Page 30 of Consider The Lilies

Yuki smiles at that then leans in, kissing me hard. She tastes so damn good. Sweet and smoky at the same time.

“I gotta ask,” Yuki breaks the kiss, “are we really keeping him?” And I immediately notice the tense look in her eyes.

It’s clear she’s not happy with this situation, and Bear wants Stefans so badly, he was willing to throw his whole life away to claim him. No matter what I do, one of them will be pissed. It’s a shit spot to be in.

Fucking Bear.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the big bearded-alpha, but he’s wearing me thin right now. He’s not an impulsive guy, but he follows his heart. He’s so sweet and very romantic. He’s everything me and Yuki aren’t…but that still doesn’t excuse what he did.

“Jack?” Yuki says my name, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’m not sure what I’m doing with Stefan,” I say honestly. “I guess it depends on how much he disrupts our lives.”

Yuki nods, seeming to agree, but I know her too well. She’s so fucking tense she looks like she could tear a wall down with her bare hands.

I can’t do this to her.

“Hey.” I cup she-alpha’s face, looking deep into her eyes, “Tell me you don’t want him and he’s gone.”

“What?” Yuki freezes, trying to process what I just said. “Are you serious?”

“I’m dead serious,” I say. While it’s true that I’d like to keep Stefan for now, I also don’t want to hurt my she-alpha in the process.

Yuki lets out a jerky laugh. “What about Bear?”

I let out a long breath, honestly not sure what to do about him. “I know he feels this incredible pull to Stefan, but all alphas go through that at one point or another. If you don’t want to keep the omega, I’ll help Bear through it.” I drop my voice to a whisper, “Tell me what you want me to do Yuki.”

She stares at me, her lips parted as if struggling to find the words. “You’d really get rid of him for me?”

I smile, caressing her cheeks with my thumbs—she’s such a stunning woman. “I would do anything for you and Bear. You are the only two people on earth who love and accept me, no matter how insufferable I am.”

The corner of Yuki’s lips twitch, fighting a smile.

“This situation with the omega isn’t easy. You obviously don’t want him, and Bear desperately wants to keep him.” I tuck a long strand of her hair behind her ear. “But if you want him gone, I’ll figure it out.”

Yuki smiles, and I release her pretty face, but her expression falls just as quickly. “Whatever.” She rolls her eyes. “I don’t care what you do with him.” She gives a half-hearted shrug, making it clear she’s done with this conversation—the she-alpha was never very good at sharing her feelings. She and I are a lot alike in that way. We’re both shit at expressing anything that might make us vulnerable.

“I can’t believe you didn’t fuck Stefan last night.” Yuki quickly changes the subject as she fixes her hair “I was hopingto hear all about it while you fucked me.” She’s being forcefully flirty, trying to hide the stiff emotions she’s really feeling.

I can only assume she’s feeling conflicted about Stefan. I can respect that. I leave it alone until she’s ready to talk.

“I think after a few days of proper meals and a good night's sleep, he’ll be ready to be claimed,” I say, hoping that’s true.

“A few days?” Yuki’s eyes go wide with surprise. “You really think you’ll last that long?” She snorts, not letting me answer. “Good luck with that.”

A bright laugh drifts through the door, and Yuki slowly opens it. We peek out into the dining room. Bear sits at the table eating his breakfast while Lucy talks to Stefan. The omega listens to her intently with the sweetest smile on his face.

“Looks like he’s taken a liking to Lucy,” Yuki says.

“That’s not surprising,” I say. “Everyone loves that beta. She’s sweet, obedient, and trustworthy.”

Yuki’s eyes go wide as if realizing something. “You know,” she pushes the door open, stepping into the hallway, “you could have Lucy watch Stefan. She’s been with us for a few years now. We know she’s discreet and trustworthy.”

I follow the she-alpha, thinking it over.

Lucy has proven herself to be a highly proficient employee. Over the years she’s become an important part of the household, especially to me and Yuki. She helps manage the staff, keeps track of our weekly menu, and handles the household budget in addition to managing all my meetings during the day. It’s a lot for someone as young as she is, but she’s proven herself time and time again.

Yuki crosses her arms to keep her shirt in place. “I know having a beta watch him isn’t as secure as an alpha, but if you decided to have Bear watch him, she could keep an eye out. Make sure he doesn’t touch the omega.”

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