Page 54 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

There was a brief moment of silence between us before Kael said, “Marry me.”

The words were spoken with such certainty, such confidence, that for a moment, I thought I had misheard him. His expression was calm and relaxed, watching me as though my answer was nothing but a mere formality. As though I would, of course, say yes.

I swallowed. “What did you say?”

“You heard me, Tala,” he said. “You’ve proven yourself more capable than any woman I’ve met, and when you return to the pack after your delegation, the whole pack will see what I’ve always seen: how worthy you are to be their Luna. You’re strong, smart, and more importantly, you understand me.” He took a step toward me, then another, and another, until the space between us disappeared.

I exhaled sharply. “Alpha Kael—”

“Don’t tell me you’re considering it,” disdain was evident in his voice. “I am the Alpha. My Luna will be respected. Protected. Worshipped.” He lifted a hand, his knuckles brushing against my jaw in a fleeting, possessive touch. “And I want my Luna to be you.”

My stomach twisted. It didn’t seem like he was asking. I’d always known Kael was not the kind of man to entertain refusal because, in his mind, it didn’t exist.

I hesitated. Kael had given me a lot. A home, a position of authority, a chance to rebuild my life. And maybe being with him would finally sever whatever lingering threat still connected me to Damian.

Damian.

The thought of him sent a sharp pang through my chest. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something inside me was cracking, breaking a little more with each passing second, each moment bringing me closer to the evening and his mating ceremony.

Kael’s gaze darkened at my silence. His hand, which had been light against my skin, curled under my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Tala.”

“After the delegation,” I forced myself to say, searching for a way to slow this down, to allow me more time to think things through. “Please, let’s wait until my delegation is over. When I return to the pack, we can properly discuss this.”

Something flickered in his eyes, something unreadable.

“Fine,” he said, stepping back. “When your delegation is over.”

Later that evening, I stood in front of the full-length mirror, fastening the clasps of the third necklace I’d tried on. It was easier to pour my emotions into critiquing jewelry, convincing myself that none of them suited the dress, a long emerald gown that I barely took the time to appreciate.

The necklace slipped from my fingers, landing on the floor with a soft clink. I didn’t bother picking it up.

My hands fell limply to my sides as I stared at my reflection. Despite my best effort to look put together, the sorrow in my face was undeniable. My eyes were hollow and distant, and my chest felt unbearably heavy. A crushing weight settled over me, something close to despair, pressing down until it stole even the faintest trace of a smile, real or forced.

Abandoning the necklace, I picked up a brush and dragged it through my already-brushed hair. I was stalling. I knew it. It was as if lingering here just a little longer could delay the inevitable.

I had spent the entire day suppressing my thoughts, forcing myself to focus on the alliance, the pack, and Kael’s proposal. But now, in the quiet of my room, there was nothing left to distract me.

Damian was getting married.

A sharp ache tightened in my throat. I reached for the table, for the glass of water sitting on it, hoping to drown the feeling, but all I could think about was him, how he’d lifted me onto this very table just last night, kissing me with a hunger so raw it left me breathless. My gaze drifted to the bed, and the memory followed, how he’d carried me there, how he had consumed me completely, body and soul.

And now, I was supposed to go downstairs, smile, and watch him marry someone else.

I winced, pressing a hand to my chest. For a moment, I didn’t know what to feel. Regret? Heartbreak? Both?

I had spent so much time convincing myself that I could stay away from Damian. That three weeks would pass, and I’d return to my life as if nothing had happened. That whatever I felt for him was just remnants of the past, old wounds reopening.

I had pushed him away more times than I could count. And now? Now, I regretted it.

What if I had told him the truth, that I did love him? That I never stopped?

Would that have changed anything?

Would he have…called off the marriage?

I exhaled a shaky breath.

The alliance was too important. It was bigger than me and whatever history still lingered between Damian and me. I would be a fool to think he would throw it all away and stop his marriage to Serena, the very thing securing this alliance for me.

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