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I get my answer a second later when she surreptitiously flicks her gaze to the door. Like she’s checking⁠—

Fates. She’s checking to make sure that Dax isn’t coming back.

And honestly? That’s my fault, too.

I always leave her food in private. Never in front of other people. I have to do it that way, though. It’s just a constant struggle between my instincts insisting I take care of her, and my brain insisting she deserves our treatment.

It’s a constant itch under my skin.

I swallow thickly, shame blooming in my gut.

She hasn’t moved, papers frozen in her grip and her eyes glued to the plate. So I reach out, pluck the papers gently from her grasp, and set them aside.

”Eat.” I don’t mean to push Alpha Command into my voice. It just slips out—my instincts, frantic to ensure she eats, override my common sense.

It’s barely anything. Can hardly be considered a Command.

But she flinches back like I spat at her.

Fuck.

To my horror, her eyes well with tears, and guilt slams into me.

I don’t mean to upset her. I mean—not this time, at least.

I just want to make sure she eats. She’s too small. Too fragile.

My Alpha can’t fucking stand it.

Riven slams his book down on the table so hard the glassware rattles. “Do you all just wake up in the morning and have a meeting to decide if you’re going to take away someone’s free fucking will, or is today just a team building exercise?”

I turn to him with narrowed eyes and a growl rumbling in my throat. ”What?”

“It’s fine,” Idril whispers. The guilt in churning my stomach grows.

A growl rumbles in Riven’s chest, but Idril ignores it and reaches for the toast. Her eyes flick to me, and I’m strangely pleased that I can read the plea in her gaze. Please don’t.

And fuck me, but I keep my mouth shut.

“Thank you, Vaelenor.” Her voice is a sweet, soft melody that reaches into my chest, grabs hold of my heart, and squeezes. It wraps around my Alpha, soothing all his jagged edges into something softer. Something kinder.

The way she says my name is pure fucking sin wrapped in silk.

With a soft smile of gratitude, she bites into her toast. The softest moan of delight fills the space between us, and Fates help me, the sound goes straight to my cock.

I clench my jaw and subtly adjust myself.

My Alpha preens like a cocky asshole. All because she’s eating food we gave her.

The worst part is—I like it. It fills up some broken part of me that I didn’t even realize was empty.

What’s even better? When I’m around her, it’s almost like the anxiety over my Curse that’s constantly gnawing at my insides just… fades away. The worry that I’ll explode into a living weapon out of nowhere is always in the back of my mind. Lurking, like a fucking ghost that can’t be put to rest.

But around Idril, the persistent weight of my past lifts, leaving me lighter than I can ever remember feeling. It’s addictive. It makes me feel like everything’s going to be okay, providing me with the confidence I’ve always lacked.

And I fucking hate myself for it.

That hatred doesn’t prevent me from watching every bite the Omega takes, relishing the way my instincts settle more and more with each swallow.