“I haven’t heard of most of these,” I said.
Sam and I used to sneak out to eat when we were teens, his alpha status offering me protection when we were out and about, but we had always been working with a shoestring budget. I doubted our favorite hot dog cart made the list.
I scrolled back up to the top of the note and noticed the heading:Places to take my mate.I blinked quickly to keep myself from crying.
I handed the phone back to him and realized Cam and Theo hadn’t said anything. I eyed them carefully. Pack Ashwood didn’t have a strong hierarchy like the packs I’d grown up with, but I knew I needed Theo and Cam’s approval for the plan.
Cam’s grip on me tightened, and his chest moved with his deep inhale and exhale.
“We’ll have to choose someplace safe and private,” Theo said, his serious gaze falling on Ben, who nodded.
I held my breath, waiting for Cam’s response. “Send a couple restaurant options to our team, Ben, so they can scope things out,” he said, his voice hard.
I moved up his body so I could see his face. Was he angry at my request? His brown eyes were filled with warmth and tenderness.
“We would love to take you out, sweetheart. And you did so good, asking for what you needed.”
I buried my face in the crook of his neck, my chest filling with a strange mix of emotions that felt a little bit like love.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Cam
“Cam? Wake up.”
The urgent whisper created a crack in my nightmare, but dark images clawed at my consciousness, pulling me back under.
Sinister figures dragged Josie away. Her arms extended towards me as she screamed, a sound so piercing and agonizing I felt my heart might break. I roared in anger and charged at them, ready to kill anyone who dared harm my omega.
“Shit, you need to get back.”
“No,” the sweet voice whined before a small hand shook my arm. “Cam, wake up.”
My chest tightened at the panic in the voice, but I was too disoriented, trapped between waking and dreaming.
“Josie, get back. I don’t want him to hit you.”
A growl tore through my chest as I finally shook free from the nightmare.
Hurt Josie? Fucking never.
I woke with a gasp, prying my eyes open to find my omega’s face inches from mine, eyes wide. It was too dark in the room for me to be sure, but I thought I saw her blinking away tears. I didn’t need a light to catch the bitterness of her scent saturated with fear.
I had done that.
“Are you okay?” she whispered, tenderly cupping my face.
My throat was too tight to form words, so I opened my arms to her, and she threw herself into my embrace. My heart pounded and my skin burned as I clutched her to me, desperation seeping into my limbs. I needed to protect her. I couldn’t let anything happen to her, couldn’t failagain.
“Sorry for waking you,” I said hoarsely.
A cruel voice in my head taunted me, telling me what I’d always feared: I was a failure. I couldn’t even protect my omega. I’d upset her and interrupted the sleep she so desperately needed after her heat.
Theo leaned over, grabbing a bottle of water from the side table and handing it to me. I went to sit, but Josie clung to me with a protesting whimper. I rubbed her back and held her close as I sat up against the headboard. She pressed her face to my neck and I secretly loved that she didn’t want to let go.
After downing half the bottle of water, I set it aside. My limbs burned with the need to hit, punch, fight, to do something with my fear and rage.
“I’m going to go to the gym,” I said, giving Josie what I thought would be a final rub on the back.
