Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

”Have you noticed anything weird with Ayla?”

Ares stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and his eyes fixed on his brother.

Cassian looked up from the mortar he was grinding, his eyes flat. He set the pestle down with deliberate care.

”I did not think you noticed anything aside the color of Willow’s undergarments since you returned from the border, brother.”

Ares’ jaw tightened. ”That is not funny.”

”It was not meant to be.” Cassian wiped his hands on a cloth and turned to face his brother fully. ”You came into my healing chambers at dawn to ask me about Ayla? You have been back for days and this is the first time you are speaking to me.”

”I have been busy.” Ares muttered.

”So busy that you spent ridiculous amount of time in Willow’s bedchambers?” Cassian’s voice was calm, but there was an edge beneath it. ”It is because you saw us together, is it not?. Because you cannot stomach the fact that she would want to be with me.”

Ares’ hands curled into fists at his sides. ”That is not...”

”Then tell me what it is.” Cassian stepped closer, his blue eyes hardening. ”Because you seem to be forgetting that the whole point of Ayla being in our quarters is because she is meant to mate with all three of us before the ninety days are over. You seem to think she is yours and yours alone.”

”Because she is.” The words tore from Ares’ throat before he could stop them. ”I know Ayla is meant to mate with us all, brother. I cannot prevent that but she is mine.”

Cassian let out a low chuckle, but there was no humor in it. ”I knew this was going to be a problem for you. You, father’s favorite, who does not understand the concept of sharing. You have always gotten what you wanted since the dawn of time. And now you think Ayla belongs to you because you want her.”

He stepped closer, his voice dropping.

”Well, news flash, brother. She does not and I will be damned if I step back and let you have her just like I did with Freya.”

”So this is what this is about. I wondered when you were going to bring her up.”

”Bring her up?” Cassian’s voice cracked. ”She was mine, Ares and what did you do? You put your fucking claws into her, and then you left her.”

”It is not my fault what happened with Freya, Cassian. I apologized for that. Are you going to keep holding it over my head forever?”

”It is your fault what happened with her.” Cassian’s hands were trembling now. ”She killed herself because you left her.”

”I had to leave.” Ares’ voice rose. ”I had to leave. Father commanded me to, and I... I made a mistake leaving her.”

”Well, let us ensure you do not make that mistake with Ayla, shall we?” Cassian’s voice was ice. ”I will not let it happen again.”

”Ayla is not Freya.”

”Yes, Ares, she is not. She is special and you will not ruin her for me.”

He turned his back on his brother, his shoulders rigid.

”If that is all, you may leave, brother. I would like to get back to what I was doing before you walked in.”

Ares stared at his brother’s back. The words he wanted to say lodged in his throat.

He turned and walked out.

...

Ares’ chest felt tight.

The conversation with Cassian had stirred up things he had buried deep down. His guilt at what happened with Freya. The look on Cassian’s face when he had returned to news about her death.

Maybe that was why he had been unable to tell Ayla he was leaving.

He had told Freya, told her he could not keep her waiting on him when he was not even sure he would return.

He could still remember how she had begged him not to leave her alone and he had left anyways.

Ares froze as he rounded the corner.

Ayla was standing at the end of the hallway, her hand clasped in Damon’s. They were close, their heads bent together. He could not hear what they were saying but she was smiling and it made his chest ache.

He tried to clamp down on the jealousy rising in his throat but he failed.

”I was wondering where you were.”

Willow appeared at his side, her arm sliding through his. She pressed her body against his and looked up at him with a smile.

”I have been looking everywhere for you.”

”I just had to speak to Cassian.” Ares muttered, his eyes still fixed on Ayla and Damon.

Willow followed his gaze.

”She sure knows how to move around, does she not?” she said. ”One moment she is in your bed, the next she is in your brother’s and now Damon’s. I wonder who will be next.”

”Stop talking.”

”You know that I am here if you want to make her jealous.”

”What?” Ares muttered.

Willow smiled and reached for his face, turning him to face her.

”Kiss me.” she said.

Ares frowned.

”Willow...”

”You have been coming to my room every night, yet you never touch me. Do you know what I think? I think you want Ayla to believe something is happening between us. You want her jealous so kiss me, right in front of her”

”I don’t think...”

”I am a woman, Ares and I know exactly how women work.”

He looked toward Ayla who still had not noticed him and then to Willow.

Before he could think better of it, he reached for Willow, pulling her flush against his chest and he kissed her.

Willow sighed dreamily while he cupped her butt, pulling her closer.

When he finally pulled back and looked toward the end of the corridor, Ayla was watching him.

Her gaze dropped to his arm propped underneath Willow’s ass and when she looked back up at him, there was something in her gaze akin to disappointment.

She turned away, said something to Damon whose gaze flickered to him and Willow.

Then Damon placed his hand on the small of Ayla’s back, and they walked away together.

Ares stared at Ayla’s back until she disappeared round a corner, feeling like an idiot.

”It worked.” Willow muttered.

He said nothing, merely turned and walked in the opposite direction, leaving Willow standing alone in the corridor.