Chapter 2 #2
“I don’t need you to be single, Plum. I just need you to forgive me.
” His matter-of-fact statement, as if my having a boyfriend is the least of his worries, shocks me silent.
“I knew there was a chance you’d have a pack one day, and I was prepared to earn my spot in your life if that was the case.
So, what's one alpha boyfriend compared to a mated pack?” Kai lifts one shoulder, tilting his head as he steps closer to me.
Reaching up, he caresses my cheek as he tucks my hair behind my ear.
I consider biting his fucking fingers, eyes narrowing in warning, but the cheeky fuck only winks.
“That is not—I’m not—you can’t…” I stumble over my words, flustered by his unwillingness to give up and the fact he’s touching me. That he’s standing so close I can feel the heat of his body. His scent washes over me as I tremble.
“Sure I can, Peppermint Plum.” His smile is disarming, and his wink is fucking infuriating as he steps back. Between the use of the old nickname and the kiss he blows to me, like this is some playful game, it’s almost enough to push me over the edge and contemplate criminal charges.
Kai gave me dozens of nicknames over the years, and I didn’t think I’d ever hear any of them come from his lips again.
Plumshine, Peppermint Plum… Sweet Plum…
“Omegas never forget their first love… or the man they lost their virginity to.” Kai takes advantage of the shock his words leave me in, leaning in and pressing a quick kiss to my cheek before running away.
Literally. He jumps back, dodging my lame attempt at punching him as I realise what he’s just done, and then fucking prances out the door, grinning like a madman.
The door closes after him with a soft thud and a jingle from the chimes above it.
I stand frozen in place, feeling too stunned to do anything else for several long moments, wondering exactly what the hell just happened.
Even after several long minutes, I can’t force it to make sense in my brain.
There are too many questions. Too much uncertainty.
Though, one thing is very fucking clear. I need to keep my distance. I have to stay as far away from that damn beta as possible. The wedding isn’t for weeks; that’s long enough to come up with a plan. It has to be.
KAI
Fuck, she was so mad. I knew she would be, but I guess I wasn’t expecting so much violence to shine in her silver eyes.
But mad is good. Mad isn’t indifferent. Mad means there are still feelings there, even if they aren’t great ones. Mad means she hasn’t moved on, no matter what she says about Benson.
“The alpha I left with.” Plum’s harsh words ring in my head, but I cling to them. Benson might have a knot, but I’ve got more money in my account than everyone in this town combined. Something that might not impress Plum now.
Unless I use it right.
Plum thinks I don’t know her anymore because I left for five years, but she doesn’t know what I’ve been doing for those years either.
Or how much time and money I’ve invested in keeping her so much closer than she thinks.
At first, it wasn’t much, just frequent phone calls with Mom.
I didn’t have money for more. Then, I met Val.
Val’s family is so rich, they could buy the entire town three times over without even touching their savings account.
Something Stella still doesn’t fully grasp.
She thinks he’s the kind of rich I am now.
Not that she cares. She lives comfortably and has never gone without her needs being met.
She truly fell for my best friend because he’s a great boyfriend—fiancé. Whatever.
The point is, when I first met Val, he was a bit nerdy and had no game. I helped him be the kind of guy who instantly caught Stella’s eye.
I snort, remembering the way they met. The truth of that night is something only four people know, and that’s because we were all there. Felicity, Stella, Val, and I. It’s information I’ll take to my grave, unless Plum asks. But only if she asks.
Anyway, I’m the best man for a reason, and I take my duties very seriously. Which is why I returned to town four weeks early. I need time to win my girl over. She has always been a slow burn, and I can’t do that if I’m focused on the wedding, with no time to spare.
My phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my pocket, rolling my eyes at my friend’s message as I quickly tap out a reply.
Val: You could just put the cameras up in her apartment.
Kai: I’ll save that as a last resort. I think moving into the apartment across the hall is a good first step. Not all of us turn to stalking.
Val knows everything about me, and I know everything about him. Which is how I know he’s a straight-up stalker. Once that alpha latches onto someone emotionally, there’s no getting rid of him. Not that I’ve ever tried. His craziness makes mine look tame.
I shake my head as I climb into my black Mustang. I have a small collection of cars back in the city, but I decided to only bring my first purchase with me so I wouldn’t look like a pretentious shithead. It’s the least expensive of the six.
Val: Bet if you knew her every thought, it’d be easier for you to win her over.
Kai: You need to look into this need you have for absolute control.
I hit send on my reply without a beat of hesitation. It’s something I’ve said to him a million times already.
I taught the guy how to dress for the female gaze and how to talk to women, but there’s nothing I could do about his need to keep a very watchful eye over his people.
I’m fully aware there’s a tracker in my phone and in my car, as well as a listening device that’s no doubt already in my brand-new apartment.
Val is many things—rational isn’t one of them.
Val: Worry about your own quirks, Kai. I’m merely suggesting what worked for me with Stella.
Kai: You won over Stella’s heart by being a good person, remember? Or did you forget I blocked nearly all of your attempts at extravagant gifts until you were ready to propose?
There was nothing I could do about the absolute monster of a rock he bought her. Alexandrite, I think? The fucking thing cost more than all my goddamn cars combined. She thought it was fucking fake; that’s how big it is. That was also the day she discovered his wealth.
Val: Stella and Plum are very different omegas. And I never broke Stella’s heart. You have more work to put in than I did.
Kai: Damn. Low blow.
Val: You’ll recover, I’m sure.
I snort, tossing my phone into the passenger seat as I drive.
Val’s not wrong, though. I smile to myself as I make my way to my mom’s place, thinking about the day I propose to Plum.
I don’t care who’s by my side that day. As long as she’s saying yes to me, she can have as many men in her pack as she wants.
That day will come. I’m manifesting it.
My plan to get Plum to fall back in love with me hasn’t changed, only now I have a little bit of friendly competition. Benson is Stella’s older brother, and if there’s one thing I know about their family, it’s that they are all good people. No thanks to their parents, of course.
I’ve been gone for five years, but my mom hasn’t. And I call her every day. Mostly to get updates on Plum, but also because I’m paranoid that Mom will die, and I won’t know. My dad’s death is something that still fucks with me, and he’s been gone most of my life.
Bee adopted me when she was already in her late fifties, but Dad was almost sixty-five. I know I was adopted, but Bee is the only family I’ve ever known. She’s my mom, no matter who gave birth to me.
I just want to be someone she can be proud of.
So while I fucked up everything about my relationship with Plum, I don’t regret the man I’ve become or everything I have to offer her because of it, but I do regret breaking her heart.
That was my greatest mistake. One I’m prepared to spend my life making up for, if Plum will only give me the chance