16. Adrian
Adrian
"Please. Just a couple more bites. Two bites."
My feet pause; my body taking on the grace of my wolfen ancestors, slowing to hear what I'm stumbling upon.
"Sageee. I'm not hungry! If I eat any more, I'm going to throw up.
" Opaline's annoyed groan carries into the hallway, hitting my ears, her frustration with our packmate evident.
A sound I'd recognize anywhere follows: Ever's snickers…
that quickly turn into a suspicious cough. "Are you going to help me over there?"
"No, he's with me on this. Now eat."
The chuff I nearly release gets caught in my throat as I try to keep my presence hidden.
My poor, sweet omega. How she's going to handle four overbearing, overprotective alphas for the rest of our lives should be interesting to watch unfold. I can't say I feel entirely bad for her.
I let the adorable bickering continue until my cheeks start hurting, using the time to gather my nerves again and try to ground myself. I had a reason for dropping by the main lodge. She's right around this corner that I'm hiding behind like a creepy coward.
It's been a couple of weeks since her Heat ended, and we've started falling into a new normal. It's been a teasing, welcoming glimpse at our forever. Having bonded both Calder and Sage, building trust and vulnerability, she's started staying at the house basically every night. And I…have too.
Living in the same house as both my omega and my…
Everette, has been nothing short of torturous.
The noises they make when together in her nest have made me question my sanity more than once in such a short time period.
The fact I can hear him counting how many times he makes her reach orgasm is especially fun for me.
But the reason I'm here right now is to prove to her I'm really in this. And I am, truly, with everything I am.
The last two weeks have been a blur between everyone's schedules and then them balancing time alone with Opaline.
I figured after her Heat, it was important for them to get that time in.
Initially, that's why I took a step back those first few days.
After that? I have no excuse. Every time I wanted to approach her and ask her out, my hands started presenting a concerning medical symptom.
Spontaneous hand, pit, and ass crack leakage. Maybe that happens as you get older? There's no other reason for it.
Shaking my head, I push myself forward, mind whirring. The previous minutes have proved useless in terms of trying to think of a smooth line to enter with, but I can't keep…standing here.
Only, when I cross the threshold into the laundry room, all that comes out is a choked, sputtered cough. Sage has Opaline spread out on her back on the linen folding table, tongue fucking her mouth and practically grinding against her.
Trying to gain some sort of upper hand as a recovery to my idiotic entry, I say, "You know that's against company rules.
" God damnit, dumbass. Seriously, what is wrong with me?
Even my inner primal huffs at me in annoyance.
"I mean…no. That's not what—I mean, well it is actually.
But, that's not—" The sigh I release could be felt from the other side of the lodge.
Great, here come the hand leaks. "God damn it.
" I continue muttering to myself, boots squeaking against the shining floor as I turn to leave, Sage's confused, narrow-eyed glare and Everette's amused smile, felt on my back.
With a curse, I round the corner, practically stomping down the dimly lit hallway. The temptation to close my eyes in some sort of sad attempt at pretending that didn't just happen is quickly rising.
"Wait! Hey…” Opaline's sweet voice trails after me, growing louder as she rounds the corner from the laundry room. "Hey." She smiles, catching up to me, leaving me a little dumbstruck, yet again.
"Uhh, hey. Hi. Opaline."
"Umm, were you dropping by? Did you…I mean, did you need something?"
"Yesh… I mean. Fuck, I started to say yes, but then said yeah…
" I move my hand up to run through my hair.
But it's in a messy bun I forgot about, and my fingers just get caught in the mess of strands.
With a hiss, I pull my hand away and try to lean against the wall, cheeks flaming.
Based on the way her normally pouty lips are flattened into a straight line, like she's trying not to laugh, she sees everything I'm failing so miserably at right now.
"Yeah, uh, sorry," I respond, clearing my throat and lightly knocking my knuckle on the wall next to me before quickly lowering my wet hand, stifling a groan.
God damn it all. "I didn't… I mean, I didn't know you'd be…
busy," I add lamely. Like she wouldn't have been otherwise busy with actual work; the entire reason she's here.
Her eyes dart away and even though I'm utterly humiliated at the moment, I hate the second they're no longer on me. "Anyway, do you have a minute?"
"Yeah, are you okay?" I guess that's a more than fair question. Fuck, given the limited time we've spent together the last two weeks and inelegance of our current conversation, she's probably a little put off.
Stepping forward, I reach for her tiny hand and place it in mine.
The contrast in not only size but also shades of our skin is drastic.
The sun has permanently darkened mine from repeated exposure for so many years, while hers is pale and smooth.
She literally glows in comparison to me and the simple sight of our hands together is breathtaking.
I can't even imagine what seeing the rest of our bodies together would do to me.
Probably send me into cardiac arrest or absolutely feral.
Shaking that particular image from my mind, I move my gaze to meet hers, the soft smile playing on her lips.
"Listen, Opaline." I'm suddenly overly aware that my pack brothers are most likely listening just on the other side of the wall, and my nerves start to build anew.
The step she takes, moving closer, as if to offer comfort to her alpha, doesn't go unnoticed.
"I know we have the plans, the group date, this weekend.
But uh," I whisper, "I'd love to spend time…
just us. I have an evening planned for the two of us, if you'd want to join me, I mean.
But, no pressure; never pressure. Whenever you're ready. I know—"
"Yes." The word's soft, like her, but direct. Her eyes radiate a lightness that urges me to pull her close.
"Then, it's a date," I smile, gaze tracing the freckles on her cheeks before landing back on those pale green gems. A million other things fight under my skin to be brought to the surface, everything I want to say, want her to know.
Opening and closing, all I manage is a simple, "Thank you, little omega. "