Page 29 of Their Alpha

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Fletcher said, trying so hard to be strong. His bottom lip wobbled before he pulled himself together. “I’ve never wanted a bond with an alpha. I’ve only ever wanted Gideon, from the moment we met.”

“I understand, and I totally respect that,” I said. “I have no intention of coming between the two of you. Ever.”

“But you will,” Fletcher said with a hopeless shrug. “You won’t be able to stop yourself. I won’t be able to stop it either. We’re a bonded pair.”

I could feel his bigger meaning, and it hurt.

I grasped his upper arms gently, like I was holding him up. “Gideon is not superfluous. I know you would never abandon him.”

“What if I do?” Fletcher whispered, his panic growing. “What if I can’t stop myself? My heart wants Gideon, but something deeper is desperate for you.”

“I won’t ever make you choose,” I said, though I could feel the same visceral urge to be with him, my omega. “I will always put Gideon first.”

“But how?” Fletcher’s eyes went glassy with tears. “Let’s say you move in with us. How is Gideon going to feel, watching us drawn to each other every day, watching from the outside?”

I winced. He had a point. There was a huge danger that Gideon would feel like a third wheel with his own husband.

“I don’t know how,” I said, “but we’ll work this out. There has to be an answer.”

Fletcher nodded, but I could feel his hopelessness and fear.

The shower turned off, and I stepped away from him. “Let’s just play things casually for now,” I said. “We’ll spend time together. I do care about Gideon, and I’d like to keep seeing the two of you, regardless of what there is between the two of us. All Gideon needs to know for now is that I want to start something with you two. We can explain everything else later.”

“We can’t hide this from him,” Fletcher said, both as a warning and a lament.

“I know,” I said, backing even farther toward the cabinet, where my phone sat. I had to call Victor to say the fantasy was over and to explain a few things. I hadn’t been able to check in with him via text, like I was supposed to, during the fantasy. “We can figure this out.”

Fletcher nodded and returned to cleaning the chair. I twisted to pick up my phone.

I had several texts that I’d missed in the last two days, while things had been busy. One was from Victor, asking if there were any problems. Another was from Justice Goode, asking me to call him immediately. Fortunately, it had only been sent three hours ago.

“I have to make a call,” I said, holding up my phone to Fletcher, then moving to the hallway door.

Fletcher nodded that he understood, and I left the room.

I was able to call Goode with one tap on the number from the text message. His phone only rang twice before he answered, “Hello?” in an oddly aggressive voice.

“Mr. Goode, it’s Artemis Montgomery,” I said, switching into business mode.

“Oh! Mr. Montgomery! Thanks for returning my call.” His tone shifted immediately to the affable executive I’d spoken to the other day.

“Sorry I wasn’t available when you rang,” I said.

“It’s alright,” Goode said. “The reason I called you is because I need to move our interview up.”

“I might be able to manage that,” I said. “When would you like to move it to?”

“How soon can you get to my office?” he asked.

I blinked in surprise. “Er, it might take me a couple hours.”

He hummed. “Time is of the essence. There’s been a surprise twist in some of my personal business. I need to take a few days, maybe weeks, off as soon as I can to take care of it. That means I need to hire a new CFO immediately. I’ve got a few other candidates I could bring in if you’re not available.”

In other words, if I wanted the job, I had to go interview for it right now.

“I’ll do whatever I can to be there by—” I pulled my phone away from my ear to look at the time. “How does three o’clock sound?”

“I could do three, but no later,” Goode said.

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