Page 23 of A Winter Gift

I hated him touching her.

He looked over her mating bite, signing hard. "Tell me the truth, Mina. Did he force himself on you?"

I grabbed my mate's arm, tucking my mate behind me. Her trembling fingers slipped into the waistband of my pants, trying to pull me back.

"What the fuck are you implying?" I snarled. "I would never—"

"He didn't!" Mina scrambled around me. "He really didn't force me. I asked him to take me."

Ari's eyes widened at her bold declaration, and she ducked her head. The blush in her cheeks spread, covering her neck and disappearing beneath her dress.

"I'm sorry if that's horrible for you to hear," she whispered, her chin quivering. She turned to her mother. "I know I've shamed you, and I'm so sorry…" her voice slipped into a high-pitched whine as tears gathered.

Joyce instantly reacted, pulling Mina into a tight hug. "No, no, no." She squeezed her daughter. "You could never shame me. You did nothing wrong." Her eyes cut to me for the briefest of moments. "The fact is, you're an adult that chose to be mated. There were appropriate ways to handle this but given the storm…." She sighed hard, not finishing her thought.

"Omega Joyce," I said, keeping my head down. "I'm so sorry."

"In my younger years," Ari snarled, "I would have ripped your fucking throat out."

I bowed my head, trying like hell to look respectful. I just hoped he'd have mercy on me for Mina's sake. She was already so upset.

"But," he continued, "I can't blame an alpha for falling to his instincts while trapped with an omega in heat. Especially a willing one." He squared his shoulders, giving me a hard glare. I stiffened, waiting for my punishment. "Mina." She peeked at him over her mother's arms. "If Ivor is unkind to you in any way, I won't hesitate to fucking end him."

Mina nodded slowly, hugging her mother tighter. I didn't say anything, accepting his threat. There was no need to imply I'd be such a piece of shit, but I understood his anger and was still thankful for his forgiveness. A lesser alpha would have already tried to kill me.

"You aren't going to do anything?" Nix snapped at Ari, his eyes wide with rage. "Ivor fucks my sister, takes advantage of her, and you're going to do nothing?"

"Watch your tone!" Ari barked.

Both Mina and Joyce flinched hard, taking a few careful steps away from us.

"Captain Ari," I said in my most formal tone. "Please know—"

Nix's fist connected with my jaw, catching me completely off guard. Not wanting Mina to get hurt, I grabbed Nix around the middle and shoved both of us across the room. He punched my back and ribs, and I grunted hard. His strength was impressive.

Joyce yelled, and Mina cried.

Moving quickly, I spun Nix and forced him onto his knees, securing him in a headlock. "Calm down!" I ordered.

Nix glared at me over his shoulder. "You didn't have my permission to touch her," he snarled. "There's an order to these things, Ivor. You should have fucking asked me!"

I quickly agreed, wanting to quiet his rage for the sake of my mate. I could feel her distress in our bond. She was spiraling fast.

"Nix," Joyce whispered, slowly approaching her son. "You have to understand. Ivor probably didn't have a choice. An omega in heat—"

"He had a fucking choice!" Nix yelled. "And he chose to force her—"

"He forced nothing!" Mina's voice cracked as she ran to her brother. "He didn’t force himself on me, Nix.Iwant Ivor, and he wantsme."

Nix's body relaxed a bit, but I held him firm, not trusting him enough to let him go just yet.

"He didn't hurt you?" Nix whispered, searching Mina's face as if he could see the truth printed on her skin.

"He didn't hurt me." She assured sweetly, tapping my arm. "Ivor, please let him go."

The front door swung open as Summer stepped inside. The omega wore a massive wool coat with big brown boots caked in snow. Her mouth fell open as she took in the mess around the room, then her eyes fell to Nix, and she gasped loudly.

"Get off him!" she snapped, rushing straight for me. She pushed hard at my side, her tiny fist hitting me repeatedly in the bicep.