Page 24 of Fragile Heart

The need to feel this man’s skin is so strong my hands tremble. Slick soaks my scent blockers, and I breathe through the sudden, feral urge to strip in the middle of this barn so he can put his mouth on whichever part he wants the most.

Holy hell. There’s no way.

I swallow, trying to find a different explanation for my body’s response. Because there’s no way I’m having the reaction the Council lists as evidence an Omega has met their scent match. It’s a statistical improbability. The odds of finding your scent match are so small, it’s nearly akin to hitting the lottery.

The breeze grows stronger, and so does the cinnamon. I swallow a groan as my body grows hotter. Even my nipples respond, tightening to the point of near pain, something that hasn’t happened in averylong time. It feels almost like the hours before the one and only heat I’ve actually ridden out. The last bits of me that were fighting the reality, were trying to convince myself my response to him is something other than an Omega recognizing a scent match, fade away.

I suck in a breath and tighten my grip on Phoebe’s bridle, forcing myself to not move. I don’t trust myself. If I so much as flinch right now, I’m going to be in front of that man making a complete fool of myself. After another few minutes, the wind changes, the breeze dies down, and I swing up into the saddle, keeping my eyes to myself.

Of course my scent match is Ethan’s pack mate.

Chapter Eleven

CALEB

Camden twists in my lap, lodging one of his elbows in my side before I can manage to stop him. He ducks his head under my arm, focusing on where the women ride behind us on the trail. Maple shakes his head, and I loosen the reins just a bit. We’re nearly to the Arch, which means we’re nearly to the point where I can get feeling back in my hips and thighs.

“Bri, why do you live at Aunt Emily’s house?” he asks.

“Bud, that’s not really a thing people ask,” I mutter. “It’s not considered polite.”

Camden looks at me, his eyebrows furrowed hard enough that the line is between them again. “Well that’s a stupid rule.”

Brielle laughs behind us. Something loosens in my chest at the soft sound. She’s been incredibly quiet this entire ride. If not for the small smiles and relaxed body posture I’d noticed the few times I chanced glancing back, I would be seriously concerned she wasn’t enjoying herself.

I want her to enjoy herself.

Fuck, it’s been a long ass time since I felt that desire to make an Omega happy.

“I live in her guest house because I don’t have a house here,” she answers easily enough. The laughter is in her voice, too.

“Why don’t you?” Camden asks, unabashed.

The silence is longer this time. I chance a glance over my shoulder. Brielle’s head is tilted, a thoughtful look on her face. She runs a hand down Phoebe’s shoulder while she thinks over her answer.

“Well,” she says slowly. “I think that buying a place to live can be a little nerve-wracking. It’s something you don’t really want to rush into. So I’m going to stay at Emily’s until I figure out where I want to live permanently.”

Camden frowns before nodding. “You could live with us. There’s a room with a bed that Papa and Daddy don’t use.”

Emily chokes on her breath, and Brielle’s cheeks flush a dark red that just brings out the subtle maroon highlights in her hair. My heart picks up at the sight, a flash of need tearing through my body and making my already uncomfortable set up with Camden even worse. I ease Maple onto the side trail. Before anyone can decide exactly what to say in response to Camden’s offer, I grab him around the waist and pull him into my chest as I lean forward in the saddle, doing my best to help Maple with the grade of the last climb.

Camden giggles and nestles into my hold. His head cradles against the crook of my shoulder. Affection warms my chest, and I press a kiss to the crown of his hair. Maple clears the last of the grade, and the trail levels out, spreading into a small clearing. Across it, where the trail continues disappearing through the forest, stands the Arch. Camden claps his hands.

“Yay!” he cheers. “Papa, can I go climbing, please?”

“You have to give me a chance to help you get down,” Emily says, laughter in her voice, too. She comes up beside us a fewmoments later and holds out her hands. Camden climbs into her arms without hesitation, and then I ease out of the saddle and walk Maple over to where Emily’s tied out Redwood on a low lying pine branch a few feet just inside the clearing.

“Bri, come climb!” Camden says.

He races through the clearing a moment later, not waiting for any of us to respond. Brielle stands at the edge of the clearing, her hand tight enough where it grabs Phoebe’s lead rope that her knuckles are white.

“Here, let me help,” I offer, crossing to where she’s standing.

Her throat ripples with a swallow, and she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“All right,” she whispers.

I ease the rope from her death grip and guide Phoebe to the others, tying her out on the other side of Redwood.

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