Page 26 of The Wolf’s Wounded Omega (The Grizzly Ridge #2)

Chapter

Twenty-Five

D ANNY

I gazed at the reflection in my parents’ bathroom mirror, wondering if Knox would like what he saw. I’d dressed in my best dark wash jeans with a salmon-colored shirt that set off my complexion nicely. My hair was styled and I’d shaved in more than one place.

Anxiety curled in my gut. I hadn’t worn this shirt since before I’d started dating Rex. He hadn’t liked it. He’d said that the color was too feminine and that I was a bear shifter and shouldn’t like girly things.

It had taken me a while to realize that part of the reason he’d dated me in the first place was because I was unusually large for an omega. He had assumed, because of that, that I wouldn’t like feminine things. Because he was a stereotyping asshole.

Then he’d had the audacity to blame me for his inability to knot me because I wasn’t “omega enough.”

Being an omega didn’t make me less of a man.

Liking pink didn’t make me less of a man.

Being taller and broader than average didn’t make me less of an omega .

However, I was afraid that tolerating Rex’s bullshit for as long as I had did make me less, both as a man and an omega.

It wasn’t too late to reclaim some of what I lost though, right?

Milo appeared in the reflection behind me, standing in the doorway. “You look great.”

I turned toward him and scanned him up and down. “You look adorable too.”

He was wearing jeans, like me, but he had paired them with a patterned baby-blue shirt that made his eyes look more vivid. Even his massive baby belly didn’t detract from his appeal.

“You think so?” he asked, tugging on the bottom of his shirt. “I worry that I just look like a bowling ball. How can Everett possibly find me attractive like this?”

My heart went out to him. I crossed the room and pulled him into a hug, pretending his stomach wasn’t in the way. After all, it was my little niece or nephew in there and they could never be considered a nuisance.

“Everett will always think you’re beautiful.” I kissed his cheek. “Consider it part of the mating magic. Even on your grossest day, in your oldest sweatpants, he will still want you.”

“Thank you.” He sniffed, choked up. “I needed that reminder. My hormones are going haywire. I have swollen feet, and you don’t even want to know how many honey-drop sweets I’ve eaten today. This baby is definitely a bear shifter.”

I laughed. “I’m sorry about your feet. Shall we go to the kitchen and check on Momma? She might have something that will help.”

He nodded, and we made our way to the kitchen, where Momma was directing a couple of other women, overseeing the production of the New Year’s feast with the efficiency of a military commander.

I quietly explained Milo’s predicament to her, and she tutted and fetched a herbal tincture for him from the pantry. She showed him how to use it and then insisted he sit and take over her position as supervisor while she and I did some of the busywork.

I appreciated her easy handling of the situation. Milo obviously needed to rest, but he also had to feel like he was contributing because he was still insecure about his place in the family. Her solution accomplished both of those things.

Clever woman.

For the next half hour, we finished preparing the food, and then ferried it outside. The New Year’s feast was an informal event but most of the clan usually showed up. Many had helped set up tonight and there was a small fireworks display ready to blast off at midnight.

Clan members gathered around a bonfire in the backyard and I noticed a couple of Dad’s enforcers keeping watch to make sure the fire didn’t get out of control. Garrick was seated at the bonfire, showing the children how to make s’mores.

I looked around, searching for Knox. He was standing beside one of the food tables, chatting with Jamie, a fox omega with bright red hair and a cute smile. My fists clenched at my sides, and my eyes narrowed. Was that fox flirting with my mate?

I sniffed, although there was no way I’d be able to smell his desire—or lack thereof—from this great of a distance, especially not with so many people around. Still, I couldn’t resist the urge to try.

Ours .

I sighed. Yes, he was, and he hadn’t given me any reason to think that he was interested in anyone else. We were fated. I had no reason to be jealous. My bear was just insecure because our bond wasn’t complete and he was feeling a little possessive.

Knox had been incredibly patient with me. I had no reason not to trust him. As I was thinking that, I made my way to him and tucked myself under his arm. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and breathed me in, scenting me. My bear relaxed.

Our mate was with us and all was right with the world.

I smiled at Jamie. “Hey, how are you doing? How’s your mother?”

His mother had dementia and had gradually been slipping downhill over the past few years. He was still caring for her but I didn’t think it would be long before she had to go into some kind of special shifter aging facility.

We didn’t have one in Grizzly Ridge, and the closest one was an hour’s drive away, on the edge of Grayton. Considering the distance, I could understand his reluctance to send her there.

“She’s not great.” He forced a cheerful expression. “Still relatively fit, but somehow that just seems to make it worse. Her body still thinks she’s young, but her mind… Well, you know.”

“I’m sorry.” I wished there was something I could do to help but diseases like dementia didn’t discriminate between shifters and non-shifters. There was no magical cure. If a warlock ever invented one, they’d make a killing.

“It is what it is.” He wrung his hands, glancing around as if searching for a distraction. “How is Milo’s pregnancy?”

Recalling my earlier conversation with Milo, I grimaced, but I schooled my features quickly. “He’s fine. Did you know Knox was out on a job today?”

We chatted for a short while, and then I looped my arm with Knox’s and started my traditional circuit of the main families from Grizzly Ridge.

I liked to use events such as this one as an opportunity to check in with everyone and see how they were going and whether there was anything the Clan Alpha or his family could do to make life easier for them. Often there was nothing, but knowing that we cared went a long way to maintaining healthy clan relationships.

A few minutes before midnight, Dad called us all together for his annual “let’s ring in the New Year as a great big happy paranormal family” speech. He talked about all of the good things that happened this last year, highlighted new clan members and babies we’d welcomed, expressed sorrow for the people we lost, and gave a rousing toast to making the most of the New Year.

I poured myself a glass of champagne and grabbed a beer for Knox. Together, we waited for the countdown to midnight. When we reached ten seconds, everyone present began to count out loud.

Nerves crowded my gut, but I was determined to start the New Year off by being brave. As the clan shouted numbers, I drew closer to Knox. My heart raced. Two seconds to go.

Then one.

Fireworks illuminated the sky, bathing the world in starbursts of pink, yellow, and green. I threw my arms around Knox’s neck and planted my mouth on his.

He gasped and held me close, his tongue darting out to taste me. I pressed against him, loving the feel of his strong, hard body. My cock twitched and I reluctantly pulled away. I didn’t mind public displays of affection but letting my clan smell my arousal was another matter entirely.

Knox stared at me, stunned silent. I grinned mischievously, feeling more like my old self than I had in months. I used to be fun. I used to laugh and tease and play. Maybe I hadn’t lost that side of myself.

Maybe I’d just disconnected from him for a while and now we were getting to know each other again. Old friends reunited.

I yanked my shirt off, undid my fly, and peeled down my jeans, only realizing at the last moment that I’d forgotten to take off my shoes. I kicked them off and stumbled as I removed the last of my clothes.

Opposite me, Knox shrugged off his jacket and began to undress as well. My gaze automatically traced the contours of his muscles, but I forced myself to look away.

No getting an erection in front of your family.

I backed away from Knox. “You want another kiss?”

He nodded, his eyes darkening as they locked on my lips.

I blew him one. “Then you’ll have to catch me.”

With that, I shifted and ran into the woods, hearing his laugh behind me.