Page 51 of Brandy Snap: Part One

But that was why I’d sent Kai in first, wasn’t it? So I didn’t have to see her shuffle in the bed, a flush painting her pale cheeks as controlled tears filled her eyes.

Moments later, a breath racked her body and she looked up, meeting us with a composed expression that was a trademark of her family.

“Well, um… Isn’t that perfect?” she said softly.

“What?” I snapped, and she flinched again. I instantly regretted it, closing my eyes at my own stupid behaviour. Ever since we matched with Kai, I had become harsher, and it was never her fault.

Sometimes I couldn’t even touch her because I thought she would break.

“You’ve been looking for a female. How wonderful that you’ve suddenly found one,” she said, her voice cracking on the last word.

I still thought it was suspicious that Mel had fallen into our laps at exactly the right time. Mother liked to gloat, but when I’d pushed her to tell us about Mel, all I got were scowls and complaints that we still hadn’t chosen anyone from the list.

I'd already searched for Mel, found her address, her work records, her family life. There was nothing out of the ordinary, everything she'd told us seemed to be true, even about not having children. But those things could be easily faked, especially if Mother was backing her.

“Absolutely no fucking way,” I said as I threw myself into the second chair next to Kai. “Not a single fucking chance. We’re finding a different way to go about this. I’m not having you mating with the Hiscox pack, and we’re not bringing another omega into our pack.” I shifted my gaze to Kai, glaring at him. And the bastard was still grinning away, like I didn’t know what he was planning.

Her brow furrowed as she gave me a look. But anything else she could have said was drowned out by the peal of Sin’s phone from his front pocket. As soon as he pulled it out, he shot up from the chair, a stab of nerves pulsing through our bond.

He quickly swiped right.

And it was just that second. That single fucking second that came every damn time Sin’s phone rang after Mel rejected us and got the fuck out of there with Sin’s business card clasped between her slick-drenched fingers.

Where need and fury and fucking longing pierced through the bond because there was one fucking second where we all hoped it was her.

“Sin Risler speaking,” he answered, stepping away from the bed. “Yes, I’m busy. What is it?”

And we all released the breath we’d been holding because we didn’t have to deal with her. Or more like we were all fucked up for our own reasons.

“Shit,” Kai hissed, running his hand through his hair as he glowered at our mate.

Both of us half raging, half fucking desperate to hear her rich voice again, to luxuriate in every sound that dropped from her luscious fucking lips.

“What happened?” Camille asked softly, breaking our rapt attention.

And my heart plummeted as I realised what we’d done.

I’d slowly waited years to be Camille’s mate, but a single possibility of Mel had me wild and salivating like a fucking dog.

Kai clicked his tongue. “It’s not got anything to do with you, so don’t get any ideas stuck in that pretty little head of yours. We wouldn’t want you worrying, would we?” he asked darkly.

A growl rumbled through me, and I avoided acknowledging how Camille trembled at the sound. I needed to show my mate he was out of line.

And suddenly both omegas looked at me like I’d ruined them.

Pain pulsed out from Kai as he jumped from his seat, rearing over Camille.

“Guess you guys got stuff to talk about, huh?” he said, barely hiding his look of betrayal as he backed away. In seconds he was by the thick window, wrapping his arms around Sin, who instantly leaned down to kiss his hair before returning to his conversation. Like a proper alpha should treat his omega. Not whatever shit I’d put them both through for years.

It was so messed up that Camille was hurt by how I had unwillingly scent matched with a new omega, and my real omega was fucked off that I was trying to find a way to make it easier for Camille. And they were both right to hate me for it.

“Camille,” I said softly, looking up at her. Her expression was completely stark, staring at me with wide eyes.

I could have made excuses, tried a ‘wait, let me explain’, but I’d spent years disappointing her and I didn’t know what else I was supposed to do to fix it.

“She won’t join our pack,” I insisted.

The heavy silence between us was only broken by Sin’s low voice.

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