Page 113 of Power Shift

The weight of her in my arms as I carry us through Ronan’s family home is like finally holding something I’m never supposed to let go of. Like releasing her will rip something vital from my chest.

I clutch onto her a little tighter, hoping she doesn’t notice. Kira doesn’t need to keep pushing me on accepting my omega. It’s not as simple as forgoing all of my propositioned feelings and jumping headfirst into a courtship.

I want to believe that acceptance isn’t in the cards yet, but continuing to refuse what my mind and soul are telling me feels wrong. That much has been made clear with how one simple plea to come to her rescue has me here right now, unsure what my next move is and how I’ll take it.

Briar has had me upside down and backward since the moment we met, and I don’t know how much longer I can take the world no longer making sense.

“I hope I didn’t ruin your day.”

Her soft, hesitant voice wedges the dagger that’s been living between my ribs deeper, moving it side to side.

“Practice was already over when you called.”

She nods into the crook of my neck, the ghost of her lips skating over my throat makes my arms shake. The reactive squeeze of her thighs around my hips when I start down the stairs has me on a fucking hair trigger.

“How’s your knee?” she asks.

Gritting my teeth, I turn my head to the side and breathe in the chemical-ridden air. “I can’t feel it.”

“Is that a good or bad thing?”

“Neither.”

“You can set me down now.”

The thought alone pisses me off, so I ignore it. “What did you and Kira talk about?”

“You want to hear about our gossip?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“You don’t seem like the chitchat type,” she states.

It’s blunt but honest, and I respect that more than if she’d cushioned her words for my benefit. Outside of my packmates, it’s hard to have a genuine conversation with someone without feeling as though they’re constantly trying to pat my ego.

I have no doubt that’s one thing I’ll never find with Briar.

“I’m not,” I confirm.

The ground floor of the building is silent as I move us around the corner and toward the entrance to her apartment. Not going there the moment I stepped inside felt wrong, but not being at her side as fast as possible was worse.

I could have called one of the other guys to check out the place while I went up and got her, but I couldn’t risk losing this time with just us. It couldn’t be more obvious how fucked up everything is when I would rather risk running into danger with her behind me than see her falling into arms that aren’t mine.

My packmates aren’t my competition, but right now, anyone who could steal her attention is.

“So, I’m going to take that as I help bring out your talkativeness, then,” she says, slightly teasing.

“If I confirmed that, you’d never let it go, would you?”

“Nope.”

“Figured as much.”

A moment of silence passes before she crosses her feet at my back and pulls her face out of my neck. With her soft hands pawing at my shoulders, she fixes pale blue eyes on my darker ones and quirks her mouth into a smile. The soft indent in her right cheek is barely a dimple, but it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

“We were talking about you. Me and Kira,” she reveals, expression completely open.

My throat tightens up, a tug growing deep in my chest. “What about me?”

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