Page 66 of Brandy Snap: Part Two

Kai had shouted and raged at us for long enough to drive home what would happen if we disappointed him. And Caspian had fallen at the first hurdle. I refused to take it further, no matter how strongly she smelled of slick.

Her face hardened as she folded her arms.

“You slept with me without your omega’s permission,” she said, cutting through any sexual tension I had imagined.

The air around us tightened. I could sense she was as turned on as I was in her presence. But I had to focus.

“I am truly sorry. I can’t use my instincts as an excuse here. I knew what I was doing when I slept with you.”

She blew a breath out the side of her mouth before pressing her lips together.

I did not expect to be let off with a simple apology. I doubted Kai would forgive me anytime soon, and I expected the same from her.

Except her tense shoulders dropped, her gaze softening as she replied.

“That doesn’t mean I’m innocent. Even though we were taken over by our scents, I could have stopped us. I’m just as guilty as you are.” She glanced back at me, her concern clear.

“Yet I’m responsible for taking care of you. And I am sorry for not taking your feelings into consideration.”

And I couldn’t exactly point out that my invitation to live with us came true, anyway. I could be tactless, but there was a line.

“I think you mean the feelings of your pack. I wasn’t the one who hurt the most.”

In my mind, I was taking care of my omega. But Melanie was not truly my omega, and I had left Kai when he needed me.

Even though I was irritated that he’d attacked the Hiscoxes, there really was no excuse for it. And it was a shame on my part. From Kai’s response, I was not the alpha he needed me to be.

Only through biting Melanie did he open up to the fact that our treatment of him bordered on poor at times. And it was absolutely unacceptable that Caspian and I had behaved that way for so long.

I’d believed I was protecting my pack by ensuring all factions of our business were handled properly, and the result was negligence of the people I loved the most.

I was their pack leader, yet I’d allowed Caspian to remain wrapped up in Camille, and assumed Kai’s neediness was simply his omega nature.

If I was going to improve as a mate and become the kind of alpha both Kai and Melanie deserved, then I had to address my own behaviour first.

She cleared her throat. “So, um…Did you talk to Kai?”

She peeked up at me from under her eyelashes, and I could see exactly what was on her mind. Because she had bonded with my omega and not seen him since.

I held back the part that had landed me in trouble with both of them. The selfishness which made me hide Melanie away that night so I could keep her all for myself.

I wanted to be selfish again. To have more time with her before she split her attention among the three of us. As soon as Caspian and I bit her, thoughts like stealing her away and trivial things such as jealousy would dissolve as the four of us bonded.

“‘Talk’ is not the right word in this situation,” I replied. “It was more that Kai ensured we knew how furious he was, and the steps I’d have to take to earn the right to be with him again.”

“And what kinds of steps are they?”

“Steps such as making sure I don’t do anything without his permission,” I said as my gaze danced across the soft lines of her face.

A luscious smirk crossed her lips as her thumb swept across my stomach, and I drew in a harsh breath.

She held me captive as she walked her fingers up my chest, my heart growing tighter, my restraint already reaching its breaking point.

She gripped my tie, pulling me down to her, a teasing smile on her lips. Her back curved, her breasts pressed out towards me, and a purr rumbled from her.

“And what did Kai say about helping me pack?”

Caspian