Page 53 of Pack’s Prize
“Elias,” Michael said, but I cut him off.
“No, Michael. I know this was your plan; that this is your pack,” he shook his head, “it is, and don’t pretend it isn’t, I can’t deal with that right now. But IloveAva.”
Two pairs of eyes widened.
“I’m going to talk to her.” I stood abruptly, my chair clattering to the ground, and strode down the hallway towards her room.
“Elias,” Michael said, loud, almost yelling. “Wait, just listen!” But I didn’t. I didn’t have time for his crap. I needed to go to her. I couldn’t wait for Michael’s stupid excuses.
“Elias!” Theo called, but I ignored him, too.
I opened her door without knocking, and remembered for a split-second the way she’d looked that night when I’d let myself into her room, when I’d found her with her skirt around her hips and her sweetness filling the air as she touched and teased herself.
Tonight was different. Tonight, she was curled on the bed, facing away from the door, and she was crying.
“I’m sorry,” she sniffed. “Don’t worry about me, go be with your pack.”
“No,” I said, hesitating at the edge of the bed, wanting to pull her into my chest, comfort her. Protect her. “I’m sorry, please,pleasedon’t cry, Ava.”
“I’m fine,” she said, but her shoulders were shaking. “I’ll be fine, I’m still emotional from my heat, I think.”
I laid down behind her on the bed, looping my arm around her waist. When she didn’t move, I pulled her tight to my front. She was still crying softly, and I didn’t say anything, just held her against me, my thumb stroking her forearm, my nose buried in her hair.
“I just…” she said at last, then let out a shaky sigh. “I know it’s pointless, but… I just wish that this could be real.”
My heart stopped. My fingers stilled on her skin.
“What do you mean?” I asked. I could barely hear the sound of my own voice over the thump of my heart, the static filling my head.
“No, I’m sorry,” Ava said again, pulling away, swinging her feet over the side of the bed and sitting up. She still hadn’t looked at me. “Sorry. Forget I said anything.”
“Ava,” I said, scooting myself off of the bed. I knelt between her knees, looking up into her face as she covered her eyes. “Tell me.What do you mean?”
“Nothing,” she sighed, wiping away tears. “I’m just emotional.”
The door swung open, and I heard Theo and Michael as they entered the room.
“Are you okay, Ava?” Michael asked softly. “Elias?”
“Yes.” She dropped her hands from her face; her eyes were red, her smile tight. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m just being silly. Sorry,” she said, “this is probably exactly why you don’t want an omega, huh?” She laughed, but her red eyes were watery again, and she swiped at them with the backs of her hands.
“Ava…” Theo said. His smoky scent was acrid.
“I was just sitting there at the table,” she interrupted. Her voice was so, so quiet, I had to lean in to hear her. “I know,I knowit’s stupid, and it’s probablyheat hormonesor whatever, but… I couldn’t help but wish it were real.”
Theo froze, his jaw pulsing. “It will be real, darling,” he said, fists clenched. “You have time,” he continued, and every word was like a knife in my back. “You’ll have your own space, you can go on with your life, find someone–”
“No,” I growled, but Ava spoke over me.
“No,” she said, a watery smile on her beautiful, perfect face. “I meant, with you. With all of you.”
Her eyes met mine, and a balloon of hope expanded painfully in my chest, squeezing against my lungs, competing for space within my ribcage.
“Ava,” said Theo, but Michael interrupted him.
“It is.” Michael said, gravel in his voice. “It was. Everything I said to you, and… andthelawyer,” he stressed, and I knew I was missing something.“I meant it.”
CHAPTERFIFTY-ONE