Page 46 of Fragile Heart

“I filed as Matchless,” I admit, the whisper sitting like lead between us. “Shortly after my wedding.”

Matchless meant the Council couldn’t do anything about my status as an Omega unless I filled out a ton of paperwork to reverse the decision. They couldn’t suggest I go to a Matching Gala, couldn’t offer me time off for my heats, couldn’t run my blood against the ever-growing bank of samples from willing Alphas to see if my scent match were already identified.

Matchless meant I was alone in this world with no one to help me if things got too hard. I hadn’t minded that reality when I’d submitted the paperwork. Now? It was one more thing to lay at Brett’s feet and his unfeeling, indifferent heart.

The corners of his mouth tighten, and a flash of something that might be hurt crosses his face before he manages to hide it.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

The apology is just as quiet, just as heavy. He croons something wordless and kisses me even as he runs a hand up my spine, his touch soft and soothing. He spins us faster than I can track, pressing me into the mattress.

“It’s all right,” he murmurs against my skin.

“Really?” I can’t help but ask. Alphas are territorial and possessive. Knowing that he can’t claim me legally, that we can’t have standing with the Council without a monstrous nightmare of bureaucracy? It’s something that most Alphas would be incredibly angry about.

He nods, taking the envelope from my hand and setting it on the nightstand before sliding down my body, his gaze growing hot.

“I’ll take you however I can, Brielle,” he says against my hip. “Starting with against my mouth right now.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

ETHAN

The cinnamon rolls aren’t nearly as good as Joan manages, but Camden squeals in delight as I pull them from the oven anyway, clapping his hands where he sits at the island coloring.

“We need to give them a chance to cool before you try one,” I say. Camden’s eyebrows furrow as he pouts, but he doesn’t directly protest. I offer him a smile and then I pull the pre-made icing Joan had handed me when I’d relented about trying to make the rolls last night. Just as I’m finishing covering them with the sticky mess, a set of footsteps echo down the hallway.

And then I hear a second set, and my heart fuckingstops.

Brielle steps into the large open living room first, her hair messy where it falls over her shoulders, her shape drowned out by one of Caleb’s hoodies. Hickeys cover her throat, and that jealous rage boils in me, hot enough it tries to claw up my throat.

I drop my eyes.

Camden screeches a heartbeat later.

“Bri!” he says. “Did you come for the cinnamon rolls? Daddy and I made them last night.”

There’s a stretch of silence, just long enough that my determination to not see her crumbles a bit. I chance a glance over my shoulder. Her cheeks are flushed, the bright red tracing all the way down onto the small bit of her throat that isn’t covered with the hoodie and bruises.

Caleb’s focus is on me, his eyebrows drawn low, a smile nowhere to be seen on his face. I scoop one of the rolls onto a plate and set it in front of Camden.

I need to get the fuck out of here before Caleb realizes I’m two seconds from losing my shit on him.

It’s bad enough that he took her out a couple weeks ago, bad enough that Molly fucking Bailey found out and so now the entire town knows that he’s interested in her. It’s bad enough that Camden is already obsessed with her from all the times Emily’s ended up having to watch him the last month.

And now he brings herhome? Marks her and leaves his scent all over her and makes it abundantly obvious that they’ve spent the entire night fucking each other? All it’ll take is one damn comment from Cam and the entire town is going to know that they’re hooking up when Caleb’s home.

This time, I don’t manage to stifle the growl. It rumbles through me, low and full of anger. Caleb stalks around the other side of the island, dishing out a second cinnamon roll and handing it to her. He kisses her temple.

“Why don’t you and Bri eat on the porch, bud?” He directs the question to our son, but his eyes are locked on Brielle’s.

“Okay!” Camden says, climbing down from the island and then grabbing his plate.

The front door closes a heartbeat later.

Caleb traces her chin, the touch more intimate than a casual hookup demands. His body softens infinitesimally as some ofthe worry she holds in her body eases away. Worry I can only tell she feels because she’s a goddamn Omega and her worriescallto me like not much else can.

He kisses her, an easy mingling of their mouths. Her scent explodes through the kitchen between one breath and the next.

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