THREE ALPHAS, OMEGA

Luna stared at Kai through the glass, her body responding to his presence despite Dr. Thorne's medication. The suppressant had dulled the sharp edge of her heat, but it couldn't stop the way her pulse quickened or the liquid warmth that pooled low in her belly.

"Go away," she said, but her voice lacked conviction.

Kai's mouth curved into a knowing smile. "That's not what your scent is telling me." He pressed his palm against the window. "Let me in, Luna."

The sound of her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine. How did he know her name? How had he found her apartment?

"I'm not inviting strange alphas into my home."

"Strange?" Kai laughed, the sound rich and dark. "We're going to be much more than strangers, omega. You felt it in the alley. The pull."

She had felt it. Even now, with glass between them, the mate bond was trying to form, reaching out like invisible threads. It was different from what she'd experienced with Asher but equally powerful, equally undeniable.

"You can't just climb onto my fire escape," Luna said, backing away from the window.

"I can do whatever I want. I'm a rogue alpha, remember?" Kai's eyes tracked her movement. "Besides, Blackwood is downstairs playing guard dog. This seemed like the more discreet option."

Luna's apartment felt smaller with Kai's predatory gaze on her. Even through the glass, his presence filled the space, made the air feel thick and charged.

"What do you want?"

"You know what I want." His voice dropped lower, intimate. "The question is whether you're brave enough to take it."

Before Luna could respond, another scent hit her senses. This one was different from both Asher's cold mountain air and Kai's wild storm—it was warm and soothing, like herbs and rain-washed earth. Her omega instincts immediately categorized it as safe, protective.

A third alpha stepped onto her fire escape.

Luna's knees nearly buckled as another wave of recognition crashed over her. This alpha was massive, even bigger than Asher, with broad shoulders and gentle hands. His dark hair was longer than the others', pulled back in a simple tie, and when he looked at her through the glass, his eyes held a warmth that made her chest tight.

"River Nightshade," Kai said, not sounding surprised. "I wondered when you'd show up."

"Kai." River's voice was deep, rumbling. "You're trespassing."

"So are you."

River moved closer to the window, and Luna felt her breath catch. Where Asher was all sharp edges and controlled violence, and Kai was dangerous charm, River was steady strength. The kind of alpha who would burn the world down to keep his omega safe.

"Luna," River said, and her name sounded like a prayer in his mouth. "Are you alright?"

The genuine concern in his voice broke something inside her. She'd been handling everything alone for so long that having someone ask about her welfare with such obvious care made her eyes sting with unshed tears.

"I'm fine," she lied.

Both alphas on her fire escape gave her identical looks of disbelief.

"You're in heat," River said gently. "Alone and unmated. You're not fine."

"That's what I told her," came Asher's voice from behind her.

Luna spun around to find Asher standing in her doorway, having apparently picked her lock while she was distracted by the others. His eyes were dark with possession as he took in the scene—his omega, surrounded by two rival alphas.

"Get out," Luna said, but she wasn't sure which of them she was talking to.

"No," all three said simultaneously.

The word hung in the air, heavy with alpha dominance. Luna felt her omega biology respond despite herself, a fresh wave of arousal making her legs weak. Three powerful alphas, all focused on her, all wanting her.

It should have been terrifying. Instead, it was the most erotic thing she'd ever experienced.

"This is my apartment," she said weakly.

"And you're my mate," Asher replied, stepping closer. "That makes it mine too."

"Our mate," Kai corrected from outside the window. "Don't get possessive, Blackwood. She hasn't chosen yet."

River pressed closer to the glass. "May I come in, Luna? Please?"

The please nearly undid her. When was the last time an alpha had asked her permission for anything?

"This is insane," Luna whispered. "All of you need to leave."

"Why?" Asher was close enough now that she could feel the heat radiating off his body. "Because you're scared of what you want?"

"I'm not scared."

Kai laughed from the fire escape. "Liar. Your scent spikes every time one of us gets close. You want us, omega. All of us."

Luna's face burned with humiliation because he was right. Her body was responding to all three alphas, her heat flaring despite the medication. The logical part of her mind was screaming warnings, but her omega instincts were drowning out everything else.

"Let me in," River said quietly. "I can help with the heat."

"We can all help," Asher said, his voice rough with want. "Together."

The word sent a shock of pure lust straight through Luna's core. Together. All three of them, touching her, claiming her, taking turns until the heat finally broke.

"That's not possible," she said, but her voice was breathless.

"Isn't it?" Kai's eyes were glowing brighter now. "You're not just any omega, Luna. You're the last one. The rules don't apply to you."

Asher moved closer, close enough that Luna could smell the desire on his skin. "You felt the bond with all of us. That should be impossible, but here we are."

"Multiple mate bonds," River said, wonder in his voice. "The old stories spoke of it, but I never thought..."

"The old stories also said the last omega would either save or destroy our kind," Luna said shakily. "Maybe this is how it starts."

The three alphas exchanged looks over her head, some silent communication passing between them.

"Maybe it is," Asher said finally. "Does that change what you want?"

Luna looked between them—Asher with his dangerous beauty and protective instincts, Kai with his wild charm and rebellious nature, River with his gentle strength and healing presence. Her body wanted all of them. Her heart was already reaching for all of them.

But her mind...

"I need time," she said. "To think."

"You don't have time," Kai said bluntly. "Your heat is getting stronger. In a few hours, you won't be able to think at all."

"And the Council will be here soon," Asher added. "Once they realize what you are, they'll make the choice for you."

River pressed his palm against the glass again. "We're not trying to pressure you, Luna. But we are trying to protect you."

"From who? You're the dangerous ones."

"Are we?" River asked softly. "Right now, the most dangerous thing in this room is your own biology. Let us help."

Luna's resolve crumbled as another wave of heat crashed over her, stronger than before. The medication was wearing off, and her body was demanding satisfaction. She could feel slick dampening her thighs, could smell her own arousal mixing with the three alpha scents filling her apartment.

"If I let you in," she said to River, then looked at Asher, "if I let you stay, this doesn't mean anything. It's just biology."

"Just biology," Asher agreed, but there was something predatory in his smile.

Luna moved to the window with shaking hands and unlocked it. River climbed through with fluid grace, his massive frame somehow managing not to knock anything over in her tiny apartment.

The moment he was inside, the air changed. Three alpha scents, three different energies, all focused on her. Luna felt like she was drowning in testosterone and want.

"God," she whispered, pressing her back against the wall.

River approached her slowly, hands raised like she was a spooked animal. "Easy, omega. We're here to help, not hurt."

"Speak for yourself," Kai said, climbing through the window behind him. "I plan on hurting her in all the best ways."

Luna's core clenched at the promise in his voice. She'd never been with an alpha during heat, had never experienced the intensity of truly letting go. The thought of these three taking her apart piece by piece was both terrifying and intoxicating.

"You don't have to decide anything right now," River said, reaching out to cup her face in his large hands. "But you do need to let us take care of you."

His touch was electric, sending sparks of sensation through her overheated skin. Luna leaned into the contact before she could stop herself.

"That's it," River murmured. "Trust us."

Behind him, Asher and Kai were watching with hungry eyes. Luna could practically feel their control fraying, could see the way their muscles tensed with the effort of holding back.

"I don't know how," Luna admitted.

"We'll teach you," Asher said, moving to her other side. "Everything you need to know."

When he touched her arm, Luna gasped. The combination of both alphas' hands on her skin was overwhelming, perfect. She could feel her resistance crumbling, her body taking control.

"Please," she whispered, not sure what she was asking for.

"We've got you," River promised. "All of us. We've got you."

And as Kai's hands joined the others', as three sets of alpha pheromones wrapped around her like a cocoon, Luna finally stopped fighting and let herself fall.