Page 63 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

“I told you I’d handle this, Ty.”

The words rattled like gravel in my throat as I tried to stifle my simmering growl.

He lifted his chin, a strand of hair falling between his narrowed eyes. I raised a brow, my alpha tensing. Our beta carried an air about him, one that reeked of challenge. One that brought my Apex to the surface, ensuring we demanded submission from our beta.

I only needed one bark to have Ty on his knees with his neck exposed to me, head bowed in sweet supplication. My mate might not have been an omega, but he willingly relented me as his Apex and his daddy.

“I know. But I also know you’ve been awake since three in the morning staring at the ceiling.”

Hot air rolled over my lips with a grunt. Of course, my tossing and turning hadn’t gone unnoticed. He’d spent the early evening with Shane, crawling into my bed sometime around midnight.

The corner of Ty’s mouth lifted before settling back into the determined set of his jaw. Streaks of sun caught the hard lines framing his mouth. It made my dick twitch. I loved my bratty, beautiful beta.

But this stubborn, resolute version of Ty did terrible things to my self-control. He never failed to impress me.

“This is for Mia, Jason.” His fingers threaded with mine, and the rapid thumping in my chest eased. “Let me do this for her.”

The lump in my throat settled in the pit of my stomach.

My hand reached out, grabbing the back of his neck, my fingers tangling in the hair at his nape. I pulled him in—hard. My lips crashed to his in a too brief, bruising kiss. His mouth parted, about to give me access as I nipped his bottom lip in farewell.

Black pupils threatened to engulf the crystal green hue of Ty’s eyes. He swayed slightly, tracing his fingers over his swollen lips. I laughed, tugging him into my side, and brushing the back of my knuckles along my bond mark on his skin.

He shivered. Possessiveness burned at the base of my spine.

“Come on then, handsome. Let’s go help our omega.”

My hand found the jut of his hip as we stepped into an ostentatious lobby. A glass dome covered the ceiling, and sun heated the polished marble floors.

A receptionist with membrane-like skin sat behind an opulent reception desk. She looked as if she had been programmed to ignore anyone who didn’t reek of old money. When she ignored us, I tapped a finger impatiently on the desk.

Two slitted eyes flicked to us, and I swore the haggard beta woman was part lizard.

“We’re here to see Marcus Miller,” I said.

“Do you have an appointment?”

The croaked words came out in a painful-sounding rasp—probably from one too many cigarettes.

“Yes. Jason Hawthorne.”

One plucked eyebrow rose. Without another word, she gestured toward the elevator.

“You know the polite thing to do is⁠—”

“Thank you,” I added, cutting Ty off as I steered my feisty beta away. “Save that fire for when we’re alone with Marcus.”

Ty shrugged but didn’t say anything else. I eyed the directory inside the elevator and snorted. Of course, Miller’s office was on the top floor.

The doors opened to an expansive office, the walls lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the monotone cityscape.

A greasy-haired alpha stood as we entered, flashing a fake smile as he clapped his hands together. Excessively gelled blonde hair sat on his head in a plastic wave. My nails dug into Ty’s hip.

The pungent sting of cloying cologne mixed with a sour citrus aroma made bile crawl up my throat.

I did my best to plaster on a professional smile. When I glanced at Ty, a scowl settled on the bow of his lips. Pride swelled in my chest, loving this protective side of him.

“Mr. Hawthorne. And your… associate.”