Chapter 19
Nineteen
WILLOW
The tip of a blade dug into the spot between my eyes, twisting until pain exploded out into my temples. At least, that was what it felt like. I groaned, my entire body aching as too-bright light pushed against my eyelids. I rolled to the side, burrowing my face into an unyielding wall of muscle.
A hoarse moan irritated my dry throat as nails scratched through my hair, massaging my scalp. I blinked, nestling further into the scent of my alpha. His presence was a balm to my aching body.
And it didn’t hurt in a good way.
Why did anyone get drunk if this was the result?
Nothing outweighed this outcome. Last night definitely wasn’t worth it.
Grimacing, I squinted my eyes tighter to prevent any light from getting in.
A quiet laugh rumbled through my frame, and lips caressed my temple.
“Not funny,” I hissed, regretting it immediately when pain thundered in my skull.
“Kinda funny.”
I swatted at him half-heartedly, and he didn’t stop my lackluster assault. Instead, he pushed two pills into my hand along with water. I took them, draining the glass before blinking my eyes open, relieved that the room wasn’t as bright as I expected.
“Eat.”
A piece of fruit pressed against my lips before I had time to register what was happening. My mouth parted, teeth piercing the supple flesh of the strawberry. My tongue brushed over the pads of his fingers, making his face twitch.
It was oddly intimate. One after another, he fed me until the plate on the end table was clear.
“Good girl.”
Slick soaked my panties, and I squirmed. Now that the pulse in my head eased, flashes of the previous night started piecing themselves together.
Unfortunately, it had not all been a cruel nightmare. It was real.
All I wanted was more time.
Except, I wasn’t going to get it.
My dad had seen to that.
It was marry the ancient Italian mafioso, who was older than my father, or marry Kaelen. A man whom I cared for more than I’d ever admit.
I wasn’t ready.
I needed more time.
Things with Kaelen were good. In the future, I could see mating with him, marrying him, spending a life with him, but I wanted to get to know him better, take things slow… allow myself to trust him—as an alpha.
The alternative was unacceptable.
If I didn’t marry Kaelen, I most certainly would end up with an alpha who would treat me horribly.
At least with Kaelen, I knew what I was getting into.
At least, I think I did.
My omega scolded me for dismissing our alpha. He was perfect for us. She knew it, even if I refused to accept it.
It wasn’t a refusal, not really.
It was fear.
I was scared.
Scared of being trapped. Scared of being hurt.
Not physically, but emotionally. I saw the torment my dad waged on my mom to control her, and it was worse than any slap or burn.
I rolled over, my legs dangling off the bed as I put my face in my hands. My hands trembled as a bead of sweat dripped down my brow. The mattress shifted, and I figured Kaelen didn’t want to deal with me and had gone to take a shower.
A shadow shifted in front of me, blocking the light. Two callused hands covered my own, gently pulling them away. I sucked in a shaky breath, and a knuckle rested under my chin, tipping my head back.
The muscle at the base of my head twinged with the strain of looking up at him. Kaelen towered over me. Tight briefs clung to his muscled thighs, colorful ink flexing on his taut torso as he gazed at me with an unreadable expression.
I tugged at the hem of the t-shirt he must have put me in last night before I passed out. Goosebumps broke out on my legs and arms. His eyes flicked to my mouth, dropping lower before finding my stare once more.
“I’m still mad at you,” I murmured, my words from last night coming back in pieces. “You’re an over-protective asshole.”
Slowly, he dropped to his knees beside the bed, his rough palms caressing the smooth skin of my thighs. My lips parted as I followed the movement, in awe of the most powerful man in Boston kneeling before me.
“And I will suffer your ire if it means you are safe. Someday, Willow, you will understand.” His warm breath fanned over my cheek, his next words a reverent whisper. “I kneel for no one. Except you.”
Time stopped and I froze. He took my left hand in his, dwarfing it as he rubbed his thumb over my knuckles.
In his other hand, he clutched a small box wrapped in dark, lush velvet.
“I believe I owed my omega something shiny.”
Snorting, my cheeks pushed against my eyes.
“I know you wanted more time, mo chroí. And in a perfect world, I would have given it to you. But I never needed it. I have known from the moment that I saw you. I’m sorry it’s happening like this. Not because I don’t want it, but because I know you are conflicted.”
I sucked in my bottom lip, not allowing the brimming tears to fall. Too much emotion choked me, making it hard to breathe. He popped open the lid of the box. Inside a stunning ring glimmered, nestled in blue silk.
A shiny sapphire sat between two golden hands with a diamond-encrusted crown above it. It was gorgeous without being gaudy.
Without a word, he plucked the ring from the silk, slipping it onto my left finger with the heart pointing out.
“It’s a Claddagh ring. Traditional in my family. The heart is for love. The crown for loyalty, and the hands for friendship. With the heart pointed out on your left hand, it signifies an engagement. When married, it will point inward.”
I nodded along, my eyes glued to the golden band on my finger. The weight eased my skittering pulse for some reason. I expected when he put it on that I would panic.
But the feeling never came.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.
“It pales in comparison to you.”
At that moment, I believed him. Believed that he cared for me. That he thought me more beautiful than a precious stone.
Maybe this was fate.
My fingers curled around his forearm, tracing the Gaelic words I had once asked him about.
Tá sé scríofa.
It is fated.
Maybe fate wasn’t a bad thing.
Before I could overthink it, I closed the space between us, fusing my mouth to his. His lips quirked as one of his hands slid to the small of my back while the other burrowed in my hair at my nape.
Confident lips melded with mine, slowly coaxing them open. He didn’t take more, keeping it light and gentle before pulling away and kissing the corner of my mouth.
“This doesn’t mean I forgive you,” I murmured against his lips.
“I know,” he said, brushing his hands over my ribs. “I will find ways to make it up to you. Unfortunately, I have to leave. Liam and I have a meeting, and I won’t be home until late.”
An unfamiliar feeling bubbled up and my breaths came out fast and uneven. Stinging cold made my fingers go numb as I searched his face for any signs of uncertainty. I struggled to voice the words out loud, but I was worried.
“Shhh, omega,” he soothed, holding my face. “I have a scheduled meeting with Dimitri Romanov to discuss contracts. Nothing more.”
I nodded, nuzzling into him and breathing in his intoxicating scent. Letting my omega lead, I rubbed my face against his, marking him with my scent. If he was going to be out with others, I wanted everyone to know he was mine.
Something close to a groan rumbled in his chest, and I grinned. Pleased with his reaction. He offered me the same, blending his scent with mine on my skin. After a long, quiet pause, he spoke.
“Aileen is down in the lounge, working on putting things together for Saturday. Why don’t you sit with her? Pick out your dress.”
The change of subject made me stiffen. Logically, I knew we were getting married on Saturday by a priest, but it was only now that I realized he intended for it to be a real wedding. One with a dress and flowers and all that other nonsense I never thought about.
Except for one thing.
Whenever I pictured my wedding, there was one constant that was always present.
“My parents. My mom. Can she come?”
A long breath loosened from him, and he slumped. He pressed his forehead into my belly, his hands anchored on my hips.
“I’m sorry. No. If your mom attends, so will your dad. He will know we haven’t always been married, and would tell the Italians. It’s not safe, mo chroí.”
“So no one,” I bit back, anger and pain lacing through my chest like shards of broken glass. “I’ll have no one at this farce of a wedding.”
It wasn’t necessarily his fault, but I wanted to be mad at someone. I reared back, about to slap him when his fingers wrapped around my wrist, stopping me. I hissed, glaring at him.
“Careful,” he warned.
“Or what?” I snapped, trying and failing to yank my arm free. “What will Kaelen Finnegan do to his wife?”
His jaw worked as he ground his teeth together, rising back to his full height. I stood with him, forcing myself into the space between us and the bed. If he thought he could intimidate me with his mountainous body, he was wrong.
“Curse áine for giving me such a mouthy omega for a wife,” he said. I glared at him, and he released me. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. I like that you’re feisty. I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
Confused by the sudden change, I blinked. Kaelen had the audacity to chuckle, cradling my chin and pulling me in for a chaste kiss before hopping in the shower.
After Kaelen left, I wandered down to the sitting room. Aileen sat on the sofa, sipping her tea as she pushed around magazines with flower arrangements and dresses. My throat started to close, and I did the only thing I could.
I ran, colliding with a solid figure that made me stumble.
Two hands bracketed my arms, catching me.
“Woah, now.”
“Aidan,” I breathed, relaxing instantly when I saw it was him.
Aidan had a calming effect everywhere he went. He wasn’t like other alphas. Despite being the middle child, he didn’t act like that. He exuded a reassuring, confident demeanor that put everyone at ease, including me.
“Ahh, my future sister,” he said, his voice even. “What has you sprinting like a mad person?”
“Where’s Torin?”
He palmed the back of his neck, a slight pink dusting the tops of his cheeks.
“Still asleep in my bed. Is something the matter?”
“I need to get out for a while.”
His eyes narrowed for a moment before he inclined his head, understanding what went unsaid.
“I’ll go wake the terror and then we’ll take you wherever you want.”
“Thank you,” I murmured.
“Anything for my baby sister,” he said, kissing my cheek and disappearing down the hall he came from.
I liked that he called me his sister. After growing up as an only child, I always wondered what it would be like to have siblings.