Page 10 of Love in Excess

However, dwelling on that then brings up how pissed I am at Carter for thinking he can manhandle my Omega to get to me. The light bruise on Celeste’s arm is like a beacon for my anger but I swallow that down, not wanting her to feel the brunt ofmy emotions. Carter will be dealt with, more so than he was last night because that wasn’t enough.

It’ll never be enough.

I wait a few more seconds before leaning over the kitchen island, catching her attention. “Celeste… tell me what you meant by being selfish.”

Her adorable lips form a pout and I can’t help but reach across and tug her bottom lip forward. “I… I wasjuston a date but I keep wanting to ask about Lincoln. I shouldn’t, right?” She absentmindedly grabs my hand, running her fingers along the lines on my palm. “But he smelled sogoodand he was so nice in the ambulance. That’s not a reason…”

I squeeze her fingers. “Celeste, take a deep breath. You don’t really have to have a reason when it comes to spending time with a mate.” Her brows raise and then she nods as if she didn’t even realize. “Did you not even know why you wanted him?”

She just stares at me before reaching her wrist up to her nose. A frown takes over her face as she looks down, her shoulders sagging. “Fuck, I forgot. The bracelet you gave me is gone. I don’t know what happened to it.” Tears glaze over her eyes, the sudden urge to wrap her up in my arms overwhelming any other thoughts.

I step around the counter to sit on one of the stools before dragging her into my lap. “I’ll get you another one, Celeste. That isn’t difficult. Now, back to Lincoln. You’re not being selfish because then I would be too. He absolutely does smell delicious and I talked to him…”

“When?” She sits up a little straighter. “You only saw him at the hospital with me. Wait, did you see him again? Is that why you left last night?”

I chuckle, holding her a little tighter against my chest. “Actually, Carter came by last night and I told him I’d meet him at the café. However, when I got there, he was fighting Lincoln.”I detail everything that happened, from stepping in between them to discussing this mate bond between the three of us.

Celeste goes quiet, my hackles raised as I check her arm. She hisses when my fingers graze over the bruise before I meet her gaze, wondering what’s going on in that head of hers. I don’t expect to find my Omega wide-eyed, a shocked smile on her face as the realization of my words finally hits her.

“Wait. He’s going to let me court him?” A squeal follows as she tumbles out of my lap, racing to the door to look for her shoes. She knows absolutelynothingabout Lincoln, other than where he works but that wouldn’t stop her on a bad day.

No one would know that her date with Carter was a disaster last night and that’s when I feel it—that trickle of emotion beneath the excitement. The fear of being a disappointment, the thought that maybe she ruined something. She said as much last night and fuck, I can’t be having her think that.

“Celeste, just hold on a minute.” I saunter over to the foyer, gently grabbing her face in my hands to still her movements. “You do not need to make up for yesterday. That was Carter’s fault, not yours. Do you understand?”

“Alpha, I just…”

“Baby, I know. I would have loved Carter to work out. We had a lot in common but I’m not going to force something. If you want Lincoln, I’m 100% on board. However, do it because you want to, not because you think you have to fix something.” I press a kiss to her forehead and then pull back. “I can see how much you want him and you’ve only just met him. I need you to tame it down a few notches, though. You’re usually at an eleven, and I need you at a five or six.”

The fear in Lincoln’s expression last night told me that he’s either not used to the forwardness of an Omega or that it’s something worse. Something like no one has ever stayed. He mentioned something about never having thought of packs andmates but that was a lie. I’m determined to make him see it differently… if he’ll let us.

Celeste bounces on her feet, clasping her hands together. “I’ll do good. I promise. I’ll bring you home a Beta and…”

“No, baby. This is notforme. I want you to want him becauseyouwant him. And while you’re showering him with your Celeste charm, I’ll shower him with mine. Deal?”

Celeste thinks for a moment and then nods, a smile taking up her entire face.

“Great, now, let’s get you to actuallyfinishbreakfast before you take off looking for a man whom you don’t even know where he lives.”

The laughter that follows warms my heart because I know it’s only a matter of days, maybe even hours before I find Lincoln tumbling into our lives.

CELESTE

Don’t overwhelm him.

Take it slow.

Respect his boundaries.

Hunter drilled that into me after breakfast until they were the only three things running around in my mind. I promised him I wouldn’t overdo it like I did the oysters but fifteen minutes later and now, I’m nearly vibrating on a park bench, running through every possible scenario that could make Lincoln appear in front of me.

Without the use of a computer, I can’t very well just look him up on his socials or stalk his workplace. Star Medical would be the easiest place to wait outside of but that would be creepy right? Or I could fake something wrong with me but if I get that Alpha or one of the other EMTs, then it wouldn’t work.

And then I’d have to explain to my Alpha why I faked getting hurt.

No. None of that will work.

I absentmindedly tug at my sleeve to cover the handprint still on my arm. It’s barely noticeable but I can still feel Carter’s hand there, like a stark reminder that I wasn’t enough for him. I still don’t even knowwhyhe acted like that. Hunter wouldn’t say.Maybe Lincoln knows?

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