It was time for Casey’s turn - we huddled in the children’s section and let Casey go hog wild. She had the time of her life punching through the racks, exploring the shelves, and picking out her ownoutfits.
“She certainly is an active pup,” Mattie commented. We were the only ones in the store so she paid us her full attention. She had picked up our already full basket and was waiting for Casey’s basket to ring usup.
The attention made Casey stop and turn around. “I am!” she announced. “Look what I cando!”
She put down the armful of clothes she was holding and suddenly attempted a cartwheel. But her balance was off - she fell and tumbled in the wrong direction before hitting her head on one of the metal racks. A moment of silence swept through the store before the pain hit her and she began tocry.
I rushed to her side. “Oh, honey… Are youokay?”
In a movement so fast I barely had time to blink, Flint was by her side, scooping her up off the floor. His brow furrowed in concern as he swept her hair back, exposing the blooming bruise on herforehead.
“She’s not bleeding,” he growled. “But it must hurt alot.”
She nodded, her eyes watery and her nosesniffling.
“Do you want to go home?” I asked hergently.
She swallowed hard and mumbled, “Yeah.” Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked up at Flint. “I want Mr. Flint to carry me. He’swarm.”
Flint’s gaze softened. “Of course I will,Casey.”
I shot him a silent appreciativeglance.
“The cash is in my back pocket,” Flint said to me. “You can grab it to pay for theclothes.”
I’d forgotten Mattie was still waiting for payment. Flint’s arms were full with Casey now and he couldn't get the money himself. I didn’t know if this was bad luck or amazing luck. Before I could chicken out, I carefully slipped my hand into his back pocket and took the wad of cash. I tried - and failed - not to think about how firm and warm his ass felt in the brief moment my hand brushed against it. A jolt of electricity ran up my spine. Touching Flint feltamazingbut I forced myself not to dwell on it. It wasn’t the time or place for those kind ofthoughts.
“Here,” I said hurriedly, handing the cash to Mattie. “Sorry we have torun.”
“No worries. I’ll quickly count out your change,” she said with a sympathetic expression - she was probably upset a pup got hurt in her store, even though it wasn’t herfault.
“I’ll be outside,” Flint grunted at me. “The fresh air will do hergood.”
“Okay,” I said with anod.
The bell tinkled again as Flint exited the store with Casey curled up in hisarms.
“Not to intrude, but... I think he really likes you,” Mattie said quietly as she counted up thecash.
I blinked. “Who?Flint?”
She nodded, a slow smile appearing on her lips. “He doesn’t have a mate of his own, you know. He never has. As long as I’ve known him, he’s been kind of distant and unapproachable. Today was the friendliest I’ve ever seenhim.”
Her words sunkin.
Flint? Likesme?
“A-are you sure?” I stammered. A rising anxiety filled my chest, but it wasn’t abadfeeling, exactly. It was one of confusion, anticipation, cautiousoptimism.
“Definitely sure,” Mattie confirmed. “The way he rushed in to help Casey like that… It almost seemed like hewasher father, youknow?”
I blushed deeply. I couldn’t deny that I’d never seen an unrelated alpha try to comfort and protect a pup that wasn’t his ownbefore.
But there was no way Flint was actually interested in me - he was probably just being nice. All of his strange behaviour must be an Indigo Mountain thing. I chalked it up to a culture difference and swallowed my feelings of optimism. Flintwasn’tinterested in me. I was just a poor omega with a fatherless child. What did I even have to offerhim?
“I should get going,” I mumbled to Mattie as she handed me my change. “Thanks for the helptoday.”
I quickly hurried out of the store before she could say anything else tome.
