Page 25 of The Silver Pact

I grin at him. “Kinda. Yeah.”

He huffs, and his shoulders curl in. “I bit her. I took everyone’s choice away from everyone. How can I even be trusted around her?”

“Just to clarify, you don’t think you’re going to hurt her, do you?”

He looks at me, so aghast, that all my concerns die. “Of course, not. I just do stupid things like bond her without her consent.”

“Oh, that. Yeah. I think you’re the only one who’s upset about it, to be fair. And, hey, lucky you, you can only do it the once. Not like you can bond her multiple times.”

I can feel Ian’s glare into the side of my head, but I don’t turn to look at him or respond.

“Are you going to explain that at all?”

“Well, Ian, have you ever thought that when we all met each other, there was this instant connection? Brandy came to us covered in the stench of other alphas, and her rudeness was off-putting right from the start. But Silver’s scent was pleasant. She was fun. We were friends. Instant friends. Remember? You chased her down and brought her to us.”

“I remember,” Ian says tersely.

“Maybe Silver is our second chance. I mean, you saw her dying, and you didn’t hesitate. Your instincts took over to save her. Somewhere deep under all the pain you feel from being rejected by both the omegas in our lives, you still want her, you still care.”

Ian winces. He opens his mouth and closes it as if he’s trying to think of something to say but can’t quite push it out.

As if summoned by our conversation, Silver walks into the room, pausing when she sees us. Her hair is loose, and her cheeks turn pink.

“Morning, beautiful.”

The blush deepens, to my delight.

“Hi.”

“Good morning, Silver,” Ian says in a deep voice. I can hear the nerves in his tone, but she wouldn’t be able to notice it.

“Hello, Ian.”

She stares at him, and I sip my chocolate, amused by the tension and the way they can’t take their eyes off each other.

“Ian was just saying that he’d like to take you into his work and show you around if you’d like. He designs computer games. Very cool!”

Ian jerks his head to me, then just as quickly, looks back at her.

“You do?”

“I do!”

They say the words almost on top of each other.

“Really?” Silver asks.

“Yes. I mean, I’d love to show you where I work. If you’re interested. Of course. I mean, you don’t have to, but, like…you could come, and we could have lunch.”

Silver’s eyes are huge. Her lips parted. I lean across the bench.

“Silver.” Her eyes dart to me. “Say yes.”

She jerks. “Yes. Of course, yes. I’d love to.”

“Okay,” he says and blinks.

“Okay,” she repeats after him, her cheeks still stained red.