Chapter 19 #2
“The reason why I've been following you,” he sighs heavily, like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. “I’m going to be honest with you, okay?”
“That would be nice.” I lean back in the sand on my arms, watching him. My heart is pounding because I have no idea what this man is about to tell me. It literally could be anything.
“Please don’t hate me. Please don’t think I ever wanted to cause you harm. I never dreamed any of this would happen.”
“Okay...” My brows furrow, my nerves growing with every second.
“I wasn’t lying when I said I liked you, that part was true.”
“Good to know.” I nod.
“ The reason I asked you in for questioning wasn’t just because of the missing persons report.”
“Really?” I can’t help but smirk. “I’d never have guessed that.”
He groans, letting his head fall back. “I swear I’m good at my job.
I love it. I’ve worked so damn hard to get where I am and now it’s all crumbling down.
I wanted to prove myself, show that I was a good detective.
But no matter what I did, it was never good enough to get promoted from junior detective to detective.
I thought I found the case, the one that no one has been able to solve, but the more I’ve looked into it, I realized no one around here wanted it to be solved.
I thought if I was the one to do it, and I took it to the right people, I’d be set.
” His eyes flick over to mine. “Then I met you and everything flipped upside down.”
“How is meeting me keeping you from solving your case?” So, I was right. He is investigating my Alphas. He wants to put them behind bars, to take them away from me.
Anger starts to rise inside me, until he speaks again and my heart stops.
“Because as you were leaving, I caught a scent. A scent that changed everything inside me.”
My eyes widen, lips parting. “You have to be fucking kidding me!” I sit up quickly. “I swear to god, Tucker, if you’re telling me you’re scent matched to my Alphas...”
“Not all of them,” he says quickly, holding his hands up in defense. “Just one.”
“One.” I nod, trying not to freak the fuck out.
“Yeah, only one. That's fine. Totally fine. Sure, just what I need. Another Omega comes in and takes what's mine. Well, I’m not going to let that happen.” I get into my knees and grab his shirt in my hands, eyes wild as I pull him forward.
“I will not let you take my Alpha from me.”
“I would never,” he rushes out. “I’d never do that to you, Nova. They’re your Alphas, your scent matches. It just so happens that one of them is mine too,” he whispers. I hate the broken look in his eyes because it has me feeling sorry for him.
“Which one?” I ask, chest heaving as I try to keep my shit together. Every jealous, possessive Omega part of me wants to take my knife and gut him like a fish. “Which one of my Alphas are you scent matched to?”
“At first, I didn’t know. But after showing up at Ian’s bakery and Will’s shop, and while I really enjoy their scents, they weren’t the ones that I smelled that day.”
“Nick?” My eyes widen as I bark out a laugh. “Your Alpha is Nick? Oh god.”
I burst out into uncontrollable laughter. I can’t help it. This is all so fucking bizarre. Nick. Of all my Alphas, he’s scent matched to Nick.
“I don’t see how this is so funny?” Tucker grumbles.
“Oh sweetheart. It is. It’s so damn funny.” I wipe at my eyes. “I feel so bad for you.”
“Why?” His brows furrow.
“Because Nick is a raging asshole,” I laugh. “He might have a big dick, but he’s also a bigger dick. Hell, I’ve been with the man for months now, and I still haven't marked him. He hasn’t earned it.”
“You don’t want him?” he asks in confusion.
“Oh, I want him. I mean it. That Alpha is mine and I won’t give him to you. But I might be willing to share.”
“ Why haven't you marked him?”
“Because he’s an asshole.” I raise a brow.
“You have to be in it to understand. Anyway, I’m still waiting for that moment, you know?
The one that screams this man will die for me, and now I’m willing to die for him too.
I know he’s done things without me knowing, but he’s too chickenshit to man up in front of me, so I’m making him work for it.
We fight. A lot. It’s fun. I enjoy it.” I smile big.
“But when he finds out about you.” My eyes trail over him. “I don’t know...”
His whole face drops and fuck, I feel bad. “You think he’s going to reject me?”
“Seeing how when he found out I was his scent match he kidnapped me and held me against my will in an abandoned house that we ended up being snowed in for weeks. I don’t think he’s going to be too pleased when he finds out he has another Omega.
Especially an Omega who has been trying to put him and his brothers in jail. ”
“Wait!” he gapes at me. “They kidnapped you?”
“That’s not the point.” I wave him off like it’s no big deal. “The point is, he’s not going to be wrapping his arms around you and confessing his love for you. Hell, I’m still waiting on that,” I grumble. “Anyway, what I’m saying is, this isn’t going to be easy for you.”
“I know,” he says. “I don’t know what to do. Sure, I want to be with my Alpha, that's a given, but I know nothing about this man other than the fact he’s a big, scary man.”
“He is,” I sigh happily. “It’s so sexy. And when you get him riled up, fuck me, it’s the best thing ever.”
“I also don’t want to upset you. I don’t want to cause issues in your life, or with your pack. I like you, Nova, and if we’re being honest, I crave your approval over everyone else's."
That sends my heart into overdrive. “Really?”
He nods.
“Well, I certainly don’t like the fact that you’re trying to get my Alphas arrested.”
“I’m not.” He shakes his head. “At least, not anymore.”
“Why? You said this was something you’ve been working for, something that will give you the advantage to get the position you’ve been wanting. Why would you give that all up?”
“Because the idea of sending my scent matched Alpha to prison makes me physically ill,” he says, getting to his feet.
He starts to pace, running his hands through his hair before grabbing at the strands.
“I don’t even care about getting promoted anymore, and that scares the shit out of me.
Because you are right, I did work long and hard for this, and the idea of giving everything up terrifies me.
But I would. I will, because it’s not worth it if it means I can’t be with my Alpha.
Not to mention I’d be breaking up your pack and ruining your lives. You would hate me.
“I would,” I agree with no hesitation. “If you tried to take my Alphas from me, I’d do something to you that would get me locked up right along with them.” I get to my feet.
“I don’t want that.” He shakes his head, and I see the truth in his eyes. “Everyone at my precinct left the case alone, and now, so will I. If they don’t deem them important enough to put away, I don't either. So they robbed a few stores. It’s not like they’re killers or anything."
Keep a straight face Nova. Give nothing away. Nothing at all.
“So, what's your plan?” I ask, not confirming what he just said is true. “How are you going to make Nick yours?” Because like fuck am I going to sit around and let this man take my Alpha.
“Win you over,” he states matter of factly.
There goes my heart again. “Yeah?” I raise a brow. “You sure it’s because you like me? Or do you think getting me on your good side will help?”
“A bit of both,” he admits. “If you don’t want me with Nick, don’t want me in your pack, I’ll leave. I’ll back away and never bother you again.”
My brows furrow. “But you already scented him. That would mean you would either have to be put to sleep during your heats or be on suppressants for the rest of your life.” Why would he do that? Why would he give all that up for me? He doesn’t even know me.
“I'd never be able to live with myself knowing I ruined someone's life. He was yours first. And he will be yours last.”
“Damn it, Tucker,” I groan, closing my eyes as I feel my resolve crumbling.
“What?”
“Damn you for making me like you a little bit more.” I open my eyes to see the smallest smile on his face.
He might not look like your typical Omega, but he sure acts like one. He’s kind, soft hearted, and so damn considerate.
“Alright, here is what we’re going to do. You wanna win me over?” He gives me a firm nod. “I meant what I said before. You have to get the approval of my Alphas. If you can get Will and Ian on board, then so am I.”
“Really?” His eyes light up again like a damn puppy’s. Why does he have to be so cute? “What about Nick?”
“We’ll deal with him when we come to it,” I tell him.
“But Tucker, be warned, he’s a hard guy.
He’s not soft or sweet. Don’t expect rainbows and sunshine.
He’s wicked, in more ways than one.” I wink and his cheeks pinken again.
“Just do what I do, don’t back down, don’t let him walk all over you.
Give it to him as good as you get. You might just like it as much as I do. ”
“Okay,” he mumbles. “If you say so.”
“You sweet, sweet boy.” I reach up and pat his cheek. “You have no idea what you're in for.”
“You’re kind of freaking me out.”
“Good. Be freaked out. At least you won’t be blindsided like I was. Now what do you say, Tucker, are you up for the challenge?”
“Yes,” he replies without hesitation. “Whatever it takes to get you to accept me.”
Damn this man. The last thing I need is another person to worry about. There's something about Tucker that makes me want to wrap him up in my arms and protect him from the world, even if he looks like he wouldn’t need it.
I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m crazy. So fucking crazy. But hey, crazy is my new normal, so why would this change anything? “Alright then.” I hold out my hand. “We have a deal. Welcome to the pack, Tucker. You’re in for one hell of a ride.”