Page 18 of Golden Desires

“Hello,” a deep, cheerful, but slightly nervous voice says, drawing my attention to the fireplace, and the chairs I checked out earlier.

Beside the largest of chairs is an attractive man, shifting on his feet like he’s uncomfortable, or maybe excited? His long blond hair hangs loose around his shoulders, and amber eyes meet mine with a hint of something I’ve seen many times before, longing. Only this time, there are no undertones of malice or violence.

He’s the one who smells like clover and leather. It’s his sweater I stole earlier. The same one I’m wearing now. He looks younger than Cillian, but not by much. His white shirt clings to his broad chest, and his leather trousers hang low on his hips. He is the biggest man I have ever seen. Cillian being the second largest, and until this point, I’d thought he was the biggest. I’m distracted when the front door opens and another Alpha enters.

The second he sees me, his brown eyes drop to meet mine. He pauses mid-stride, eyebrows raised, and just stares for a moment. He’s not much shorter than the blond Alpha, and his arms are just as broad and muscular. Shaggy black hair escapes a low tie on the back of his head. Why does his attention feel so familiar? Like I’ve been trapped under his alluring gaze before.

Jeez, he’s handsome. All three of them are. I can see the similarities between them in their straight noses, strong jawline, and plush lips, proving they’re brothers, as Cillian said.

“Welcome to our home. It’s nice to meet you,” he says quietly as he moves a little closer, bringing his scent with him. “My name is Aldair, and this is Kylan,” he adds, gesturing to the blond by the fireplace. Cedar notes tease my nose as he stops a few feet from me.

“I’m Goldie. It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry I intruded, I don’t know what came over me…” I trail off, shaking my head at myself. I practically broke in here and then made myself right at home without even knowing the people that live here.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, we’re happy to help,” Kylan states quickly, looking between his brothers before he looks back at me. He slowly takes a seat in the chair beside him. The action somehow lessens the tension I feel now that he is not towering over the room.

Cillian nods at his brothers, then turns to the kitchen, I assume so he can finish up dinner. Aldair steps forward with an arm extended to gesture at the smaller of the chairs.

“We made rabbit for dinner. You should sit. Make yourself comfortable. We’ll finish up and then serve you.” There’s a command in his tone, but I don’t mind it so much. I nod, climbing into the chair, and tuck my knees up against my chest.

I glance between the men as Cillian moves around the kitchen with practiced ease. I notice that both Kylan and Aldair have angled themselves toward me. For a moment, I wonder if their attention is from their instincts, needing to be aware of the Omega in the room. I don’t feel threatened by their perusal, like most Alpha’s have made me feel in the past.

My attention is drawn to the Alpha cooking dinner after he clears his throat.

“I hope you’re hungry. We made more than enough for everyone.” Cillian looks out the window, nodding to the darkening sky. “The sun will set soon. You can stay here tonight, if you’d like? Tomorrow we could take you to meet our mother. She’s a healer.” The gentle way he looks at me, and the sincerity in his tone, sets me at ease. Maybe I should be more suspicious of his motives, but my instincts are telling me these men mean me no harm. Still, I should be cautious. They’re unmated Alphas, and I’m an unmated Omega.

As if he can sense my sudden discomfort, Kylan leans forward and clasps his hands in front of him. His amber eyes are soft when he speaks.

“You’ll like Ma,” he says, looking at me like he’s going to say more, but snaps his mouth shut.

“Ma?” I ask, looking between the three men.

“Our mother. We call her Ma. Tomorrow morning we can set out to see her, if you’re comfortable with that? She may have some things that will fit you as well.” He nods to the pants I’ve rolled up several times, and the sweater that’s seven sizes too big, and chuckles. “I’m afraid most of our items will be too large for you.” Cillian wipes his hands off on a rag and walks over closer to me. He crouches down by the edge of my chair before settling a hand gently over mine. “Now, are you hungry?” His smile brightens, and I nod. I’m used to being hungry, but I haven’t eaten more than a nibble of dried meat since this morning, and the food they made smells delicious.

He squeezes my hand before walking back over to the kitchen. I follow Kylan to the dining table, taking a seat, but feeling unsure of myself.

The smile Kylan sends my way has me relaxing, though. I don’t understand why I’m so oddly at ease here with these strange Alphas, but I can’t deny the comfort each of them has brought me.

I nibble my lip as I watch Cillian and Aldair, before glancing at Kylan. They’re all so handsome. I’ve never seen Alphas so attractive before. And they are all so kind, too. Maybe I hit my head so hard, I’m still passed out in that cave, dreaming about impossible things…

Like letting my guard down when I probably shouldn’t.

Chapter Ten

Aldair

Goldie. The beautiful woman that smells of sweet berries is Goldie. My little Omega.

Seeing how easily Cill approaches her when she’s on edge makes my instincts flare to life inside of me. I want her to trust me enough to turn to me when she’s in need. I want to be her protector, her safe place. I can tell her Omega instincts are at war with her mistrust of Alphas. I can’t blame her for that. She’s been hurt many times in her life, and often at the hands of an Alpha.

I have a natural mistrust of humans, after what they did to my parents. We saw the brutality of true monsters and what their hatred could cause. But we also witnessed how kind and gentle humans could be as well. Ma didn’t have to save us. She could have kept running the second she saw my father’s body.

Instead, she took us in, raised us. Saw us through puberty. No matter how terrifying we could be, she never once considered abandoning us.

Ma is human, and yet, she doesn’t have an ounce of evil inside her.

I watched Goldie for years, keeping my distance, making sure she couldn’t see me stalking her from the shadows. I watched, forced to do nothing, as the villagers turned their back on her, and the people who were meant to protect her, her own flesh and blood, hurt her. Something that will never happen again, now that Goldie has found her way to us finally.

One day, I will make every person who ever caused Goldie harm, suffer. I never said I wasn’t the monster the villagers believe us to be. But humans are no better than us. If they want to call me a monster, that’s exactly what I’ll be, for her.

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