Only Perfect Omegas: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance Series (Rebel Werewolves Book 1)

by Rosemary A Johns

  “So, you’re the latest girl band?” I cocked my head. “Or does it have more of an alternative rock feel…?”

  Lux turned to her mom. “Can I just execute her now?”

  “You know, I was confused about who were the bad guys.” I raised my eyebrow, even as my pulse thundered because I didn’t need to see Lux’s expression to be sure that she was deadly serious. I’d always known that she meant to follow through on the cruel things that she’d whispered she’d do to me as a kid. “But now you’re kind of making it easier for me with your villain vibes.”

  When Stella’s nails bit into my neck, I winced. Then she soothed over my mom’s cape, as if in apology.

  “I told you not to be taken in by the wolves’ angelic eyes.” Stella rested her wolf mask against my neck, and I stiffened, whilst adrenaline rushed through my chest. My red thrashed inside, desperate to coil out and protect me, but just like the werewolves’ shifting powers were restricted by the collars, so I was trapped, vulnerable. “Villains massacre innocents in their own homes. They devour mums and dads in an ambush. They’re savage beasts who orphan—”

  “I’m getting the feeling that they’re not the only ones who slaughter,” I gritted out.

  Stella shrugged her shoulder. “It’s not murder if I kill a wolf. It’s justice.” Shocked, I drew in my breath. Stella wandered back to her throne, before throwing herself down with a twirl. “Where’s the sweetly delicious cub?”

  My eyes narrowed. “Go to hell.”

  I’d left Moth with Mischief and Ramiel to protect him. Yet Mischief’s magic was being drained, and I didn’t know why or how yet, which hadn’t seemed such a top priority before, but it sure did now. Also, if Zetta had been the one to tell on me to my aunt like a sneering older sibling, then were any of them safe in the House of Silver without me?

  Ivy leapt out of her throne, before marching behind it and leaning her elbows on the fur. “Come now, be reasonable. I’m certain that you’re the Wolf Charmer who we’ve all been waiting for. Just give us a little something…”

  I wet my dry lips. “What more do you want? Did you think that I was just dicking around in the Wilds? I might not have solved the murder but I completed your mission. They honestly don’t know a thing about Kolby’s murder. Trust me, I also impressed them with the whole new Liaison and Wolf Charmer show.”

  “Bored,” Lux sighed, resting her arms over the leg of the throne. “Unimpressive.”

  “I held every single Alpha under my spell at the same time,” I smirked. “Does that impress your ass?”

  For a moment, I wondered if I’d magicked the witches to stone. Then Ivy giggled and clapped her hands. I let out my breath because if that hadn’t been enough to sway them, then I had nothing.

  “Now, how about we call the cub, like, a bonus for good work?” I smiled hopefully. “Let’s start with letting me down and giving me back my two Charms.”

  Something that I’d learned from my uncle was to go into negotiations high and with confidence.

  Stella tapped her chin thoughtfully, which was freaky when it was a wolf’s chin. “I never thought that you’d love my birthday present this much. I’d call it too much to be healthy. Good point about letting you down.”

  Stella nodded at Lux who reluctantly waved her hand at the shadows. Instantly, they dropped me with a clang. I yelped as my kneecaps hit the metal, before shoving myself up onto unsteady legs. Then I gaped, as two of the wolf pelt cocoons peeled open, and Moon and Amadeus fell with an even louder clang and groan from the walls because wolf butterflies it turned out, didn’t have wings.

  My eyes stung at the way the two wolves instantly held onto each other’s shoulders, whining. They rested their foreheads together with the casual familiarity of close friends. But how long had they been apart, whilst Moon had been trained in the center? Both Charms shook, fighting to control their tremors, whilst Moon shielded Amadeus.

  What must it feel like to a wolf to be trapped in their ancient enemy’s home? Last time, Moon had been wary, but he hadn’t been alone because he’d had me. This time, as soon as my Charms saw me across the room, they skidded over the bronze to wrap their arms around me. I shivered at their touch and warmth.

  I wasn’t alone in this trial: I had my two princes.

  Moon licked down my cheek in greeting, whilst Amadeus kissed me lightly, squeezing my hand, before both stood in front of me like they could protect me from the witches. I couldn’t help the grin because I was the witch Wolf Charmer; they should be the ones looking for my protection.

  But then, nothing about this was conventional.

  “Judge, jury, and executioner, we sit on these thrones of fur and blood,” Stella intoned, and I shivered, “dressed in the skins of our enemies to decide if you count amongst them…” Then her head tilted. “Look, are you truly going to make us go through all this wretched stuff? I understand the appeal of your wolf bundles of hotness, but only if they’re gift-wrapped, on leashes, or in cages. How about I hurry this along by bringing some truth to the heart of this? Your princes are only playing diplomacy, as they were taught their entire lives. You’re being tricked and by the time that you discover it, you’ll be devoured.”

  “Aye right,” Moon growled, rolling his eyes, “like you’re not keeping any secrets from her?”

  “You’re not helping,” I whispered, bumping his shoulder. “Can’t you at least pretend that I’m in control?”

  Stella grinned through the fangs of the mask. “Jump vision is so delightful because I can even use it to allow you to jump into someone’s hardest truth. Want to give it a whirl and see if your cuddly wolves aren’t in fact imagining how you taste?”

  Moon’s eyes widened. “You can’t mean to…”

  Stella pointed at Amadeus. “Let’s start with the sinful incubus.”

  Amadeus backed away, pressing his fists to the side of his head.

  What memory was he so terrified that I’d witness?

  Then the room lurched, bleeding to black.

  When my eyes blinked open again, nothing was right. I was standing alone in a narrow gray corridor, and everything — even the benches — seemed too big and tall like I’d shrunk. I stared down at myself.

  When had I grown a dick…?

  I edged my much smaller than it should’ve been hand down towards the organ that hadn’t been there only moments before. Then I shied away out of nerves.

  So, I was a boy in some weird underground corridor that smelled of chalk…

  A hex on a mage’s balls… I wasn’t simply watching the vision; I was inside it. Plus, the hair that I could see was black, so I’d guess that I was Amadeus at school, complete even with a satchel of books, which meant that I wished I could see all of myself because I bet that I was cute as a button.

  The joke spiking of the Starlight Prom with Truth Potion didn’t seem such a laugh riot now.

  Once the full sensation of my new body flooded through me, I doubled over with the gnawing pain in my rumbling guts. Holy hell, I was ravenous. In fact, light headed, my legs buckled, and I tumbled to my knees.

  Why was the Queen of the Gods starving Amadeus?

  At the clatter of footsteps, I looked up through my agony at the sneering face of an Alpha. I sighed. Alphas truly were the mean girls.

  “Are you hungry, Be?” The mock tenderness in the Alpha’s voice made me even sicker.

  I nodded, even as I felt Amadeus’ own conflicted emotions. There were tears on my cheeks from the hunger and the desperation to please, whilst also the shame of knowing what he’d have to do in order to earn the food.

  “Then lick my shoe.” The Alpha snickered.

  I flinched, flushed and humiliated, as I dragged myself closer to the Alpha’s shoe. I understood better than I had before, how Amadeus’ needs had been used against him.

  Just as my tongue poked out reluctantly, I heard footsteps running towards us down the other end of the corridor.

  “Don’t touch the new prince.” It wa
s a boy’s voice, and both the Scottish accent and defiance was enough to tell me that it was Moon.

  A joy that someone had stood up for me, so that I was no longer alone, washed over me. I wasn’t sure how much was Amadeus and how much my own emotion. Yet it was powerful because I’d been certain that I’d always have to rely only on myself (and so had Amadeus).

  “I’m just feeding him,” the Alpha taunted. “You love me to order you around, don’t you?”

  I shook my head, miserably. When I peeked up, my breath hitched. Moon had been as beautiful as a kid with moon-blond curls like his brother, and a tall athletic boy lounged with crossed arms next to him. He caught my gaze and smiled. That shouldn’t have made my stomach squirm in the way that it did, but then the boy reached down for me as if it was as natural as anything and helped me off my knees.

  “You don’t need to kneel,” the tall Omega said softly, “we’re not out of school yet, and she’s not your bonded Alpha.”

  “You princes swanning around like you’re any better than the other Oms.” When the Alpha slapped the tall Omega, I whimpered.

  So, he was the third prince: The Prince of the Alphas…?

  Well, at least he wasn’t on the side of the bullies, and I was kind of in awe of the way that he casually turned his bruised cheek back to the Alpha, arching his brow like he was merely waiting for the next slap.

  The Alpha blew out her breath in exasperation, before pointing at Moon. “I’m telling Lyall on you. She’ll know how to teach you your place as soon as you’re Wolf Bitten.”

  Then the Alpha turned on her heel and marched away down the corridor. Immediately, the two Omegas burst into undignified giggles. Suddenly, I remembered that they might be princes but they were only kids nonetheless.

  At last, the Prince of the Alphas ruffled my hair. “Are you still hungry?”

  Cautiously, I nodded.

  “Anytime that you need to feed, just find one of us, and do whatever works best for you. I mean, this rascal here…” The Prince of the Alphas elbowed Moon, who kicked him in the shin. “…He loves a cuddle, although he’ll deny it, even on pain of a Wolf Charmer’s kiss.”

  Both Omegas grimaced.

  I winced because that was a little too close to home, but still, shaking with hunger as I was, I couldn’t deny a cuddle with Moon knowing how much pleasure it’d bring, whilst it also fed Amadeus. I dived into Moon’s arms, and he nuzzled at my neck, startlingly like he always did to my Wolf Charmer neck, just as the Prince of the Alphas massaged my shoulders with a hum of enjoyment like taking care of me was what brought him contentment.

  Instantly, a delicious nectar taste coiled through me, as sweet as ice-cream. It filled me up, until I was buzzing on the sugar high, and connected by a silvery trail to the two boys who’d both saved and shared their power. I realized then, as Amadeus seemed to as well, that although his incubus side could be a weakness, it could also be a strength.

  “Why are you helping me?” I asked through the pleasure filled haze.

  The Prince of the Alphas’ fingers tightened on my shoulders. “You’re our friend now. We three princes should stick together. I’ll protect you both always.”

  My eyes burned with tears at the bravery of the three princes, united as kids, who’d pledged to protect each other. But they’d been torn apart by something, and Moon had been taken to the Omega Training Center. Why had that happened to him, whilst not the Prince of the Alphas? I knew almost nothing about Amadeus, apart from that he’d been brought up to be my perfect companion.

  Then the world lurched, and suddenly I was back in the Justice Chamber, inside a body with tits and no dick, and the change was so sudden that I staggered and tipped over onto my ass.

  When I looked up, I was shocked by the fear in Amadeus’ face, although not by the protective way that Moon had wrapped himself around him, with his head tilted defiantly. Having just been inside Amadeus’ head, I knew how many years Moon had been looking out for him. But Amadeus didn’t know what memory I’d seen, or what I’d think about it. I’d just taken a stroll through his most private revelations without permission.

  I felt a total asshole, and I hadn’t even chosen to steal a peek.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Does it help if I say that all I saw was that in fact you are cuddly wolves…?”

  Amadeus poked Moon. “She’ll have seen your snuggly behind then.” Moon tried for offended but ended up looking pleased with himself. “I’m yours, branded and everything. Do I need to pull down my pants to prove it…?”

  I hurriedly shook my head, stilling his hand, before he could show off his ass, hot as it was.

  Amadeus avoided my gaze. “So, if it pleases you to also have my mind…”

  My eyes widened. “Woah, that’s not… It doesn’t. I mean, I want to know you like I’d want to know any guy that I was dating but I don’t want to take your memories. If you wish to share them, that’s your choice.”

  “They’re beasts,” Stella hissed, “not men.”

  “You’re wrong about the shifters.” I bit my lip. If I lied, could I survive this? Yet it didn’t look like that would help my Charms, and I wouldn’t leave here without them. They were my responsibility, and I might not have wanted them, but now that they were mine, I’d fight for them. No more of my family were dying and leaving me behind. “I’ve made mistakes because I’m seriously learning on the job. But blame the Wolf Charmer, not the Charm. These wolves are epic, trust me.”

  Stella threw her hands up in defeat. “One can only try for so long. Jury: What’s your verdict?”

  I froze, whilst my heart thumped against my ribs. This was like that sick twist of fear about the judgment of an art critic after a gallery opening. Except, Ivy’s decision wouldn’t kill an art show or even my career.

  She’d kill me.

  Ivy swept around her throne, before sitting down with a terrifying finality. She fixed me with a steely stare. “Guilty.”

  Holy hell…

  I swayed, only caught by Moon and Amadeus from falling because Ivy had pronounced my death sentence.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  I fought to lock inside the sobs that threatened to overwhelm me. Bronze shadows snaked around my head in the Justice Chamber, trapping inside my crimson just the same as my tears. Why had I traveled back to Oxford to answer my aunt’s text? I’d thought that all I’d have to do would be Claim an Omega, then magically I’d become the Wolf Charmer destined by the House of Silver. Instead, I’d wound up condemned as a rebel and facing execution.

  I stared between the three silent wolf masks, as the judge, jury, and executioner sat on their furry thrones. These were the witches who long ago, I’d hoped would welcome me into their covens. Later, when no engraved letter, talking broomstick, telepathic black cat or however I’d figured it’d work, arrived to call me away from my uncle’s non-magical world, I’d dreamed of being left alone to carve out my own life.

  But Stella’s text had denied me that.

  So, it was cruel to deny me even my life as well, but that was what I got for pretending that I could be like my mom, especially when my memory of her faded every day just a little more. How much of what I remembered was real, rather than based on photographs, stories, or even Zetta? Why couldn’t I at least hold onto her?

  When I shivered, Amadeus’ fingers tightened on my shoulder, whilst Moon’s arm wound more firmly around my waist. I was enveloped by their warmth and the vibration of their growls. I’d arrived in England alone but I wasn’t alone anymore. If it took facing death to realize that…well, life sucked.

  “Can I call for a retrial?” I asked, crossing my arms. “Because this is a huge miscarriage of justice.”

  When Ivy reached for her mask, tugging at the sides, I flinched, but she only pulled it off and lay it on the ground in front of her. It was impossible to no longer notice how little her smile reached her eyes, now that I’d seen her in the mask.

  “If I’m honest, I’m not keen on these sill
y traditions. This whole chamber and overly theatrical trial, quite gives me a headache, but then it’s only my job to judge on whether someone’s guilty or not, and as delightful a daughter-in-law as you’d have made…” Ivy’s hands fluttered in front of her like she was trying to contain her excitement. “With your sweet magic, I could guide you to becoming a more powerful Wolf Charmer than your mother, but first you’d need to be cleared of this crime.”

  I straightened, whilst my heart thudded. “Then stop with the preaching and clear away.”

  Ivy shook her head. “You must see that you have to make the first move, surely? Hand over the cub willingly, prove yourself worthy of our faith, and all this nastiness can be washed away with a Not Guilty verdict.”

  Moon whimpered, before his curls tickled my chin, as he pressed against my throat. He whispered urgently, “You can’t mean to—”

  “I’m not washing away my sins by sacrificing a teenage Omega.” My brows furrowed. “If that would make me innocent, then something’s screwed-up in your witch justice system.”

  Ivy’s expression crumpled, before she hid it behind an exaggerated sigh as she turned to Lux.

  Did Ivy truly care about what happened to me?

  Lux slunk to her feet, sweeping towards me with her hands in the pockets of her robes. “It looks like I get to execute you.”

  There was the shiver of delight beneath the threat like Lux had been planning for this moment, ever since the times Aquilo and she had bullied me in the back gardens of the House of Blood. I imagined that she was only disappointed she now had an audience. Unless that was her thing…?

  My gaze swung frantically to Stella like even now she’d stop my execution. I was her family…the daughter of her murdered sister. How could she allow this to happen just because I was different or wouldn’t fall into line?

  “You have two choices.” Lux pulled out two glass vials from her pockets, holding each in one hand: Poisons. My shadows shrank back from them, knowing that they were made to harm my wolves and me. Holy hell, Lux truly had got her panties wet planning this. She shook the crimson one, and I didn’t miss the irony of her color scheme. “Choice one: You drink the red potion.”