Page 40 of Slick Handling

One to go.

Vaughn nods his head, just to confirm that he is in and now my attention is all on Apollo.

The anger has turned to something like fury. His fists gripping the sheets of the bed as he looks at all of us like we’re the enemy here.

This is not what I expected.

Apollo is calm.

Always.

Right now his pheromones have turned to something bitter and makes my nose wrinkle as I watch him trying to contain his rage.

It’s not working.

“You want to strong arm me into this? You want to threaten to leave the pack? To leaveme? Just because you’re feeling something for a girl you know nothing about? Do you know what you’re feeling for her, McKinley? You’re feeling pity. She’s a pitiful little creature who hasn’t had any love. It’s like a drug for you. Fix the broken little thing with all your Beta sweetness.”

He’s never spoken to me like this and I can’t say I particularly enjoy it. My ears burn red in embarrassment as he talks to me like I don’t know what I want. It feels like I’m a child being scolded by an adult.

I’ve always been treated like an equal. Right now, it’s as if I’m not as good as him.

“You like her too.” I try to defend myself but my voice feels tired from all the fight that I’ve already expelled.

Apollo licks his lips and his hands loosen the sheet as he nods his head in agreement to that.

“I do like her.” His eyes flash to Griffin, “And it’s not my privilege that is telling me we’re not ready to court an Omega. It’s common sense. She’s in a guest room. Our house doesn’t have a space where she can nest. We don’t know her well enough to know what sort of gifts we can give her to court her. And if we fuck this up how far back will it set her?”

He’s not angry. He’s upset that I had threatened to leave him after what we built. He’s worried about keeping his pack together. He’s even worried about Clover and what us courting her will do to her.

Vaughn stands up, tugging Griffin with him. Everyone is back on the bed again. I sit in Apollo’s lap, nuzzling into his neck as Griffin curls up beside him with Vaughn on his other side.

“What if the mouthy Beta is right and she is our Omega?” Griffin offers. Apollo’s shoulder slump as he squeezes me tighter.

“So we’re doing this?” Everyone nods at our pack lead, “Okay. Let’s talk about what we think courting looks like for us and tomorrow at breakfast we talk to Clover.”

My lips find his. I’m too excited to not show him how much this means to me.

“Thank you Alpha.” I whisper against his lips.

“Don’t threaten to leave again. You’re just as much the heart of this pack as any Omega will be. All of us matter here, McKinley.” His words are soft and serious.

I would leave for her, though.

Even if it did break me, I can’t help but keep Clover safe.

CHAPTER 15

CLOVER

Ireally want toast with jam.

Butter melted onto the golden white bread that Grammy used to make. It was a perfect pairing with a jar of jam we would make together in the summer from the fruit I would gather.

Picking strawberries was one of my favorite things to do. The small wild strawberries tasted so sweet and melted on my tongue. Lying out on warm rocks after collecting a basket and letting the sun hug my skin was the best feeling in the world.

Grammy used to say fresh air was the best sort of medicine. It was a cure all for her. Whenever she needed a second it also was her favorite place to send me.

The woods that surrounded us were safe. All of us had grown up playing in them. It was our space to be free in.

---