Page 4

~Adrian~

At some point, we’d changed positions, and Carter wound up curled around me. His head rested in the crook of my left arm, and his was draped over my torso. God, he smelled amazing. Every breath I took drew in the sweet honey and vanilla that had hit me the second I’d found him on the sidewalk. I hadn’t intended on any of this. All I’d meant to do was help a young man when he needed it. Now I had a true mate.

A knock sounded on the outer door, and I bit back a grumble. I managed to get out of bed without waking Carter, tugged on my jeans, and went to the front room. I opened the door and stepped aside.

“So…?”

I gestured toward the bedroom. “He’s still asleep, but, yes, he’s my mate.”

Chase sat on the couch and waited until I settled into the recliner. “What happened? When you two came by the pharmacy, he didn’t seem too happy.”

Raking my fingers through my hair, I sighed. “Long story.”

I spent the next ten minutes telling him how I’d seen Carter hit the pavement, how I’d rushed over to help only to discover exactly who Carter was to me. Chase’s smile was a bit wistful as he listened. I wanted to reassure him that he’d find his own alpha one of these days, but I think he was close to giving up hope.

“I’m assuming you haven’t claimed him yet.”

“No. The cut on his head has healed, but he has pneumonia. There’s no way in hell I’m going to put him through that until he’s stronger.”

“Ah, that explains the antibiotic you picked up earlier. Being a wolf, though, he’ll get rid of it fairly quickly.”

I nodded. “I thought Colt was going to ream me out at the ER.”

Chase chuckled. “What about Mom?”

“She chastised me for hearing about Carter from Colt before me.”

“He seriously told her?”

“Yeah. I thought about having a talk with him when he gets home, but it’s water under the bridge. Mom went into, well, den mother mode and fed Carter when we got here. She even told him about her own past before she met Dad.”

Chase’s eyes widened. “Wow…”

“I think it was mainly to help Carter relax. He, uh, had much the same kind of past.”

“I wondered about that,” Chase said. “How is he doing?”

“Still unsure, and, to be honest, it’s mostly my fault. I might’ve verbally staked my claim a bit… assertively.”

Chase sort of glared at me. “You fucking know better than that. I’d walk away from any alpha who tried to pull that shit.”

Sighing, I rubbed my hands down my face. “I know, I know,” I grumbled. “I apologized—a few times, actually.”

“Adrian, you can’t just barge in and expect an omega—true mate or no—to fall at your feet. We don’t work that way, and you know it. Give him some time. Let him come to you. You’re mates, so he will, but it has to be at his pace. Any idea of his heat cycle?”

“Not yet. We haven’t done much but casual chit-chat. Hell, I haven’t even kissed him.”

“Like I said, let Carter come to you.”

Before I could reply, there was movement at the bedroom door. I twisted around and saw Carter standing in the doorway. I extended a hand, and, after a moment, he took it and rounded the recliner. He sat somewhat stiffly on my lap.

“Carter, this is Chase, our youngest brother. Chase, this is Carter, my mate.”

Chase smiled and held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you in person and not behind a pane of bulletproof glass.”

Carter shook Chase’s hand. “Thank you, and likewise. You’re an omega?”

“I am,” Chase said. “Unmated, though. At this point, I’m fairly sure that won’t ever change. My brothers think I’m too picky.”

“I think you’ll find your alpha,” Carter replied. “You never really know what Fate has in store.”

Chase chuckled. “True, very true.” He stood, as did we. “I’d love to stay and chat, but it’s been a long day. I’d be more than happy to talk more, Carter. My rooms are right across the hall.”

Carter nodded. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

I waited until the door shut before turning to him. Hands shoved into his jeans pockets, Carter studied me, his expression unreadable. I’d be able to discern his thoughts and emotions much better once I claimed him, but, for now, I was stumped.

“In answer to Chase’s question, my heat is about a week away.” He pulled his hands from his pockets and closed the distance between us. He had to tilt his head to look up at me. This close, his scent made me dizzy and ache. His smile made it clear he knew what effect he had on me. Omegas might not be able to shift, but they sure as fuck weren’t helpless. They were far more powerful in the grand scheme of things than most folks understood.

“I think—”

He went up on his tiptoes and pressed a soft, chaste kiss to my mouth, silencing me. His breath warmed my lips, and I breathed in the intoxicating honey-and-vanilla scent.

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to grab a shower.”

I watched him walk back into the bedroom and had to adjust myself when my jeans got too tight. From the waist up, he was naked, and my hands itched to map every single inch of his body.

Carter paused in the bathroom doorway to flash me a teasing smile before shutting the door. I struggled with whether or not to follow. His expression had been inviting, teasing, but I knew I’d never be able to resist the urge to sink my teeth into his shoulder. Claiming took a lot out of an omega, and I wasn’t sure he was ready for it.

The shower started, and I imagined him stepping into the water. Visions of it raining down onto his lithe body tormented me to the point my knees went weak. I dropped into the recliner and growled. My heart pounded, and my wolf was right at the edge of my psyche, snarling and pacing. I stood abruptly and raked a hand through my hair. The ache—the need —to take him, fill him, and knot him was almost too much.

Before I could come to a decision, though, he reappeared in the bedroom doorway, long wet hair clinging to his bare chest and a towel wrapped around his hips. He smirked at me and shook his head. Then the towel hit the floor.

“Please tell me you don’t miss clues this much when you’re working.”