Page 90 of One for the Money
I brace myself for the tongue-lashing he’s about to give me.
I deserve it.
I deserve whatever ire he throws my way, because I’ve fucked everything up.
“Thank you,” he chokes out, tears brimming in his eyes. “Thank you for choosing us.”
It takes my brain several minutes to catch up to his words, and when it does, I take a big step back. “It’s not like that,” I choke out. “It was an accident.”
“What was an accident?” Dario slips out of my bedroom, an impish grin on his face. “Did you get into trouble while we were gone?”
“Come closer,” Quinton beckons him toward us. “Come smell.”
Dario moves to Quinton’s side and takes a big inhale, nostrils flaring. His pupils dilate, and he looks between me and Matteo. “He smells like her. Not just being near her. His scent is changing.” A massive grin cracks his boyish face wide. “You bonded Matteo? You’re staying?”
“She. What?” The words are tight, furious. Dexter and Jude have joined us in the main living area. The former is glaring at me with flames in his eyes. “You bonded Matteo?”
“It was an accident!” I shout, taking several steps backward until my calves hit my couch and I sink to its threadbare surface. “I didn’t mean to.”
“What do you mean, you didn’t mean to?” Jude asks, taking a slow step toward me. “You didn’t ask him?”
“No,” I sob, burying my face in my hands. “I’m so, so sorry, Matteo. I’m going to figure this out. There arecurrently drug trials underway to dissolve bonds. I’ll get you a spot in one.”
A growl fills the air. “You’d dissolve the bond?” Quinton stalks forward, all coiled fury. “Is my Beta not good enough for you?”
Matteo approaches Quinton’s other side, putting a hand on his shoulder. “You know that’s not what she’s saying, Alpha,” he says placatingly. “Her Omega nature took over. This wasn’t intentional, and if I’ve got the hang of reading this bond, she’s beating herself up about it pretty badly.”
“But you’re ours,” Quinton says plainly. “We all know that. Why would you be upset?”
“I took away his choice,” I say softly. “He’s trapped, stuck with me. And I didn’t even give him a chance to turn me down. I just took what I wanted. I’m just as bad…”
“Is that what you think?” Matteo asks softly, interrupting my spiral. “That I didn’t have a choice in this?”
Scoffing, I finally look up at the Beta. His head is tilted to the side, and while I expect to see disappointment and upset, instead, his expression is open and curious. “Of course, that’s what I think. I didn’t ask. I just… bit.”
He drops to his knees in front of me, clasping my hands in his. “I still had to accept the bond. If anyone could bond another with just a single bite, everyone would cover every inch of their skin at all times. It would have hurt us both, but I could have rejected the bond. You know that, don’t you?”
Logically, I do know that. Everyone learns that at school. You can only do it within seventy-two hours of the bite, but it’s possible. I’ve treated the effects of a rejected bond before.
And yet, in the moment, it didn’t cross my mind.
The moment I felt the bond flaring to life in my chest, I should’ve known.
Locking eyes with the Beta,myBeta, my mouth drops open at the warmth and joy on his face.
He wanted this.
He chose this.
He chose…me.
Chapter 34
There it is.
The realization.
It’s like every human emotion ever defined flits across her beautiful, tear-stained face at the same time.
