Billie twisted her lips and side-eyed him. “You know I didn’t. Why’d you make me have to say that out loud? I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
Kai sniffed. “I’m a big boy, I can handle it.”
She gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. “But I like you now, very much. I like you all. Even though you are creepy creepers who creep.”
Kai kicked an imaginary pebble and lowered his head. “Aww, you say the sweetest things.”
Lance slapped the counter, his face in a scowl. “So, what does this all mean? Are you part of our pack now?”
Lila touched her chest, jumping slightly. “Well, shit, should she be? You seem kind of mad.”
Daniel raised a hand to pause everyone. “How about we let Billie eat and give her time to wrap her head around everything that’s happened. Just because she’s fine with Ty claiming her doesn’t mean she’s obligated to be a part of our pack. And no one else is to make any such mistakes again. Understood? Kai?”
Kai raised his brows and spread his arms open. “Really? I was on saint-like behavior, and yet I’m still the one who gets called out.”
Daniel looked unmoved.
Kai rolled his eyes. “It’s discrimination because I’m a demon, and I know it. Fine, I understand.”
I looked back to Billie. She was already drinking a glass of wine, whispering to Lila with a smile. She really did look content. Was it a mask, or had my mistake been for the best? We would find out when her heat ended, and I was hoping it was the latter. Either way. I was going to make it up to her.
CHAPTER23
BILLIE
Aday later and I was firmly out of my heat. It was a wild and pretty fun ride but having my body back fully within my control felt good as well. As for me being a claimed omega? Well, I still surprisingly liked it. In fact, I was a little giddy. I felt like a teenager with her first boyfriend. I kept waiting to feel freaked out, but it hadn’t come yet.
Ty had spent the night in my bed the night before, and we didn’t even have sex. I was perhaps all tapped out, but I knew I just needed a bit of recovery time from that marathon session. Until then, just having him wrapped around me felt like home.
I’d studied enough about omegas to know that even if I was claimed, my mind would still be my own. If I hated the guy who claimed me, it wouldn’t go away because of the bite. My body might betray me, but my mind wouldn’t. And so far, my mind liked it all.
Lila passed me a bottle of water from the snacks table. We were sitting in the back of the meeting hall for our monthly coven meeting downtown two days after my claiming. Since the last attack, security and wards were beefed up, but I was still a little worried about being there. Kai was currently standing in the lobby glaring at the guards who wouldn’t let him on the meeting room floor. Naturally, he wanted to break skulls, but at least he was in the building now instead of outside. Baby steps.
I focused on the present, grabbing the water. “Thanks.”
Lila gave a nod. “You know, I still think you should be mad about being claimed. That’s a big deal.”
I opened the water, side-eyeing her. “I think we both know I was getting used to those guys and wanted them as my alphas. I didn’t need much of a trial, they got to me. It was just a matter of time until I agreed to being claimed.”
Lila smirked, crossing her arms. “I knew you were falling for them. I don’t blame you. And I don’t really think they are behind the attacks. I think they’re good guys. Your dad did well. Did you check in that book of his if he happened to pick anyone for me? I mean, I was like a daughter to him.”
I shook my head, laughing. Lila did take some of the worry out of my head. As calm as I felt about being claimed, I began to worry that I was so chill about it. I had bonded with a man who I was still getting to know. And this was for life. Even if I left the pack and fell in love with someone, I’d always be connected to him. He wouldn’t have to try, my body and soul would yearn to be with him. It was both scary and exciting.
Lila elbowed me. “Would you let them all claim you?”
I shrugged. I didn’t have a date in mind, but it seemed I was heading that way. I liked the guys. They were all so caring it felt almost overwhelming. And I had no expectations it would be like that every day, but even the basics of their personalities excited me. “Maybe, in time. It’s a lot to be claimed. I can feel Ty’s emotions and hear his thoughts. Everything can be intense, but we’re practicing control. Ty’s better at it than me.”
“Good. Then you’ve really made your decision. It only took over a month.”
She said it in a sarcastic tone like I’d taken forever. “You think that was too long?”
She blew out a breath. “Girl, I would have been living in that mansion from the start, running around butt-naked and thoroughly satisfied.”
I cackled at her response. “You would not.”
“Fine, maybe not, but I would think heavily about it. You’re practically a married woman. When we go out, I expect you to be my wing woman from now on.”
“Of course.”
