Page 129 of Slick Handling

Heading out in the hall, I stop at Griffin’s room to wait for him to be ready. I don’t want to head downstairs without him. My nerves are starting to climb up again and I’m worried about everything going on.

Griffin opens his door, smiling when he sees me waiting for him. He is wearing a gray university t-shirt with a pair of black joggers. The moccasin slippers he wears around the house covering his feet. It is unfair how good he looked in simple clothing.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m trying so hard to be a good Alpha right now. I only have so much control..” He groans out, rubbing his face before tugging at my hand to follow him downstairs.

The living room is over filled with people. The police must have finished up, which was nice to see them not in our home for once, but there was still Apollo’s parents, Marcus, and the rest of our pack.

Our pack?

Was I really part of their pack? Why did that thought warm me up so much? Was I really thinking about it and wanting to bond with them?

Yes.

It felt like we were meant to be together. Something pulled me to all of them. Pack Mathers was special to me and I knew that this was where I belonged. My stomach twisted at this. Overwhelming worry crashing into me as I thought about how getting comfortable in a situation hadn’t been good for me lately.

Was this another thing that was going to be taken away?

Griffin threw his arm around me, hugging me close so that I could feel him and breathe him in. He was trying to give me strength that he knew I needed.

Everyone looked up as we entered the space, but I was just looking at Marcus. I wanted to take care of him. Give him a hug and make sure that he is okay after what that cruel pack had done to him. Even after everything that happened it was important to me to still try to be kind.

Earlier, I had gotten too caught up in my emotions and now it was time for me to be the friend I had needed all the times I had been alone.

“Marcus.” His eyes lifted, red from crying and I rushed over to him, wrapping him up in my arms without giving it a second thought.

“I’m so sorry, lemon drop. I didn’t mean for this to happen. Everything just spun out of control and I ruined it all. I am so sorry.” His tears wet my shoulder as I hugged him tighter to me.

Poor Marcus.

I knew what it was like wanting to be loved. He just wanted to be in the best situation possible and now everything was going wrong.

“No one deserves to be hurt. I’m so sorry, Marcus.” I whispered, rocking him gently.

He pulls away, his golden eyes shining as he wipes his tears away from his eyes with the back of his hand. When I first met him his eyes had captivated me. Now they looked bloodshot and filled with pain.

How could so much change so quickly?

“When I posted on Olife at the hotel, they must have seen the post of us. Everyone knows about Pack Weaver and how much money that they have. I was so impressed with the flowers they sent to me and how they were trying to court me. I broke up with the others and got caught in their trap. I didn’t realize what they wanted you until after the hockey game. I mean, I thought you were cute before everything. So I can’t say I was completely uninterested. I wasn’t going to steal you from your pack. Everything just got out of hand. They were talking about how nice it would be for two Omega’s to be able to lean on each other. And all I could think about was how you smelled so nice and how we had gotten along so well. I thought about how lonely I was and how if there were two of us in a pack we’d never be lonely again. I’m sorry, lemon drop. I’m so sorry.”

He sobbed again and I pulled him back against me.

Griffin looked annoyed that he had called me cute, but Griffin was over possessive about pretty much everything. He had gotten mad when the barista asked my name for my drink earlier this week. Growling at the person serving our drinks like they had done some great slight against us.

“You’re okay, Marcus. My pack will make sure you’re safe. Do you want to sleep for a little bit?”

That’s a problem.

I’ve taken over the guest room so there really isn’t a place to put the Omega. He needs his nest and some place where he can feel safe.

The idea of having another Omega in my space, after the night I shared with my pack the night before, made me very uncomfortable. I’m unsure of what to do when McKinley steps in.

“I just changed the sheets on my bed. I can crash with Apollo. Let me walk you both upstairs.” He looks Marcus up and down, “Apollo has a bunch of unworn stuff the team gave him. Let’s get you changed.”

Marcus squeezes my hand as I walk him upstairs, Mama Joy coming around me, and touches my arm.

“I’ll take care of this, Clover baby. This has been a lot for everyone. I can settle him in while you go talk to everyone.” She touches McKinley’s arm at the top of the stairs, leading Marcus away from us.

We watch them go into the room and both of us seem to let out a breath at the same time.

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