“You don’t think so?” Ryu smirked. I could tell he clearly didn’t believe the words, but his eyes glinted with protectiveness, and maybe even mild jealousy. “Still, it makes me want to claim you right here in front of everybody to make sure they know you’re off-limits.”
My brow raised. “Oh, really?”
He leaned in, our faces inches from each other. The heat flushed into my cheeks at the sudden closeness. I couldn’t believe he was acting like this in public. But I had to admit, I kind of liked it.
Still, with a bar full of customers, I was too embarrassed to continue the flirting. I pushed Ryu away with one hand. “Sorry, but the people have to pay extra if they want a drinkanda show.”
He chuckled and drew back. “Fair enough.”
“Besides, you have a baby to take care of,” I growled.
Angel chewed eagerly on a round soft plastic pacifier, watching us with wide eyes. She seemed perfectly content, and unaware she was at a bar full of rowdy drunk alphas.
She trusts us,I thought. And she was right to—I would never let anything bad happen to her.
“Just so you know,” Ryu began, “I wasn’t kidding about what I said.”
“You said a lot of things,” I replied dryly. “It would help if you specified which one.”
He ignored my sarcastic jab and said, “About claiming you.”
My eyes widened. I wasn’t even in heat, yet he was sure acting like it—I’d never seen Ryu so excited. Obviously, he was holding back. But even the flirting and his words alone were enough to get under my skin. A strange, electric tingle zapped through my veins. I suddenly wished we were home alone—but unfortunately, we had a whole night of barkeeping and babysitting ahead of us.
“Is that so?” I said, my throat a bit dry. “Well, it’s gonna have to wait.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
Ryu went back to tending to Angel, who was miraculously well-behaved. She giggled as Ryu played peek-a-boo with her. I honestly couldn’t wish for a better child.
Nate’s words suddenly echoed in my mind.
Ah, that makes sense.
Frowning, I leaned on the counter. Why would he say that? What made sense — that Angelwasn’tmy biological child? Was it because she didn’t look like me? It was true that she had golden hair and light eyes, unlike my dark ones. But Nate didn’t know who her alpha-father was—he had no idea Ryu and I were dating now. Why didn’t he just assume that Angel inherited her alpha-father’s traits?
Because that makes even less sense, dumbass,the nasty voice in my head scolded me.It has nothing to do with her alpha-father—it has to do withyou.
I winced at my own dark thoughts. Of course it all came back to me and my wretched body that no alpha would ever want. I was too old compared to all these young twenty-something omegas running around with their good looks and—oh, right, all four limbs.
I grunted and shook my head to clear the spiralling thoughts, but it was fruitless. To my surprise, a sudden hand on my back tore me out of them.
“Are you okay?” Ryu asked, his voice low with concern. “You’re frowning—more than usual.”
I tried to shrug him off, but he wouldn’t go.
Right—I guess he knows my tricks. He won’t leave if I just get ornery. He knows me better by now,I thought.
“Just thinking about shit,” I muttered.
He sat next to me on the stool, leaning close. “Then let’s talk about shit together. Maybe we can work it out, since it’s clearly bothering you.”
I sighed.Gods, what did I do to deserve this man?
“Nate said something that’s been bothering me,” I admitted. “When I mentioned Angel was adopted, he said it made sense.”
Ryu frowned. “He probably meant because of her hair and eyes.”
But I wasn’t convinced. “How does he know her alpha-father didn’t have light hair and eyes? He didn’t even bother asking.”
