Forbidden: Part One (Luna & Sol Omegaverse, #1)

by Emilia Emerson

“You have to learn to share,” Ben said, his tone adorably sleepy. “I think fucking not,” Cam murmured into my ear.

“Who says we’re not bonded?” Cam asked. I raised my eyebrows. “Where are your bond marks, then?” Ben groaned, covering his face with his arm. “It’s too early for this story.” I glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. “It’s three o’clock in the afternoon.” “Well then, I’m way too sober for this story,” Ben grumbled,

“I don’t know why you’re acting embarrassed,” Theo said. “It was your fucking idea.” “True,” Ben said, a mischievous glint in his eye. He pulled my legs onto his lap and started massaging my calves. “But I also distinctly remember being absolutely wasted, and you two went along with it.”

“Ben,” I purred, “You’re going to tell me, right? You wouldn’t hide something from me.” Ben burst out laughing. “Are you trying to play me, precious? Because it’s totally working. I’ll tell you if you give me a kiss.”

“Good girl,” he said. “So brave for us, so beautiful. Just relax, sweetheart, and let Ben make you feel good.”

I didn’t know how long we stayed like that, but a heavy blanket of peace fell over me. I had never imagined I could be this comfortable with my alphas. A little jolt of realization shot through me. They were mine.

For the first time since my heat began, I was alone in my nest. I hated it. What is wrong with you? You’ve been alone for approximately three minutes. Since when did you become so codependent?

“How does it look?” he asked, eyes hooded. “Like you’re mine,” I responded without thinking.

“What are we going to do with you two?” he asked, affection suffusing his voice. “Feed us, tell us we’re pretty,”

The breakfast in bed and courting gifts were amazing, but nothing could compare to just being wanted.

“Don’t you understand why the Designation Government is so fucking terrified of omegas?” she continued. “It’s because you rule alphas without even trying. Our biology pushes us to care for omegas, to do whatever we can to meet their needs and protect them.

“I didn’t want to be an inconvenience. Or make you think I’m crazy and hormonal.” “Baby girl, I’m crazy and hormonal. Fuck, my alpha won’t shut up about needing to protect you and feed you and give you a shit ton of presents,” Cam said.

“See?” I said with a smirk. “It’s science.” “Well, if it’s for science, I guess I have to,”

Her touch made it okay to let go, just this once, knowing my omega was safe in my arms...and maybe I was safe in hers.

Almost all the alphas I knew lashed out with aggression when they didn’t get their way. Seeing the muscular alpha in front of me blushing furiously, his craft project in front of him, sent my brain into a fritz.

“I saw a therapist for a while, and she recommended I find a way to channel my emotions into something non-destructive. So I learned to knit,”

“Are you mad at me?” I asked, my voice soft. Cam’s hands automatically went to my hips, gripping tightly. “No, baby girl, not at all.” He took a shuddering breath. “I’m pissed at myself for reacting like that, and I’m scared shitless at the thought of anything happening to you. My alpha keeps telling me I need to keep you locked up so no one can get to you, but I know I can’t do that.” He grumbled that last part, which made me smile.

“You’re so important to me, sweetheart. I don’t think you understand how much. I know I’m an overbearing bastard, but I need you to be safe. Can’t stand the idea of anyone hurting you.”

“I know you’ll keep me safe, Cam,” I said. As I said the words, I realized how true they were.

Fear had been my constant companion these past few years. Being around my alphas made me feel safer than I could have ever imagined.

“I’m coming with you to meet Luc and check things out. That’s non-negotiable,” Cam said, bracing as if he expected an argument. I just nodded, snuggling closer to his chest. Funny how I didn’t hate his protec...

Cam kissed my forehead tenderly. “I’m sorry I overreacted,” he murmured in my ear. “I know you’re capable and independent, and I don’t ever want to take that away from you. Forgive me?”...

“Be careful. I expect you to be unharmed and in one piece at the end of class. Your safety is more important than anything,” he said fiercely, allowing me to slowly push him to the exit. “Yes, alpha,” I said, giving him a quick kiss. He melted at my endearment, and he finally left the room.

“Wow, I thought my alphas were bad,” Poppy said, a look of awe in her eyes. “They are just as bad,” Luc said dryly. “Remember your first class?” Westin and I burst into laughter.

“What happened during her first class?” Clementine asked. “All five of her alphas showed up. Things got so heated one of them challenged Luc to a fight,” I said between fits of laughter. Poppy blushed with a dreamy look i...

“Who won?” Clementine asked. “Luc and Poppy’s alpha each landed a punch, and then Poppy threatened to withhold sex if her alpha didn’t stop,” I said. “I’ve never seen an alpha freeze that fast,” Westin added with a giggle. “We had the most amazin...

“Poppy has a very active sex life with her alphas and likes to tell us all about it,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But she’s the best, so we put up with it.” I winked at Poppy and she blew me a kiss.

“Okay, now that we got the overprotective alpha nonsense out of the way, let’s start class,” Luc said. “Are you saying you’re not just as overprotective of your Charlie?” Poppy asked teasingly. “Not relevant,” Luc muttered.

Luc opened the door and Cam strode in. He had changed into workout gear and his gray tank top was damp with sweat, showing off his muscular, tattooed arms. I hadn’t understood what people in romance books meant when they said they wanted to climb their partners like a tree, but it was rapidly becoming clearer to me.

“Damn, Josie, if you don’t bond with him, I will,” Poppy said in a stage whisper. I whipped my head around and growled. He was mine. Poppy just laughed and sauntered away to grab her things.

“Thank you for letting me come and only being medium ridiculous and overbearing,” I said. “Only medium overbearing, huh? What would push me to the highly overbearing category?” “You would have to fight Luc to reach that category like Poppy’s alpha did. But I’m very pleased with the medium level.” “As long as you’re pleased,” he said, giving me the sweetest smile.

“I just wanted to see how bad your eyes are.” “And?” I strode across the kitchen, wrapping my arms around her, reveling in the feel of her soft body against mine. “Let’s just say, if you cuddle up with Theo at night thinking he’s me, I won’t be surprised.”

“Just so you know,” I continued, “I’m down for sexy librarian role-play anytime the mood strikes.”

We hadn’t done anything sexual since the vibrator, aka the hottest fucking experience of my life, and I wanted more.

My jaw clenched, and I had to force myself to take a breath. I had wanted to rip up the meal plan the Designation Center sent over, but Theo had convinced me we might need it when the DC came to check in on us. I couldn’t believe any alphas would agree to deprive their omegas of food. Just the thought of doing that to Josie made me nauseous.

I leaned down to kiss her, planning on a gentle press of lips, but the moment I tasted her, I groaned and deepened the kiss. Josie brought her arms around my neck, tugging me closer and sucking on my lower lip. Just when I had decided to abandon my breakfast plan and feast on her instead, Josie’s stomach made another sound. I broke away, chastising myself for losing focus. My mate needed to eat.

She was a living, breathing dream come true.

“Stop distracting me,” I said, squeezing her ass for good measure before reluctantly letting her go and pulling out the baking supplies from the pantry. “I’m distracting you?” she said with indignation. “Constantly,” I replied with a wink.

“You’re so good at this, Ben,” she said as we placed the last tray in the oven. “You could totally run your own bakery.”

“Do you really think I could?” I croaked out. “Of course,” she said, scrunching her nose in confusion. “Why wouldn’t you be able to? You’re amazing.”

“It’s something I’ve thought about, but I’m not sure I’d actually be good at running a business, you know? Honestly, it’s a miracle I can bake at all with how air-headed I am.” I forced out a laugh to cover the pain of my self-deprecation as the words I had overheard my father speaking to my mother played in my head.

Can’t believe you only birthed a single alpha, giving us that clueless, weak idiot.

Josie gripped my face with her hands, pinning me with a fierce expression. “You’re not allowed to say things like that about yourself. You’re brilliant and sweet and funny. If you started a bakery, it’d probably be the most successful in the city. And how could you say you’re not sm...

I couldn’t stop a smile from stretching across my face. “A computer hacking person?” Josie shrugged nonchalantly. “Close enough.” “Not sure Cam and Theo would be thrilled if I stopped my computer hacking activities to start a bakery.” “I’m sure they just want ...

“I used to have plans. Sam and I dreamed about what our lives would be like after we turned eighteen. We were going to find a place together, get jobs, and save money for school. I had thought about studying marketing and graphic design, but really, I just wanted anything that would get me out of my parents’ house. Sam turned eighteen a few weeks before me and secured an apartment. I secretly packed all my things so I would be ready to go.”

“But then, a week before my birthday, the Designation Government took over. Just like that, I wasn’t allowed to work or attend college. I was stuck at my parents’ house for two years. Honestly, I feel like the past five years are a blur. I can’t remember a lot of it.”

“Sam ended up going to a college close to home so we could still see each other. He got me suppressants and black-market books. But when they opened the Designation Academy, I was automatically enrolled in the inaugural class. At first, it was like a boarding school. We took classes to help prepare us for a pack. I thought they would force me to do pack interviews, but they didn’t… they…”

“Maybe I should open a bakery now that I know someone who can handle all the marketing,” I said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“I probably wouldn’t be any good,” she said with a shrug. Now it was my turn to growl at her. “If I’m not allowed to put myself down, you’re certainly not,” I said, fixing her with as stern a look as I could muster.

“Mmm,” I said. “Cinnamon rolls and coffee. What a great combination. I wonder what could be missing…” I waited to see if she would catch on to my ulterior motive for choosing cinnamon rolls this morning, and she did not disappoint.