Page 84 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

I caught his hand before he could pull away completely, surprising both of us with my boldness. "Dakota," I said softly, meeting his dark gaze. "Thank you.“

Something flickered in his eyes—warmth and hunger and tenderness all mixed together. He turned his hand in mine, his calloused fingers intertwining with my smaller ones for just a moment before he released me.

"You don’t have to thank me, and you never will" he to me as he gave me one last look before turning and leaving me. I smiled as I watched him walk away, feeling both exhausted and strangely energized as I went into my room to hopefully get a good nights rest in my nest.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Theo POV

Dakotahadgonetowalk Vivian back to her room, so the rest of us remained in the kitchen, the warm afterglow of dinner slowly fading into the quiet of the evening. Lucas was still stacking plates, and Gabriel leaned against the counter, arms folded, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular. I sat back in my chair, folding my hands in my lap, letting the silence stretch between us.

"She really opened up tonight," Lucas said eventually, his voice softer than usual. "I didn’t expect her to say yes. Not tonight."

Gabriel nodded once. "Neither did I. But I’m glad she did. She’s... remarkable. Stronger than she knows."

I adjusted my glasses. "And cautious. Which she has every reason to be. We need to remember that."

"We will," Gabriel said. "I meant what I said—this moves at her pace."

Lucas glanced over his shoulder at us. "Still, it’s hard not to hope. Did you see the way she looked at each of us tonight? Like she was letting herself feel something again."

"She is," I agreed. "But she's also terrified. I've analyzed her micro-expressions, pupil dilation, and voice modulation patterns. She's experiencing significant cognitive dissonance—wanting to trust us while her past experiences warn her not to."

Lucas finished loading the dishwasher and turned to face us fully. "You make it sound so clinical, Theo."

"Understanding the psychological components helps us navigate the situation appropriately," I replied, removing my glasses to clean them with the edge of my shirt. "It's not clinical—it's careful."

Gabriel pushed himself away from the counter, his movements measured as always. "Theo's right. We need to be mindful. What happened to her—an Alpha using his voice to control her—that's a violation of trust at the most fundamental level."

"Makes me want to find the bastard," Lucas muttered, his usually playful expression hardening. "Show him what happens when you abuse an Omega."

"Not our focus right now," Gabriel said, his voice carrying that quiet authority that always settled the pack. "What matters is building trust with Vivian, not seeking vengeance for past wrongs."

I replaced my glasses, observing the subtle tension in Gabriel's shoulders. "Your protective instincts are understandable, Lucas. But Gabriel's right—our priority is Vivian's present and future wellbeing, not retribution."

"I know," Lucas sighed, running a hand through his curls. "It's just... when I think about someone using their voice on her like that..."

"We all feel it," Gabriel acknowledged, his expression softening slightly. "But channeling that anger won't help her now."

The kitchen fell silent again as we each processed the evening's revelations. I found myself analyzing not just Vivian's responses but my own as well—the unexpected surge of protectiveness over her was defiantly something new. Before I could let myself analyze them, Dakota walked back into the kitchen. He didn’t speak right away, just walked to the counter and poured himself a glass of water.

"She okay?" Gabriel asked, his eyes following Dakota’s movements with a raised eyebrow.

Dakota nodded, taking a long drink. "She’s good. Tired. Said it helped to talk."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "You say anything sweet and sappy before you left? Or just stand there and look broody and protective?"

Dakota gave him a flat look, but there was the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth. "Both."

That got a small laugh out of me. "Effective combination."

Gabriel's expression turned serious as he leaned against the counter. "We need to discuss how we proceed from here. This changes our dynamic."

"Does it?" I asked, analyzing the situation from multiple angles. "Our core function remains protection until the case is resolved. Our personal feelings don't alter that objective."

"They might complicate it," Dakota pointed out, setting his empty glass down. "If our judgment becomes clouded by emotional attachment."

Lucas snorted, crossing his arms. "Our judgment is already 'clouded.' Or did you forget about practically devouring her in the greenhouse today?"

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