Page 17 of Pack’s Prize
What a fantastic first date.Nowonderthey didn’t want an omega: we were–I was–too much trouble.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Theo
“She can’t leave,not like that,” Elias said softly as she slunk out his bedroom door.
He’s right.
Ava was hurting.
This is why we never wanted an omega, they’re too emotional,I thought briefly, but… that wasn’t right.
It was thatIwas too emotional. Too affected.
Ava was hurting, and I hurt, too.
“Go,” I said, tilting my head through the door she had escaped through. “She can stay in the guest room. Or here, if she wants, or in my room. I’ll stay with Michael tonight.” Michael nodded. Elias might end up in his bed, too. Not for anything sexual, just for comfort. Although if I knew Elias, he’d be sleeping here tonight, drowning his sorrows in the scent of Ava.
Elias scurried off after her, his huge form somehow seeming small as he went to the omega. I steeled myself against the wave of bitterness that crashed over me, thinking ofhimcomforting her,himholding her close as she cried in his bed,himgoing to her now.
That bitterness was exactly why I couldn’t.
It was too dangerous for me to get any closer.
Michael, Elias… they could take care of themselves.
Ava, on the other hand…
Well, she could.Évidemment: walking away from not one alpha, but four? It had taken a lot of strength for her to leave that pack. That was a big ask for any omega, let alone one who…
Who had so clearly been broken by those three years.
She’d seemed so confident, at the club; boldly seeking out what she wanted. To see her crying under Elias…
My fists clenched. I had just wanted to protect her, to kiss away her tears and soothe her back from her sadness.
I hadchosento live like this, in a pack full of alphas like myself, where the ability to control ourselves and our instincts was what made it work.
But now…
That damn omega.
She was awakening all of the alpha instincts I’d struggled so long to smother.
“I can’t do this,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes with the heels of my hands.
“Can’t do what?” Elias asked, padding back into his room.
“Merde.” I hadn’t meant that to be shared aloud, but it was too late now. “This,” I gestured vaguely. “An omega.”
Michael chuckled. “You certainly looked like you were ready to ‘do it’ a moment ago.”
I groaned. “That’s not what I mean. I mean–”
“No, Theo,stop,” Elias cut in. “Stop, right there.” It was rare that Elias spoke up against us, and it startled me into silence. I stopped. “You’re going to say something like, she’s too emotional, she’s too fragile–”
“I wasn’t,” I snapped, even though I had. Briefly. Just for a second.