Page 422 of Omega for the Pack

I would rather much prefer being in the kitchen alone. Tense silence reigned between us. His body near mine sent signals to my omega wolf that the pack leader was nearby. My breathing came out harsher and faster as I washed the dishes, willing him to go away in my mind.

“It’s okay, I got this,” I said tersely, gritting my teeth.

“Is there something wrong?” he asked. The nerve of him.Why was he acting like he wasn’t the one with the attitude this morning? What the hell was wrong with this alpha?

But as I washed another glass- I dropped it, and it shattered in the sink with a small crash.

Shit.

I dipped my hand into the sink to pick up the large piece.

“Don’t!” said Ryder.

But it was too late, and the palm of my hand was bleeding everywhere. The impending sharp pain hit me two seconds later, and I howled in agony, washing my hand under the running water and gripping my injured hand with my other one.

“Ahh,” I said as Ryder grabbed my wrist and pulled it away from the water.

“It’ll just keep bleeding,” he said. “Lucas, see if there’s anything in our van, please.”

“On it,” he said gruffly, slamming the front door open as he ran out.

The pain was sharp as a knife across the long cut on my skin as Ryder pressed a paper towel onto my wound. We stood there like that, gaze on my hand -refusing to look at him. His large,callused hand wrapped around my wrist seemed to relieve some of the pain.

Or maybe it was my brain playing tricks on me.

Twelve

RYDER

Itried to remain cordial and professional with Lacy this morning.

We were getting into dangerous territory, especially after last night. But now, with her hand in mine and her beautiful scent overwhelming me- I obviously did a lousy job since she was here now, standing before me, angry and in pain.

“I can handle it,” she gritted out.

She winced as I pulled the paper towel off.

“I’m going to cool your wound with my tongue,” I assured her, pressing my tongue against the palm of her hand. I watched her wince in pain again as I licked the angry scar on her palm. Her scent made my soul come alive. Her very essence intoxicated me, and the intimate act caused all the blood flow to go down to my groin.

I gazed at her, studying her flushed face. She looked unsure, but the smell between her legs signaled to me that she was aroused. Her ever-sweet ginger scent that she was afraid of. It was the cutest thing.

“I only found bandages,” said Lucas, rushing back into the kitchen with the box in his hands.

“The worst of it is over,” I said, peeling a bandage and gently pressing it onto her palm. “How do you feel, Lacy?”

“It’s okay,” she said, her eyes on the shattered glass in the sink.

“I’ll take care of the rest of it,” I assured her, and she nodded, hesitantly pulling her soft hand from mine.

“Thank you,” she said, still not looking at me in the eyes. She was still angry at me, but it was for the best. We couldn’t get entangled like this for her safety. When she walked away, I watched her cute bottom swinging in front of me as she walked seductively upstairs.

“You need to be more patient with her,” commented Lucas, looking at me sideways. He had seen me checking her out. Besides Ethan, I had known Lucas the longest. He was quiet, but he was observant and kept to himself. Loyal to the pack and never spilled any secrets.

“You’re right, Lucas,” I said. “It’s becoming tougher to control myself being around her.”

“I can barely talk around her,” said Lucas. “All I think about is knotting the fuck out of her.”

“You never talk, Lucas,” joked Ethan, strolling into the kitchen and combing his beard with his fingers. I cleaned up the rest of the glass and rinsed off the sink for Lacy. I didn’t want her hurting herself again.

---