Page 24 of Absolute Devotion

When Bear growls at his brother and Xylo punches his arm in return, I can’t help the laugh that falls from my lips. “Do you ever get tired of each other?” The excitement dies off, the brothers turning to face me and for a fearful moment, I wonder if I’ve overstepped. I still don’t exactly know how I’m supposed to act around my mates—even if they’ve told me that I can just be myself. The problem is that I don’t truly know who she is.

A wild grin splits across Bear’s face as he shakes his head. “Never. We drive each other crazy, sure, but that’s part of it. Family doesn’t always mean getting along. It’s about sticking together even when things get messy.”

Xylo nods, his gaze warm as he looks over at me. “Messy is putting it lightly,” he says with a chuckle. “But that’s what makes it worth it. We’ve got each other’s backs, no matter what.” Remembering how they almost found an Omega before me and the hurt they must have suffered when she broke their hearts has me climbing off the stool and moving to stand between them.

They wrap their arms around me until I’m in a beautiful cocoon of wild cherries and a summer evening campfire. Their purrs rumble through my body, a calming experience that quickly turns heated as I imagine them taking care of me at the same time.

“Princess, whatevercould you be thinking about right now?”

Xylo tips my chin upward, a deviant expression on his face. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with my brother and I, would it? Do you want us to take you apart and have our way with you, love? Would you enjoy him knotting you as I stuffed your pretty face with my cock? Or would you like to sit on my face as he feeds you his cum?”

My face heats with his words and I tear myself from between them. Slick gushes between my thighs, an embarrassing whine tearing from my throat. “You're evil. Now, I need to change.”

I back into Zahria, throwing my hands up when she just nuzzles against my cheek. “I think we all enjoy how easy it is to get to this point, sweetie. Let’s feed you and then we can figure out what we’re doing tonight?”

“Like another date?” Another walk to the park or maybe sitting at the Pink Dome for dessert sounds amazing. I know they’re busy trying to wrap up the investigation before the authorities arrive. They think I don’t know much about the case but that’s just because I want to put it behind us. My mates aren’t truly involved but the more they can find and relate back to the chief, the better.

“Yeah, sweetie. Something like that.”

I plop back onto the stool, my eyes catching one of the open case files that they missed putting away. They’re all holding their breath, no doubt waiting for me to fall apart but I’m not made of glass.Not anymore.“Did you find anything else?”

Montgomery takes a seat across from me and gently tugs the folder back to his side of the table. “A little bit but it’s not really good news. We noticed a few Alphas gathering around Canes Lake, a few towns away. There doesn’t seem to be any connection between them except for a new club that Xylo was invited to. Nala, I don’t want to bring you into this.”

“But I’m already part of it. I’m not deaf, Alpha. I’ve heard you guys whispering things. I know that Redland Academy is connected and I just want to help. Who are the Alphas?”

None of them want to give me that information but the sooner we figure everything out, the sooner we get to start a forever. I don’t want to be scared anymore. Xylo reaches for one of the papers by the sink and brings it over to me. There are four pictures, each with a name and little else. My heart drops into my stomach as I stare at their features, Alphas I know much better than I should.

Their dark green eyes match mine, which always made those nights worse—as if I was looking into a mirror, a part of me telling myself that I deserved everything that happened. Unconsciously, I move to tug at the beads on my wrist, the paper quickly removed as Montgomery tucks me into my chest. “Princess, deep breaths. This is why I didn’t want you anywhere near—”

“Alpha, no. I know them. They’re from Redland.” My voice is strained as I curl into his protective hold, still fiddling with the beads. I’m proud of myself for touching them, for not trying to push through, and elated that my mates immediately responded. We stay like that for several minutes, Montgomery gently rocking me back and forth, Zahria rubbing my back until their touch lulls me into a more restful state. “Are they here for me?”

No one answers, which tells me that it very well could be the case.

I turn to face the brothers and then Zahria, trying to gauge their expressions and finding no answers. Bear and Xylo approach with prepared foods, something that looks like a pasta and a tossed salad. I’m not hungry, though. I want to know what’s going on—what theyreallyfound and I don’t want it sugar-coated. “Please tell me.”

“Angel, that’s the first connection we found. There’s no record of them attending Redland Academy. They pay for everything in cash and everything I have dug up isn’t useful. I don’t even know their last names. Whatever training they’ve had is top-notch. The club opening, I suspect, is tied to all of this shit but again—we’re just here to gather information. Nothing else.”

I hate that. It feels like a cop-out. It feels like even though these Alphas will be locked away, the problem will never be solved. An organization like POCA only ever existed because everyone turned a blind eye. Not anymore. I’m going to find a way to blow the lid off of all of this.

My stomach grumbles, my mates suddenly in tune with my needs.

I’m going to figure everything outafterI eat.

twenty-three

NALA

At some point, Bear reaches over, refilling my glass with a grin. “Don’t think you’re getting out of dish duty, angel,” he teases, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “You’re one of us now, which means you’re in on the cleanup too.”

It’s probably the only thing I’ll be good at. If they ask me to prepare them a meal, we’ll end up eating out at the Pink Dome or calling my brother to ask Ren for a few extra servings. “Fair enough,” I reply, setting my glass down and rolling up my sleeves. “I think I can do that.”

Montgomery chuckles at my resolve kissing my temple as I slide from my stool and round the counter. Zahria squeezes my shoulder and then hands me a plate, her head tilting in jest to see if I’ll protest. I don’t, slipping it from her hands and making my way to the sink. When Xylo tries the same tactic, I deny him, sticking my tongue out at him. His laughter is immediate,a contagious sound that has me giggling as I drop the glass into the soapy water Bear has already prepared.

A few weeks ago when I showed my playful antics in Ren’s kitchen, I nearly died of embarrassment, thinking someone was going to ridicule me for stepping out of line. Here, it feels normal to laugh and smile and to find comfort in their embrace.

The silence with my mates has become comfortable. I don’t feel the need to talk or fill the empty space. Just knowing that we’re here together means more than anything else. We fall into a comfortable rhythm as we work side by side, I find myself watching the others as they move, each of them fitting into this unspoken flow, a well-practiced dance of family and trust that I am now part of.

Bear hands me a dish to dry, his fingers lingering on mine just a second longer than necessary. There is a softness in his gaze, a warmth that feels like sunlight breaking through clouds. “You’ve got a knack for this, you know,” he teases. “Might have to make you the official dish dryer.”

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