Page 38 of Follow Your Instincts

“Where are all the pillows?” I asked, trying to find something to say that wouldn’t give away the riot of emotions going off in my brain.Mine mine mine, my inner Omega was chanting again.

“Well, Omegas like to choose what goes in their nests, so we didn’t want to duplicate efforts,” Lucas said, and he stepped closer to me. He opened his arms and gave me a questioning look, and I darted into his embrace, immediately calmed by his presence and scent.

We all trooped back into the conservatory space while I tried to get my racing heart and thoughts back under control.. “So, what do you think?” Ben asked, that triumphant smile still on his face.

I blushed again.Fucking Omega hormones, I thought. Of course, I was picturing myself in that room, in that nest, with the beautiful men around me worshiping me through my heat. Was it too presumptuous to say I liked it? I had to say something.

“Your Omega will be very happy with it,” I said, truthfully, and my face blazed even hotter.

“Let’s give this poor girl a break,” Lucas rumbled from beside me. I realized I was clinging to him like a life raft and loosened my grip a little.

We spent the rest of the morning talking and gettingto know each other. Lachlan didn’t participate in the conversation much, but he was always close by, his dark scent teasing me. It left me feeling oddly unsettled, not getting a big giant inhale of his scent, especially since the other three men were not shy at all about physical affection.

I spent most of the hour after the tour of the house in Lucas’s arms. I’d noticed that his scent was the most calming to me, and didn’t affect me in the same way as the other members of his pack. Where the other three made me feel an odd combination of wild desire and safety, Lucas’s scent just gave me an overwhelming sense ofrightness. I made a mental note to talk to Dr. Kimber about the difference in my reaction.

I learned that Lucas was from Georgia and his family pack mostly still lived there. His mom and dads were very enthusiastic about his newfound culinary explorations. “They always told me I worked too hard before I sold my company, so they love that I’m taking a break,” he said while I was nestled into his chest on one of the couches in the living room.

“That’s great that they’re so supportive. Do you think you’ll ever want to go back to work?” I said, twisting to look up at him.

“In software? I’m not sure. I do have some ideas about investing in new restaurants here in the city and helping talented chefs get a jumpstart. But they’re just ideas right now,” he said, and brushed a strand of hair off my cheek and back behind my ear, smiling.

“I think that sounds amazing,” I said and snuggled deeper into his side.

Chapter 14

Soren

Maggie was our Omega. Seeing her in the house, with my packmates, it just made sense.

I didn’t think I’d have much convincing to do. She seemed smitten with Ben already, she was snuggling with Lucas like he was her own personal teddy bear. I was pretty sure she was attracted to me, too.

Lachlan would probably be the problem.

Ben had to leave for a client appointment after lunch, and I saw an opportunity to get some time alone with Maggie.

“I have some new information on the Heitzig case. Want to take a look?” I said, leaning on the kitchen island towards her. Her cheeks were flushed, and her scent was warmer after a hug from Ben before he left. I saw her eyes dart to my chest, and back to my face, and her cheeks flushed a bit more.

“Of course,” she said.

I smiled at her. “Great. Let’s go upstairs so we don’t bore Lucas.”

“Have fun, detectives,” Lucas said, and gave Maggie a quick hug. He caught my eye over her shoulder as we walked out of the kitchen, a bit stern, but I just kept smiling.

I let Maggie lead the way up the stairs, mostly so I could watch her hips swaying. Her leggings were like a second skin,and I could barely see the outline of her thong through the black material. I tried and failed not to picture peeling off her leggings and panties.

Slowly,I told myself.

I’d gotten my thoughts under better control by the time we sat on the couch. Maggie curled her legs up underneath her, facing me.

“What did you find?” she asked.

“Not much. But Fraser was combing through Greta’s social media and found this.” I pulled up the screenshot of the post on my phone and passed it to her.

“She doesn’t post very often. Hasn’t at all since the robbery. But this was posted a few weeks before,” I said.

The photo was of Greta in a bar, or maybe a club, with exposed brickwork and a pink neon sign, which unfortunately no one could read since it was blurred in the background. She was laughing in the arms of a huge blonde man who smiled down at her. Another man stood behind them, his arm around Greta’s waist, but his face was in shadow.

“Are you thinking these guys are in the pack she started seeing?” Maggie asked, passing the phone back to me.

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