Page 21 of Lethal Alpha

Leaving Mathew Page’s pack—and especially their Omega, Vera— behind in the restaurant feels strange, it feelswrong, but I ignore it for now.I’ll figure that out once I’m back at the hotel.That’s not something to deal with in public.

“Do you have any other meetings this week?”Jorge leans against the car, glancing my way, his gaze controlled.

“A few.I’m meeting some people for a client.But I’m mostly free to go wherever I like.Why?Do you have plans for me?”I try to smile, but the seriousness in his gaze stops me.

“I feel like Vera might have.”He looks at the restaurant, clear that he wishes he was in there with her.But he’s also never been very good at letting me go after meeting up.

He’s such a protective Alpha, unable to let the people he cares about out of his sight.

“What’s the story between you two?”

“Not much to tell.They were already staying over at Mathew’s place when I met them and then she went into heat.And the rest is —you know— history, I guess.”He almost smiles, though looks sad too.“I’d only known her for a few hours before I bonded with her.”

I blink, surprised.“That’s very fast.”

“She was already close to it, so meeting me kicked it off.”He lets out a long breath.“She is… something else.I’ve never met an Omega like her before.She’s amazing.”His pheromones are flooded with how much he adores her.

Not just because she’s his Omega but also because of something else, something that makes him glow with pride.

Something I’ve only ever seen him do when talking about one other person…

I reach out, just managing to smack him in his side.“You’re clearly in love with her.But I still want to know what happened with?—”

He cuts me off before I can finish my sentence.“I’ll explain all of it tomorrow evening.Just know that I’m okay.It’s complicated, but I’m really happy where I am right now.You don’t have to worry about me.”

I don’t know if he understands how Ialwaysworry about him, since he’s so good at getting in trouble.I’m also the eldest child from a pack —I’ve got twelve siblings— worrying about those younger than me is pretty much what I’ve been doing all my life.

“How’s that Caleb guy?”

“Very easy to get along with.Though, he’s perceptive and knows way too much about our world for someone who isn’t directly connected to it.”There it is again, the way he chooses his words.

Jorge is keeping something from me and it’s getting annoying.But I guess it’s another one of those ‘I’ll tell you tomorrow’ things.

“He makes you look small.”I smile and Jorge grins back, now finally showing a real smile.

“I know, right?That guy istall, and he’s got the strength to match.”He tisks as he shakes his head.“Makes even you look like a Beta, and you’re already taller than me even if you don’t wear those skyscraper heels.”

I’m about to reply when I notice movement in front of the restaurant.

Vera!

For a moment, I get excited to see her again, until I notice the distressed way she’s moving, like she’s searching for someone.

Jorge’s pheromones turn dangerous and mine match them.

Something’s wrong.

“Jorge!”Vera rushes over and he takes her in his arms immediately.Then she notices me in the car and her eyes are full of relief.“Riley.”My name is little more than a squeak.

“What’s going on?”Jorge’s voice is strong, but his pheromones fill with more worry than before.

“I went to the bathroom and when I came back, the door to the room was locked but I still heard sounds inside.I tried to find Derrick and the others, but they’re not in the restaurant.”

“Fuck.”Jorge checks his phone as I get out of the car, walking around it to join the other two.

“Are you okay?”I look the short Omega up and down and while she seems worried, she’s keeping a pretty clear head for a bonded Omega with two Alpha mates in danger.Unlike Jorge, whose distressed pheromones are getting stronger by the second.

“I’m not hurt.I just need to get them out of there.”She shakes her head, looking up at Jorge.Part of her worry is for him, how he’s handling things.

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