Page 23 of Spark (Damselverse #2)

Chapter twenty-three

Dacre

Z ara and Halle have their much-awaited catch-up. In the end, they even forget about us Alphas as they sit at a separate booth.

The pair hug and cry nonstop, and I try to pick up on what they’re saying.

“So much for the double date, hey.”

I look at Dane. He’s sipping his wine glass, eyeing me suspiciously across the table. It looks as if we are on a date of our own.

“How long did you know?” he asks.

I hold my hands up in peace. “Look, I only found out today that she was your Halle’s Zara.”

The Alpha narrows his eyes playfully this time, then smiles. “A small world that your Omega would be the Zara. Halle has been stressed for months. Especially after that phone call.”

“Yeah, she told me about that,” I reply, picking up my own glass of wine.

I’m going to need it.

Now we return to gazing at our Omegas.

Our Omegas. I suppose Zara is mine now. Xavier and Nolan have already knotted her, but I've kept my distance.

Perhaps it’s time I changed that. Take that next step.

Now Halle and Zara laugh about something in their past, and my heart thumps faster as I can’t take my eyes off Zara.

She’s beautiful when she laughs, and I decide there and then that I am going to ensure that she never stops laughing.

And I vow that I will do whatever it takes to get her grandma back.

Dane snorts, and I eye him across the table. “What are you laughing about?”

He shakes his head, finishing off his wine. “You can’t take your eyes off her…”

I sigh, grabbing a breadstick as I throw it at his face. The Alpha guffaws louder, and he even catches the attention of our Omegas.

“I’m happy for you, D. I know you're not my pack, but I still see you like a brother. You deserve to be happy.”

A small smile grows on my face. “Yeah… same.”

“Just don’t tell Penn. He will get jealous.”

I raise a brow. “Penn gets jealous?”

It's hard to tell with that Alpha. He’s always so formal and stoic.

“Oh, trust me. He’s very sensitive...”

Well, he could have fooled me.

Now we return to watching the Omegas. Halle places a hand on Zara’s shoulder, and it looks as if she just told her.

Whether they like it or not, Dane’s pack is now involved. As Halle’s Alphas, they will sense when she is distressed.

And if Halle wants to do what she can to help her friend, then they will follow right after her.

Perhaps I may even find a kindred spirit in the stalwart Penn.

“I have your back, Dacre. If you need my help, just give me a call. We've dealt with similar asshats before.”

I meet his hazel eyes.

We will need all the backup we can get. The Wolf is a dangerous man.

“Thanks, Dane. I appreciate it.”

The Alpha laughs, opening up another bottle of wine, and this date is getting expensive. “Whether you like it or not, I’m involved now. My Omega won’t rest until your own Omega is happy.”

I nod. As I suspected.

“But please know that I am here for you. And if you need some Omega advice, too, I'm only a phone call away."

He winks.

I roll my eyes as the Alpha pours me some wine, and then we both clink our glasses, downing our drinks.

***

We leave the restaurant a few hours later.

Halle and Zara hug nonstop on the sidewalk, promising to always keep in touch.

“You let me know if you need anything, Zara. Anything … and I will be there.”

Tears drip down Zara’s face as she hugs her long-time friend. I’m glad she got to reunite with her. Despite everything going on, Zara can still find a reason to smile and be happy.

“I promise, Halle.”

The blonde Omega wraps her arms around Zara one last time. In the end, Dane has to step in and pry her away.

“Come on. It’s time to leave the two lovebirds,” he says.

Halle finally lets go, wiping her cheeks as they’re covered in tears. “You call me if you need anything. I will always be there.”

“I promise,” Zara repeats, and it appears they’re both quite drunk.

They talked for hours in that restaurant over wine that Dane and I paid for.

Both Omegas were willing to pay, but we shut them down immediately.

Dane and Halle leave at last. Halle can’t stop waving at Zara. Zara is the same, and even when Dane and Halle are barely visible, she still waves.

When they disappear, she’s silent for a while. I slip my arm around her. “Zara… it will be fine. You will see her again.”

Zara sucks in a breath, then meets my eyes. I freeze.

Hers shine with so much trust, they take my breath away.

“I know… it’s just… I missed her.”

I smile. “Yeah, I can imagine. Why didn’t you tell me earlier that you knew her?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I just didn’t want to get her involved in my life, you know. With The Wolf.”

I get it. But she shouldn’t have to go through it all alone. We will all be there for her.

“That way, she won’t get hurt because of me…”

It takes me a while to respond as her words sink in. “Is that what you think? That you’re a liability?”

She nods, hugging herself.

“Zara, you’re not. Trust me…We would all move mountains for you. Even Xavier.”

At the mention of the Alpha’s name, she bursts into tears, and I purr for her now, bringing her closer.

“It’s okay,” I whisper as I press her head to my chest so she can hear my purr. “Xavier will be fine. Trust me, he already has George trussed up like a… well… pig .”

She laughs at that, but she keeps her head by my chest, listening to my purr.

“Come. Let’s get you home. It’s been a long night.”

The Omega nods, and now she lets me lead the way home.

It is her home now, after all. And I am her Alpha.

I’m afraid she’s stuck with me forever, because I will never let her go.

Zara is mine , and I look forward to rubbing it in The Wolf’s face when we finally face him down.