Bird ducks his head. “My sis would scold me for singing in the shower and taking too long. But did you really need to drag me out like that?”
Phantom’s expression falls.
He makes a complex range of hand gestures.
Bird looks lost. “Sorry, I’m still learning. I’m not sure if that means you’re angry with me and are about to bite me…” He glances at the savaged pillow. “…and I’m about to end up like that savaged pillow, or…?”
“He may bite you in a good way.” I smirk. “He loved your singing. He says that you should be on a stage. A professional. You’re his Angel of Music.”
Bird’s head snaps up. “I’m only a Hotel Omega. You must know what that is. Officers in the military would spend their ruts in our hotels. I’m nothing special.”
Phantom flattens his palm over his heart.
You are to me.
Bird blushes. A small, pleased smile spreads across his face.
I forgive Phantom his primal Alpha moment for that. In fact, for making Bird feel worthy, I would forgive him almost anything.
Gently, Phantom wraps the towel around Bird. The towel is large enough to tuck around his entire body. I guess that it would need to be to dry Phantom.
Phantom turns and paces to the music system. He fiddles with the buttons for a moment, before he turns on thePhantomof the Opera. I am not surprised when he chooses the haunting “Angel of Music.”
Then he bows in front of Bird and holds out his hand like he’s an elite gentleman offering to dance with his Omega match at a ball.
I straighten.
Seeing Phantom like this, it truly strikes me that these two grew up as elites.
Joker and I were on the fringes of the elite world, merely looking in. Phantom and Bird, on the other hand, started as the kids of the wealthy. They were from a world of balls and singing lessons. They expected that they would be matched with a pack at a courting ball, before living a pampered life.
But both were rejected from that world.
Is it harder to have never had that type of expectation? To have never been an elite? Or tougher to havelostthe status? To know that you could be living within the world of billionaires and power, but instead, you’re hiding as an outlaw?
The question is why Phantom made that choice.
Bird smiles, purring.
He takes Phantom’s hand, delighted to be treated like an elite Omega.
My stomach twists.
I wish that I could cherish Bird like this. It should be enough that another Alpha in the pack can give him this experience.
I dig my nails into my palms, as Phantom pulls Bird to his chest. Then they dance together, and it’s fucking beautiful.
One may be only dressed in a towel, while the other may be wearing a sling. They make it work, however, and somehow, that makes it more touching than watching the best dancers at a ball.
Phantom and Bird both fall into step as easily as if they were made for this moment.
They are trained in ballroom dancing in the same way that I’m trained in boxing.
Bird rests his head on Phantom’s chest, and Phantom wraps his arm around Bird’s waist, as they waltz.
My mouth is dry.
I don’t understand the emotions that are rising up in me as I see them together.
