Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
Corbin
“Fuck!”
Fucking stripped piece of shit. I turn, emotions swirling, and throw the wrench across the garage. It clangs loudly several times as it lands.
I stomp out, crossing the chill air and tug open the house door. Gael, still in his potter’s apron, looks up from the kitchen island.
“Tail in a knot, Cor?”
I snarl in response, not slowing as I head down the hall, past the dining room that we never use, past the den and the library, past the office. I tug open the last door.
Maddox is on the treadmill, huge body in an easy jog. He’s shirtless, with his earphones in.
His eyes land on me, and he takes me in. “Uh, Ethan, I’ll have to call you back.” He taps his phone and asks, “What’s wrong, Corbin?”
Rage runs through me.
“What’s wrong? Are you fucking serious, Mads? What’s wrong is that my omega is not in my house. Not in my bed. Not safe and protected, happily curled up in her nest!”
Mads gives me a look and steps off the treadmill. Him and I occasionally butt heads over dominance, in the way that strong alphas do. But we love each other, and it’s never that serious. No true cracks in our united front.
But holy fuck am I pissed at him right now.
Letting our omega leave. Without even a mating mark.
Mads crosses to me, and steps into my space, chest to chest. I’m not nearly as wide as him, but we’re still a solid match.
“We weren’t going to essentially rape her.” His voice is tight. “Because that is what marking an omega without permission is, Corbin. Doesn’t matter if she’s ours.”
I feel as if he struck me.
Rape her? No, we’d never. We’d…
My mind trails off as I deflate. I’d never hurt her, never violate her…
But Maddox is right. He never said it that way before, but fuck, he’s right.
And then my mate’s arms are around me, holding me tightly as I fall apart.