My hand slid to her throat, my fingers wrapping around it as I applied gentle, reassuring pressure. Nothing in her posture or features hinted at her not liking it. The pad of my thumb slid up to her chin.
“You understand what this means?” I asked.
“It means we’re dating.”
“Oh,my sweet omega. It is so much more than dating. The world will know you are mine. My enemies will see it and know that touching you is stirring a slumbering dragon. My men will see it and will follow your commands second only to my own. And you, mo chroí, you will feel it in the very beating of your heart—the devotion of an alpha who has chosen you.”
A bead of sweat trickled off her brow, her pulse pounding against the thin skin of her neck. A heady wave of her arousal cut through our scents, and my alpha demanded that I claim ouromega.
Without waiting for a response, I fused my lips to hers, taking what I wanted. Gone was the gentleness from earlier. I demanded entrance, licking into her drinking down her tiny moans. My teeth nipped at her plush lips, leaving them swollen and red when I pulled away.
“Now, let me show off my omega.”
I ran my fingers through the silken strands of her hair before threading her fingers with mine. Her tiny hand fit beautifully in mine. As it should. We were made for each other. Our scents blended beautifully, and soon she would know how our bodies molded to one another.
The icy glaze around her eyes melted, leaving a twinkling brightness in its wake. A beaming smile looked up at me as she grasped my hand, following me out to the waiting car.
“Yes, Alpha,” she said in a velvety voice.
I was utterly fucked.
Twelve
WILLOW
Ipicked at the skin on my cuticles, watching the city lights reflect off the river. Torin drove while Aidan sat silently in the passenger seat, his hand reaching out for Torin’s, making my brows raise. If I hadn’t been so distracted, my curiosity would have gotten the better of me.
How long had Kaelen’s brother and my shadow been seeing each other?
Instead, my mind raced, every horrible scenario playing out like a movie. How long before Kaelen’s mask fell? Now that I had accepted his offer, it was only a matter of time. While I panicked, my omega mewled, sated and pleased with our choice in alpha.
Deep down, I wanted to be as content as my omega was, but being complacent would only get me hurt.
One way or another.
My fingers closed around the sapphire, holding it in place. The smooth gem anchored me to the present. For too long, I haddistanced myself from what I craved. I could blame my omega all I wanted, but the truth was, I wanted it to.
Some omegas found relationships with betas fulfilling.
I didn’t.
Every time I tried, it did nothing to heal the icy space where my heart was.
Nothing did.
Until I met Kaelen.
It was like the sun peeking through cloudy skies for the first time in years. I almost hadn’t realized how much darkness I kept myself in until then—when his scent calmed my ever-present, prickling fear.
It was terrifying how certain my omega was that he was our alpha. Within the first few minutes alone with him, she knew. Maybe someday I would have that certainty too. Kaelen already seemed to. I hoped he would be patient with me.
I had time. We were only courting. Most courtships lasted at least a year or more. I could take things at my own pace. I trusted he wouldn’t rush me.
After I begged him during my heat to knot to me, I knew he was different. Any other alpha would have joined me in my nest, taking my omega’s pleas as consent enough.
Yet, he didn’t.
I vaguely remember the pain etched on his face when he asked Aileen to take care of me. He fought every alpha impulse to claim and protect.
