“Is this is the Omega you’re infatuated with?” demanded an unfamiliar voice.
Dark brown hair. Unfriendly black eyes. This third shifter didn’t bother hiding his dislike of Eli. Judging by his physical resemblance to Liam and Lucas, he guessed this was Liam’s other brother.
“Eli, join us for breakfast,” Liam said. “You’ve met Lucas yesterday. This is my other brother, Logan.”
Logan snarled softly at him. A warning?
“Ignore him,” Lucas said, much to his surprise. “Sit, we have plenty of food to go around.”
He pulled out the remaining spare chair between Logan and Liam. Eli refused to be daunted by Logan’s scowl. The breakfast spread made his stomach growl. Numerous plates were piled high with bacon, ham, eggs, waffles, pancakes, and French toast.
“Eat up, you need your energy,” Liam told him.
“For?” He asked, already filling his plate with food.
“We’re going on a hike today. Thought you’d like to see the forest,” Liam said.
“I’d love to,” he answered far too quickly.
Did he seem overeager? What if Liam didn’t like pushy and needy Omegas?
Logan snorted. Eli tried his best to ignore Logan’s assessing stare. Eli decimated his breakfast. He didn’t realize how famished he was. He edged away when Logan sniffed at him. Liam let out a warning growl.
“What the fuck? He’s pregnant,” Logan said. “Lucas forgot to mention that little tidbit.”
Should Eli be insulted? He didn’t understand what he did to Logan to deserve this sudden hostility.Eli met Logan’s challenging stare, but deep down? He was a little terrified.
Omegas didn’t look at Alphas in the eye. Those that did, were punished. Omegas should know their place—that was what Eli was taught, what his family drilled in his head ever since he was a kid.
Screw the rules. The moment Eli packed his bags and left Steve, he became a new person.
“I am,” Eli answered Logan. “Not by choice.”
Logan frowned. “What the hell does that mean? You should go back to wherever you came from, Omega.”
“I know that, but I’m not leaving,” Eli said under his breath. “I refuse to stay with someone who thinks it’s fine to push me around.”
“Logan,” Liam said in a warning voice. “We’ve been over this. Eli’s under my protection.”
“Fuck this.”
Logan rose from his seat and left the table. The other Alpha exited through the front door and slammed it so hard, Eli was afraid the wood would splinter.
Seconds later, he heard a roar that didn’t sound like it came from a human throat. Logan must’ve shifted forms. Eli looked at his half-eaten plate. He was suddenly not hungry.
Here he was, daydreaming about how Liam and he could get to know each other better when there was a much bigger issue at hand.
“He’s right, you know,” Eli finally said in a soft voice. “They’ll come looking for me.”
“They?” Lucas asked.
“Steve. My family,” he answered.
“I have a feeling they would but I’m not worried.” Liam’s answer shocked him.
“What? Why not?” He asked. “Liam, I come from a wealthy and influential family. Logan’s right. By staying here, I’m putting you and your brothers at risk.”
“Maybe you should listen to your Omega, Liam,” Lucas remarked.
“Tell me you didn’t feel anything for me last night,” Liam said.
The big werebear tipped Eli’s chin using two fingers, forcing Eli to look at Liam’s amber eyes. It wasn’t just the man he was looking at but also the frightening predator that shared Liam’s body.
Liam didn’t wait for him to answer. The werebear leaned forward and kissed him. It was short and sweet. It was over far too quickly but it was enough to leave Eli panting and wanting more.
The Alpha released him. Eli wanted to slide into Liam’s lap, to put his arms around Liam’s shoulders. He was ready to beg Liam to do more than kiss him. To do all kinds of dirty things to him.
God. Eli was so shameless.
He didn’t understand why he was feeling this way, why he wanted to throw himself at Liam without a second thought.
You do, said a smug voice in his head. Eli swallowed. Maybe he did. Steve was never the one for him because Liam was the mate he’d been waiting for his entire life.
Everything felt so fucked-up. So twisted. It should be Liam’s baby he was carrying, not Steve’s. If he hadn’t been born into his cursed family and if they never pushed Steve on him, would things have turned out differently?
Eli had no time for regrets. He couldn’t change the past but he could do something about his present.
“I can’t lie to you,” Eli admitted. “This morning, I was happy when I saw Steve’s mate mark fading.”
Liam’s touch was feather-light. Liam tugged down the collar of Eli’s shirt and expose Steve’s bite.
Lucas swore. “That changes everything.”
“I told you.” Liam sounded smug, although Eli was a little confused.
“Told him what?” Eli asked Liam.
“Destiny made sure our paths collided for a reason,” Liam said, smiling broadly at him.
That smile summoned fuzzy and warm feelings inside Eli. Unexpected tenderness. It was so easy to like Liam, to be captivated by his rough charm and his startling honesty.
“You’re staying,” Liam told him bluntly. “Stay as long as you like.”
Eli stared at him, stumped. “What about your brothers? What about my family and Steve?”
“I’ll deal with Steve and your family if they ever dare come here,” Liam said with such confidence it blew Eli away.
Liam wasn’t done talking either. “Don’t worry your handsome little head off. I’ve been cornered in fights before. I’ve been overwhelmed. I’ve always come out on top.”
“I’ll stand by him,” Lucas said, making Eli blink.
“Really? You weren’t a fan of me yesterday.” Eli had to point out.
“That was before I knew what you were to my brother. We Griffin brothers are cursed but if one of us finds happiness and a mate, then I’m all for it,” Lucas said. Lucas stood up, slapped Liam on the shoulder, and walked towards the kitchen with his plate.
“What did he mean by cursed?” He asked Liam.
Liam
