Page 74 of Psycho Alphas: Part One

Yet hot tears burned my eyes in an embrace that felt like nothing I’d ever known, painting a thousand miles of unknown, leaving aches of could-haves, or should-haves that scared me to the bone. No mother or sister to help me figure out what to dowith these destructive instincts—just a father and brothers who hated me.

Never warm arms and a whispered happy birthday before the sun had even risen.

Like I mattered to someone…

I realised I trembled as she held me, and I was clutching her before I could stop myself, as if that might stop the shaking.

It was okay.

She still thought I was asleep.

She was so soft and warm, and her arms were wrapping me up, quieting things in my mind I hadn’t even known could be quiet.

I… liked this.

Being held in someone’s arms for no reason at all.

Just because.

Her touch brushed my cheek, gentle… caring…

I swallowed a painful lump in my throat, holding her tighter. Her breasts were like pillows, and it was hard not to snuggle into them.

Maybe… Was that why I was one of those bad types of Omegas that would never be enough for Ace? I dared blink my eyes open through hot blurry tears, close enough that she wouldn’t see. She was so curvy with hips like… wow, and I had this boyish, bony frame.

I wasn’t soft anywhere.

I didn’t know if that was fixable…

Maybe it was good. Because if she wasn’t all an Omega should be, Ace might need a third, and that would break me, even if it wasn’t my place to be broken over it.

Because even when he gave her everything I wanted—and everything she was trying so desperately to escape—at least she was here… as if I mattered to someone properly for the first time I could remember.

EIGHTEEN

THISTLE

Ihadto find Rogue.

Knox was toying with me, and I’d failed at my mission of making sure he knew I hated him, so finding my mate was crucial. Once I’d met him, it would be easier to keep everything straight.

So, when I fumbled my way out of my makeshift, completely unsatisfactory nest of pillows the next morning, it was with renewed determination.

I gathered up Bunny, the loose paper and pen I’d found in a drawer, and tugged on a pair of socks.

We were gonna find Rogue.

Screw Knox and his stupid rules.

Bastard hadn’t cuddled me last night, anyway.

What had he said—he’d cuddle me as much as he was capable?

And he couldn’t managetwo nightsin a row?

“Does he think we’re going to settle for a cuddle-stunted Alpha who isn’t even our scent match?” I drew up in the hallway, glancing down at Bunny, a thought suddenly striking me.

You think…?

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