Chapter 6 #2
That is not what he told me, but I guess I can see the merits of not walking around telling everyone the evil they plan on doing. I’m not bitter, not bitter at all.
“What the devil is that?” Devon shouts from his boat, staring behind us.
I turn and see a chocolate idiot cantering straight towards us. He trots up on the jetty, nickering unhappily. He’s never been a fan of the jetty, and I’ve never forced him on here, but apparently, Fox’s magnetism outweighs his sense of self-preservation.
“How did you get out this time?” I snap.
He comes straight to me and neighs as he bobs his damn head up and down, being as cute as is possible for a horse this size. Once he’s got a pat and reassured himself I’m not going to turn him into glue, he abandons me for the new love of his life.
Mack and Devon don’t even get a side-eye.
The pair of them just stand there snickering and saying all sorts of gloating and irritating things with their eyes. I, on the other hand, just wait, like the fifth wheel on some unpleasant and awkward date.
“Come on, Fox,” I say in exasperation.
Who needs a lead rein when I have the allure of this strange alpha? Gale follows like an obedient puppy, flicking his tail and putting on all the cute prancing moves. He even grabs hold of Fox’s shirt and trails after him like an errant schoolboy.
Gwen sees us and starts laughing. I slap the book on the outside table she’s sitting at and glower at her.
“You are the idiot who named him Winter’s Gale. He’s stubborn and as strong-willed as winter.”
I snarl at her, but she just laughs harder.
“Really? That’s his name?” Fox says brightly. “Oh, it is beautiful. You are a beautiful boy, aren’t you?”
Gale arches his neck, showing off.
“I need to help the kids with their swimming lesson. Fox, can you watch Gale until I get someone to come and take him back home? It should only take a few minutes.”
I take two steps when Gale bounces into my path and stamps a foot, startling me.
“Come on, I have to do this. I don’t have time to play today.”
I duck, but he slams his hooves down on the cobblestones, bringing silence to the street. His ears pin, and he swivels his bulk, blocking my path.
With that sound ringing in my ears, I stand up to my full height slowly and look at him.
“I made a commitment; I’m going.”
He lets out a loud neigh, then another and another. When I try to move, he blocks my path and then starts using his bulk to push me back.
“Did you know horses can detect heartbeats from four feet away from people?” Gwen says dryly. “I personally have wondered what else they can feel. Maybe you don’t want to get wet tonight, Cordie?”
I glance at her, stricken.
“She can handle the class without you tonight, Cordie,” Fox says calmly. “Gale doesn’t want you to do this, and if he’s getting this upset, I think there’s a good reason why.”
The calm, soothing logic is underscored by an alpha’s deep concern. It’s not a command, but it’s a strong suggestion. I want to hate it, but it feels like a hug, like someone I could lean on. The instinctive urge to give in presses on me, tempting me.
I fight it.
“This is ridiculous. You are my horse, you can’t just dictate what I do!”
I hear birdsong and look up, finding the resident male magpie standing beside Sully on the roof, watching curiously.
I close my eyes because I don’t want to feed into the strange stories that are exploding around this town when a ginger cat appears.
What the hell? Is Sunshine Cove suddenly a zoo?
Fox lets out a laugh that has all of us transfixed. Is he an omega?
No, he’s definitely an alpha, but he’s like catnip to everything with a heartbeat.
The tension leaves my shoulders and relief surges through me. I can’t go swimming, not tonight. I step into Gale and rest my face on his neck, breathing in that horse smell and patting him.
“Okay. Okay. Good boy. You win.”
Fox turns in a circle, talking to the cat, but I turn back to Gwen. She’s leaning back in her chair, watching with a smirk. Her greying hair is in a cute bun on her head, but her eyes twinkle.
“I’m sorry, Gwen.”
“It’s all good; most of the kids have colds, and the rest are not going to want to do anything but paddle in the warm water. I’ll message Franco and see if he wants to come and sit on the sidelines and supervise.”
I give her a relieved but apologetic smile and turn to my stubborn ass of a horse.
“You are in so much trouble when we get home,” I murmur, but we both know he’s not.
He flicks his tail at me.
I stomp off, ignoring everyone and everything but Danger, whom I pick up and take straight to Elijah, who is walking up from the beach. I deposit the pup in his arms and turn away.
“Hey, Cordie, Cordie, what’s wrong?” Elijah asks sharply, seeing straight through me.
“Wrong? something's wrong?” Fox asks sharply.
He’s got his arms full of a jealous ginger cat and a jealous chocolate horse.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine,” I say through gritted teeth.
Not fine. Where is Sebastian? Is he going into a rut with an omega? No, no, no. We are not doing this. We knew this day would have to come. I want to cry. How can I stay here and watch him with another omega?
I exhale and put on my fake smile. Elijah looks relieved. Fox narrows his eyes unhappily.
“Can I borrow one of Danger’s leads to get Gale home?”
“Uh, sure.”
I take the lead and wrap it around Gale’s neck before I turn him and start walking home.
I’m tired. I’ve been up since five am hiding from Sebastian, then I came to town to help Mum set up her stall for the market. And I haven’t stopped.
I lead Gale into his paddock and check the gate. It’s open, the latch hanging from the chain as if it had never been locked, but I checked it this morning.
“Please, just stay here tomorrow. We can go for a ride and have some fun? How’s that sound?”
Gale whickers but not at me. I turn, already knowing what I’m going to see and find Fox leaning against the fence, watching with deeply expressive eyes.
“So, this is your home? You have a beautiful view.”
Yes, I know.
I climb up on the fence and sit there, watching as the last dregs of light turn the sky orange and then disappear.
The alpha doesn’t say anything; he just leans against the fence close enough for me to feel his body heat and watches the light go.
And for one wild moment, I could see us doing this every day for the rest of my life.
And then I remember that he’s here to ruin everything I’ve worked towards.