Lindsey must have either imported from Earth or magically programmed an S-Gen machine to make—” I took a breath. “They played the Electric Slide.”
Olivia’s eyes widened; then she burst out laughing. “Oh God, I can only imagine.”
I couldn’t help but crack a smile. “Those big, buff, in-control aliens?”
She put her fingers over her lips to hide her grin. “Can’t dance?”
I shook my head. “Can’t dance. Everyone was bumping into each other. Except this one Prillon commander. Now he had moves.”
Emma tossed a soft ball up in the air, and it bounced off her head.
“Wulf would have stepped on me,” Olivia said.
“Nik ran into me. That’s how we met.” A pang of longing filled me at the memory of us bumping, of him grabbing me so I didn’t fall. Ensuring I wasn’t hurt.
“Was he a fair Prillon or dark? I heard they’re like various colors of caramel.”
“Nik was dark, Sam fair.”
“One of each. Mmm.” Her eyes widened. “Were they good?” she asked, glancing at the kids. “Tanner, be careful running near Emma.”
Tanner fired his weapon, and a light on Wyatt’s armor turned green.
“I’m not the Hive!” Wyatt shouted, mad he’d been hit.
Olivia had to go over and talk to the boys, and I took a moment to think. Were Nik and Sam good?
So good. My pussy clenched. I ran my fingers over the smooth collar.
Olivia returned, saw the gesture. She dropped into the chair, her knees bent up by her shoulders.
“Are you going to take that off?”
I shrugged. “It was supposed to be a fling. I just wanted to get laid. I made it clear. Really, really clear.”
She rolled her eyes. “You remember how Wulf literally moved in even though I told him we wouldn't work.”
I’d been there when Wulf arrived at Olivia’s house, staked his claim. I should have realized from his actions how Nik and Sam would behave. The difference was, Wulf was Atlan and in mating fever at the time. He’d taken one look at Olivia on the Bachelor Beast set and known.
“They didn’t come on to me. I propositioned them,” I clarified.
Olivia grinned. “You go, girl.”
I glanced away, suddenly feeling sad. Or sadder.
“You don’t think they’d have dragged you out of there if you hadn’t made the first move? You know Prillons. They’re just as bossy as Atlans.”
I pursed my lips. “True.”
She was quiet for a minute, waved to Emma. “But it was more than a fling for them. You’re wearing a collar.”
“I refused to be claimed. I didn’t… I didn’t—”
She set her hand on my shoulder as I swallowed tears that were lodged in my throat.
“I didn’t believe them,” I whispered.
“Don’t the collars share their feelings?”
I nodded.
“It’s not like they could lie. It’s not like on Earth when you don’t know if a guy’s just lying for sex.”
I shifted in the beanbag, bringing my knee up so I could face her. “I knew. I felt the truth. They showed it to me. Then they left for their meeting and… well, there wasn’t time.”
She squeezed my shoulder. “And now?”
I touched the collar again.
“Now I’m alone here.” I sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean that you and Wulf and the kids aren’t my family and I’m not alone. But… I know what having mates is like. I almost had my own family, and now I want it. Want what you and Wulf have. What Nik and Sam offered.”
Olivia was quiet as she studied me. “Yeah, it’s not the same thing.”
“I came here to be with you guys. I don’t regret it, but now I know what I’m missing. You have a life with Wulf. I don’t have anything here. I’m just the fifth wheel.”
“I know it’s too soon, but you could mate someone else.”
I didn’t want anyone else, but I couldn’t tell Olivia that. Instead I rolled my eyes and tried for some levity. “That would only work if Wulf lays off his big-brother thing.”
As if he knew we were talking about him, the playroom door slid open and he came in, his head almost grazing the top. “Who’s hunting Hive?” His voice boomed through the room, and Tanner and Wyatt froze, spun in place and raised their hands.
Wulf went over and dropped to his knees so he was closer to their height. “Did you look behind the ship?”
They nodded, their heads bobbing in unison.
“We should check again because Hive are known to be tricky and devious. Climb on, fighters.”
Wulf dropped to his hands, and Tanner and Wyatt climbed on as if riding a horse. Wulf crawled toward