Page 14 of Stella

No one was surprised when I turned out to be an alpha. My father came from a long line of alphas. Anything else was unthinkable.

The cold thought of what would have happened if I had revealed to be a beta had no place in my mind.

Stella gestured at a beautiful patio. Small seating areas dotted the lawn, and hanging lanterns of purple, green, blue and ivory gave the place a beautiful ambience. A few couples sat dotted about the courtyard, the soft early evening light making the place feel serene. The couples barely glanced at us as we passed by.

I wasn’t used to the lack of interest. Everywhere we went, people approached us. Asked for favors. Pretended to be friends so they could use that relationship to their own ends.

And now that that sad excuse of a pack had broken Meredith’s heart, she was particularly vulnerable. I had to protect her now more than ever.

But Cosmic Bonds seemed to be a real resort. Wooden buildings clustered together, some of them housing mud baths that were tempting even to me, while others were quiet places of reflection.

“Over here is the recreation field. Sometimes we do yoga, other times open-air painting.” Stella gestured at a large, grassy lawn next to the patio.

Her hair, an unusual shade of chestnut brown, fell loose around her shoulders, the occasional strand distracting me as it moved in the breeze that lifted her perfume into the air. I wondered if her hair had started out in a ponytail, and whether she pulled it free while working. The bracelets around her wrists tinkled as she gestured.

How much noise would Stella’s bracelets make as I thrust inside her?

My cock hardened, and I grit my teeth. I could not walk around with a giant hard-on. My sister was standing next to me, for goodness sake.

I should have been ashamed. I was here for Meredith, making sure this place didn’t break her heart further, not to be mentally undressing this unbonded omega. My eyes roamed over her torso, but her blouse was loose and flowy, giving me teases of her shape without revealing anything.

I let out a breath. “What’s next?”

Stella shot me a seething glare. Normally, all I had to do was frown, and grown men rushed off to do as I bid.

Not Stella. She took it as a challenge, and that made me wonder how far I could push her until one of us yielded.

“We have some beautiful hiking trails.” She led us away from the buildings, toward a line of trees. Her perfume wafted over, and I clenched my hands into fists.

Sweet peaches assaulted my senses, cut by a crisp orange bite that I could taste on my tongue. I stared at her, hair hanging golden brown around her flushed cheeks, her mouth a perfect pout that I couldn’t help but picture around my cock.

I had never wanted an omega so much in my entire life.

She was also in pre-heat. I wouldn’t make a move, even if my body craved her touch. In her state, she might welcome something now and regret it later.

She was too much temptation in one woman. I already had my bondmates. The last omega we had courted had simply wanted to climb the social ladder.

No telling what sort of angle Stella was working, not with a business like this.

I had practiced self-control my entire life. I could do this.

Stella finished the tour with a flourish. There was much more to the grounds, but it would take all day exploring the trails.

“Show me this matching process,” I said, my voice sharper than I meant.

“Will I be adding you into the database?” Stella asked with artificial sweetness. I grit my teeth, not giving into the vague sexual images swirling in my mind about what I would do to her for such a mocking tone.

“Yes,” Meredith said, grabbing my arm. She beamed up at me, and I had to give Stella that. Her bubbly personality made Meredith smile, something I hadn’t managed. “Let it be a surprise to the rest of the pack. They always say you’re set in your ways.

I looked at Stella. “Match me, then.”

Stella tisked. “You’ll have to bring the whole pack here if you’re bonded.”

I grumbled. The brief fantasy of spending time in Stella’s office, answering questions about my sexual preferences dissolved. She was as determined as I was to pretend she wasn’t perfuming for me like a ripe and juicy fruit...

I swallowed hard. Maybe an evening spent away would help cool my head.

“I’ll bring them in the morning.”

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