Putting up with Hartley in a pack isn’t going to be easy. Not only do the two of us have nothing inmon outside of our fondness for Quincy, but people flock to him. Even worse, he seems to want to engage with them.

    Where I have no problem walking away if I’m bored or a conversation is no longer serving me, Hartley nods and asks questions to continue the torture.

    He’s really not that special, but everyone in the office flocks to him like he’s the one with the 99.1% kill rating. If anyone should be a star around here, it’s me.

    Rolling my eyes, I focus on anything outside of Hartley and his fans.

    Easton’s door is open, and I could pop in for an update on how the actual torture is going for the assant we took alivest night, but I’d prefer to check on Quincy.

    Calder’s office would be a good ce to start. Spinning around, I take off for the corridor where the tech offices are housed. However, I don’t even make it halfway across the room before my nostrils re.

    The scent of Quincy’s arousal is unmistakable, and my brain switches to ways to murder Ridge without her noticing. That will be practically impossible, which is unfortunate.

    What the hell was he thinking?

    This ce is full of alphas, and very few of them are bonded. In fact, the only ones in the building at the moment with an omega of their own are members of Easton’s pack.

    Keir leans against the wall just outside his door. His ck wool coat seems stretched to capacity with the way his arms are crossed. He spots me beelining across the room and sighs, stepping in front of the door.

    Ie to a stop, rocking on my heels.

    Nothing and no one will keep me from getting to my omega. However, I’m sure Easton would not be quick to forgive me if I had to put an end to one of his packmates.

    “Fucking Christ,” Keir says, shaking his head. “It weirds me out how much you look like Easton sometimes.”

    My eyes narrow.

    “If nothing else, I can read your mind just like I can read his. I’m not going to let you go in there and show your ass,” he says. “Ridge is a good guy. He shows up without question—one of the most loyal people you’ll ever meet.”

    “Is there a point to this little speech?” I ask, unable to hide my exasperation.

    “Yeah, you petnt fucker, there is,” he says in his thick Scottish ent. “You’re selfish just like your half brother. You can’t fathom empathy because you don’t experience human emotion like the rest of us.”

    “I’m experiencing annoyance right now,” I deadpan. “That alone proves I am capable of experiencing at least one emotion.”

    His arms are still crossed, but he pulls his right hand free, gesturing at me with two fingers. “The limitation of your awareness ends and begins with how it impacts you.” He quirks an eyebrow, but I’m just as lost as I was thirty seconds ago.

    My head tilts, and I tell him that.

    Muffled moaning spills from his office, making my teeth grind together. If there truly is a point to this intervention, I would prefer to get to it quickly.

    “Ridge and Quincy deserve time to get to know each other before their kid is born,” Keir says, squaring his shoulders.

    I’m very close to pulling the knife from the holster under my left arm and shoving it directly into his heart.

    That baby is just as much mine as it is Ridge’s. I might not do well at expressing my emotions, but I am fiercely protective of my things. My obsession with Quincy has spilled over into genuine excitement about meeting our daughter, and I will kill anyone who attempts to keep me from either of them.

    “I’m not letting you in that room if I think you’re going to ruin their time together,” Keir says, drawing me out of my thoughts. “Your face says it all.”

    “Quincy is my soulmate. She cares about Ridge. I’vee to terms with it.” I push my sses up using my middle finger. “Move.”

    “You really are just like Easton,” he mutters, shaking his head. “You’ll shove yourself into any situation you want to be involved in. It’s like talking to a brick wall.”

    “Great. d you were able to get that off your chest,” I say, my voiceing out clipped. “Now, if you could step to the side, I’d like to check on my omega.”

    “After I make one thing clear.” Keir’s face breaks out into a cutting smile. That look might intimidate someone who isn’t me, but it has no effect on my system. “You’re young and unpredictable. I remember what Easton was like eight years ago. He never would have been able to share Briar with me and Calder. At some point, you’re going to get tired of pack life and start plotting ways to ensure you can have Quincy all to yourself. Just know, half brother or not, Easton will let me kill you if you touch Ridge. He’s part of the family—blood or not.” My metaphorical hackles rise as Keir pats my shoulder condescendingly. “That goes for Hartley Adams now, too. Not to mention, that woman you just called your soulmate would never forgive you. Remember that, Trigg.”

    He finally steps out of the way, and everything in me aches to turn and bury my knife in his spine. Slitting his throat from behind would work too.

    Exhaling heavily, I refocus on the office door. What I really need to do is to check on Quincy. Seeing her beautiful face settles me in a way nothing else can.hr

    The overpowering scent of Quincy’s arousal smacks into me as I stride across Keir’s office.

    Briar is going to have a shit fit when she smells how thoroughly Quincy’s scent has saturated the ce. Oh well, she can bitch at her alpha since he obviously ensured Ridge and Quincy wouldn’t be interrupted.

    Quincy faces Ridge, and the view as Ie to a stop behind her is obscene.

    Jesus.

    Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so concerned about damaging her cervix. She doesn’t seem to be making much progress taking his dick either, and there are at least several inches left if she intends to take his knot.

    They’re both still fully clothed. Her dress is simply pulled up around her hips.

    My head tilts.

    They must have been in a hurry.

    It appears even her panties are still on.

    “Fuck off, Trigg.” Ridge growls, baring his teeth at me.

    “Don’t growl.” Quincy pushes her fingers to Ridge’s lips, but she peeks at me over her shoulder. “Hey, handsome.”

    I smile, hitting my knees behind her. “I missed you, angel. Your scent is quite potent.”

    “Yeah,” Ridge agrees. “Is Hartley around here somewhere?”

    I’m sure he would prefer the ex-football star to me. Unfortunately for him, I’m the backup that has arrived.

    I roll my eyes and slide my hands over Quincy’s hips. “He got stuck signing autographs for his newfound fan club.”

    “Can you help?” Quincy mumbles against Ridge’s shirt. “I got all melty and everything seems like hard work.”

    Leaning over her shoulder, I intend to peck a quick kiss on her lips…

    Only my nostrils re, breathing in the change to her scent.

    I rear back before I can stop myself, and Ridge notices, even if Quincy does not.

    They’re bonded.

    Was Keir stalling me to give Ridge the opportunity to bite Quincy without my interference? That must have been the goal because his pep talk is a moot point.

    I won’t be able to harm Ridge without it filtering through the bond to Quincy.

    Goddammit.

    I’m going to have to find creative ways to torment him that don’t include physical pain or actual death. “Here, lovely, allow me to help since Ridge is useless at the moment.”

    “We are going to teach you some manners if it kills me.” Quincy groans. “Don’t listen to him, Ridge. You’re far from useless.”

    Ridge smirks. “Are you sure you aren’t ready to go home? We can continue this with a lot more space.”

    My hand twitches as I barely hold myself back from reaching around Quincy to jab him in his bullet wound.

    “Just let mee one more time,” she says, nodding. “Maybe twice.”

    This is not about Ridge or that shitty little smile tipping at his lips.

    This is about proving that I will provide whatever Quincy needs, even if I would much rather add several additional bullet holes to Ridge’s person.

    “How about you spin to face me?” I murmur, teasing my hand down her spine. “That helped the other night. I’ll simply y Hartley’s role this time.”

    “Okay,” she mumbles.

    I stand and wrap my arms under hers, lifting her.

    Ridge res, but I ignore him, cing her on her feet and spinning her around. Once she faces me, I help her out of her destroyed panties and shove them into my pocket. After that’splete, I pick her up and assist as she gets situated with her back to Ridge’s chest.

    I want to be annoyed that he didn’t even have the decency to get her fully undressed, but I suppose under the circumstances, that’s a good thing. If anyone who is not Hartley walks through that door, I will have to remove their eyes from their sockets.

    Quincy leans with her head against Ridge’s good shoulder, but I know any time she moves, it has to hurt like a son of a bitch.

    It serves him right.

    I wanted the first bond.

    Quincy’s dress is once again trapped around her hips, and she stretches her arms down to guide his cock to her opening.

    “Congrattions on your bond.” I take the opportunity while she’s distracted to jab my finger against Ridge’s shoulder. I avoid the exact location of the bullet wound, but he deserves a little suffering.

    Quincy sinks down on his length with perfect timing to exin away his hiss.

    Oh, would you look at that…

    It’s my turn to sport a bemused smile.

    Seeing his cum spill out as she rises and falls on her knees is strangely erotic. Possibly because it’s easy to imagine myself in his position.

    Quincy groans, her head falling forward.

    I’m torn.

    I would love to suck on her breasts while teasing her clit, but I know from experience that she gets tired easily when she’s on top. It gets even worse when she’s hazy with a wave of heat.

    I work my hands under her thighs, lifting and dropping her, while leaning close to steal a kiss. She doesn’t pull away, and it pleases me greatly to know she still wants me even though she’s now bonded to Ridge.

    “Damn, sweetheart. You keep wringing my cock like that, and I’m done for,” Ridge growls.

    I would be jealous, but the faint taste of her blood hits my tongue, and I ache to bite her.

    The ultimate goal is to im her as mine.

    Though I’d like to have my ring on her finger when I do, or at the very least, my makeshift cor around her neck.

    Right. Call it a ne when gifting it to her.

    My intent is only to show she’s taken, not to dominate her. I actually prefer when she takes the lead sexually. I find it wildly attractive when she gets bossy.

    Quincy gets loud as I apply firmer pressure to her swollen nub, and I capture her lips again to conceal her sounds from those out in the office.

    I follow her lips as she falls back against Ridge’s chest. She stops bouncing and moves to grinding over his length before freezing altogether.

    Ahh.

    I believe she’s getting that orgasm she asked for. Pulling back, I watch her face as she falls apart. My fingers end up coated in her slick as she shivers and moans. I’m almost tempted to bury my face in her pussy, but Ridge’s knot is still down there somewhere.

    Body parts don’t bother me when I’m removing them, but I’m still growing ustomed to sexual contact. I think it’ll be better if that’s something I work up to.