And there was more than just friendly concern in her eyes when she looked at him, no matter how much I hated to admit it. She cared about him. Deeply. Even if I wanted to be the only Alpha she needed, that wasn’t my decision to make.
My heart rate calmed.
As with everything, it was a mental shift. Nathan couldn’t be my enemy, not if my Omega wanted him in her life. I took another deep inhale, then a long exhale.
Gabriel came back into focus. “He’s pack, then. Right?” I asked.
He smiled tentatively and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I think so, amore.”
“Collecting fucking strays,” I said under my breath. On top of everything else, a new packmate. If I had been honest with myself, I should have seen this coming from the moment he stepped foot in the apartment.
“Just the one stray,” Gabriel said.
I shook my head. What a fucking mess. “Now we just need her to realize it.”
Gabriel kissed me, and I could taste a faint echo of Bridget’s sweetness on his lips. “She will, amore. But first, we need to make sure our two prospective pack members are not shot to death.”
“And how the hell do we do that?” I asked.
He sighed, then reached for the doorknob. “You will not like it.”
I closed the door a little louder than usual. Bridget’s scent was nearly overwhelming, enough to make me lightheaded.
“I should have been here,” I growled
Gabriel patted my cheek. “My poor Alpha,” he said with a teasing smile.
He started brewing a cup of tea for Bridget, something herbal and soothing, when the door to the guest room opened.
Nathan emerged alone. He started when he saw me and closed the door quickly behind him.
We stared each other down.
“Is she alright?” I asked after a few seconds.
He nodded, looking wary. “Yes.”
“Good. Thank you for helping her,” I replied.
His brow furrowed even more deeply. “That’s it? You’re not going to threaten me again?”
“I don’t know. Should I?”
Nathan still looked skeptical, but also defensive. He moved away from the door. “Just so you know… I didn’t… She wasn’t fully aware of what was happening. I didn’t touch her. I would never take advantage of her.”
I sighed. That thought hadn’t even occurred to me. My respect for him increased against my will. “I know, man. Go get a drink. You look like you’ve been through hell.”
We waited about twenty minutes for Bridget. When she finally appeared, she looked more beautiful than ever. Her hair hung down her back, wavy and damp, and her cheeks were bright pink, either from her shower or embarrassment. It made her eyes look even more blue.
All three of us stood from our seats, as if she were a lady entering the dining room. Bridget broke the silence.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, looking at Gabriel. “That was so wrong of me, to take advantage of my scent like that. I promise it won’t happen again.”
Gabriel went to her and grabbed both of her hands. “No, mia cara. You have nothing to apologize for. You took no advantage.”
She looked miserable. “I did, though. You would never have—”
“Shhh,” he said, taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger. I tried to decipher what he was feeling in the bond, but it was jumbled and confused. “It was lovely. You are lovely. Please do not be sorry for the beautiful moment we shared.”
