He likes you.Nix looked at her.He likes you a lot.
If Megan was human, I would say she was blushing.He’s just being nice. He loves you. You can tell by the way he looks at you.
Nix nodded.Sure you can, just like you can tell how he feels about you.They turned to me.We know this isn’t what you wanted. We weren’t ever going to tell you, but now we are here. We have about two weeks before we are going into another heat. It’s our fault for falling for Erubus when his human has shown us he should not be trusted. But-
Megan cut in. We couldn’t help it.
Do you love him?I watched their faces. I needed to know what the hell I was going to do if they did.
Nix and Megan looked at each other and then back at me. Nix tilted her head.I’ve never been in love before. I have only ever seen or felt it from you two. But I don’t think I would say I’m in love. I like him. I enjoy his company. I enjoy talking with him and spending time with him, but I think we have all held back.
Megan nodded.I like him, and I know that if I let it, it could grow into love.She leveled me with a look.But Nix and I decided way before Erubus started showing up that the two of us fucked with your relationships too much already in both of our lives. We won’t do it again. You loved Brandon because I did. You held back from being with Rowan because of Nix’s feelings for Erubus. You have finally put yourself back together after the two wrecks we made. It’s your turn.
I looked at Nix, but she was already nodding.We can care about one, but leave room for you to love another.
I wouldn’t ask you to do that.
We know.Megan came to the barrier.
Nix followed.Which is why we are telling you. What we feel for Erubus doesn’t matter. You just need to prepare for your heat.
And maybe…talk to Thoth a little more.Megan put in before they turned and left me alone, reeling.
There was a knock at the door. “Alpha Amy.” My head snapped up to see the omega waiting at my door with food. “May I come in to serve you lunch?”
I sat up and smiled. “Of course. Come in.” She set up my food, three steaks and a baked potato, and then left. I dug in as a notification pinged on my phone. I looked at it, and it was Rick.
Rick-Alannah said you were having trouble with the ninth firewall. I told you I made it unpenetrable, unless you had a battering ram. Why don’t you look for a back door? I didn’t make it easy, but if you want to take Vince down; you have to get into the mainframe.
This was the second, or third, time he talked about a back door. The message was gone before I could read it again. I sighed and put my phone down, turning back to my steak. I had just popped another piece into my mouth when another ping rang out.
Rick-Oh and Amy? You better fucking make your move. Vincehas been talking to Garith and they are making their move on the king right after your mating ceremony.
Right after the mating ceremony. I looked at the calendar and pinched my nose. I finished my food quickly and turned back to the computer. I could barely focus with the last text running through my mind. The timer on the screen made my stomach clench, but its message was blazingly clear.
I was running out of time.
I walked out of the office with an exhausted grin on my face.
“Did you do it?” Alannah stood at her desk with a grin on her face.
“I did. Got it just as the timer was counting down.”
Alannah jumped as the door swung open and Vince walked in. “Amy!” He yelled as soon as he walked in. Alannah swung around me as naturally as she could.
“Yes Alpha Vince. What can I do for you?” Alannah stepped into Rick’s office, creating more space between them. Vince looked at her retreating, but I turned away from him and grabbed my purse from my hook, pulling his attention back to me.
“You can’t call off the mating ceremony.” His face was smiling, but I saw the glint in his eye. He sounded like he was begging, but he meant it as an order. “Brandon loves you.”
I nodded. “And I love him, but I love him enough to respect him and his reputation.”
Vince furrowed his brow. “What do you mean by that?”
I sighed as I stepped out of my office, pulling my door shut. “Alpha Vince, I know rumors don’t get back to you that much, because you are the Alpha. But the pack is already talking. Shannon’s saying she was potentially pregnant by Brandon has gotten around. Everyone is talking about how they got back together.” I shook my head. “Brandon has loved and been with an unranked wolf. And while I understand in some packs, that kind of relationship is fine.” I felt my skin fall as I said these words. This made me sick. “But in our pack, it’s something totalk about. I can’t add to the drama. If I still mate with him, not only will he seem like a man who can’t decide, who can’t figure out his own feelings, but they will see him as weak for falling an unranked wolf, as someone who chose the weaker wolf. Having a weak and indecisive Alpha can break a pack. I won’t muddy the waters around Brandon any more.” I walked to the door. “I’m not Shannon. I actually love and care about him.” I looked back.
“Wha-” He paused, and I watched him replay what I just said over again. “What do you mean you’re not Shannon?”
I chuckled. “How do you think the rumors got out so fast?” I headed back to Rick’s office as Vince processed what I just said.
