Page 21 of Take All of Me

He growls, taking another step as if he’s going to intimidate me into letting her go. “Even if you were her Alpha,” I add, “her running away from you like that tells me otherwise. Out!”

He hesitates, muttering, “Stop fighting this, Maya. You’ve got three days to show up on your own, or things’ll be worse”—before stalking off, his footsteps fading into the rink’s echo.

I exhale, turning to Maya, gently caressing the side of her face, her cheek damp under my thumb. “You’re okay.” I’m not surprised when Dakota and Brogan show up behind me as I reach out my hand to Dakota. “Shirt. I need your shirt.” No words are needed; Dakota peels his off, handing it over, and I help Maya into it, the fabric swallowing her frame as I scoop her up, carrying her back to her father’s old office.

I set her on the edge of the desk, sitting in the chair to give her space, but her eyes find mine before she slides forward, crawling into my lap. I don’t hesitate, wrapping my arms around her as she tucks her face into my neck, nose pressed to my scent gland, inhaling like my scent calms her. The other two crowd the doorway, Roman pushing in a second later, approaching the desk with caution.

“You’re okay, Maya,” I murmur, tightening my hold on her. “I got you, angel. I got you.” She shudders, a sob muffled against my skin as I stroke her back, trying to calm her further.

Roman perches his ass on the edge of the coach’s office desk, a safe distance from where I’m holding Maya. “What the fuck just happened? Holt, you bolted out of there, and then it was like I felt this knot in my chest.”

I shake my head, Maya’s damp curls brushing my neck as she clings closer, her vanilla scent still edged with that burnt fear. “I have no fucking clue,” I admit, keeping my voice low to avoid startling her. “There was this guy calling himself her Alpha, and…” I trail off, glancing at Brogan, who lets out a low growl, his rain scent turning stormy. My brows lift and I fix him with a look. “Explain that.”

Brogan drags a hand down his face, jaw clenching in response. “He was on campus yesterday. Raised his hand to her. He’s a piece of shit.”

Dakota straightens a little from where he’s leaning against the wall, his expression darkening, his lavender scent flaring despitethe blockers. “Did he look like he walked out of a GQ magazine?” he asks, eyes narrowing. Brogan nods, and Dakota’s fists clench. “That’s Nox. Her ex. Why the fuck was he here?”

Brogan hesitates, glancing at Maya, who’s still tucked against me, her breath uneven. “Something about a trust fund,” he mutters. “I…” Maya lets out a soft whine, barely audible, my chest tightening, instinct roaring to shield her.

“We’ll talk about this later,” I cut in. “Fuck. I need to get her dry. Brogan, tell the others dinner’s postponed. Roman, call campus police—if he’s tried this shit once, he’s gonna do it again. Dakota…”

I look at him, his eyes locked on Maya, and he shakes his head, stepping forward with arms open. My grip on her tightens, something primal stirring in my chest, screaming to keep her close, to never let go. But I see the need in Dakota’s face, the way his hands tremble, his Omega instincts pulling him to her as hard as mine are. I know he needs this, needs her, and I’m pretty damn sure we’ll all be sharing a room tonight—Dakota, Roman, me, and Brogan too. My instincts hum, telling me Brogan belongs with us, even if he’s not mine.

Loosening my hold, I ease Maya toward Dakota. She shifts, her body melting into his as he pulls her close, settling in the corner on the floor. He rocks her gently, petting her damp hair, a small purr rattling from his chest, his Omega side taking over. Maya curls tighter against him, nose pressed to his neck, and for the first time since she showed up, I see her differently—not just Dakota and Roman’s Beta. I see her as mine, too, a piece of this pack I didn’t know I was missing until she was trembling in my arms, needing me.

Holt

Maya tries to protest, insisting she’s okay as I help dry her off in the coach’s office once after Roman told us that Nox was led off campus. Apparently he’d been waiting in the quad as if we were just going to let her waltz out there. He’s now on the campus police’s radar so that’s one less thing to worry about even if Maya is still shuddering between us, bloodshot eyes focusing on the four of us.

Brogan steps back in with a pair of shorts, handing them over to Dakota who’s got her protectively wrapped up against his chest now. “These should fit well enough until we get to the dorm.”

She doesn’t reach for them, her face buried in the Omega’s chest but she doesn’t resist as I help her into them. In fact, Maya doesn’t say a word as we step out into the quad, everystep looking more painful than the last. I’m 99% sure he didn’t physically hurt her but being chased by an Alpha would terrify just about anyone.

Halfway to the dorm, Maya stumbles, nearly tripping over her own feet, and I’m done watching her struggle. “Nope,” I mutter, scooping her into my arms without hesitation. I don’t give a damn what it looks like—students staring, whispers trailing us. Part of me hurts because she’s hurting, a deep ache I can’t shake, and carrying her feels like the only way to keep her safe.

Dakota’s already resituating pillows on his bed when we step inside, laying out a new blanket that’s fluffier than the last but still the same pale green as everything else. Maya’s out cold the second he pulls her onto the bed, her body curling against his chest, his glare turning lethal as it falls on each of us. “Don’t fucking disturb her,” he snaps as I bite back a smile. It’s adorable, that grumpy edge still there, but terrifying too—his Omega instincts kicking in.

Roman drops onto the other bed, hands clasped over his knees, gaze locked on Maya’s sleeping form. We all find spots around the room, Brogan against the door, and me falling into one of the armchairs facing the bed.

Roman breaks the silence, voice tight. “So, when do we go kill Nox or something? She full-on left him, and he’s back? I don’t get it.”

I glance over at Brogan, knowing we didn’t get the entire story. Something about his presence here fights with my instincts but I know that it’s just Alpha bullshit and the need to protect Maya. Brogan manages a tight smile, his gaze firmly locked on our Beta curled into Dakota’s chest. “I didn’t hear everything but it seems like he needs a mate to unlock his trust and whoever he left Maya for didn’t meet the requirements. So, he’s back.”

I lean forward, elbows on my knees, and fix him with a look. “What aren’t you telling us?”

“A guy like that doesn’t just come back. If he was a jealous bastard or more possessive, he’d have tried something years ago when she first left, right? Him coming back now, threatening her—it means something’s changed.”

Roman’s eyes narrow, catching on. “Yeah, the requirements.”

I nod, pieces clicking together. “So he needs the money for something. It’s not just a time constraint—it’s gotta be something else.” I look between them, searching. “Do either of you know what the fuck he does?”

Roman shakes his head. “I only know his name’s Nox Carter,”

I file that away and stand, knowing that I need a moment outside of this room to calm the fuck down before I do something stupid. Like trying to find out where Nox lives and give him a piece of my mind. “What’s for dinner? I wanna make sure we get something before Maya wakes up.” It’s an odd change of conversation but a needed one.

Dakota’s voice comes from where he’s cradling her. “Grilled cheese,” he murmurs, eyes still on her. “She eats grilled cheese when she’s sad.”

I’ll put the order in a little later after I make a lap across the quad, or however far my leg lets me go. Not even two steps out of the door, Brogan is behind me, calling me back. “Hey, Holt?”

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