Page 108 of Cost of Courting

“Go on, say it,” she says.

I don’t say anything. There is nothing I care about but making her feel better, taking that blanket of despair and letting some light through.

I pull her into my arms and rest my head on the top of hers.

“I was worried,” I murmur.

Her surprise and gratefulness floods the bonds. It galls that she thought we would make her feel worse and not understand exactly what Luna going off with Benson means.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

I hold her tighter, inhaling her scent, wishing I could keep her safe and fix all the things wrong in her world. I felt like this when we were kids. I just didn’t realise what it was.

I have and always will be this omega’s alpha.

“Don’t be sorry, just know that I was worried. I cared. We searched for you. I’m sorry that happened, and we weren’t here.”

She softens and just sort of leans all her weight on me in a way she never has before.

“I don’t know how to protect everyone so no one gets hurt.”

I squeeze her tighter to me. “You get help. You let us help.”

She trembles.

My strong omega, who kicks asses and handles everything, trembles.

“What’s really going on, Omega?”

She sniffles.

“Luna is angry with me.”

“Yes, siblings do that.”

“He’s going to hurt her.”

“We’ll take care of him.”

“You don’t understand how bad he is, Edric.”

“No, I don’t. But you wouldn’t be this upset if he were just some person you could push around.”

Her fingers clench in my shirt, and she inhales.

“Where have you been?” I ask, though I feel bad even asking.

“My nest.” She says so quietly that I think I imagine the words.

“You have a nest?” The thought stuns me and leaves me almost rabid.

“Of course.”

“Where?”

She steps back, pulling free of my arms. “It’s around.”

“Around? Omega, have you got a hidden nest?”

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