Page 8 of Love in Excess (Beta Accepted #9)

HUNTER

Watching Celeste spin around in her seat, chomping on a piece of bacon has me smiling as I lean back against the counter.

She’s dressed in that peach one piece I bought for her a few months ago, Celeste then going off to buy one in every color .

She told me that when things are comfortable, you stick with it and I can’t complain.

My mind travels to what she said this morning about being selfish and then yesterday, meeting with Lincoln and his reaction to becoming something more. No one is selfish.

Because if she is, then so am I.

However, dwelling on that then brings up how pissed I am at Carter for thinking he can manhandle my Omega to get to me.

The light bruise on Celeste’s arm is like a beacon for my anger but I swallow that down, not wanting her to feel the brunt of my emotions.

Carter will be dealt with, more so than he was last night because that wasn’t enough.

It’ll never be enough.

I wait a few more seconds before leaning over the kitchen island, catching her attention. “Celeste… tell me what you meant by being selfish.”

Her adorable lips form a pout and I can’t help but reach across and tug her bottom lip forward.

“I… I was just on a date but I keep wanting to ask about Lincoln. I shouldn’t, right?

” She absentmindedly grabs my hand, running her fingers along the lines on my palm.

“But he smelled so good and he was so nice in the ambulance. That’s not a reason… ”

I squeeze her fingers. “Celeste, take a deep breath. You don’t really have to have a reason when it comes to spending time with a mate.” Her brows raise and then she nods as if she didn’t even realize. “Did you not even know why you wanted him?”

She just stares at me before reaching her wrist up to her nose.

A frown takes over her face as she looks down, her shoulders sagging.

“Fuck, I forgot. The bracelet you gave me is gone. I don’t know what happened to it.

” Tears glaze over her eyes, the sudden urge to wrap her up in my arms overwhelming any other thoughts.

I step around the counter to sit on one of the stools before dragging her into my lap. “I’ll get you another one, Celeste. That isn’t difficult. Now, back to Lincoln. You’re not being selfish because then I would be too. He absolutely does smell delicious and I talked to him…”

“When?” She sits up a little straighter. “You only saw him at the hospital with me. Wait, did you see him again? Is that why you left last night?”

I chuckle, holding her a little tighter against my chest. “Actually, Carter came by last night and I told him I’d meet him at the café.

However, when I got there, he was fighting Lincoln.

” I detail everything that happened, from stepping in between them to discussing this mate bond between the three of us.

Celeste goes quiet, my hackles raised as I check her arm. She hisses when my fingers graze over the bruise before I meet her gaze, wondering what’s going on in that head of hers. I don’t expect to find my Omega wide-eyed, a shocked smile on her face as the realization of my words finally hits her.

“Wait. He’s going to let me court him?” A squeal follows as she tumbles out of my lap, racing to the door to look for her shoes. She knows absolutely nothing about Lincoln, other than where he works but that wouldn’t stop her on a bad day.

No one would know that her date with Carter was a disaster last night and that’s when I feel it—that trickle of emotion beneath the excitement. The fear of being a disappointment, the thought that maybe she ruined something. She said as much last night and fuck, I can’t be having her think that.

“Celeste, just hold on a minute.” I saunter over to the foyer, gently grabbing her face in my hands to still her movements. “You do not need to make up for yesterday. That was Carter’s fault, not yours. Do you understand?”

“Alpha, I just…”

“Baby, I know. I would have loved Carter to work out. We had a lot in common but I’m not going to force something.

If you want Lincoln, I’m 100% on board. However, do it because you want to, not because you think you have to fix something.

” I press a kiss to her forehead and then pull back.

“I can see how much you want him and you’ve only just met him.

I need you to tame it down a few notches, though.

You’re usually at an eleven, and I need you at a five or six. ”

The fear in Lincoln’s expression last night told me that he’s either not used to the forwardness of an Omega or that it’s something worse.

Something like no one has ever stayed. He mentioned something about never having thought of packs and mates but that was a lie.

I’m determined to make him see it differently… if he’ll let us.

Celeste bounces on her feet, clasping her hands together. “I’ll do good. I promise. I’ll bring you home a Beta and…”

“No, baby. This is not for me. I want you to want him because you want him. And while you’re showering him with your Celeste charm, I’ll shower him with mine. Deal?”

Celeste thinks for a moment and then nods, a smile taking up her entire face.

“Great, now, let’s get you to actually finish breakfast before you take off looking for a man whom you don’t even know where he lives.”

The laughter that follows warms my heart because I know it’s only a matter of days, maybe even hours before I find Lincoln tumbling into our lives.