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“Hey, it’s no big deal,” Bailey-Rose soothed, grasping a hand and pulling it away from his face. “I don’t give a shit if you swear as long as it’s never at me. Trust me, I look all cute and harmless, but just ask Ulysses what it’s like when I’m mad. No one wants to deal with that, believe me.”

The look of horror on Warrick’s face was priceless, but it expressed how all of us were feeling at her comment. “Why the hell would I ever swear at you? God, I think I would sooner kick a puppy than speak to you like that.”

“Then it looks like we won’t have any problems. So cuss away, my friend… it won’t bother me one bit,” she assured him.

Warrick looked less panicked about the situation, but I still don’t think he believed her that it wasn’t a big deal. Can’t say I blame him. None of us have cussed or used vulgar language since she walked into the room. Well, scratch that. I might have when I thought she was dying from something I did, but still, it fit the situation. Whether we realized it or not, it seems our little Omega was bringing out the gentlemen in us.

Did these guys seriously think I would be offended by a little swearing? Had they forgotten I grew up with two brothers who fought daily? I get that I’m perceived as some Hello Kitty character, but I’ve also lived in the real world just like them. It was rather adorable when Warrick got so flustered, though. It made me realize I wasn’t the only nervous one here.

Warrick shifted in his seat and cleared his throat as he ran a hand through his stylish dark-brown hair. “If you say so, little dumpling.”

Gareth snorted this time at the pet name while Lysse rolled his eyes. I didn’t mind that one, but the others were right. Little cherub wasn’t something I wanted to be called. For now, I was more intrigued to see how many different nicknames he’d come up with. They all seemed rather uncommon or hilariously cliché.

“As I mentioned earlier, I’m Warrick, Warrick Shaw, and it’s a delight to discover I’m one of your scent-mates,” he said, placing his hand over his heart and bowing to me. “I’m the proud owner of the bar called The Fat Mule. It’s only been open for roughly half a year, but my family has been in the hospitality and restaurant industry forever. If you’ve ever heard of the Shaw Group, that’s my parents.”

I could feel my eyes widen at that bit of information. The Shaw Group was a name everyone in the upper crust of society has heard of. They own some of the most exclusive hotels, resorts, and restaurants in all of Preidon.

“Holy shit,” I blurted as I gawked at him.

Warrick snickered, shaking his head. “Ah hell, even when you swear, it’s the cutest thing ever.”

My cheeks burned as I blushed, ducking my head so he didn’t see how much his words affected me. Other than my family, I wasn’t used to other people showering me with so many compliments and sweet words, and it was a little overwhelming. Most of the time, I was too shy for people to notice me unless they knew who my family was. Then they wanted to be my friend just to use it as clout, not actually having any actual interest in me.

A hand cupped my chin, and I was swept up in the scent of cinnamon-candied pecans that made me think of the fall festival we have in town. Gently, the hand urged me to look up so I met Warrick’s citrine gaze. It was the first time I’d seen them so serious as he studied my face, but once he deemed nothing was wrong, he gave me a playful grin. “Seems our Care Bear doesn’t know what to do with compliments, hmm?”

I just shrugged and bit my lower lip, having no idea what to even say to that because it was one hundred percent true.

“Allow me to warn you that you’ll have to adjust because I can guarantee all of us will be showering those on you,” Warrick informed me. “Seriously, though, is it that uncommon for people not to notice how perfect you are?”

I know he meant it as a compliment, but the sting of my reality and experiences were quite the opposite. Pulling out of his grip, I turned away as I clenched my hands. “I’m far from perfect,” I whispered. “There are many things I can’t do or experience because of my condition. No one wants to invite the girl who can’t even drink or dance to go party with them.”

“Well, that’s short-sighted of them,” Warrick scoffed.

“Not really,” I countered. “All I’d do is hold them back from having fun or make them feel guilty for leaving me behind at the table so they can go dance.”

A low growl emanated from Warrick as he grabbed my hips and pulled me onto his lap so I straddled his legs. My hand shot out to keep from falling forward into his chest with the abrupt movement, but as his scent hit my nose, all I wanted was to be wrapped up in his arms like Yun-Sun had done when I climbed into his lap. Instead, Warrick cupped my face in a firm grip, forcing me to stare directly into his face.

“Bailey-Rose, I know we just met, but this is the one warning you get from me. If I hear you ever speaking down about yourself again, I’ll spank you hard enough that the sting of it is imprinted on your brain forever,” Warrick warned. “Fuck everyone who made you believe that bullshit so completely that you just argue with me to prove them right.”

Stunned, I just sat there. Was he right? Did I defend them? I started to argue but stopped, replayed what I said to him, and realized he was right.

“So what that you can’t drink? There is more to life than getting shitfaced and forgetting how you made an ass out of yourself while you were drunk. Trust me when I say those people aren’t having as much fun as you think they are,” Warrick continued. “As for the dancing, there are hundreds of different styles we can try until we find one your heart can handle. Plus, now that you’re a matched Omega, the only people whose opinions should matter are ours and your family’s. And, because I can’t hold back after looking at your perfect face, I’m going to kiss you if you’ll let me.”

I gave an approving squeak, unable to actually form words at how he’d gone from a fun-loving goofball to possessive Alpha at the flip of a switch. Warrick slowly closed the gap between us, giving me time to change my mind. Clearly, he couldn’t see the cheering and waving pom poms going on at the prospect of this sexy Alpha kissing me.

The moment his lips touched mine, it felt like fireworks were going off in my brain. How many movies and books have I read where they describe this very moment? Too many, but fuck, if this wasn’t everything I ever imagined and craved in my life. My hands fisted his shirt as I sank against him, wanting to feel as much of him as I could pressed against me. A need I’d never felt before unfurled in the pit of my stomach, making me whine at the strange and wonderful sensation.

Warrick kept the kiss rather tame, too tame for my liking if I’m being honest. He held me tight as he pressed his lips to mine again and again before moving to cover every inch of my face in a flurry of kisses. It took a moment for my brain to register that he was speaking as he peppered my skin with affection.

“You are perfect. You are mine. Your skin smells like summer and sunshine. I’m the luckiest Alpha in the world to have you,” Warrick murmured into my ear before kissing just below it and pulling back to meet my gaze. “I don’t even have to question it. The thing I know I’ll love more than anything in the world has to be you. Equally, the thing that I hate is anyone who dares to make you ever doubt how exceptional you are. So to combat that, I’m going to make it my life’s mission to remind you each and every day how I see you.”

Tears pooled in my eyes. There was nothing I could do to stop it, not when it felt like he was stitching back together my broken heart one word and kiss at a time. Could it be that I’ve been blind to how I’ve allowed others to put me in a box and make me believe I wasn’t worthy of this kind of love? Warrick didn’t try to stop me from crying. He merely cuddled me close and began to purr, rocking slightly from side to side, allowing me to feel the emotions I was going through.

I don’t know how long I stayed there or when the tears stopped falling, but I had no interest in moving from where I was. Like when the others held me, I felt safe, warm, and cherished. In an odd way, I felt like a battery had been left empty and was now starting to recharge, showing me how drained I’d been this whole time.

Another hand ran down my back. “Hey, Rosie, can you drink this for me?”

With Warrick’s help, I sat up and found Lysse with a glass. I knew by the pink hue that it had my electrolyte powder in it. Being locked away in my room eating junk food and drinking primarily tea and hot chocolate, this was probably a smart call. I struggled to keep my electrolytes in balance on a good day, but with all the crying, bad food, and excitement going on, I was probably horribly dehydrated.