Page 16 of Embracing the Stalk

The sound of the back door unlocking unleashed another breath and then the scent of Gordon surrounded me, and the shaking became epic as the relief at him keeping his word, being here to protect me, rushed through me.

“I got you. I got you,” he soothed, kissing my hair as he wrapped his arms around me, his kneecaps pressing into my back. “It’s alright. Take another breath. You can do it.”

I could, now he was here. I could do anything if he just stayed right next to me.

Drew’s voice came from a distance. “Whoever it was at the door, they’ve gone. I can’t see a car. But I can smell they aren’t rhubarb. They’re also not lion shifters from our old pack. Do you think Amell has gone to another pride for help to capture a rhubarb?”

I didn’t care who they were as long as they left me alone. I repeated their threats to Gordon through our link, unable to speak aloud.

“Shush, it’s alright.” Gordon rocked me as much as he could while kneeling behind me, with me glued to the floor. “We’re gonna figure it all out.”

“I’ve called the sheriff, he’s on his way.” This was Leonidis.

“T-thank y-you,” I managed to stutter, feeling dreadful to be caught like this, but unable to do anything about it, so I kept my head where it was.

Leonidis patted my knee, I could smell it was him. “We’ve got your back. All the pride has. We all have our fears. There is no weakness in knowing what they are and seeking support from your friends.”

He sounded so knowledgeable, I managed to raise my head and look at him. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. It might take time, but you’ll control it and learn to live with it. Just be kind to yourself.”

I wasn’t sure I could do that. I didn’t feel I could do anything at the moment.

Gordon pressed a kiss to my temple. “Then I’ll be kind to you until you’re ready to be kind to yourself.”

Chapter Eleven

Gordon

“You need to pack some clothes,” I said, as firmly as I could. I’d been thinking about this for a couple of hours.

Red had been dozing on my chest as we sat on the couch. Now he raised his head, blinking sleepily at me. “Huh?”

“You need to come with me to the pride house.”

He sat up, running his hands through his hair. “I don’t think I can do that.”

I sucked in a deep breath, expecting him to protest. Now I just had to think how to phrase it to get what I wanted, and what he needed. “You’re my mate, my omega.”

Despite his worry, heat bloomed into his eyes. Red liked the idea of belonging to me. “I know that.”

“Then you’re part of my pride.”

“I know that, too.”

“Being part of my pride means you’re protected by my pride. By Maxi and Apollo and my guys, and Ricky and all your annoying brothers.” I ignored the outraged exclamation from Tim. I’d gotten used to the fact he was always listening in. “You heard what Leonidis said. They’ve got your back, just like mine.”

“What if I put them in danger? I don’t think—”

“Please, I don’t want you to think, my stalk. I just want you to listen to me. We’re gonna pack you some clothes. Drew is going to come with the van and drive us to the pride house and you can hide in my room for the night. The house is always busy. You’ll never bealone. If you need a night buried in the soil, we can guard you.”

I watched a myriad of emotions cross his face. Fear, worry, refusal, hope. He wanted to say yes. He wanted to say no. Red didn’t know what he wanted. But I did. It was time I goated up and acted like an alpha.

“Drew is just waiting for my call. Dinner's almost ready, Burke’s getting impatient. He’s a bit of a Gordon Ramsey in the kitchen, but he loves feeding people.” I was so proud of my pride. They’d come through for us. “Apollo is even willing to share Glass’s kinky candy.”

I snorted at the growls in my head. From Red’s wide eyes, he heard that too.

“I guess that’s a no, then,” he murmured.

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