Page 14 of Consider The Lilies

And he’s all mine.

“Bear?” Stanley’s deep voice rumbles right behind me, and cold fear slips over me.

Fuck.

“Jack,” I say his first name as I slowly turn and face my pack alpha. I hope that addressing him more intimately will help calm him, but the second our eyes meet, I know I’ve fucked up. Big time.

His jaw is set tight, and his dark eyes flash with controlled rage. He won’t yell at me. Not here. The last thing he wants is for anyone to think he doesn’t have complete and utter control over everything in his life…including his pack. And admitting I bought a potential mate without his approval would lookreallybad.

But I had no choice. Even now, all I want to do is storm that stage and take what’s mine.

“I’d love to have a word with you,” Stanley says through clenched teeth. “Shall we?” He motions to a clearing next to the stage, away from the crowd. I move, readying myself for whatever he’s about to say.

A few alphas congratulate us on our purchase as we pass, one even stopping to shake my hand. Stanley simply nods, ushering me along. I can tell how angry he is by how soft his touch is, and right now, his hand is barely ghosting over the middle of my back. He’s the opposite of most men—he's so damn loud when he’s happy, but he speaks in a deathly whisper when he’s pissed. He’s a master of contained rage.

Stanley pulls me to a stop, keeping his voice calm as he speaks, “Can I ask what the fuck you’re doing?” He’s very careful with his expression, keeping it light. Well aware that people are probably watching us.

Not sure what else to say, I state the obvious, “I claimed an omega.” And instantly regret saying it.

Stanley’s dark eyes go wide at my blunt statement, and his scent intensifies. “Is that all you have to say?” His voice is so quiet. Almost a whisper. “You justclaimed an omega?” He snarls my words back to me. “I get that you like to think with your cock,” he grits out, “but if you had told me inprivate,” he exaggerates the word, “that you wanted a face full of omega slick, I could have arranged something for you. Something that wouldn’t have caused a goddamn public spectacle!” he whisper-yells at me, his temper taking over.

“I’m so sorry.” I pull in a slow breath, trying to sound respectful, but my voice is still tight. I can’t help it. His anger is feeding into me, making me want to punch something.Hard. “I don’t know what happened.”

“I can’t fucking believe you did this.” He looks me up and down, his face contorted with rage.

I nod, not sure what to say.

“You’ve made such a mess.” Stanley begins to pace, unable to stand still. “Is this the Cosner pack now?” His voice edges even deeper, provoking me. “Do you not need me or Yuki anymore? Are you done with us? Ready to start your own damn pack withyour own personal omega?” Thick rage pours off him, and his teeth flash. “Or maybe you’re hoping I’ll kick you out. Reject your ass for being so fucking reckless. Let you leave without a fight.”

“No.” I immediately bow my head, hoping my show of submission will calm him down. “I don’t want any of that.” I decide to tell him the truth. “I…Ineededhim.” My gaze drifts over the grass under my boots, trying to figure out why the hell I did what I did. “I couldn’t let anyone else have him.”

Stanley stops pacing, then slowly moves to me. “That’s the best excuse you’ve got for overpaying for a sicklymaleomega?” His insult cuts through me, and it takes everything in me not to snap at him. There's nothing wrong with that omega.My omega.

No.I try to correct my thinking.This isouromega. I just have to help my alpha see how perfect he is.

“I didn’t think. I just acted,” I whisper as a few alphas pass. They chat loudly, not paying any attention to us. I look at my pack alpha, trying to find the words to make him forgive me. “I understand how pissed you are,” I say, “but I swear, I meant no disrespect. It was…instinct.”

Stanley makes a face at my choice of words. “Yourinstinctsare shit,” he snaps. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t make choices that intentionally piss me off.”

I nod, trying to muster the courage to ask what I really want to know.

“What is it?” Stanley bluntly asks. “I know that look. What do you want to say?”

I swallow hard, worried about how he’s going to react to my question. But I have to know. “Are you going to cancel my bid?”

Stanley’s eyes go wide with shock and rage, then he snarls, “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” He pushes forward, forcing me to back up. “You really don’t see what you’ve done, do you?”

I don’t know how to answer that.

“Ican’treturn the little shit,” he growls quietly. “The second I tell Angelica we don’t want the boy is the moment she realizes you bought him without my fucking approval.” His dark eyes narrow into slits, glaring at me with so much disappointment and fury. “Do you want everyone to know you have zero respect for me? That you do whatever the fuck you want?”

Shock tears through me, and I hold my hands up, trying to calm him. “Stanley.” I use his preferred name as I stare deep into his eyes. “You know that’s not true. I have nothing but respect for?—”

“Zero respect,” he cuts me off, looking hard into my eyes. “You fucked up, Bear.” He jabs a finger into my breastbone, shoving hard. “Your selfish decision has put me in an impossible position.” He pauses, daring me to argue. But I can’t. He’s right. “Ihaveto take that sick boy home to keep other people from talking.”

I bow my head so he won’t see the excitement in my eyes. “What are you going to do?”

Stanley sucks in a deep breath, pushing his shoulders back. He’s a few inches shorter than me, but he carries himself like he’s seven feet tall. “Let me tell you what I’m going to do,” his voice drops to an angry rumble, and I hold my breath. “I’m going to bring that little omega home and fuck his goddamn brains out. Then I’m going to bring Yuki in so she can smother his fucking face with her alpha pussy. But you,” he pokes my chest again, “don’t get to touch even a hair on his head.”

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