Hunter exhales slowly, raking a hand through his hair. His expression is unreadable, but I can see it—the tightness in his shoulders, the flex in his jaw, the way his hands curl into loose fists. He is close to losing the battle.
Carson rocks back on his heels, smirking again. “You mean to tell me you don’t like our little omega all riled up?”
Hunter sends him a look that could kill. Carson just laughs and sinks into the armchair.
“She’s going to push every single button we have,” I mutter, dragging a hand down my face. “And we’re supposed to be protecting her, not?—”
“Not wanting to find out just how much further we can push her?” Carson cuts in smoothly.
Hunter stalks past both of us, muscles tense, his whole body radiating frustration.
“Get your shit together,” he bites out before disappearing out the apartment door.
Carson shakes his head, muttering under his breath. “He’s already gone for her, obviously. But then, we all are.”
CHAPTER 20
Willow
I shouldn't be nervous.
It’s just dinner. Just Landon. I hold back a snort…right…just Landon. My scent match, and the alpha who tore out my heart and stomped on it because he could.
What I shouldn’t be doing is this. Meeting him. Giving in to his request to talk. He doesn’t deserve a second of my time after what happened. But I’m still doing it.
My fingers tighten around the strap of my purse as I step out of the elevator and into the lobby, Hunter shadowing me, imitating the world's most intimidating storm cloud.
I exhale sharply, pushing down the flicker of something ridiculous—something almost akin to excitement. No. Absolutely not. I am not feeling excited about seeing Landon. I shove the feeling aside, stuffing it into the mental box labeledThings that didn’t end well last time,and lock it shut.
“Last chance to stay here,” I mutter, glancing at Hunter as we step outside.
“Not happening,” he rumbles, scanning the sidewalk as though a threat is going to pop out of a pothole.
I sigh. “You do realize I’m going to be having a privateconversation, right? That will be hard to do with you sitting right next to me.”
He doesn’t even glance at me. “You do realize I don’t care?”
My lips press together.Asshole.I can’t believe I even wanted him to kiss me earlier. Hell, I wanted all three of them to answer that alpha call and make me forget all about the possible meeting with Landon. But they didn’t, so here we are.
The walk to the restaurant isn’t long, but with Hunter pacing beside me, it feels like miles. I should be focused on Landon—on what I’m going to say, on how I’m going to handle this. Instead, I’m hyper-aware of every single breath Hunter takes.
This is ridiculous.
The restaurant comes into view, and there he is.
He stands near the entrance, hands in his pockets, shifting slightly on his feet. His hair is shorter than it used to be, and there’s a tension in his shoulders he never used to carry.
The moment his eyes land on me, something flickers in them—relief, hope, hesitation.
I don’t let myself react to it.
Instead, I step right up to him, tilting my head to the side to study him. “Stalking me all the way to New York? Bold move, Romeo.”
His lips twitch, but his eyes drop briefly to the shadow at my back.
Landon’s jaw tightens. “So what, you have an attack dog now? You moved on fast.”
I moved on fast? I want to punch him in his too handsome face. Before him, one night stands were a normal occurrence, after…not one single man or woman has touched me the way he did.
