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“Are you enjoying that?” Julian asks as I take my first bite.
It’s pure torture to eat bran cereal while the kitchen is still filled with the scent of warm French toasts. I don’t need Julian to tell me I was an idiot for driving Iris away too soon.
“It’s what I eat every day,” I say dryly.
“You’re as boring as your cereal choice,” he says with a sniff.
Fuck! That sniff was the signal he’s about to tear me a new one.
“Iris had no idea what her parents were up to,” Julian says. “She never even got to enjoy the millions you paid them. She’s had to work through high school to pay for her own stuff. Even now, she works as a waitress to save money for college. You don’t have to be so harsh with her.”
“I haven’t been harsh on her,” I say in a low voice. “I’ve allowed her to stay here.”
“You should be nicer to her.”
I look up at my mate. “Why’re you bothering with her?” I ask. “She’s not even an omega.”
Julian’s nostrils flare. “So, what if she’s a beta? She’s a million times better than any omega you could’ve selected from that hoity-toity academy.”
“Julian,” I say his name with the utmost affection. “What is she doing to you and my brothers? Why’re you getting so attached to her? It’s not like she’ll stay if I give her the freedom to leave. She’ll be out of here the moment I give her that option.”
“I’d be out of here if I’m given the option too,” Julian mutters.
“How can you say that?!” I burst.
“It’s boring being here,” says Julian. “I hate bringing an entourage with me every time I go to the fucking mall.”
“That’s for your protection.”
He rolls his eyes.
“Look, you can keep Iris here to ease your boredom but don’t throw her in my face,” I say in a threatening alpha tone. “There’s no way I’ll share you with her.”
“Idecide who gets to be close to me.” Julian’s violet eyes flash with rage. “You don’t dictate that.”
“I’m your alpha.”
“And I’m your omega. What’s your point?”
The point was that I didn’t like the way he was getting closer to a stranger.
“You’re mine, Jules,” I say. “Why bring someone else between us?”
“I want Iris to be mine,” he says. “I want to protect her innocence. I’m an omega, Caleb, but I’m still a man. You can’t take away my need to protect someone I choose.”
He gets to his feet and comes around the table to stand behind me. He wraps his arms around my shoulders and leans in. “Please keep an open mind, darling,” he whispers, his lips moving against my cheek.
Before I can curl my fingers on his wrist and pull him closer, Julian steps back and walks out of the kitchen.
He’s left me feeling conflicted.
The wild beast inside me wants to take Julian and show him that he belongs to me, that I’m his alpha, that I’d kill anyone who tries to take him away from me.
At the same time, I know it’s wrong to dictate and force him to stay chained to me.
I realize I need to put my duties aside and focus my attention on Iris, the wayward girl who’s keen to snatch my mate and my brothers away from me.
15
