“Yeah, no, I know. I think she would have told you sooner; there just seemed to be something else going on. Like something she isn’t telling me, and I can’t figure it out. She’s stubborn, like me, you know? And she hates being in pain. I mean, surprise, surprise, we’re similar, who would have thought it?” He cups his cheeks and blinks prettily, but neither Kane or I laugh.
The air is too heavy, and I just want to leave. Even though everything Luke said about their parents, their business, and his hospital bills all seem like valid reasons, I can’t just forgive her.
“It could be the same story you told me,” Kane says gently, “about your ex.”
“Is that a joke?” I snap. The anger I thought had settled as Luke told his story suddenly flares in me again. “Are you fucking kidding me? So, you’re saying the fact that she snuck into my house and hid from me while getting closer to you is my fault?”
“No! No, I just mean she didn’t want to hurt you. She found out what you’d been through, and she planned to leave so you didn’t have to go through this.”
“I would have still lost her, Kane,” I growl, “She’s my fucking omega. You showed me how crazy being separated from hermade you. How do you think it would be to never see her again because she’s protecting me!?”
When I fought with Kane on the ice, we had our padding to protect us. If I went for him here, there would be doctors who could clean up the mess.
“Listen, Timber, man,” Luke cuts in with a nervous laugh as my breath grows strained. “You know what would happen if she were found out, right? She could be thrown in jail, we’d lose our business license, we’d be fucked for life. Ollie is already selling our apartment and planning to live in the back room of our friend’s shop to pay our bills. If she gets arrested, we’d have nothing.”
I thought Kane would react with the same panic that struck me at the idea of our omega being in that situation. But, even though his muscles tighten and his mouth thins, it feels like he already has a plan.
If he’s known that she’s his omega all along, then he must know about their money problems? Because my first thought is to bring her home and make sure she’s safe. Did Kane offer her the same thing? And did she say no?
Even though Ollie left, she didn’t steal anything; she never asked me for money except to buy groceries. I’m more of a stalker than she is. Because, out of the two of us, who is creepier: the omega who pretended to be a beta to take care of her brother and keep her business going, or the paranoid alpha that watched and recorded his omega on camera?
At that thought, the tension in my body ramps up as I slump back in my chair.
I groan as I drop my head, rubbing my hand over my eyes as the reality of it hits me.
“Fuck,” I hiss.
“What’s wrong?” Kane asks, and I lift my head to meet his concerned expression. Do I have any right to be furious at Ollie when I’ve done all that?
If I see her again and we apologize, and I casually mention that I have hours and hours of footage saved from when she lived with me, I would have to say goodbye to her properly.
“Don’t worry, Timber!” Luke bursts out. My gaze snaps to him, and he beams. “I’ve still got hope for you! You can still be my brother-in-law if you try!” He shoots me quick finger guns before pretending to put them back in holsters.
I stare at him, unable to balance my sinking guilt with his off-point jokes.
“Hm, tough crowd,” Luke says, his brow furrowing. “Maybe we can make this up over cocktails.” He winks, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to respond.
Kane sighs, essentially brushing Luke off as he pulls his chair even closer, so the arms are touching, and he can press his knee against mine. I want to kiss him just to feel his lavender wind through me and help calm me the fuck down
“I haven’t given up on being a pack with both of you, but you two need to work it out,” Kane says. “I won’t push you any more than this, mainly because I’ve already pissed you two off enough. But Ollie is going into heat soon, and I have no intention of leaving her alone. But she won’t let me in unless you’re there, too.”
I flinch because making sure I can be with her for her heat has been my obsession. Will she still accept me after I treated her so roughly? Or should I tell her about the cameras first and then let her decide if she feels safe around me?
“It’s up to you to say yes to us, Timber. You’re the one with all the power here.”
Luke groans and rolls his eyes. “Also, she’s seriously been popping heat suppressants like Skittles, and they're going to fuckwith her system if she keeps putting it off. Talking about Ollie’s heat grosses me the hell out, but making herself sick so she can keep working to look after me is not okay.”
I press my lips together as guilt shoots through me, blended with shock. I hated that Carys had to take suppressants so she could go to college. Why didn’t I think that Ollie could be hurting herself the same way when she pretended to be her brother?
“You need to decide if you’re going to be with her. Or are we going to leave her to be with other alphas for her heat?” Kane says.
Another growl tears from me as I round on him. “You forced me into this by bringing me here. You’re making me make a fucking decision.” When the answer is already obvious.
“Yeah, I know. We’ve got a ton of apologizing to do, all three of us. But I want to step up and be a better person for our omega. And I need to do the same with you. This is the last time I’ll pressure you, I promise. I’ll leave it after this.” Even though there’s a twitch in his foot, his gaze drops from mine. I can’t tell if he’s outright lying, but considering what he’s been like so far since he met Ollie, is there any reason to trust him? She might have even sent him here on her behalf.
“Just take some time to think about it.”
“All I’ve been doing is fucking thinking about it, Kane. And now I have to deal with this on top of my feelings for you both.”
