Dax
Even simply layingin the grass, Morgan was gorgeous. His body was larger than a typical omega, with firm muscles and raw size, but he was nothing short of stunning. His thick brown hair was ruffled by the evening breeze and I admired the strong curve of his calves as he crossed his legs in the air.
When he heard me coming, he sat up. I wished I’d kept quiet a minute longer, if only just to look at him.
I raised my hand in both a half-wave and a peace gesture. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting anything,” Morgan reassured me. There was a note of wariness in his voice, but also curiosity.
“May I sit with you?” I asked.
“This is your territory. Do whatever you’d like.”
I sat a foot away from him. My body screamed to be closer but I knew he needed space if he was going to trust me. I didn’t want to push him away by ignoring his wishes.
“Still,” I said with a grunt. “Your comfort is important to me.”
Morgan snorted, which made me frown.
“What’s funny?” I asked.
“I’m not laughing at you. I’m surprised.” When he faced me, I expected a sarcastic smirk, but there was none. Instead he seemed genuinely curious. He offered me a hint of a real smile. “By you, and Len, and this whole situation.”
“What did you discuss with Len?”
Morgan never broke eye contact with me as he spoke. “Many things. Our experiences as prey shifters. Children.” He hesitated for a second before saying the next words. “Fated mates.”
My heart leapt at the mention of fated mates. It was nearly impossible to swallow the lump in my throat. “Is that so?” I said hoarsely.
Morgan chuckled and it was music to my ears. “Lupa called me her uncle.”
“She did?” I smiled warmly. “That means she’s already accepted you as part of the pack.”
An odd glint flashed across Morgan’s dark eyes. He still hadn’t looked away from me. My skin grew hot under his gaze and the low fire of arousal stoked above my belly. I didn’twantto be turned on by Morgan’s gaze alone, but it was getting harder and harder to ignore. Never before did I feel such raw passion towards another person. How much longer did I have to hold myself back from throwing myself on my knees and pleasuring him?
“Dax, I…” Morgan shook his head. He finally looked away. My heart sank. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Why?” The answer seemed so obvious to me. He belonged with us. Withme.
Morgan exhaled a long, heavy breath through his nose. “It’s all so complicated.”
“It’s not.” My wolf’s voice laced with mine and came out as a confident growl. “What’s holding you back?”
Morgan ran a hand through his thick hair. “Everything.”
I wasn’t satisfied with that answer. “Tell me straight, Morgan. You and I don’t tiptoe around anything. Just say what you mean.”
I was surprised at how forceful I was being, and apparently so was Morgan. He cast a serious glance at me but didn’t seem upset. He wasn’t an overly sensitive man and neither was I, which I appreciated about him. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but I preferred a mate who wasn’t afraid to stand up for himself, even if he was standing up to me.
Morgan wasn’t afraid to face me as he spoke. “In my old herd, I wasn’t considered a desirable omega. In fact, I wasn’t considered a viable mate at all. They all thought of me as a hindrance. I wasn’t respected. I was barely tolerated.”
I grunted in gruff reply. “And?”
“And that doesn’t bother you?”
“Excuse my language, but why the fuck would I care about what those assholes think?” I growled. “Morgan, you’re talking about the same alphas who chased you outdirectlyinto a wolf’s mouth.”
Though he was clearly trying to downplay his emotions, I glimpsed hurt on his face. That was the kind of thing that stayed with you for the rest of your life. Morgan wouldn’t soon forget that betrayal.
