Besides, if I push too hard, Rhett might decide Oli’s more trouble than he’s worth and kick him out. The thought of never seeing the young alpha again knocks the wind out of me.
Defeated, I turn around. “Can someone help me with the zipper?”
Myrick steps closer, hand lifting toward the back of my dress—but before he can touch the fabric, Rhett cuts in.
“I know you’re tired, but we need to get this all out now,” the alpha says firmly, his dark eyes cutting into me. “I need to know exactly what’s happened with Oli to make you feel this way.”
Myrick freezes, and my heart stops.
“What?” Myrick’s voice is barely above a whisper, like he’s afraid of speaking at full volume.
“Do you know about this?” Rhett asks, as his gaze flickers back to me.
“I mean…Yeah.” Myrick sounds unsure, like he doesn’t really want to talk about any of this.
“Okay. Then let's get it all out.” His brow is furrowed—not angry, but clearly trying to piece something together. “What’s going on?”
Myrick glances at me, hesitation clear in his eyes. “I…um…” Then he draws a breath, like he's finally giving in to something that's been pressing on him for days. “I’m so sorry, Rhett,” he says, voice quieter now. “I was going to talk to you about it first thing in the morning.”
“Well, Autry told me. So we might as well talk it through now,” Rhett says, and Myrick’s eyes go wide.
“Youtoldhim?” The beta looks impressed that I’d say something, but how could I not? Oli thinks that Rhett is dangerous. And even if the young alpha is simply mistaken—which I pray he is—I’d like to know what made him think that way.
“Yeah,” I say, hoping Myrick isn’t angry with me. “I couldn't keep it in any longer.”
“Wow.” The beta gasps softly, completely shocked as he turns to Rhett. “And how does that make you feel?”
“Feel?” he says, his tone firm, edging toward angry once again. “I have no idea where any of this is coming from.” His fists curl. “And I’m not thrilled that Oli is looking at me weird, and apparently sharing secrets with my packmates.” He cuts Myrick an accusing glare.
“I wouldn’t call it a secret,” Myrick says. “It’s not like we’re hiding it. We’ve been very open. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you about it.”
Open?
About what?
Confusion pulls within me, and I tilt my head, trying to figure out what Myrick is talking about. “Did Oli say more to you?” I drop my voice to a whisper, despite the fact that everyone can hear me. “More than what he said in the dining room?”
“In the dining room?” Myrick's brows draw together. “He didn’t flirt with us in the dining room.” He looks up, thinking. “Well, maybe he did a little bit, but not like he has been.” He glances at Rhett, but the alpha looks too stunned to speak. “I didn’t know he was checking you out in the ballroom.” Myrick’s voice is flirty, happy. “That young alpha is incorrigible.”
“Checking me out?” Rhett’s mouth falls open, shock making him blink repeatedly.
“Wait.” I hold up my hands, trying to hang on to what Myrick’s trying to say. “That's not…I didn’t…” My mind races, unable to form a complete sentence.
“Are we not talking about adding Oli to our pack?” Myrick’s blue eyes dart between me and Rhett. “Why are you both looking at me like that?”
I glance at Rhett, and my heart stutters. He looks furious—face flushed and mouth set in a hard, unyielding line.
“AddingOli to our pack?” Rhett finally finds his voice, looking right at Myrick. “You want toaddhim to our pack?” He’s so angry, his scent growing thicker by the second.
“Yeah,” Myrick’s voice is small and unsure. Almost scared. “You asked what was going on with Oli.” He looks at me, his eyes going wide as if desperately asking for help.
“I meant what Autry told me.” Rhett gestures vaguely toward me without taking his eyes off Myrick. “She told me Oli was acting off tonight. Tense. Like something waswrong. I wasnotasking about adding him to our fucking pack.”
Myrick’s mouth opens, then closes again. His face flushes. “Oh.”
“Yeah,” Rhett barks. “Oh.”
A long pause drags on, and I watch the way Rhett’s jaw works as he tries to stay calm—his breath coming slow and even. He looks like he’s trying so hard to consciously rein something in.
