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My lips twitch into a smile, when I remember the voice note that I sent her last evening, imagining whether she blushed.

And how adorable she must have looked.

Evening, darlin’. Have you been a good Omega? Did you go out and buy the toy for me? I know you did. Now, turn it on. Show me where you like to feel those vibrations. Are you wet? Turn it up. Does that feel good? Let me hear how much pleasure you’re feeling…

My cock hardens.

I’ll be glad when this experiment of ours is over, and we can go back to it just being Luca, Angel, and me without adding in an Omega.

Then I won’t be filled with such confusing, possessive feelings.

Who says that an Alpha must have an Omega? That I can’t suppress that side to my nature?

I’ve managed to so far.

When Angel raises his head at the sound of my approaching footfalls, the golden light of the fire catches on the amber of his eyes, melting them to honey.

“You’re home!” Angel breaks into a wide smile.

“Looks like it.” I make to pull off my leather jacket but then remember that I am trying to hide my injury.

I pretend that I am merely shrugging.

Luckily, Angel is distracted by finishing typing his message, before he drops his phone. “Quiet shift?”

…The sharp smell of gas, orange sparks, black smoke, and glowing hot metal…

When I don’t reply, Angel slowly slides his phone beside him onto the couch and stands. “You okay, handsome? Something happen?”

My expression tightens. “Nothing worth you worrying about.”

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.” Angel prowls toward me.

I narrow my eyes. “Are you trying to stalk me in a deer onesie? You’re the prey, honey.”

I swagger toward him, baring my teeth. I feel myself for the first time in hours.

Angel appears to realize his mistake.

His eyes widen. “This was Luca’s Christmas gift, remember? He messaged me earlier telling me in great, great detail about all the deer he’d seen, then asking me why I hadn’t worn his present yet. I might’ve fibbed that I had. I’m a fool because of course he asked to see evidence.”

“You better send me that photo evidence too.” My eyes gleam wickedly.

Angel runs his hand through his hair, eying the exit through to the kitchen to see if he has a chance to reach it before me. “So that you have blackmail evidence. No way.”

“Either that, or we’ll do an erotic deer photo session right now.”

Angel points at me in outrage. “You’ll have to catch me first.”

He runs for the kitchen like I knew he would. He is also distracted from assessing me for injuries.

I dive after him, as he whoops, into the brightly lit kitchen. He lunges past the farmhouse sink and open shelves, which Angel takes pride in keeping stocked neatly with copper pans and fresh herbs.

Then he puts the large oak kitchen table between us. “Hunt me all you like, handsome, but you ain’t catching this stag.”

“That’s what you think, Bambi.” I lean on the table. “Nowhere to run.”

Unfortunately, I can’t hold back the wince. I’d forgotten in the thrill of the chase that I was meant to be hiding my hand.