There was a reason she’d sought me out while her scent meshed with another alpha’s and only a large shirt hid her nakedness. Seeing her in another male’s clothing had me and mybeast wanting to tear it to shreds and cover her in our scent, but I refrained.
For now.
The goal was to win her loyalty and convince her that Alpha’s plan was the only way to ensure shifters survived. Not just survived but flourished as the strongest race in the world. Just as we were designed to be. She cleared her throat, rubbing a hand over her face, and I enjoyed the flush in her cheeks.
“There’s nothing wrong,” she finally said, though she grimaced, and the icy blue of her eyes was dull. She looked tired, and I was fighting the urge to drag her into my arms. “Nothing new is wrong,” she clarified. “Your evil-ass boss is still out there planning to destroy the world. And the omega who betrayed me hides now as well, along with her pack. One of whom happens to be Hunter’s best friend.”
I knew all about the other omega. I’d been there for their initial negotiations, where she’d bartered to keep herself and her pack safe. Of course, that safety had only been from Alpha himself, and not from the Reeves pack. She should have taken that into consideration, but she hadn’t thought further than not ending up in theOmega Program.
The problem was, now that they needed to stay safe from Hunter and his pack of lunatics, they were even more beholden to Alpha.
“Alpha will have them,” I said, having no need or want to lie to Emme. “You won’t find them until he’s ready to release them.”
Emme sighed and sank to the cold floor, resting her chin on her knees. My hackles rose at the sight of her in such an uncomfortable position, but if I made any move to help her, she’d panic and leave. Which was unacceptable.
“We will find him,” she growled, peering up at me, and I thought she was fucking adorable. Even her little snarl was as cute as a kitten.
“You can try, and even if you do, he’s prepared for any scenario. He knows your mates pretty well, and is well aware of what he’s up against.”
“And he has you,” she shot back, tilting her head to stare me dead in the eyes. Not many had the dominance to do that, and I admired her spark and fire. More than admire, I craved it. “His guard dragon. Just out there blindly following orders.”
With a shrug, I settled on keeping this affable. “Why fight when I agree with his vision for the future? Once his plan is in place, I’ll take my rightful spot as a leader. With you by my side of course. I owe him for my existence, and the fact that it led me to you, Sweet Honey.”
She blinked, as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard me right. “Sweet Honey? Really? You’re giving me a pet name like we’re an old married couple?”
I had no idea why she made that sound ridiculous. As far as I was concerned, we were beyond married—she was mine—which Emme would learn sooner or later.
“We’re bonded mates,” I reminded her, my voice lowering. “And your scent is so sweet. You wouldn’t know this, but I’ve been obsessed with honey since I was a hatchling. In the compound, before they taught me control, I’d escape and climb the trees to find the hives. It’s fitting that my mate would be as sweet as that nectar.”
Her lips trembled briefly, but then she pulled herself together, her next words barely a whisper. “I don’t know how I’m going to forgive you for what you stole from me.”
Guilt was about as familiar to me as sexual desire, but apparently I was getting a crash course in both. “For forcing the bond?”
I didn’t play stupid. She’d already expressed to me how I’d hurt her, and why my actions were wrong. At the time I didn’t understand, but I was a fast learner.
The fact that she wasminewasn’t enough… I should not have forced such a sacred bond. A bond that would have been stronger if she’d chosen me as well.
Emme let out another sigh. “Yes. You took a special moment from both of us. If you’d have just given me a chance to get to know you better, I could have chosen to bond you.”
I felt another crack in my chest, and fuck… I’d take physical pain over these emotional strikes any day. “I’m sorry.”
I’d never said those two words before, but I truly meant them. “It was my only chance to bond with my scent match, and I fucked it up for both of us. It’s just that what Alpha asks of me is usually for my own good.”
She examined me for so long, and her stare was so probing, thatIalmost looked away. I’d never broken eye contact first—my dragon wouldn’t let me. But we were both different with Emme. “Have you ever thought that maybe it’s forhisown good,” she finally said, and it was another statement to settle far too deep in my psyche.
Needing a focus to keep my beast from destroying the house, I cleared my throat. “Grab a hairbrush,” I said gruffly.
She blinked at me, and I enjoyed taking her by surprise. “Sorry?”
“A hairbrush,” I repeated. “Grab one and I’ll brush your hair again.”
It was one of my favorite memories of our time together, the feel of her silky strands between my fingers, the honey and chocolate of her scent wafting toward me with each stroke. I’d thought about it far too often, wondering how all of that gorgeous hair would look curled around my fist, but that wasn’t my reasoning for tonight. Tonight, we both needed grounding, and I knew this would work.
Emme glanced around the room, as if calculating what might happen if she got within touching distance. “Hunter’s in hisoffice on a call, and they have security cameras down here,” she warned me, narrowing her eyes. “You wouldn’t have much time to keep me captive.”
I shook my head and couldn’t help but smile. She really was fucking adorable. “I’m not keeping you captive. I’m trying to change the narrative between us. One step at a time, right?”
If her wary expression was any indication, Emme wasn’t convinced, and my smile fell under my disappointment as she pushed to her feet and disappeared from the room.
