“I have my reasons,” Colt says.
“Well, I hope your ‘reasons’ keep you warm at night,” she snaps, turning on me next. “How about you? Or are you too worried about keeping your job? Because that didn’t seem to be a problem for you half an hour ago back in the office.”
“What happened in the office?” River asks eagerly.
I open my mouth. As usual the words won’t come. That isn’t a surprise. However, being unsure what to do for the best is.
Because what is the best thing to do here? Leave her alone with River Caspian? Insist she calls her brothers? Guard her while she rides it out alone and in agony? Or rut her hard until she’s screaming my name?
Every fiber of my body begs me to choose the latter.
Because I’m a bad man. A bad alpha. Not worthy of her. Not worthy of a pack. Not worthy of anyone.
I should march right out of this apartment.
I should not think about how differently this all could be. About how it should have been. Because that, that would crack my heart right back down the middle. Right along the fissure line.
I close my eyes.
“Alpha?” When I open them, she’s standing right in front of me, balancing up on her tiptoes and peering into my face. “Please?”
And I’m weak. Because how can I refuse her? Refuse her when she smells so delicious. Refuse her when she’s begging me. Refuse her when she’s looking at me with eyes that swim with lust.
I promised Silver I’d take care of her. And I will.
I nod my head. She frowns.
“Don’t do me any favors here, Ford. It’s not in your job description. If this requires you to hold your nose and do your duty, then–”
I growl at her so loudly her mouth pops shut.
“You know how much I want you, Omega.”
“No, I don’t,” she says, the frown giving way to more tears. She’s a mess. Her hormones running riot.
I grab her by the waist and tug her right against my body. Then I whisper into her ear: “I’m not worthy of you, Molly Stormgate. But regardless, I want you.”
Confusion swims over her face, but then I’m kissing her neck, my hands yanking her blouse from her skirt and finding soft skin beneath. Her hands wrap around my neck and she rubs herself against my erection.
“You really going to turn her down?” I hear River ask his friend. “When she wants you. When sheneedsyou.”
“It’s dangerous.”
I lift my head from the mewling omega in my arms, to see River smack Colt on the shoulder.
“Bullshit, Colt. Bullshit. Keep telling yourself you’re a lone wolf. We both know you’re not. We both know you want in on this.”
“You don’t know shit.”
“I know you better than anyone else on this planet. I see through your stupid show.” He walks closer and grabs his friend by the collar. “I know you’re not happy. I know this could make you happy.”
“Packs are not made from cobbled-together halfwits.”
“Says who, Colt?” River releases his shirt with a shake of his head. “And we’re not talking about building a pack here. We’re talking about helping an omega through her heat. An omega who needs us. An omega who you’re head over heels for.”
Colt grunts, and glances over at me, to where the omega is wriggling out of her clothes.
His eyes blaze hot as I help her lift her blouse over her head and we all get a look at those pretty tits of hers and the tease of a bra she’s wearing, barely doing enough to cover her pert pink nipples.