Page 76 of Promised to the Alpha Prince

“…and Nikolai isn’t like that when it comes to her, anyway,” Dmitri was saying.

“Possessive, you mean?” said Nikolai, raising his eyebrows. “Well, I did keep it from both of you that I put my mouth on her. I wanted that to be mine somehow.”

“You haven’t thought you could somehow go off with her, all by yourself,” said Johannes.

“To be fair, when you were on that kick, Johannes, you said I could be there,” said Nikolai.

“When were you on that kick?” said Dmitri in a hard voice.

“I don’t think that way,” said Nikolai, smoothly speaking up before the question could be addressed. “I don’t ever think that I could have anyone to myself, so, I wouldn’t even conceive of that idea.”

“You were plotting this, Johannes?” said Dmitri. “When?”

“Nik,” said Johannes, touching the other man’s shoulder. “What do you mean by that? You have me to yourself. You had Dmitri to yourself. We were the ones sharing you.”

“Yeah, but I was the possession in that situation, right?” said Nikolai. “I didn’t possess anyone. And the omega… she’s the first thing I’ve ever wanted for myself like that.”

Johannes looked down at the floor, furrowing his brow, as if this resonated with him on some deep level.

I wondered about it. Was it like me and Aurelie? The way she completed me?

No, they couldn’t have what I had with her.

If they did, it would cheapen what I had with her, because it would no longer be rare or unique.

Of course, I wouldn’t deny the idea that it had never really been about me, that it had always been about her.

There was something about her, definitely. If they felt it, too…

No.

No point in thinking like this.

She was mine. I was hers. End of story.

“Johannes,” said Dmitri sharply. “Talk to me about plotting to take my omega.”

Johannes lifted his gaze, smirking at Dmitri. “Whatever. You ordered her to stay away from me, and she did it. So, what does it matter? She’s yours. She’s always been yours. We’re just accessories to your relationship. You’re her real alpha.”

“Maybe,” said Dmitri. This guy was a dick, wasn’t he?

Johannes flinched.

“But it’s not like any of us have a choice about these things,” said Dmitri. “I’m the heir. I was always going to bond her. And even if I decide you two can bite her, it’ll hardly be public knowledge, so—”

“Is that even on the table?” Nikolai’s voice was full of a desperate longing.

“If you decide,” said Johannes, clenching his hands into fists.

Dmitri took Johannes by the shoulders. “Look at me, Johannes.”

Johannes swung his gaze up to meet Dmitri’s, defiant.

“We can’t both lead this pack,” said Dmitri. “You and I both know that I’m dominant—”

“We know that, huh?” said Johannes.

“Show me your neck.” It was a bark. It went through me, in the closet, and made me all stiff with the need to obey. Dmitri wasn’t wrong about himself. He was a very dominant alpha. There was some kind of intensity to his power, a regalness, a rightness. It was seductive.

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