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“I won’t outstay my welcome.” There’s something dark in her voice. Desperate. But I can’t scent her to read more, and that flash of truth disappears when she withdraws, shoulders hunching into a cocoon of protection.
“We’re not kicking you out,” Orion says, and I can’t believe he’s the one speaking up for her. “You said you’d help me, right?”
“With what?” And when did they bond so deeply?
“Omega secrets.” Orion leans closer to her, so obviously trying to cheer her up it sends a pang through my asshole heart.
“I’ll help,” she answers in a soft breath. “But I promise, I’ll be gone before I cause trouble.”
“You’re not leaving until the Redfangs are gutted,” Hunter says harshly.
Even Jett nods. “We’ll have the situation under control soon.”
“Do you need help with surveillance?” Orion asks. “I can—”
“No,” I say before he can get rolling. I want him home, resting, safe. Not in the field. Not in danger. “We have it handled.”
“Right.” Orion pushes a fry around his plate, eyes downcast.
There’s a brick in my gut.
I fucked up again.
It’s like everything I say or do kills his light.
But Lilah—like a total fairy—squeezes some god-awful sauce into the smear on his plate, jams in a fry, and offers it to his lips. “Kranch and Thai peanut. Winning combo.”
His smile doesn’t stop, even when he folds his lips around the fry and his nose wrinkles at the weird-ass flavor. He grabs two bottles and makes a counter-offer. “Thai chili and chipotle mayo. Don’t tell me yours is better.”
Their dinner devolves into a condiment war, but the easy lightness is shadowed. Maybe dead.
The alphas are silent, stuck in their heads.
“My room?” I stand when I’m done, catching Orion’s eye.
I push my instincts back so I can function, instead of fucking him every second of every day, but there’s never a moment I don’t ache for my mate.
The other guys disperse, muttering gym or work or wherever they’re off to spend our rare free night.
“Are you sure you don’t need anything?” Orion looks at Lilah like she’s a teddy bear he wants to cuddle. I don’t fucking know if I should nip this shit in the bud or encourage him.
“All good.” She waves him off. “Go ahead. I’ll do the dishes.”
“You don’t have to—” At least three of us start.
She snorts the cutest laugh. “Go. I like cleaning. It’s a weird omega thing.”
“Is it?” Orion frowns at his dirty plate like this is news.
It’s news to me.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Rest though. Your arm—” Orion starts.
“It’s fine. Promise. Good night.”
I take Orion’s hand and tug him from the kitchen, fighting the pull to look back, this stupid, sudden urge to not leave her alone. When I curl my fingers through his, and he doesn’t do the same, I realize he’s just as distracted, gazing over his shoulder at the girl we’re leaving behind.
