Page 6

Chapter Six

G ripping my chair until my knuckles turn white is all that keeps me in place when Willie Moore barks at Posie. My nails dig into the wood hard enough that one cracks, but I barely notice. All my focus is on keeping my cool.

He’s her father. Your boss. No hitting.

But my instincts riot like a caged animal battering against my ribs, intent on release. Posie’s face pales as she sinks to the ground. I’m on my feet, towering over her before Willie realizes what he did. The vulnerability of my omega on the floor rips every protective instinct in me to the surface, and the hair on my body stands up.

“Shit. Fuck. I’m sorry,” Willie apologizes, his eyes wide with shock. I’ve spent so much time around this family; hell, I lived with them for the better part of a year after my parents died, and never, not once, have I seen him bark at an omega. He treats his daughter and wife like precious glass.

Dropping to my knees, I pull my shaking Posie into my arms. Her sweet sugar scent is burned with embarrassment and anger, and I hate it. The need to soothe her becomes my sole focus. Nothing else matters.

“You’re all right, Puff.” My hands stroke up and down her arms, smoothing away the trembles from the strength of Willie’s command. The surrounding air fills with tension, voices snapping at one another, anger swirling—but all of it fades, muted by having my girl in my arms. We’re rarely together like this, and I want to memorize every curve, every breath. The feel of her tucked against me because all too soon it’ll be over again.

She closes her eyes, taking a few deep, fortifying gulps before her eyes snap open. Confusion swirls in their dark depths, and I hold my breath, hoping for just a second that she caught a whiff of my scent.

That she’ll know what I’ve known for the last seven years.

Posie Moore is my scent match.

That hope is dashed the next instant when she stiffens and pulls away. Posie’s hair sways back and forth as she gets unsteadily to her feet, and the overwhelming urge to wrap it tight in my fist comes over me, but I ignore my baser instincts and spring to my feet, using my arm to prop her up.

As she stands, a hush comes over the room, and all eyes focus on her. Posie’s jaw sets with determination, her eyes glinting and flashing around the space. Though Alphas tend to be considered the more powerful designation, we all bend to an angry omega. Even Owen squirms under the wrath in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.” Willie is the first to break the silence, closing the distance between him and Posie. I hate that he’s getting closer, but I know this is not the time to make a scene, so I take a few steps back, hoping the whole scenario looks more like a concerned friend than an obsessed boyfriend. “I shouldn’t have barked. You just scared us so much. I couldn’t let you walk away. Truly, I didn’t mean for it to be that strong.”

He holds his hand out to her, waiting for acceptance.

Posie looks at it for a long time, tears pooling in her eyes. And I want to step in, take her away from here. But I know she needs this. The Moores are amazing parents, warm, caring, kind—and exceedingly overprotective. Especially of Posie. After Owen, they didn’t think they could have any more children, so when their daughter surprised them seven years later, they were elated. And thankful. And scared.

Before the accident, they were strict. But after…

“I love you all so much. I really do. But I need some space to grow. To find out who I am on my own,” she whispers. Although she is quieter than butterfly wings, her voice carries across the room, causing her mom to gasp and then turn to sob into Papa Samuel’s shirt.

“You’re our world, sweetheart. And you’re still so fragile. We have a car in the garage for you. You’ve never even driven it,” Willie says, sliding his hand over her shoulder and pulling her into a gentle hug. “You have panic attacks when a car horn honks. You’ve never had to worry about money or laundry or even making your bed.”

Posie steps back, allowing the rift between them to grow, crossing her arms across her middle. At this point, I’m not sure what I want more, my Puff spreading her wings or staying in the safe cocoon of her home.

“I can do laundry. I sell my jewelry. And I certainly know how to make a bed. Omega rideshares negate my need for a car. I get around just fine. Please understand that I’m far from helpless. And ultimately, it’s not your decision. The law says I became an adult at eighteen, and I’ve stayed because I hate stressing you all out. But you can’t keep me here forever.” Her breathing becomes shallow as her designation struggles with challenging not only her dad but a very dominant Alpha.

Such a good girl standing up for yourself.

She takes another step toward the door, and my body tenses, ready to follow, to chase her down. My girl is all kinds of distressed, tossing her delectable scent every which way. If she goes outside now, Alphas from all over will scent her and come swarming, searching out my omega like heat-seeking missiles.

All that cotton candy is for me. Only mine.

“How about we make a deal?” Papa Samuel says, ever the peacemaker. Posie eyes him warily but jerks her head in a quick nod, ready to hear what he has to say. “We would all feel a lot more comfortable about you moving out if you knew how to drive. That way, you wouldn’t need to trust strangers with your safety. If you can pass your driver’s exam and use your car to take you anywhere you need to without using rideshares for an entire month, we’ll help you take everything over to Emma and Mari’s.”

“Take the deal, little sis,” Owen encourages. “It’s the closest you’ll get to their blessing.”

Posie’s whole body slouches, all the bluster disappearing under the scrutiny of her family, and she deflates before us like a balloon with all the air sucked out.

“Fine,” she agrees, swallowing hard and biting her lip.

“Let’s eat! I’m starving. And we have practice soon!” Crimson declares, and just like that, everyone shuffles back to the table, ready to dig into the now-cold food. Posie stands woodenly, unmoving, her eyes fixed on a knot in the wooden floor.

“You okay?” I whisper, unable to help myself from reaching out to stroke a hand down her smooth arm. The slight touch sends a zip of electricity through my blood. It breaks her out of her trance, and she gives me a thin smile, her scent still soured.

What I wouldn’t do to bring her home and take all that stress away… with my tongue.

“Just fine,” she answers, her voice cracking, but I can’t call her out on it. Not here. “Thank you.”

Her words are thick with meaning, and she walks back to her seat, where she remains silent through the rest of breakfast, shuffling food around her plate but never eating a single bite. The second it’s over, she high-tails it out of the room, bolting for the stairs.

And though I wish I could follow her, every fiber of my being wants to… I’ve already caught enough curious frowns being tossed my way today. Damien catches my longing gaze and raises an eyebrow at me. I shrug, trying to look nonchalant, but I’m not sure if he buys it.

I don’t want anyone to figure it out before she does…