony, so they are trying to keep things moving along by keeping my weight up. I am not allowed to stress out and lose an ounce.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, when we finally have sex, he doesn’t want to feel like he’s going to break me, well, not unless that is what he is up to that day.” Polly munched another piece of sushi. “But, he wants me in one piece.”

Bella chuckled. “Just the one?”

“Yeah. Just the one. Oh. You mean alphas? Yeah. He’s going to do things officially, so we are good as citizens and as mates.” Polly munched more sushi and shrugged. “I have a complication that means I need as many binding points as possible.”

“What is the complication?”

Polly grimaced. “Family. My sister is an omega for a pack, and they are all having fun, but it has recently been discovered that she is unable to breed. So, since we are twins, they consider me a suitable replacement. I don’t want to breed for a bunch of wolves, so I am not going to.” She smiled. “Minoru agrees. He has put dibs on what my uterus gets up to.”

Bella bit her lip. “You are good with that?”

“Pregnant women around the world go to work and harass their husbands or mates. As long as I choose who I am going home to, that is what matters to me.” She smiled. “Minoru has been courting me slowly for a few months and showering me with presents. It has been fun, but the welcome from his family is amazing and humbling. I think they just want him to get laid, frankly. Though with his gorgeous face, I can’t imagine that he has had trouble.”

Bella blinked. “I didn’t see much of his face.”

Polly ate more food and brought up a picture on her phone. “Here he is.”

She handed the phone to Bella.

The image of the dark-haired man with silvery streaks at the crown of his head made her gasp. “He’s lovely. His face is so pretty.”

“His body’s nice, too. Big though. That I wasn’t counting on.”

“So, he jumped you in a hot tub?”

“The onsen. We were in a co-ed onsen and having a chat. I left them when business was done, and he got a look at my back. His arm was around my waist, and his nose was in my hair a moment later. Turns out, the marks on my back had meaning for him, and he whispered that meaning in my ear as he hauled me back into the water. I did not just land on water.”

Bella blinked. “Oh. Oh.”

“Yeah. I like him, he likes me, and we get along long distance and up close and personally.” She shrugged. “He wants a formal wedding, so he arranged it. We get married in a few weeks at one of his hotels.” Polly finished her meal. “I told him he has to negotiate with Loki for my time off. Wow, you should have seen his face.”

Bella chuckled. “I can imagine.”

“Did you want to have kids?”

“I wanted to wait a bit, but Loki is persuasive.”

“Ah, don’t let him rush you. Your body, your choice.”

“What about you?”

Polly smiled softly. “Minoru is my choice, and he is honouring that I am choosing him. No rushing.”

“So, you two haven’t...”

“No rushing.” Polly smiled and sipped at her soda. “His point is that once he starts, he will have no inclination to stop for a while, so we wait.”

“Oh.” Bella frowned.

Loki walked over and chuckled. “You are grilling Polly on her relationship?”

Bella sighed. “Not grilling. I just was wondering what her relationship was like. It seems a little odd by local standards.”

Loki snorted. “Minoru does his things in his own way. This is what will make Polly most comfortable, so he will do it. It will also be for his family. They never thought he would register a domestic partner and settle down. They are trying to make sure that she doesn’t change her mind.”

Polly snorted. “Sorry that Loki took that lesson in your case. I am guessing it made him act a little more quickly than was comfortable.”

Loki chuckled.

Bella gasped, “That was why you did it?”

“I didn’t want to hazard you insisting on a courtship. I will court you, but as my beta, I will worship and reward you for any favour you will give me.” He smiled and batted his lashes.

Bella blinked. “Is this like a sugar baby thing?”

He grinned. “No. I don’t pay to entice, only to reward; it is my duty to find out what you consider a reward and what is just a supply.”

Bella grimaced. “Lifetime supply of birth control?”

Polly giggled and wandered off to talk to Rick.

Bella glared at Loki.

He smiled benignly. “I could do that, but Ulric would tamper with it right away. Reproductive coercion isn’t usually the path of an omega, but he might take it if he is desperate to keep you tied to him. I am much more forthright. I want you, I want a family, and I will do whatever it takes to make you comfortable and give you avenues to pursue your own happiness.”

Bella blinked. “Wait. You aren’t promising to make me happy?”

“No one can make another happy, but they can give others ways to find things that make them happy.” Loki smiled. “Sorry, you have to do your own homework as to what will make you happy.”

Bella stared at him. “That is a very interesting summary. Polly’s fiancé is trying to bribe her.”

Loki shook his head. “He is trying to do it right so that neither she, nor he, nor his family have any regrets. You were in a different situation. You were in heat and then out of a work contract with Ulric. He needed you attached so that is where I came in. You have joined my pack. You are the first member. Ulric will be the second, and Rick will join via you or Ulric. We will be a group, and the plans and decisions will occur during a committee, including the pack name. Ulric will be our registered omega, and I would like you to marry me and be my beta.” He smiled. “And my wife.”

She stared. “What?”

“It would be best if you were linked to one of your alphas. It will give you legal recourse and protection. It also makes it easier to transfer money to you in case of fatality.”

Bella’s knees got weak. “What?”

“Young alphas and omegas die in random ways every day. Betas, too. Insurance dispersal is easier between alphas and betas if they have a legal connection, not just pack ties.”

She knew all about what the lack of pack protection could cause. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and put her plate down.

Loki’s arms came around her, and he murmured, “What is it, Bella?”

“I know about the lack of protection. It put me in an orphanage and then a group home.”

Ulric whispered, “What?”

Polly came by with Rick. “I think you four need a family meeting. Go sit in the other room. The locksmith is nearly here, so you have some time to get to the bottom of things. When this place is secure, I am heading to bed.”

Polly shooed them out of the kitchen and into the living room. Bella went.

Bella was surprised when Loki handed her over to Rick, and he sat down on the couch with her curled against him. She breathed in the comforting scent of Rick and relaxed.

Loki spoke softly, “Now, Bella, what is your experience with alphas?”

She licked her lips, and Ulric sat next to her and took her hand. “Um, I am a bastard. My mom worked for a company run by an alpha. He went into rut and ignored it for too long, and they had an unwilling connection. I was the result. She was married, and her family didn’t want me. The alpha had an omega, and he didn’t want me, so I was dumped into the system. My father also refused to allow me into anyone else’s family, so I went from the orphanage to group home after group home. I learned about my history and why no one was allowed to adopt me. I was a mistake, and my father didn’t want me blending in with a normal family. His mistake couldn’t be happy. I was proof of loss of control.”

Loki asked, “How did you get your education?”

“Scholarships, grants, and bursaries. Student loans. I paid it off and started saving up, but now I have to start again.” She swallowed. “So, your offer of money is both alluring and repulsive.”

Loki nodded. “I understand. What is his name?”

“Oh, Igor Havel.”

Rick grunted. “I am familiar with the name, but I don’t know why.” He stroked her hair and her back.

Loki nodded. “Advertisers. They are a marketing company.”

Ulric squeezed her hand and said, “That would explain why a female was working alone and late.”

Bella lifted her head. “It wasn’t late. There were four witnesses. He raped her in a conference room.”

Rick murmured, “Fuck.”

“Yeah. I don’t blame her for dumping me, but I do blame him. He could have even helped with clothing or education, but he stopped me from having a life. I am tired of paying for other people’s decisions.” She sighed. “I guess that Loki’s suggestion makes the most sense.”

Ulric asked as he rubbed her hand with his thumb, “What did he suggest?”

“That he marry me, so I have someone to call on financially in case of a child.”

Loki tutted. “And so that you are not at the mercy of my family. They don’t have any.”

Ulric whined. “I want to do it.”

Rick murmured, “You can’t. You have your own status in a pack. The omegas have their own rights, and with two alphas, you will survive the death of one. If we don’t rally around her, Bella would be out in the cold if any of us were too grief-stricken to take care of her.”

Ulric whined. “But she is bound to both of us now. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

Rick ruffled his hair. “She has no rights under the law if she is a beta bound to the pack.”

“But, I marked her.”

“Beta marks aren’t enforced. Alphas can mark dozens in their lifetimes. The marks can fade. A legal marriage lasts as long as the couples do.”

Bella murmured, “But the marks only last on me for six months or so unless they are renewed.”

Loki grinned. “And so, we begin a cycle of half anniversaries from today onward. Maybe quarters, just to be on the safe side.”

Rick murmured, “Loki has more to offer you financially, so go with him. Frankly, he also has more family behind him. He is safer than I am. My family are all betas and can only involve you in a touch football game at thanksgiving.” He chuckled. “Or a dance-off. They are all involved in Broadway shows.”

Ulric perked up. “Can you help us get tickets?”

Rick snorted. “Yeah, I probably can.” He cuddled Bella. “Would you like to go to a show?”

“Like, when I am working?”

Ulric sighed. “You can have the day off as long as we can all go together.”

She looked at Loki, and he was smiling. “So, it looks like I just have one thing to do, Baby Bella.”

Loki went down on one knee, “Bella, will you marry me? I will keep your spirits up, your savings account full, and help you plan for a future that we will share with Ulric and Rick.”

To her shock, he pulled out a small box from his pocket. “On the off chance you said yes, I had Polly bring this.”

He cracked the box open, and a dark green cushion cut emerald was sparkling in a setting that was surrounded by a swirl of diamonds. She blinked. “Oh.”

“So, Bella, will you marry me?”

She looked around at the men who surrounded her with smiling and encouraging faces. “Um, yes?”

Loki smiled and put the ring on her finger. It settled as if it was made for her. He grinned, and she leaned forward and kissed him. He stood up, holding her in his arms.

He chuckled when their kiss faded. “Polly will take you for a kimono fitting tomorrow. You can choose the pattern for our pack.”

“What?”

“I don’t care if it is a cartoon chibi fox, but if you pick it, it is what we will all wear.”

Bella looked at the three men who were grinning at her. Chibis were not what sprang to mind. Well, maybe for Ulric.

Loki chuckled. “I can see you putting on and taking off the robes. So, what colour would you dress Rick and me in?”

“Black and gold. Ulric would be gold and black.”

“And what will you wear?”

She blinked. “I don’t know. I think Polly will have to guide me. She seems to have experience with the formalwear.”

Loki smiled and got his phone out. “Smile and hold your hand up.”

He sat with her on his knee, and when she put her hand on his chin, it felt normal to lean her head against his shoulder. He took a selfie with both of them, and then he grinned. “And now, off to the family chat.”

She watched as he typed using characters, and then he attached the image. He whispered, “The text says, now who knows how to plan a wedding?”

His phone began to blow up. He laughed.

They took pictures with Ulric and Rick. The other two started circulating the images, and their phones began to ping, and even Bella got one. Ford’s name came up. You can have him as a mate, but he still works for me, Bella.

She blinked. She could have done without the eggplant emojis alongside peaches with some dancing ladies.

Ulric came up behind her and licked at her ears. She clenched her thighs and shivered. “They will join us after Polly has locked up. Shall we?”

She looked up at him, and he kissed her softly. “This feels weird. I just got engaged to Loki, but I am taking you to bed.”

“Aw, sweet, I am taking you, but hold onto your enthusiasm for Loki; you are going to need it in an hour or so.”

He picked her up and walked up the stairs to his bedroom.

Chapter Six

“You are wearing too many clothes, Bella.” Ulric slowly removed her clothes down to her underwear and then sighed. “Damn, this is what you are wearing under everything?”

She looked down at the black cotton. “It’s cheap and easy to replace.”

He growled. “I am going to take you shopping, Bella.”

“You have a very full calendar,” she murmured as he unsnapped her bra and slid his hands under it, cupping her breasts.

“I will ask my assistant to make time.” Ulric chuckled. “She’s amazing.” He slid his hand down across her belly and under the edge of her panties. He licked her ear. “And very wet.”

She shivered and clutched at his wrist as his fingers delved into her. He hissed. “So hot.”

Her moans began to whisper in the room, and she said, “You know I am going to regret this in the morning.”

“As long as you give me a few hours before the regret sets in, I am good. Greedy, too.” He growled softly.

“Omegas don’t growl.”

“They do if they have a sweet, adorable beta in their arms who is clever and her body is designed to tease.” His fingers continued their wet plunge into her until she dug her fingers into his wrist and whimpered as her body tried to squeeze and hold him.

When she calmed down, she was folded over his arm and sighed. The sigh turned into a yelp when he tossed her to the bed and stripped her panties off, tossing them to the floor.

“Don’t do that. They will disappear in the night.” She whined.

“No, Bella. Not anymore, and not from my room.” He removed his clothing and dove straight between her thighs. His tongue was wet and fast. He pursued her clit, and she squeaked in surprise as he took her to the edge of release. She was panting and pulling at his hair. He laughed and moved up her body, pressing the soft and smooth column of his cock into her. She faced him, and heat crept up her cheeks. She felt full and stuffed, but it didn’t hurt. There wasn’t a hard edge on him.

She looked at him watching her, and he licked her ears, spurring a jolt of heat. She felt the hard clenching of her body in time with the licking, and curls of heat started to flow into her from an outside source.

Bella felt like this when her heat took her over, so she reached around Ulric’s neck and hung on. When he started to move, fire flowed through her, and the link expanded as he thrust and retreated with deep, penetrating groans. He paused, and she felt heat pressing into her and overflowing. Ulric paused, and then he began thrusting again. He chuckled as he kissed her softly. “Sex with omegas has no rough edges, and as many times as I come, I can always go again.”

She was sweaty and panting. “Good to know.”

“Ah, you are behind me. Let’s catch you up.” He pinned her arms above her head with one hand and reached between them to tease her clit with slow circles.

Bella breathed heavily and sobbed as she came. Her body was too tired for anything else.

Ulric shuddered and came again.

She muttered, and he said, “What?”

“Wet spot from hell.”

He laughed and withdrew. “Well, I will clean you up and get you settled for sleep. I can feel the link between us. Can you?”

She nodded and yawned. “I can. Loki’s is fatter, but you are in there as well.”

“Of course his is. I am just happy I figured out how to make a link with you at all.” He kissed her cheek and got off her. Ulric picked her up and carried her to the shower. He washed her in warm water, pressing a soft washcloth between her thighs.

“That particular area is exhausted. I think it is going to retire.”

He kissed her cheek. “I will induce it to remain on the job. Promise.”

She sighed as he wrapped her in a towel. She muttered, “I am still leaking.”

He grinned brightly. “And when you are up for having a child, that will be a boon. It will increase the possibility of you having a teeny little Ulric.”

She snorted and then yawned. “Teeny Bella.”

He laughed. “That would be good, too.”

He picked her up and walked her back to the bed, where he pulled the coverlet off and dumped it on the floor.

“You are going to have to clean that up in the morning.”

He sighed. “I know. Will you help me do laundry?”

“Nope. Tomorrow is my day off, and I have to meet Loki’s grandmother.” She settled under the duvet and blinked as Loki and Rick came through the door. Nervousness rippled through her. “I can’t...”

Loki smiled and stripped, crawling into the far side of the bed. He grabbed her and hauled her against him, removing the towel and dropping it outside the bed.

“Don’t you even think of starting something, alpha.”

“I won’t, Baby Bella. I just want you close. Ulric will be on your other side, and Rick will be on the outside.”

Rick grinned as he pulled his shirt off. “Looks like I will be the last to mark you, Bella. I do applaud Ulric’s efforts. Ford had fangs installed to mark his mate. Doing it via piercing is inspired.”

Ulric wriggled against her, settling in. He kissed her shoulders, and she sighed.

A few minutes later, the warmth and relaxation had seeped into her skin. They were all in the huge bed, and sleep swept over her in a wave with Loki’s help. She smiled as she felt Ulric succumb as well. Loki was strong and knew how to work a link.

She woke curled up against Loki with Ulric’s face burrowed into the small of her back. Loki kissed the base of her neck and licked it softly until she whimpered as her sex heated and softened. His hands caressed her breasts, and his long fingers stroked between her thighs. He eased her toward him and draped one of her legs over his hip, opening her wide.

He worked into her in small motions until she was taking all of him but the knot. He whispered softly in her ear, and she held onto him, rocking against him. They moved together, and then she whined softly, burying her face against his chest, biting softly.

He chuckled. “Hold on, Bella.”

He thrust harder, the knot wedged into her, and she filled with heat.

He raised her chin on his knuckles and kissed her softly. “Morning, Bella.”

She smiled and kissed him back. “Knotting is not a relaxing way to start the day.”

There were two other chuckles from the bed.

Hands moved over her, and her blood heated. She fluttered around Loki’s knot and whined against his lips.

Hands caressed her, Ulric’s super soft skin rubbed against her back, and Loki rocked his hips against hers, tugging gently at her opening. She squealed softly, hands pinched her nipples, and she inhaled a blast of air as another orgasm burned through her.

Loki laughed at her, and she sighed as her whole body throbbed around him.

“You feel good, baby.”

She blushed.

“You will feel even better when you have both your alphas, your omega, and the ability to wake up with us in a house that has hot coffee waiting.”

Ulric growled. “Hey.”

Loki said quietly, “This place isn’t safe for her. Your ex-lovers want her dead.”

“Dead? I mean, they are angry, but...” Ulric sighed. “They want her dead.”

“We only need to relocate for a few days until things are secure and a new staff has been laid in.”

Bella murmured, “And they need to be given severance pay. Take away their reasons to sue.”

Ulric murmured, “Sue? You have no idea what they were threatening to do to you. I recorded it all. It wasn’t nice.”

“It doesn’t matter if it was nice. You have a crappy business and employment model, and it has degraded. It would have had the same effect on your mate if you had an alpha take you on. They would be furious. You promised them the possibility of sex with an omega.”

Ulric bit her hip. “Don’t remind me. I am going to confine myself to the people in this room, mostly you.” He chuckled. “You taste good.”

“Stop eating me, Ulric.”

He nuzzled the curve of her waist. “That isn’t what you said last night.”

She grunted and thumped him on the head. “Don’t do that. What happens in the moment stays in the moment, or no one is ever getting a blow job.”

She felt the stillness in the room, and Ulric started grovelling and whining as he rubbed his face against her shoulders. Bella sighed. “As soon as the knot lets me go, I am going to lock myself in the bathroom for a thousand years or so.”

Rick stroked her arm. “He is just working out the rules. You have made a very precise one. No taunting you with what you say when we have you under us.”

She muttered, “Not where everyone can hear, anyway. Not until I get used to this.”

Loki chuckled. “You will adapt to it. You have been working with alphas and omegas for years. This is just a different application of your interpersonal skills.”

She rocked her hips, and he was still stuck. “Oh... zip it.”

He kissed her temple. “Sassing your alpha is dangerous in this position.”

The door opened, and Polly chuckled. “Coffee, green tea, and some fruit and biscuits. Regular breakfast downstairs. Since you were all up, I figured I would bring it in.”

Bella blinked. “How did you know we were up?”

Polly turned and looked at all four of them with dark crimson eyes. “Oh, I can see the change in life signs in the house. It’s why I don’t catch Loki jerking off... anymore.”

Bella was startled into laughing, and Loki came loose. That made her laugh more.

Polly set the tray at the foot of the bed. “Breakfast in half an hour. Be downstairs, or I will eat all the bacon.”

Bella sat up and nodded. “Yes, Polly.” She ignored the seeping of cum out of her and reached for the tray to pull it closer. Polly left and closed the door.

Loki snorted. “She has gotten some secondary effects from her marks. Sensing life signs is something I had forgotten about, but it is handy for morning tea.” He picked up the handleless cup of green tea and sipped at it.

Bella picked up a cup of coffee that was black with cream and sighed. “Oh, that’s nice.”

Ulric held a slice of apple for Bella and then yelped as Rick lifted her and pulled her onto his lap, watching her coffee. He kissed her shoulder and sipped out of her coffee cup.

“Hey, that’s mine.” She grabbed for the coffee again.

Rick chuckled. “Tough. If I am going to be guarding your tight little ass, I need coffee.”

She grumbled and crawled off and over him, staggering into the bathroom. The moments of privacy were going to be few and far between. She showered and used the facilities, then wrapped herself in a towel and headed out of the bedroom and down the hall to her room. She got dressed in the tea dress and a set of heeled pumps. She wasn’t sure what to do with her hair, so she left it down.

Polly had covered dishes lined up on the counter with plates and cutlery waiting. She handed Bella a new mug of coffee. “Here you go.”

“Oh, thank you. Rick stole mine.”

“Figured.” Polly smiled. “You look pretty. Would you like help with your hair? His grandmother has a specific taste in ladies’ fashions. The dress is great. Shoes are perfect. I will do your hair in a loose Gibson girl, and then we just have to keep the guys from poking their fingers in,” Polly paused. “To your hair.”

Bella laughed.

Polly sighed. “Sorry. So, the plan is to get you guys moved to Loki’s. It is secure, and I have to secure this place and interview new staff. So, fun for me.”

“I can do it.”

“No, you are the target. I can defend myself against a few standard alphas if necessary. Another side effect of the mark.”

“So, what were the red eyes about this morning?”

“Oh, that’s what happens when I use some of those secondary characteristics that came along with the mark. Have you noticed any yet?”

Bella shrugged. “Not really.”

“That makes sense. You only met Loki yesterday.”

Bella exhaled and shook her head.

Polly laughed. “You will notice more and more of the emerging skills as time goes on. I have another friend who was directly marked, and she is dodging her alpha. She doesn’t find him a particularly worthy fellow. So, she has the power and the skills but not the mate. I am trying to lure her to our wedding. The number of possible alphas will be quite large if I can just get her there.”

“What is with the surge toward matchmaking, Polly?” Bella took a large chug of coffee.

“Because once this happens, it isn’t safe out there, Bella. There are a lot of alphas who are outside the standard. They are monsters in lovely skins and want women who can help them have more monsters of their bloodline. They aren’t the standard animal shifter beasts. They are mythical creatures, ancient gods, and beings that have no names. There is a group called the book club that helps betas who have been changed. I knew who my alpha was right off the bat within two days of the mark appearing, so I never went, but the fact that they exist means this is happening a lot. It is also only happening with an eye to the freaky alphas.” She raised her voice. “Yes, Loki, I mean you.”

He sauntered into the room and sighed. “Polly, are you bad-mouthing me to my new mate?”

“Yes. I was also mentioning Maura, though not by name.”

“Ah. Right. Is she coming to your wedding?”

“Of course. I have had a kimono ordered for her already. Since we have some time before we have to be at your grandmother’s, I thought we would start the process of designing your pack crest.” Polly smiled. “But, first... breakfast. Everyone eats, or we don’t leave.”

Bella set her coffee on the table and collected her breakfast croissants, eggs, and bacon.

Breakfast was underway.

Bella sat in the back seat with Loki. Rick and Ulric were in the other car, and Polly was driving.

Polly took them to an understated but wealthy part of town, and she stopped in front of a shop with panels of heavy silk in the window. She parked and got out of the vehicle before holding the door for them.

Loki exited before taking Bella by the hand and easing her out.

She stood next to him as the others joined them. Polly grinned, closed the door, and went into the shop. She spoke softly to someone, and there was an amused chuckle.

“So, Mistress Polly, you have brought more in? Feeling lonely, or do you have enough for your collection?” The man had a thick Japanese accent.

“I have brought in Loki and his bride-to-be, Bella. Oh, and their pack. Bella needs to choose the pattern to incorporate into the pack kimono. Her back is patterned with a nine-tailed fox, so use that as a starting point.”

The shopkeeper smiled. “Your own wedding kimono is nearly complete. Would you like to try it on? The embroidery of the obi was finished last night.”

Bella came in, and she gasped at the obis on display on the walls, sleeves out straight, and panels of fabric painted by skilled artisans decorated the body and sleeves. So much colour covered the walls, images of a country that she was unlikely to see.

Bella looked at Polly. “You have one that is here and ready?”

“Uh, yeah, my wedding kimono.” Polly was blushing.

The shopkeeper was nearby and looked at Polly. “Will you try it? It is important to see how it hangs, plus I think your friend will enjoy seeing what a properly worn kimono should look like.”

Polly nodded and pointed to a book. “Look at samples while I get dressed. This takes a while.”

Bella and Loki looked over patterns as examples and were nearly through the book when a set of hands clapped.

“The kijin’s bride.”

Polly stepped from behind a curtain, and Bella gasped. The embroidered patterns were stylized ogres, complete with tusks and slashed claw marks. The fabric was a rich red, the colour of dark blood. The under robes were creamy white silk.

Polly smiled. “So, it takes only a few layers for underneath. Then the base robe, the trim robe, and finally, the outer robe. The shoes take getting used to, but once you get the hang of them, you can move pretty well.”

She walked around the showroom and then paused while Bella examined the details. The paintings depicted the courtship of the kijin and his bride, but all in kimono. Their meeting, the onsen, Polly in the clutches of a monster while the fox laughed nearby. The final image was the wedding between a woman with red eyes and the kijin, whatever that was.

Bella smiled. “This is wonderful. Definitely, a piece to display proudly later.”

The shopkeeper smiled. “Well, little mistress, let’s get you measured, and while your men are getting measurements, you can work on your motifs.”

Polly nodded. “And help me out of this thing before I get an urge to eat cheezies or something.”

He gasped and helped her to the back of the shop. Bella went along and got to watch two people from the shop removing the obi and then the heavy robe. The layers came off, and Polly moved behind a curtain to put her clothing back on. When she came out with the light silk over one arm and her skirt and heels back in place, she smiled. “Okay, gentlemen, have at her.”

Bella squawked as she was lifted and placed on the platform for measuring, and she was swarmed by men with sticks and tapes.

When the measurements were taken, Polly took her armload of silk and followed Bella into the changing room.

“So, you know how to do this?” Bella asked Polly.

“Oh, yeah. The underlayers are usually the only ones you have to do by yourself. This wraps around your hips for... reasons.”

Bella chuckled. “Sensible.”

The silky robe went over her shoulders and was tied lightly but without extra folds. “And this one keeps your sweat to yourself. There is also a collar sewn into the robe that goes over this so that it keeps your neck oil to yourself. You have a neck mark, so you will want to show it off.” Polly tugged the robe up and back to open it. “Right, now into the hands of the professionals.”

Bella was eased back onto the platform, and the midnight blue and silver robe went on, and the heavy black outer robe went on, with depictions of clouds and the night sky. Holding the sleeves out of the way was odd, but the wide obi went on and was tied, twisted, and wrapped into a hanging box bow.

Polly helped her get the sandals on and held her hand as they walked out to the showroom. Ulric looked at Bella and gasped. “Wow.”

Rick inclined his head in a bow, and Loki smiled and took a photo. “Grandma is going to love that.”

Polly kept her hand out to help, and Bella clung to her as she wobbled on the shoes. “So, the walking is easier?”

“It takes practice. It will be at least three months before the first kimono is done at the earliest, and if they don’t have a huge backlist. Well, also, the complexity of the design that you pick will determine the production time.”

The shopkeeper chuckled. “Mistress Polly, you should come to work for me.”

Loki snorted. “No. She’s mine. Well, until Minoru finishes his business and the wedding is completed. Then we have to share her.”

Polly snorted. “So to speak. Loki has Bella now, and she will be his bride. If he plays his cards right, she might be his assistant.”

Ulric snorted. “Hey!”

Polly smiled. “Want to get the weight off, Bella?”

Bella nodded. “Yeah, this feels like several thousand dollars on my shoulders.”

Polly smiled. “Oh, it is. Come on.”

They got Bella back into her tea dress and heels, with Polly arranging her hair in the loose Gibson girl.

They walked back to the front and sat in an alcove, looking at fabric books and pattern samples.

Bella started having fun. Polly was like a big sister, and it was nice to have someone to play with.

Polly’s phone rang, and she got up and spoke softly. “Minoru, you are supposed to be asleep.”

She paused and looked around furiously. “I am going to kill him.”

There was deep chuckling through the phone and more murmuring.

“No, I am pretty sure I can take him. My claws are coming in when I get irritated.”

More low speech through the phone made Bella stare at Polly as her expression softened.

“Yes, I am being careful. No, I can’t use Loki to hide anymore. He’s got a mate now, and if I rubbed up against him, I would smell like sex. That’s no good.” She paused and chuckled. “Oh, I know it sounds good to you, but I am the one running around smelling like bait. I have coverage for about ninety percent of my day. Now, if you don’t mind, we are picking a kimono pattern for Bella’s pack. These things are important.”

She paused again. “Yes, I bought one for Maura. It has swords and a thunderstorm, as you requested. You have someone in mind?”

She paused and then blinked. “Him? Oh. Okay. And he’s coming to the wedding?”

There was a sentence or two, and then she smiled. “All right. I will see you when you come home. Goodbye, Minoru. Take care.”

Bella smiled and then gasped as the guys walked out wearing dark men’s kimonos and turned to show off the thick ties and the comfortable look of the robes.

Bella whistled slowly, and the guys grinned. She showed the shopkeeper the fabrics she preferred and a sketch of the design she wanted. He nodded and smiled, then went to a drafting table to sketch it out properly.

The sketch he returned to her made her smile, and when it was shown to the guys, they grinned and nodded approval.

More designs were produced, including a storytelling of the previous week. The sketches showed her wearing more clothing than she had been dressed in at the time and all-formal kimono.

The shopkeeper chuckled. “My ancestors would have been both appalled and intrigued with these modern designs.”

Bella smiled. “I think they are wonderful. Antiques for the modern age.”

The shopkeeper grinned. “I like her very much.”

Polly nodded. “I knew you would. Now, what is the outside timing on those kimonos?”

The shopkeeper looked at her. “You want another pack to outshine you at your wedding?”

“You have seen Minoru. Do you think he would let that happen?”

“Ah, the mistress is correct. Well, these are the patterns for now, and I will send Master Loki the finished patterns as they happen. With Maura’s being finished tomorrow, we will be able to begin these right away. We have all the silk in stock.”

“Bella will also need the same pattern in wedding red.” Polly smiled. “I will pay for that one.”

Bella was shocked, and so was Loki. That was when it sank home how expensive the custom kimono would be.

Polly’s eyes glowed red, and her nails extended to black points. “I will not take no for an answer.”

Bella swallowed. “Understood.”

Polly beamed. “Excellent. It is nearly time to meet Loki’s grandmother.”

Chapter Seven

“Pour the tea.” Loki’s grandmother nodded to the teapot.

Bella blinked and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

She picked up the teapot, poured the tea, and left enough space for milk or lemon. She poured for Loki and then herself. She doctored the tea for Loki and smoothly passed him the cup and saucer with one hand.

She picked up the other saucer with two hands and extended it to the grandmother. The woman looked at the tea and took the cup with one hand. Bella waited, and when the grandmother dropped her grip, Bella caught it and set it down in front of the older woman without spilling a drop.

“Hmph.”

Bella sat back and put sugar and lemon in her tea. She stirred clockwise and set her spoon down on the small rest.

The grandmother put sugar and milk in her tea. “You will remember this?”

“Of course, madam.”

“Good. Well, you are graceful. I will give you that. Also, Polly approves of you, so that goes quite far.”

Polly was staring into her phone and frowning at a table nearby. She absently ate something, and Bella smiled.

“Yes, I respect her opinion as well. She has a good heart and a tolerance for dealing with alphas.”

Loki smiled.

His grandmother looked at the other members of their group. “You have an omega?”

Loki nodded. “Yes, he is Bella’s boss and the one who contacted me. Imagine my surprise when I found my match working for the omega.”

“You are sure that she is the one?”

“I can count to nine, Grandma.”

She looked at Bella and then beamed. “Well, then, child, you will have to get ready for the wedding.”

“Yes, madam. Polly has gotten things started and offered to pay for a wedding costume.”

“Call me Sylvie, dear.”

“Sylvie, it has been an interesting day and a half.”

Sylvie chuckled. “Ah, that answers another question. Alphas do move quickly when they find someone they want.”

Loki chuckled. “Grandpa certainly did.”

His grandmother blushed. “Quiet you, or you are out of the will.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a woman speak with Polly. Her expression was cheerful, and her demeanour was friendly.

Polly came over and smiled. “Madame, I need to introduce Bella to Maura. May I borrow her?”

“Of course, dear. You have three minutes.”

Bella got up and walked over to the newcomer. “Hello. My name is Bella.”

The woman extended her hand. “Maura. It looks like when Polly makes friends, she has a type.”

Bella smiled at the woman who had similar brown hair and hazel eyes. “It really does. Makes you wonder if she has a collection lined up by height at her place.”

Maura snorted.

Polly smiled. “Maura also has a mark, but the first alpha to come after her was a jackass. She’s sworn off alphas until the right one comes up.”

Bella smiled. “I can understand that. I am lucky. I have two that are working out well for me and an omega that I only want to strangle some of the time.”

Ulric frowned. “Hey!”

Rick elbowed him. “She said some of the time.”

Maura smiled. “I hope that we bump into each other a few more times before Polly’s wedding. I think we would get along.”

Bella nodded. “I think so, too. It feels like I have known you all my life.”

“Or at least high school.”

“Uh, do you have any adaptations?”

Maura looked over at the table where Loki and his grandmother sat. “Yes, but showing it in here is inappropriate.”

Bella smiled. “I haven’t gotten my adaptations yet, but I just ran into Loki yesterday.”

Maura chuckled. “It will show up soon, then. With Loki’s nature, expect it to be some kind of illusion or shapeshifting.”

She heard a clink and smiled. “My three minutes are up. Maura, I would enjoy having coffee with you if I ever have a day off.”

“Polly will arrange it. She’s good at that kind of thing.”

Polly smirked. “I really am. Now, back to show Madame how well you eat sandwiches.”

Bella made a face, and Polly and Maura sat with Rick and Ulric. Well, it was time to impress the in-laws.

Polly drove them home to Loki’s place, and Bella was exhausted. She needed a nap.

Bella looked at the house as they climbed the drive. “Holy heck. Is that...”

Loki smiled. “Polly found me an architect who could account for our climate but keep the aesthetic. The same guy designed the one that Minoru had built.”

The Japanese-styled building was at the top of a hill but surrounded by rings of trees. It was lovely. It was cultivated and wild at the same time.

Polly pulled up out front and went to open the doors for Loki and Bella.

Bella squeaked when Loki picked her up and carried her inside. He walked in, kicked off his footwear, and Polly removed Bella’s shoes. Right. Manners.

Loki carried her on a tour, showing her the kitchen, the living area, the guest bedrooms, the largest bedroom, the nest, and the hot spring out back.

He introduced her to Leah and Mikey, his housekeeper and gardener. Bella looked behind her, and Ulric was staring into the nest. He whistled softly. “Wow. This is amazing.”

Loki chuckled. “I didn’t know what I would be mating with, so on the off chance that I had an omega, I made sure that I was equipped for it, but I have a beta and omega, so we split the difference.”

Bella muttered. “I can walk, you know.”

He laughed. “I know, but I wondered how long I could cuddle you before you commented. Now, let’s get into some home clothes, and we can relax in the hot tub. It is your day off, after all.”

“Home clothes?”

Polly grinned and walked forward. “I will take the girl; you take the boys.”

Loki chuckled, “But I wanted to...”

“I know. Shoo.”

Bella blinked as Polly took her by the hand and led her to one of the guestrooms. There was a long dresser with narrow drawers. Polly smiled. “He likes to wear yukata at home. They are cotton and comfortable and very cute.” She snickered. “Mine tend to have anime characters on them. It drives Minoru nuts. He is very mature for his age and finds my impulses a little silly.”

“Isn’t that a problem?”

“Not for me.” Polly smiled. “Two layers for the yukata for ladies because of... reasons. The same underlayer as the kimono but cotton instead of silk. So, let’s get dressed to stay in.”

Bella followed along as Polly showed her how to dress, and then they undid it to do it over again. Bella got the hang of it and had to admit that she was comfortable, and it felt pretty to have the sleeves swinging.

Polly helped her tie the smaller obi. Bella asked, “Isn’t this cultural appropriation?”

“This is Loki’s culture, Minoru’s culture, and their monster’s culture. There is a secondary intelligence in them, and that intelligence prefers its partner to be dressed in what is familiar dress for it.”

“It still feels...”

“And the government of Japan has come out in favour of aspects of their culture being shared internationally. They have a decreasing population and stringent citizenship guidelines. They are happy to see flares of their culture popping up around the world. It keeps the traditions alive and in the public eye. They are not forgotten, and it helps to drive tourism. Wear it respectfully, and there is no issue.” She smiled. “Which is why actual yukata and kimono are designed and sold here by artisans. And why I have so many cheater obi.”

Bella laughed. “You don’t mind my borrowing this?”

“Nope. Minoru keeps bringing them back so that I can wear them pretty much constantly when I am at his place.” Polly smirked. “Since western underwear isn’t traditionally worn, I am sure his motivation is a little on the nefarious side.”

Bella felt the wrapping, the support of the obi, and the comfort of the tabi socks. “I could get used to this very easily. Do you ever wear it out of the house?”

“Absolutely. The local vendors have all gotten used to me already. It is remarkably easy for folks to accept when they see Loki or Minoru. Then it is just an eccentricity.”

Bella smoothed her hands over the fabric that was dyed and painted into a sunset with fans all over it. It was a cheerful robe. When she and Polly left the bedroom and walked through the house, it felt like she matched the environment.

Leah smiled. “Here you go, Bella. You look like you need a pick-me-up.”

The green smoothie topped with whipped cream looked really good. Bella took it. Polly smiled.

“Don’t you want some?”

Polly snickered. “I haven’t been batted around by alphas and omegas for the last week. You need everything that is in there.”

Bella sipped through the straw, and the bright flavour of green apple came to her. “That’s amazing.”

Leah smiled. “Thank you. It is nice to be appreciated.”

Bella slurped and blinked. “The appreciation is deserved. This is one of the best things I have ever had in my mouth.”

Leah chuckled. “I won’t mention that to Mr. Loki.”

Loki murmured, “Oh, he heard. It’s fine. We haven’t gotten that far yet.”

Bella looked at him and slowly drew on her straw.

He smirked. “Yet.”

The other two stood behind him, and Ulric had a distinct pout.

Bella smiled. “Aw, Ulric is upset that he isn’t as pretty as he normally is.”

He blinked and blushed. “I... well, you know.”

“You like colour. I know.”

Polly chuckled. “Yukata are easier to pick out. I can ask Minoru to grab a dozen suitable for a male slightly shorter than Loki. Same shoulder width.”

She pulled out her phone and started to send a text with a smirk on her lips. “He should be asleep by now, but with him, who knows?” She finished her text and then put her phone in her sleeve.

Her smile was smug until her sleeve started ringing. “Uh-oh.”

She fished her phone out and went pale. She walked to the door, slid it open, and stepped out onto the deck. She spoke quietly but loudly, and she eventually shrieked that the person on the other end should Leave me alone and live your own fucking life!

She waited for about a minute and slid the screen open, stepping back inside. Polly saw everyone staring at her, and she bowed an apology. “My sister found my new number. Sorry for the disturbance.”

Bella frowned. “That sounded intense.”

Polly sighed. “Finish your smoothie, and I will tell you about it during the soak. Loki knows most of it, so he can tell the other two. Just because I know how curious omegas can be, and it wouldn’t be fair to leave Rick out.”

Bella slurped down to the end of the smoothie and smiled. “Let’s go, Polly. I love a good story.”

Polly nodded and led her out the door, down an enormous deck to an area that had an open-air hot spring and a bathing and shower area.

Polly smiled. “Now, you wash yourself off before you go for a soak so that you don’t fill the pool with dead skin cells and oils. So, you strip off and scrub down. Public nudity is normal, especially in family groups. I will scrub your back if you scrub mine.”

Bella grinned. “Deal.”

Polly pulled her hair up into a floppy ponytail, and she began to remove her clothes, folding them over a stand and wrapping a towel around her waist. She got buckets of warm water while Bella got ready. Polly told her to sit on the stool and started to scrub her back. “You do your front. You aren’t a baby.”

Bella chuckled and nodded, rubbing herself down and feeling squeaky clean when Polly tossed the warm water over her. Polly scrubbed herself quickly, and Bella scrubbed her back. The claw marks were vicious, but they were under smooth skin, just as Bella’s fox was.

“So, what is he, exactly?”

Polly sighed. “A kijin. Either a demon or elder ogre. Red skin, terrifying face, red eyes, horns, black claws, and he is either a devoted protector or a brutal monster. Depends on his mood. That’s why I got him a kitten.”

Bella laughed. “You did?”

“I did. Jiji.” She snickered. “I do like watching anime, but Minoru is so good with the kitten that the giggles stop when the little black soot is sitting on his shoulder and watching him work.”

“You spend time over there?”

“Sure. I am setting up our shared quarters, and he’s currently hosting half of my kimono collection.” Polly smiled as she was rinsed off.

They headed to the hot spring, slowly lowered themselves into the spring, and floated over to a deeper zone.

Bella looked at Polly. “So, tell me about your sister.”

“My sister, Molly, is an omega who wanted a large pack to keep her in luxury. She got it. She’s been with them through two heats but no pregnancies. She’s sterile. Her pack is furious. She’s always been terrified of childbirth and had gotten a back-alley sterilization when she was a teenager. She didn’t tell her pack.”

“Oh, I can see the problem here.”

“Yeah, when a doctor confirmed that she was infertile, she had to think quickly, and she mentioned that I was her twin, had the same approximate genetics, and would make a perfect breeder. She didn’t ask me. When she invited me for dinner with her pack, she sprang the idea on me, and they were very interested. I refused. They grabbed me, and I was able to get free of them with a strange strength that hadn’t previously been there.”

“Wait, they grabbed you?”

“Oh, yeah. They made quite the scene, and guys from the kitchen came to hold them back while I ran for it. My back burned, and I drove back to Loki’s, and we headed overseas the next day. Two days later, I met Minoru, and a few days after that, he was admiring my new markings.” Polly snorted. “Up close and personal.”

Bella smiled. “And then you were engaged.”

“Do you know why?” She sighed. “He could have taken me right there, and I probably would have let him.”

Bella frowned. “I don’t know.”

“Ogre brides are maidens. Yes, that is exactly what I mean.”

Bella’s mouth dropped. “You don’t... you haven’t...”

“Nope.”

“Wow.”

“And we are attempting to wait until the wedding night for reasons.” She sighed.

Bella turned away from Polly and watched the guys enter the hot spring.

Bella murmured, “Is that weird for you?”

“Three hot guys walking into the water? Nope. I can still see; I just don’t have an urge to touch. Well, not them.”

“Who watches Minoru’s cat while he’s gone?”

“I pop by once a week, but his housekeeper turns cat-keeper when we aren’t there, and Jiji loves her.”

“Why do you pop by then?”

“I promised to sleep in his bed at least once a week.”

Bella smiled but kept her gaze locked with Ulric’s as he floated toward them. “Uh, hello, boss.”

He grinned. “I like this place. It is very calm and very well organized.”

Bella looked at the smile in his eyes. “It is. And it is no further from the city than your home. The commute is the same or maybe five minutes closer.” His hand slipped around her waist and pulled her against him.

He nuzzled her ears, and she felt jolts of arousal. “It seems that they healed quickly.”

She hissed. “Stop it.”

He chuckled and whispered, “No.”

She hissed and struggled against him, but they were with Loki and Rick. Hands and mouths converged on her, and she saw that Polly had headphones on and was leaning back, her eyes closed.

Bella kept her moans soft, but they brought her to one orgasm after another, cocks stroking her under the water and making her jolt in tense surprise with every slow contact.

She was limp and sitting on Loki’s lap when she felt it was safe to open her eyes again. Their intense expressions had been too much.

Loki stroked her face, then gently cupped her breasts in turn. “Well, fiancé, that was fun. Will you let Rick mark you tonight?”

“Yes. It will feel better to have everyone involved if they want to be.”

Rick looked over at her and smiled. “I want to be.”

She nodded and pressed her cheek to Loki’s shoulder. They stayed in the hot spring until she was all pruny, and then Loki wrapped her in a towel and carried her to the bedroom, slipping her into a cotton robe in brilliant blue with a huge silver bow keeping it together. He tucked her into bed and kissed her forehead. “Take a nap. You are going to need your strength.”

* * * *

Polly caught up with work and smiled at the triad discussing their mate. They were happy, excited, and filled with hope for the future.

Loki’s appointments for the week had been successfully pushed back, and the staff that worked for Ulric had accepted severance.

Working on Bella’s dress was the only thing that had to be done. She would be a perfect mate for that gathering of men. Ulric loved her brain, Rick wanted her body, and Loki was after her energy pattern. Eventually, the three would blur together when all the links were in place.

Polly felt a flicker of unease at the earlier call. She had changed her phone number twice, and the phone she had was registered to Loki’s company. They were getting desperate if they had started bribing folks or hacking systems.

She went to Leah and helped her make dinner. Mindless action made her panic manageable.

Bella was settled, Ulric’s place was back under control, and there was a lot of shopping in Bella’s future as the beta to a pack with three different fashion senses. Polly smiled as she imagined the sparkly, dark, mini-skirted kimono that would be the result of all three tastes at the same time. She would look like a hostess in a maid café.

Polly kept that image with her for several hours. She grinned every time she thought of it.

Her job had just gotten more fun.

Author’s Note

So, this is part of a set. The next book is called Ogre Bride, and it is going to be written before this one comes out. I am not leaving this book dangling with no end for Polly.

So, in the next book, we wrap up a bunch of things, attend a wedding, and rescue a fair maiden. That is what is on the current itinerary.

Thanks for reading,

Viola Grace

About the Author

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around, and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

In real life, she is now engaged in beekeeping, and her adventures can be found on the YouTube channel, Mystery Bees Apiary. Just look for the cartoon kittens.