Chapter Eight
Shayne
If it wasn’t already obvious how much Falcon needs to see this girl, reading his application to get our pack on Goldcrest’s social event list would do it.
Every word he’s written has been carefully chosen to make us sound like the perfect pack.
Of course, it’s not entirely truthful.
Considering Pack Falcone already found their Omega, I didn’t expect it to be a completely honest application, so I should have realized he wouldn’t mention Harper.
Seeing our names listed without his feels strange enough.
Reading about our lives, framed as if he doesn’t exist, gives me chills.
My fingers itch to grab my phone and call him, just to hear his voice.
If my phone wasn’t in the other room, I don’t think I’d be able to resist the temptation.
Shaking the feeling off takes effort.
Reminding myself Harper will be home soon helps.
I know I’ll hold him a little tighter tonight.
It’s not going to be easy to let him go in the morning.
Falcon clears his throat, and I fight back a shiver as I turn my head to look at him.
“So?” he asks, his gaze fixing on mine.
His surly expression has only intensified, and it makes me flash back to one of the many times we crossed each other’s paths before we became mates, back when it felt like he hated me.
“So?” I echo, not quite sure what he’s asking.
He blows out a breath and leans back in the seat next to me.
It takes a second to realize his silence is loaded.
He’s counting to ten, silently.
Damn.
I don’t think I’ve ever made him this mad.
There’s a first time for everything, but this isn’t a first I ever wanted to hit.
He exhales loudly and then gives me a stilted smile.
“The application. You think it’s ready to send?”
“Oh. Right. That,” I murmur.
It’s the real reason for his stormy mood.
That realization doesn’t make me feel any better.
“The application is perfect,” I start, seeing the relief in his eyes and knowing I’ve eased his mind.
I could leave it at that, but I’m too unsettled to keep my mouth shut for a happy life.
“Are you sure you want to send it?”
I watch him carefully as he starts to frown.
“What do you mean? You’re the one who suggested …”
“I know. But this whole thing … It feels like there’s something more behind it.”
He pulls a face, the same way he always does when I bring up anything that might sound “shrinky”. I expect him to follow the look up with a derisive refusal.
Instead, he asks, “Like what?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “But you’re getting really agitated.”
He sighs and sinks back into the couch.
“That’s just how I get when something’s bothering me.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” I joke, making him crack a vaguely amused smile.
I don’t know how to tell him that this feels different.
It’s not the first time something has riled him up.
I could be overthinking it.
It’s definitely not the first time I’ve done that.
Falcon lets out a soft growl as he folds his arms across his chest.
“That guy at the Alpha Alliance is an asshole,” he mutters. “All he had to do was let me see her. Just once. That’s all.”
“Maybe getting involved with those guys was a mistake.”
He raises an eyebrow as I run back over the words that just fell, unchecked, out of my mouth.
It’s a little messed up, but if he’d never helped them, he wouldn’t be feeling like this now.
“It wasn’t a mistake to help them,” he states. “I wish I could have helped more.”
“You do?” I ask, wondering if that’s what’s under his anger.
They said they would reach out in future if they needed more help.
Regardless of whether they meant it or not, they never called again.
He sighs. “It doesn’t matter. I just need to make sure the girl is okay. After that, I can focus on looking for a new job again.”
I know I missed my chance when his tone levels off.
He let his walls down for a few seconds, and now they’re right back up.
I can feel his defences surrounding him like an invisible force keeping me from getting too close.
It’s impossible to reason with him when he’s like this.
He won’t admit something’s wrong, much less talk about it.
I hope he gets the closure he needs when we visit the academy.
If it doesn’t help, he’s not going to like my solution, but he’ll agree to it.
The thought of being analyzed might make him wince, but I’d rather drag him to a pack therapist’s office than let him continue to hide from his feelings.
“I’ll get started on dinner,” I find myself saying as I get up from the couch.
It’s Jay’s night to cook, but I need to keep myself busy until the rest of our pack gets home.
“Great,” Falcon murmurs, leaning forward and picking up the laptop.
I leave the room and force my mind onto other things.
The last thing I need is for Harper to walk in and pick up on the anxious energy I’m simmering in.
I’ll have to hope it cools down while I concentrate on preparing tonight’s meal.
It’s not the easiest of chores, and it’s not one I’d usually volunteer for.
I know I need to make something vaguely healthy with the right flavors and textures to please our highly sensitive Omega, and somehow have it turn out well enough that our Beta doesn’t complain about me stealing his spot in the kitchen.
I have my work cut out for me, so I’d better get started.