Chapter Twenty #3
“Oakley Winchester.” I turned to the front door to see a white couple in their midfifties walking through the door. “Do not call yourselves orphans. You know that breaks my heart.”
“Sorry, Cindy,” Oakley said, walking over to give her a hug. “Allow me to introduce you both to Bennett’s mate, Felix.”
“We’re not mated yet,” I said, shaking my head at Oakley.
She smirked at me and pressed her seltzer to her lips. “Yet, being the key word. These two are the real deal.”
Cindy smiled at me. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she said. “I’ve been hoping Bennett would find himself an omega soon. That man was born to be a loving alpha.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that you make it sound like I’m not a loving alpha when you say that!” Wyatt said as he and Bennett walked into the house.
They hugged Cindy together. “Oh, my boys. You know what I mean. I adore Ally and you treat her wonderfully. I’m just glad to finally see Bennett happy.” She lifted her hand in front of her mouth and whispered to me. “He’s been grinning when he talks about you for months.”
I chuckled, and Bennett kissed my temple as he put his hand on the small of my back. “I see you’ve met Cindy; this is Paul.” He gestured to Wyatt’s father, who shook my hand.
“Nice to meet you both,” I said.
Cindy gave me another pleased smile before turning her attention to Oakley. “Now we still need to talk about you, young lady. I want to make sure you get yourself a worthy alpha too.”
“Save it!” Oakley said, booking it to the back door as she chugged her seltzer. “For an orphan, I still get mothered a lot, Cindy.”
Cindy laughed and shook her head. “When are we going to shake some sense into that woman and get her to take her relationship with Donovan more seriously? He’s perfect for her.”
Wyatt shrugged. “Let her be, Mom. They both seem happy with where they’re at.”
“Young people and their casual nonmonogamy, am I right?” Reid said as he stepped into the house.
“Really?” I whispered to Bennett. “Is that their situation?”
“I have no interest in knowing anything more than what I know, which is that they’re not exclusive,” Bennett said, pressing another kiss to the side of my head. “I also can’t fathom how Donovan is okay with that.”
“Can you imagine if I told you I didn’t want to be exclusive?”
A growl resounded in Bennett’s chest.
“Exactly.” I chuckled, patting his chest. “And this is why I love you.”
“Bennett, you need to flip these burgers!” Ally yelled. She and Oakley both sat in chairs next to the grill, legs stretched out in the sun, but neither of them moved to get up.
“Ally doesn’t participate in cooking or serving food outside of the bar,” Bennett said.
“That’s a pretty solid rule. I like that. As her best bartender, I’d like to request the same rule.”
Bennett pulled me against his chest in a tight hug. “As if I’d have it any other way. You live with me now. You’re mine. I will take care of you—which includes feeding you. Always.”
I nuzzled against him, letting him scent mark each side of my neck.
He lingered on the right side, with Ryder’s mark spread across the skin, and I almost told him what I wanted.
Ryder had told me not to think about him when it came time to bond with Bennett, and if I took his inevitable pain off the table, I knew exactly what I wanted.
I wanted to be bonded to Bennett. I wanted to feel him with me even when we were apart.
I wanted forever with him and to feel every connection possible.
“Bennett!” Ally yelled again. We broke apart, and everyone started walking toward the back yard. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out.
Must be Clara since everyone else I know is here.
Ryder: I’ll do it. Meet me on Monday at noon in our spot. I’ll give you what you want.
Me: What’s the catch?
Ryder: No catch. Come alone. I don’t need your new alpha gloating.
Me: Bennett would never do that.
Ryder: I don’t fucking care, Felix. Just come without him this one time and then you can ride off into the sunset together for all I care.
Me: Why the sudden change of heart?
Ryder: Honestly? No matter what happens next, I’ve already lost you and I probably deserve that. But just because I’m miserable, doesn’t mean you have to be.
Me: Thank you. I’ll be there.
I sighed and tucked my phone back in my pocket.
One more week. If Ryder breaks the bond, then when I come home on Monday, I can tell Bennett that I want him to make me his.
Maybe not right away, because I’m not sure how that would affect me; breaking one bond only to have another immediately created.
During my next heat. That’s always intimate. I’ll tell him I want him to do it then.
I stepped out onto the patio and Bennett immediately pulled me against his side.
I sank against him, already feeling guilty for not telling him about this.
But there was no way he’d let me go see Ryder alone after what had happened last time.
He’d want to be there to protect me from Ryder, from my own feelings, from the pain of breaking the bond.
As much as I loved him for being that guy, I needed to do this on my own.
I wanted to resolve my past so Bennett could have my full, uninhibited future.
Bennett kissed the top of my head, and I resolved myself to my decision. He’ll understand why I wanted to do this for us.