Page 107

I grunt. “Yup. I’m solid.”

I give it three… two…

“You know I’m not trying to be a dick about this, right?”

Yup. There it is.

I don’t respond, content to let my silence speak for me.

Dax exhales, and I can feel his anxiety bleeding through the Bond. “I’m just worried about you. You’re my brother. You’re my best friend. Watching you throw yourself back into that house with that Omega in there…”

I stop, leaning a hand against the bark of a tree. Maybe it’ll ground me enough to keep me from blowing up at my packmate. Again.

“I’m doing my job, Dax. I’m not throwing myself anywhere.”

“I—”

“I need you to trust me,” I interrupt harshly. “Can you do that?”

There’s a long few seconds of silence before he sighs and say, “I’m trying.”

“You don’t trust her, Dax. I know that. I don’t agree, and I think you’re seriously overestimating this female’s ability to manipulate me, but I get it. She’s an unknown, and unknowns make you twitchy.”

It’s ironic, really. I’m not lying to Dax, but at the same time, the only thing he’s overestimating is how little he thinks I feel for her. Not because he’s underestimating my obsession, but because he truly thinks it’s only lust and hormones. My Alpha biology being ‘manipulated’ by her Omega biology.

Neither Dax nor Vae have a clue. If anything, I’m the manipulative one in this situation. I hate being dishonest with them. I hate hiding things. The guilt I feel keeping something this big to myself is always there, eating at me.

It’s the only option, though. Not only for my pack, but for Idril as well.

“Yeah. I know you think that. That’s what worries me. I think you’re seriously underestimating the way an Omega can use their biology to fuck with Alphas.”

Fates, he’s so obsessed with the biology thing. I have to be missing something here. No one get like this unless it’s personal. More and more, I’m starting to think Daxen’s been hiding something for us. Something big. Something we’ve never noticed before because none of us have ever felt like this about an Omega before.

I sigh, knowing I need to be careful. I can’t poke him if this is actually something personal. He’ll lash out with cruelty, like an injured animal protecting its soft spots.

“You know I love you. You and Vae.” I hesitate, rolling my neck back and forth to work out the kinks. “You’re my fucking family. The family I chose. Please believe me when I tell you I’ve got this under control. That’s all I can give you right now. I’m asking you—as your brother—to trust that I know what I’m doing.”

“Even if I think you’re wrong?”

“Even then.”

As a peace offering, I crack open my side of the Bond the smallest amount, letting him feel my determination. My confidence.

I hear a sharp intake of breath followed by a groan of resignation.

“Fuck… Yeah, okay. I can do that.” The pause after his acceptance is heavy. I wait, knowing there’s more he wants to say. When he speaks again, his tone is hard. Serious.“I’m willing to trust you on this. And… If I’m wrong, and this girl really is innocent, I want you to know… I’ll apologize. I’ll get on my damn knees if I have to.”

My throat tightens with emotion. I don’t want to, but I have to ask.

“And if I’m the one who’s wrong?”

Because I know that’s where he’s going. No one in the universe is more confident in their opinions than Dax.

“If you’re wrong, I’ll kill her myself,” he promises swiftly. “Because you’re my fucking brother, Caelan. And there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”

I block my side of the Bond fast before he can feel my rage at the thought of anyone harming my Mate, let alone Daxen. I force my voice into something light and teasing when I reply, “Let’s not go digging any graves just yet, yeah? I still have to get through tonight.”

“You’re close?” Like a switch that’s been flipped, he’s all business now.