“What… what are you talking about?” I ask as my mind does a quick ‘Previously On’ and I remember how much I’ve actually gone through in the past month.
And yeah, I’ve been totallyfinesince I moved in with Timber.
“He knew you were scent matches ever since you met at the restaurant, but he let you get to a place where you were throwing yourself at me at the hospital because you were so wound up. I’m frustrated because, instead of taking care of our omega, he went off in his own head.”
That doesn’t sound right, though. It wasn’t like Timber did it deliberately to hurt me or anything. I don’t know when he found out I’m an omega, but I thought I was super cool and hid my feelings. Like when I nuzzled him after he passed out drunk after our date. Or I pressed my face into his chest at the market. Or when I slicked on a freaking dish towel he stole like it was his lunch.
Okay, so, definitely extenuating circumstances.
“I had to keep my secret, Kane. I couldn’t go around doing whatever I wanted when I could have been caught.” Even though I’ve snuck into Timber’s room to steal his clothes and rub myself all over his bed.
“He could have at least held you.” Kane sighs, pausing so he could swoop down and press his nose straight against mine. “All I need to do is feel your skin and smell your scent, and all my worries drift away. Even if you didn’t want to tell him who you really were, he could have marked you every now and again to stop you from going feral every time you saw me. Not that I don’t like to think I’m so irresistible that you want to leap on me whenever I’m near you, but there’s a difference between horny and touch-starved, sweetness.”
“It’s more complicated than that,” I mumble. Because every time Timber evenlookedlike he was feeling it, I became the mayor of Slick City.
“Are you sure about that? We both have needs, and you’re fulfilling half of mine just by snuggling into me like this.” He grins as he pulls back, and my heart is fluttering like a stupid, pretty princess as he hums, “So, do you want to let this go?”
“Let what go?” I ask as we walk again.
“Us being a pack. I know you’re annoyed because I’m usually thinking about myself, but I meant it when I said I’m always going to be there for you. I’myouralpha, Ollie. Unless you reject me point-blank, I’m never going to give up on you. I’m yours until you decide you’re done with me, whether that’s now or when we’re old and gray.”
My heart clenches, and my hands tighten around my cup. The same tension I felt when he talked about meeting his family winds its way through me again.
“You’re making it into this huge thing, like we have to make a choice right now or the world will end,” I say with a spooky voice. “Can’t you just give it some time? I’ve spent the past month pretending to be someone else. I want time to go back to being me before I decide anything like that. Besides, we can’t be a pack without Timber.”
He sighs, but he’s still smiling. “I like that it has to be both your alphas. I don’t want to stop trying with either of you, but I don’t want it to be a competition between us. Mainly because I’m pretty sure Timber would choose you in a heartbeat, and I’m terrified that you’ll choose him, too. I’m just a poor love-struck alpha, and you two have all the power here.”
“Really?” I ask as I stop, turning to look at him. “I can’t believe you’re playing the pity card when you manipulated Timber and me and forced us together just so that it could fall apart.”
“Er, manipulated is kind of a strong word.”
“Is it though?”
He grimaces because he knows I’m right. Even if he likes to act all innocent, I can’t trust that he doesn’t have an ulterior motivefor everything he’s doing. Even this impromptu hot chocolate date is probably part of some nefarious plan he’s cooking to get Timber and me to make up.
But he doesn’t let go of me, and the steam from our cups swirls together, and he leans in closer.
“I know. I’ll keep saying sorry forever, but I can’t help myself, okay? I’m cursed to live a life where all I want to see is you two bone so that I can relax.” He smirks, but it quickly vanishes as he dips close. “So, I’m asking you, sweetness, how do you feel about Timber?”
The rhythm of our breaths helps calm the noise in my brain and the nerves bouncing around my body. With Kane holding me, no one else comes close, and it is just us in this warm space together with the frosty air hanging around us as Kane waits for my answer.
“I really love him, Kane,” I whisper as I push my lips against the rim of my cup, like that could stop the pain that laces my words. “And it sucks ass because it’s not like I can just cut out these feelings and chuck them away. Whether or not you pushed us into it, I also did this to myself.”
He hums as if he’s thinking about it, even though I’m sure he’s already two steps ahead. “Well, what are we going to do about it then?” he asks.
“What do you mean by ‘we’? I’m just going to get my stuff, and then I’ll be off. I can deal with my feelings myself,” I say, as I’ve totally been eating and sleeping normally since I left Timber’s place and have not gone off the deep end.
“You just love bolting, don’t you? Then how do you feel about me?”
I run my eyes over him, just like he did to me when he pounced on me in the woods. He really is a walking wet dream, especially when he looks at me so hopefully.
A laugh bubbles up inside me that washes away all the nerves I feel about admitting my feelings for Timber.
“If I tell you the truth, what are you going to do about it?” I ask.
Then it’s his turn to check me. “What do you want me to do?” he purrs. “Because I’ve had plenty of time to think of things I’d like to do with you, and I’ve had somegreatideas.”
“Calm down, boy, I need to see Luke, and you know how happy he’ll be if you tag along with that horny look on your face.”
