I pull away from Drax and go to my bonded. “Adler?” His zesty sweet lemon scent has soured. “Can we talk alone?”
“Let’s give them some space.” Luca nods at Orin and Drax. “We still haven’t gotten the disco ball up. Can you help?”
“I can try,” Drax nods, an added spring in his step as they head upstairs, leaving me and Adler alone.
“Adler?”
The pained expression on his face makes my chest ache. He doesn’t look mad anymore, just… lost.
“Can we go somewhere else?” He eyes the sofa like it’s about to burst into flames. “Somewhere that doesn’t smell of him.”
I grab his hand, letting him lead me out and up to his bedroom. To his own space. The space where he made me his. He sits on the edge of the bed, burying his head in his hands. I hesitate before sitting down beside him, unsure whether he even wants me to be close to him right now after what just transpired.Gaining a bonded mate and a new packmate—who he seems to hate—in the last twenty-four hours is a lot to take in.
“I’m sorry for kissing him.” My voice is barely above a whisper as I cautiously reach out to caress his shoulder.
“You kissing him isn’t what’s killing me,” he sighs. “A kiss can be meaningless, but it’s the feeling that I got through our bond when he held you in his arms. You felt… safe. Like you were coming home. You don’t feel like that when you’re with me.”
“Oh, Adler.” I puff out my cheeks and let loose a huff of air. “I’ve known Drax for years. He’s been with me through every major milestone in my life. Heck, I even lost my virginity to him, not that he knows that.”
“Not helping,” he grumbles.
“Sorry, I’m still working on that filter of mine.” I wish I could ask Faye for advice on the right thing to say right now. She’d be able to think of something better than anything I come up with. “Basically, all I’m trying to say is that Drax and I have a long history. He’s shown up and been there whenever I needed him.”
“And how can I ever compete with that?” He lets out a ragged breath. “I’m just the asshole stranger who bit you and tied you to a life you never asked for. I didn’t even know you liked Sour Patch Kids, and he did.”
Yesterday, I knew exactly how to handle the cocky hockey player, but I’m out of my depth seeing this more sensitive version of Adler. Bonding is supposed to be something to celebrate, bound in love, and it only now hits me how little we know about each other. Regardless of what’s going on with Drax, I need to prioritize Adler. Just thinking about if the situation was reversed and catching him in the arms of another omega sends an uncontrollable surge of jealousy whooshing through me along with a pang of guilt over what just happened.
“Well, at least you know my favorite candy now. And I can give you a full education on all the foods I like, if it makes youfeel better?” I stroke his arm, hoping this will help give him some reassurance. Physical touch always helps me. “And you’re not an asshole.”
He arches an eyebrow in disbelief and scoffs. “Yeah, right.”
“Maybe you can be a bit of an ass sometimes, but who isn’t?” I take his hands in mine, hoping he can feel my sincerity. “Drax is my safe harbor, but our connection?” I recall our first meeting, our initial chemistry and the earth-shattering way our bodies came together. “Being with you makes me see stars. You make me feel alive. No one has ever made me feel the way you have before.”
His blue, piercing gaze makes me want to purr. “Really?”
“Uh-huh.” My perfume blooms uncontrollably, leaving him with no doubt. “We may only be a day into this bond, but I’m glad it was you who bit me. I wouldn’t have wanted to do any of this with anyone else. And I know Drax is an added complication, but I really do want to make this work. With you and the rest of your pack.”
“Including Luca and Orin?”
“I mean…” I glance at him to check how he’s doing. To my surprise, his jealousy seems to have ebbed, the sexy smirk appearing on his face telling me he’s teasing me. “Is it that obvious?” I cringe.
“I mean, you perfumed when Orin talked to you,” Adler chuckles. “And I can feel how much you like being around Luca, how comfortable he makes you. You can’t hide your emotions from me, firecracker.”
“Does it bother you that I’m attracted to them?”
“Of course not.” Adler shakes his head. “They’re my family. All alphas know that if they’re lucky enough to find an omega, they’ll likely share them with their pack. I want you to love them like I do, but Drax?” He exhales deeply. “It’ll take some time to get used to that. Scenting an alpha I don’t know all over you doessomething to my insides that makes me want to tear down the house.” His hands squeeze mine so tightly that until he loosens his grip, I momentarily fear they’ll break my fingers. “Sorry.” He smiles apologetically, stroking the back of my hand gently. “I’ll work on it, okay?”
“Thank you.” My eyes sting, but I refuse to let happy tears fall. “That means… a lot.”
“Just don’t go kissing him in front of me, okay? Not yet anyway. I need more time.”
“Got it,” I promise, snuggling up into him. He relaxes, pulling me closer and breathing in my scent. “Now can we just stay here for a while? No more drama. Just us.”
“We can stay like this for as long as you want.”
Right now, this is exactly what our bond needs, and only time will tell if he’ll fully be able to accept Drax as a packmate.
SEVENTEEN
