Ava shakes her head. “It’s not. Harper wouldn’t do that.”
Bastien hesitates. “How certain are you, love?” he asks quietly.
Staring down at the caramel curls, I swallow down a lump in my throat. “I agree with Ava.”
Having seen the Winter pack with their own omega, I don’t believe they’ll do anything to put Ava at risk.
“Rogue’s father is the Director of the Omega Compound,” I point out when Luc looks incredulous. “He might have information that could help us.”
Ava begins to tremble. “His father… is the Director?”
I run my hands up and down her arms, hoping to warm her chilled skin. “Do you know him, sweetheart?” She nods. “He was there the night that Jason attacked me.”
Four matching growls ring through the room.
“Call him back,” I tell Luc. “Set up the meeting. I want to hear what they have to say.”
When I glance down at Ava, she nods, but her mind is clearly elsewhere. I lift her up, and she squeaks. “What are you doing?”
“I’m stealing you for an hour.” Ava needs some distraction whilst we wait for the Winter pack to come. There are also things we need to resolve, and I can’t wait anymore, her words from this morning burrowing into my head. Turning to Luc, I ask, “You’ll let us know if anything changes?”
He nods, and I carry my omega out of the office and through the main doors. She leans into me with a sigh as I stride towards the house. “This feels familiar,” she grumbles.
I can’t help but smile down at her, remembering her first day. “As I recall, you wanted to walk,” I tease. The corners of her mouth tilt. “A lot has changed since then.”
I hold her a little closer, unable to help myself. “It has.”
Carrying Ava into the house, I head straight for her nest, taking the stairs two at a time, and she turns her face to me in surprise. “Max—,”
Shaking my head, I cut her off. “Let me take care of you,” I plead. “Let me block the world out, just for a little while. It’ll still be there when we leave, love. I just…”
I just need to make up for being a stubborn asshole.
ChapterForty-Nine
Ava
My heartbeat sings in my chest as Max toes his shoes off. He turns to face me, his hands cupping my cheeks.
“I’m sorry I left when you needed me,” he says fervently. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Moisture builds behind my eyes as he lays me down on the soft blankets.
His honey-brown eyes search mine. “I’ll never give you a reason to doubt me again,” he swears. “Forgive me, Ava. Please.”
“I didn’t doubt you, Max,” I say hoarsely. “I just wanted you to want me as much as I want you.”
He closes his eyes, regret standing out in stark lines on his face. “Never doubt that I want you. Never doubt that you are theonlyone that I want. Even before I knew your name, I knew that my heart would never beat for anyone else the way that it does for you.”
Tears slide down my cheeks as he leans in, kissing them away.
“No more,” he whispers. “You’re ours, Ava. Lucien, Nik, Bastien. But right now, you’remine.”
My whimper is unexpected, Max’s eyes flaring as he scents my arousal in the air. He slides his hand underneath my top, encouraging me to sit up as he strips me, his hands never stopping their exploration of my body as I push myself towards him. I need him to be closer.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” I mutter, displeased. I want to feel his skin against mine.
He gives me a heart-stoppingly boyish grin as he scoots back, shucking off his shirt and jeans. When I move to do the same, Max stops me, his hands gently pressing my wrists into the soft blankets below us.
