Page 61 of Instant Bond

“I did keep all this from you, but it wasn’t because of what you’re saying. I don’t think of you as weak or helpless, Cameron. You know that.”

“I didn’t think so, but then I don’t get why you wouldn’t tell me any of this? Did you think I’d care about you almost hooking up with some guy you work with before you even met me?”

“No! I know you aren’t unreasonable.”

“Then what is it!?” He demanded.

“I thought you would laugh at me!” The words burst out of me even though I hadn’t been quite ready to admit them. He’d been in a defensive stance, clearly ready to hurl some other question or accusation at me. But upon hearing my excuse, his arms dropped. He blinked at me in confusion.

“What do you mean, laugh at you?”

I cleared my throat, glancing down into my lap. “You don’t find it ridiculous? That I’m a grown man, an alpha, getting pushed around by a coworker?”

“Pushed around?” He repeated, giving me an incredulous look. “This isn’t some grade school spat over who gets the swings on the playground. Why haven’t you reported him? To HR, at least.”

“I tried telling my mother,” I said.

“And she didn’t care!?”

“She told me I was being ridiculous, and that I need to get along with him.”

“Karter…” He sighed, scrubbing his palms over his face, like he needed to clear his head from so much newly acquired knowledge. “That’s crazy. He’s the one in the wrong.”

“I know that,” I insisted. “But still, I wanted to handle this on my own. That’s why I didn’t tell you. I don’t want you to think of me as… Weak,” I finished.

Another spark of anxiety bloomed in my stomach, settling heavy like thick tar. I hadn’t even wanted to say the word to him. Saying it out loud was like giving it life. If he hadn’t realized it yet, saying the word would remind him that weak was the thing I wasn’t supposed to be. No omega would ever want a weak alpha.

“I couldn’t think of you like that,” he said. His voice had softened, and it seemed like most of his temper had drained out. “Seriously. Ever. All you’ve done since we met is take care of me and Ty.” He took a few steps toward me, gazing down at me where I sat.

“That’s all I’ve wanted to do since we met.”

“And you’ve done an incredible job,” he said. He planted a knee on either side of me, settling his rear onto my thighs. “I’ve never felt so safe and so protected as I feel with you.”

My stomach fluttered, my nerves slowly dissipating as he hooked his hands behind my neck. Had he really forgiven me so easily?

“And I could never, ever think of you as weak for something like this, Karter. He’s harassing you, and he’s taking advantage of the fact that you feel embarrassed about it. He’s a complete scumbag.”

Relief seeped through the thick layer of shame that I hadn’t completely realized I had held inside me for all of this.

“So you don’t think I’m an idiot for letting it get this far?”

“No, I do think you’re an idiot for letting it get this far,” he corrected me. “But I don’t think you’re weak. And it isn’t your fault.”

I snorted a little, letting my hands drift up to rest on either side of his slim waist. “I guess I’ll take it.”

“And if you ever lie to me about anything, or hide something like this from me again, I’m going to be very, very upset.”

“I won’t,” I swore. Even if I was tempted, the uncertainty and the guilt I’d felt had been enough of a lesson. “I will be completely honest with you, no matter what.”

He squeezed my neck, hugging into my body for a moment before pulling back. “Why did you even make that list anyway?”

I explained the visit I’d made to my friend, and how he’d asked me to compile all the events that had occurred so far.

“So you’re actually going to file a lawsuit against him?” He asked, after listening intently.

“I’m not sure yet,” I admitted. “I’m on the fence, but… After finding out about the eviction thing today… It seems insane to let him get away with it.”

Cameron nodded slowly, frowning. “But nothing else has happened since the hotel thing?”

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