Page 75 of For the First Time

“What is going on in that pretty little head of yours, darlin?”Oaks asked.“Your emotions are all over the place.”

I hesitated for only a moment before admitting, “Why do you think Everett hasn’t claimed me yet?”

Oaks eyes went wide, his lips parting on a silent gasp before pulling into a wide smile.“You’d have to ask him.”

I shook my head, my words catching in my throat.I didn’t know how to explain that I didn’t want to ask because I didn’t want to get rejected.Even though I knew,I knew,Everett was going to claim me, the thought simply couldn’t comfort me enough because he simply hadn’t done it yet.

With all the talks lately centering around omegas and betas, it was easy to forget about alphas.Well, not forget about them, but forget about their intrinsic part of packs.It was simply assumed that alphas will join packs, that they’ll bond omegas.No one truly considered the weight of bonding.

Having someone else’s emotions inside all the time must be overwhelming.Everett already had Atlas’s and I wasn’t sure if he’d want to add my emotions to the mix, especially considering all the drama that was happening in my life.

“Ah, darlin, don’t do that.”Oaks finally let go of my hair to cup my cheeks.His nose gently pressed against mine, his breaths puffing against my lips.“If you want him to claim you, tell him.”

“He knows.”

“He knows.But he doesn’t know.”

I laughed, the sound nearly coming out like a sob.What did that mean?

“If you want him to claim you, darlin, you need to tell him.He needs to know that you want him, that you’re ready for him.I promise you, he’s not refusing to bite you, he’s holding himself back.”

“Back from what?Why?”

“That, you’ll have to ask him.Once you’re brave enough.”He kissed my lips.Just a light peck as the front door nearly slammed open, the rough sound of boots slamming against the doorframe a loud indicator that Atlas was home.

“I’m starving.Where’s my pet?I need to taste her lips.”Atlas came into the kitchen on a whirlwind, pulling me from Oaks and slamming his mouth over mine.He pulled back almost abruptly, my body still leaning toward him before he glared at Oaks.“What the fuck?What did you do to piss her off?”

“Hey!”Oaks said, clearly offended by the suggestion.

This time, my laugh was a bark of laughter.“Oaks didn’t do anything.Just had a shitty conversation with my family.I’ll fill you in later.For now, I’m starving.”

Atlas still didn’t look too convinced, so I pulled his head down, and claimed his lips in a kiss.

“I just want you to be happy, pet,” he mumbled against my lips.

I was happy.I was going to be even happier when Everett claimed me.