Page 4 of Love in Excess

Through the glass, I can see her on the bed, curled up tightly in a ball, her twists spilling over the pillow. Her Alpha is leaning over her side, his dreads brushing his shoulders as he leans close, murmuring soft words I can’t hear. It’s like watching something private, something I don’t understand. Celeste’s eyes are unfocused, her Omega instincts taking over, little whines and grunts slipping from her lips as she leans into him. Her rosescent, still bitter from the incident, mixes with his, creating a warmth that makes my chest tighten.

Some part of me wants to slip into that moment and surround myself with their scents. The other part of me knows that I don’t belong. And that I shouldn’t want to.

All her tests came back normal and now they’re just waiting on one other one. However, they said for her to take it easy over the next day or two to rule out any lingering effects of a concussion. She’s stable, though, and seeing her with Hunter, so small and soft under his care, stirs something in me.

Envy, maybe, or longing.

I just shake myself out of that stupor and refocus my efforts on the report. I’m just the paramedic who patched her up, nothing more. But my entire body is betraying me.

A heavy hand slaps my shoulder, jolting me back to reality. Teddy grins as he steps around my side, wiggling his brows. “Had no idea that washisOmega,” he muses. “What the fuck was she doing out on a date?”

I frown, capping the pen and pushing the report to one of the nurses. “What do you mean?” My mind flashes to earlier, when Hunter stormed into the ER, his laidback suit jacket doing nothing to hide the authority rolling off him. He’s shorter than me, maybe 5’8” to my 6’1”, but the way he demanded to see Celeste made my knees weak, a Beta instinct to submit I haven’t felt in years.

It wasn’t just his Alpha presence—it washim, all piercing brown eyes and tattoos peeking out from his collar. Terrifying and magnetic, especially when he stepped into her room, softening instantly as he took her hand and followed her to every test.

Teddy raises an eyebrow, like I’m missing something obvious. “You haven’t met Hunter? Seriously? He’s like this badass Alphacop, retired detective who now consults on some of the bigger cases. In no world did I think he’d let his Omega go on a date.”

That sentiment just pisses me off. “No, I got what you meant before, but an Omega isn’t a piece of property. They aren’t owned. As long as they’re in agreement on what their relationship is, Celeste can do whatever she wants.” My voice is sharper than I intend, a flush creeping up my neck. I don’t know why I’m defending her so fiercely, but the thought of her being caged, even by someone like Hunter, makes my skin crawl.

Teddy chuckles, shaking his head. “You keep telling yourself that, man. When you get an Omega, you’ll see what I mean.” His grin is all Alpha smugness, and I want to argue, but I bite my tongue. He doesn’t get it. He’s never been the one left behind, told he’s not enough. Some people prefer packs over pairs or even open relationships. As long as it’s not harming anyone, I don’t see the problem.

But Teddy wouldn’t understand that. He’s a one-Omega type Alpha and I’m pretty sure he’d find one that enjoys staying at home and providing for him.

To each their own.

“I’m gonna check on Celeste, then head home,” I say, avoiding Teddy’s eyes. I need to get out of here, back to my loft where my puppy is waiting, where I can shut out the world and this weird pull I feel toward an Omega I barely know.

“Fuck that. Come on, come out with the guys,” Teddy says, following me a step. “You’re always holed up in that little loft of yours.Live a little.” I wave him off, Teddy’s shoulders falling at my dismissal. “Hell, bring Jasmine. She’s a well-trained dog and I’m sure the bar won’t even notice!”

The usual excuse of ‘my dog is at home’ doesn’t work with Jasmine. She’s too well-trained and well-behaved. Most of the establishments around the city allow her inside with me butthat’s not the point. I’m just not in a people mood and I need to be home. Away from the chaos so that I can think.

“Yeah, not tonight.” I’m always saying ‘maybe next time’, so I leave that off this go around and wave goodbye before heading to the small corner they put Celeste in.

I’m not surprised to find Hunter now on the bed with Celeste completely curled up in his lap. Her nose drags along his chest, Celeste making these little purrs of satisfaction. They look gorgeous together, a picturesque version of a pack that I feel like I’m interrupting, but I only came to say goodbye.

Nothing more.

I can’t let it be more.

I clear my throat, forcing a smile onto my face. “Hey, just checking in before I leave. Everything okay?” My gaze lingers on Celeste, so different from the fierce Omega I loaded into the ambulance. That version punched a guy in the neck; this one’s all soft whines and surrender. I think I love both versions equally.

Love?Fuck.

Hunter looks up, his piercing brown eyes locking onto mine. There’s a quiet strength in the way he holds her, his arms tightening around Celeste, who just nuzzles closer, her purrs unbroken. “Thank you for everything,” he says. It almost feels like he’s measuring me, a flicker of that Beta instinct to submit, to lower my gaze. I don’t, but it’s a near thing.

“Will she be okay?”

Hunter nods again, his hand stroking through her hair, the outlines of the veins in his hands tightening and twisting beneath his dark skin. Heat blooms in the pit of my belly, a flush creeping up my neck at the thought of those hands somewhere else.Get it together, Lincoln.

“Everything came back negative. My Omega’s strong and stubborn most of the time,” he muses, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “The rest of the time, she likes to give in. I don’t mind.”His voice warms with a softness that I wish someone would show me, and Celeste lets out a soft whine, like she’s agreeing without words.

“Good to hear. The doctors here will take good care of her. I’m glad it’s not a concussion.” I keep my tone as professional as I can, but my eyes flick to Celeste again. That rose scent’s stronger now and it’s doing things to my head, making my pulse kick up. I need to get out of here.

Hunter’s nostrils flare and I freeze as his ginger-and-teakwood scent hits me full force. It’s not aggressive, but it’s overwhelming. My throat tightens as I swallow nervously, my Beta instincts screaming to back off and to show respect. A small part of me wants to step closer and unpack whatever this is but I’m not going to push my luck. Managing a hurried goodbye, I shuffle back out through the entrance and make a beeline for my truck.

I can’t seem to get out of there fast enough, peeling out of the parking lot and speeding down the street to my loft. I shift in my seat, reaching down to adjust myself in my jeans, my body betraying me with a reaction I didn’t ask for. And now, only one word keeps rattling around in my head:mate.

Shit.

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