52. LOREN
Chapter fifty-two
LOREN
K atie fusses at dinner, picking at her food and grumbling at Max and I. Callum called to say he had to stay late at the office. Another break in, but this time there was an injury. All for old motorcycle parts.
Max announces that he’s got a late night sparring class.
“You don’t mind?” He grabs Katie’s hand, stilling her fidgeting. She pulls a tight smile. My chest aches. She’s still reeling from meeting Angus. I thought she’d enjoy getting to talk to someone from Earth. I thought it would be a comfort to see that he’s settled and happy here. But instead, Katie has been withdrawn and snappy all afternoon.
I sigh. Our lunchtime tumble in the wildflowers seems like years ago, instead of just hours.
“No, please go and don’t worry about me.”
Her voice is carefully neutral. I think she might be trying to keep from crying. I’d heard her earlier, once we got home. Our bathrooms share a wall and I heard her, the deep sobs that poured out of her once she was alone.
Is she so unhappy with us? Did she leave behind someone she’s trying to get back to?
I took it as fact when Aurelia said none of the Omegas were married or bonded. But what if they’d lied?
The thought of Katie in love with another man infuriates me. I’m not one of those possessive Alphas; I’ve always prided myself on my calm, rational way of being in the world. But I want to growl and bare my teeth at anyone who might try to take Katie from us.
Except she’s not mine to keep. She is her own woman, Omega or no. Would I force her to stay here in Halvassa with us if she truly wanted to leave? To return to her home?
It’s an impossible question, of course. But I wrestle with my Alpha instincts to keep her, claim her, protect her from everything and everyone– including herself; and my respect for the woman I’ve gotten to know over the last week. A woman who knows her own mind, who pushes through pain and discomfort, a woman who is so stubborn that she would hurt herself before asking for help.
Max grabs her hand, kissing the back of it gently as he stands.
“Don’t wear Loren out too much while I’m gone,” he murmurs. If he’s caught the tension between Katie and I, he ignores it. “And try to save a little energy for me. After watching all these gymbos pummel each other, I just might need a little exercise myself.” He winks at her, all confident swagger. The smile she gives him is tight instead of playful.
Max puts his plate in the sink, then swings back to the dining room to kiss our Omega gently. She hesitates at first, with the same guarded posture from her first few days. But finally she melts into his embrace, kissing him deeply and sweetly. Like she’s mapping the contours of his lips and tongue.
“If you do any more of that, I’ll call out anyway just so I can stay here and watch you come all over me,” he growls into her ear.
Her cheeks pink, and she darts a glance at me.
“Oh, he can watch. Or play. I don’t mind sharing.”
Katie’s eyebrows raise nearly to her hairline, and Max barks out a laugh.
“Trust me, when your heat comes, you’ll want all of us fucking you. One after the other. All of us at once.” He winks at her. “Now I want you to imagine all the ways your Alphas can satisfy you while I’m gone. Make me a list, Tough Girl. Because I know we’re all game to explore all your Earth fetishes.” He kisses her lightly on the tip of the nose, then jogs out of the dining room and down to the garage. The engine of his motorcycle revs, and I know he’s going to work off some of his pent up lust.
Katie sits, almost frozen after Max’s kisses.
“Are you alright?” I finally ask, the tension too tight between us. I want to touch her, to soothe her, to hold her in my arms and let her sob or scream– whatever she needs to break out of this tight shell she’s in.
“Yes,” she says, taking a deep steadying breath. When she finally looks up at me, there’s sadness in her eyes.
“I think I just need a night… alone. To think.”
I nod. I would give her anything and space is a small ask. But my chest still aches. I want to touch her, to be able to casually kiss her the way that Max did.
Instead I stand and collect her dishes from the table. When I come back to ask if she wants dessert, she’s gone.