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MICHAEL
Ours.
I knew it already. Knew from the moment Griff opened the door and I caught her scent. But seeing her shaking, hearing her cry… It brought out a level of protectiveness in me that was scary.
And that was saying something. I’d been a firefighter. Protecting people was in my DNA. But with her… I’d destroy the world to keep her safe.
Our omega.
“Want to dress in a different room?” The change in her happened so quickly, it had to be something to do with the bedroom.
When her somber hazel gaze met mine, I felt like my heart would leap out of my chest and into her hands if it could. I was hers. And I needed to get that haunted look out of her eyes.
“Yes. That would be great.”
She looked at me then like I was a puzzle, surprised I’d figured it out. Probably thought alphas weren’t very intuitive. We usually weren’t. But alphas were always sensitive to the needs of their mates.
Mine.
Griff nudged her over to me as if by some unspoken agreement, and I wrapped my arm around her back to walk her out. He followed with her clothes.
Ben had managed to throw on a pair of dry jeans and a sweater, but he was still a bit out of it. He stood aside as we passed, swiping a hand down his face, looking confused and worried.
Considering how he’d growled at me before, he had to know she meant something. Maybe he didn’t get how important she was to all of us yet.
I steered Tracy past the living room, to a large pantry and storage space at the back of the cabin, and lifted aside the faded yellow curtain that acted as a door. Griff put her clothes on a worktable in the corner. Then he backed out silently, leaving us alone. I let the curtain fall.
Without a word, she turned toward me and buried her face in my chest. My arms instantly came around to hold her. It was a natural reflex, full of significance. I heard her take in a deep breath and let it out, felt her relax against me.
“You smell so good,” she murmured.
Something settled in me, a deep pride, knowing my scent pleased her. That I could calm her. Take care of her.
“So do you, sweetheart.” I felt her tremble at my words as she sighed and pressed closer.
As much as I wanted to keep holding her like this, I knew she needed to regain her footing. If it were me, I would hate being vulnerable around strangers. I suspected she was the kind of woman who needed some control in order to feel safe.
And after she felt better, I’d find out what the hell had made her spiral so that I could fix it.
“I’ll give you some privacy so that you can get dressed.” I reluctantly started to pull away.
“How did you know it was the room?”
Her quiet question stopped me short. I didn’t want to lay out my own shit, not yet. The last thing I wanted was to burden her with my issues. But I wanted to give her something, so that she knew I understood.
“I know what it’s like when you can’t shake off a memory. When you have a nightmare, but you’re awake.”
A range of emotions flashed in her beautiful eyes. Surprise, discomfort, relief. All because I had seen her. Really seen her.
She didn’t say more, and I took a step back.
“Take your time. I’ll make you some cocoa.”
Our gaze stayed locked until the curtain fell again between us.
Her eyes hovered in my mind as I went to the small kitchen and mixed together the cocoa, using water I’d just boiled on the gas stove. I left the steaming mug on the counter to cool and walked the few paces to the living room.
Griff and Ben were standing by the couch, their heads together in whispered conversation. The cabin was tiny. Privacy was pretty much impossible. They looked up when I joined them.
