Page 142 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

“I’m not,” he insists crossly. “I’m talking about you, Raven. The plan, that fucking plan. How many years have we been working on it? It’s all coming together. And what happens if we win? Will you stick around, or are you going to give up space and let yourself fade into the background? Because…I can’t…I can’t see you and not see you. You have to be here.”

“No one will need me,” I say quietly because it’s true.

“Bullshit! I will need you!” he shouts.

“Shhh, okay. Calm down. Rose, I hear you.” I reach out, laying my fingers on his chest, trying to calm him. “I…” I stop and look away, tears prickling my eyes. “Let’s just get this over with. Once we have it all done, we can sort it all out.”

“I’m not giving you up.”

I cock my head to the side. “Merle, Kestrel, Raptor—they would fit you-”

“You fit me.”

“I’m not an omega.”

“I don’t care.”

“Rose,” I huff a laugh, stroking his cheek. “You are the most amazing alpha, and they will fall in love with you as easily as I did. You won’t be alone.”

He closes his eyes as if my words hurt him. “I’m not alone when I’m with you.”

“What about Daega?” I whisper. “How much longer are you going to fight his pull? Pretend you feel nothing because you have me and Merle and Kestrel and Raptor and this fucked up belief that you can’t have us all because no one would ever deserve to be that happy?”

His eyes open. “I’m only going to be happy if you are by my side.”

“Silly, stubborn alpha,” I whisper, but it comes out through my tears.

“Your alpha.”

“Rose, you need-”

“I need you. So, let’s get this finished so we can figure out a way to be together. Perhaps you can all schedule days?”

I give him that half smile that I only have for him. “You are such a puppy.”

“I am not.”

“You are fucking adorable, Rose.”

“I’m handsome.”

“Sexy.”

“All handsome and alpha-like.”

“My adorable, sexy, alpha puppy.”

He exhales roughly. “I love you.”

I lean up, standing on my toes so that I can press my lips to his. “I love you, too. One day,” I say hopefully, but trail off, “one day, I promise.” I clear my throat and step back. “Has Dove come out yet?”

He shakes his head.

I let out a relieved hiss. “Good. That’s, that’s very good news.” I look at him sharply. “What is it?”

“Are you sure this plan is a good idea? Don’t you think we should tell the others soon? At least, Kest?”

I shake my head. “No way. They can’t do what needs to be done.”