Riot's out of his bed in a flash now that he no longer needs his IV. "Sit down," he barks, eye wild with worry as he scans my body.
"What's going on?!" Kade snarls, stomping toward us with suspicion in his gaze. "Fuck. Vivian, sit down, you'll open your stitches."
Riot's warm hands cradle my biceps, making the red tether in the pack bond vibrate with joy. He sucks in a breath and I just fuckingknowhe felt that. Maybe he doesn't actually know we have a connection this deep, but he can feel it on some level.
We've claimed each other, Iknowit. I've lived a life knowing I have traits that ensure I need to convince people I'm decent to be around, but fuck, it's never hurt so much to know I need to do it now.
Riot's my alpha, and he's leaving? It's not right.
"Vivie, stop that," Kade growls, sensing the self-loathing coiling tight around my brain. His silver reassurance soothes the rough edge, but I've already decided I know what this is about.
Riot doesn't want me. He's seen all of my issues. Of course he's leaving.
Kade growls, turning on Riot. "What did you say to her? What did you do?! She's crying!"
"I—" Riot studies me, then whirls away with his hands in his hair. "FUCK! Damn it. I kissed her, okay? When we were escaping, I kissed her because I didn't think I would make it out with her. I took advantage of your omega and now I've made her cry! Why the hell am I even in this room with you guys?!"
"You took advantage of her?" Kade replies slowly, then turns to me, ignoring the other alpha's breakdown. "Had you thought about kissing him before he initiated it? Were you attracted to him? Did you enjoy his company and want to keep kissing him if you weren't in a life or death situation?"
Gulping, I glance around. Everyone's awake and waiting for my answer.
"Answer me, Vivian," Kade says sternly.
Riot watches, face pale, probably ready to get his ass kicked. He doesn't know my men though. Kade's questions were strategic, and he's basically set me up perfectly to get Riot to realize he didn't do anything wrong.
"Yes," I say, though it comes out like a whimper.
"Yes, what?" Kade's coiled, ready to fight my battles for me, but this needs to be me and we all know it.
Looking my pack alpha right in the eye, I face the truth of what I'm about to say next. "I thought about kissing him and being held by him many times before it even happened," I say softly, scared, not of my pack, but of Riot's reaction.
"We're not pack, Vivian," Riot grits out, squeezing my heart painfully. "I don't have a pack."
The way he says it staunches some of the bleeding in my thumping organ. He sounds so sad...
"You've formed some kind of friendship or connection with our omega. And quite frankly, you need more time to heal, so you'll be coming home with us," Kade declares like that isn't incredibly presumptuous.
"He's coming home with us?" I say, surprised and wary of this turn of events, even though it's what I'd hoped for. I just wantRiotto want to.
Riot huffs. "I shouldn't."That's not a no. "Someone needs to kill those people who hurt Vivian."
"And you would be the one to do it, no matter the risk to your safety?" Jarek asks, arms crossed and imposing.
Riot nods. "Of course. I'd do anything to ensure her safety and comfort. Her kidnappers are still out there. I need to rid her life of their filth."
"Wonderful," Silas hoots around a yawn. "If you'll do anything for her, then it won't be such a hardship to come home with us. Vivian, do you want that?" I nod and wipe a tear away.Goodness, my men are so amazing to me."Then it's settled. If you want to help our girl, you'll come with us while we figure this out."
"But—"
"Do you care about Vivian?" Jarek sounds so stern, making me shiver and lean closer to him.
"More than anything," Riot grunts.
"Do you want her happy?" Kade questions.
Riot's shoulders slump. "Every second of every day."
"And you'll do anything for her?" Silas reiterates.
