Page 31 of Follow Your Instincts

To make matters worse, she was charming and funny. I felt like a brute, unable to join in the conversation out of fear that as soon as I did, my control would snap and I’d devour her.

I knew I shouldn’t have touched her, simply based on the intensity with which I wanted to do so. When her skin touchedmine, I lost all ability for rational thought.

Maggie had stumbled and I’dgrabbedher, crushing her to my chest so tightly I’d felt her clawing at me, her face buried in my neck, until she’d whined in distress. The purr I’d given her had been pure instinct to comfort her. I’d even scent-marked her temple and stroked her back as if it wasn’t my touch that had upset her in the first place. Shame burned in my stomach.

As soon as she’d stepped out of my arms, I wanted to escape. I’d dimly heard her and Ben talking, but all I’d been able to do was stare at Maggie, a ringing in my ears, and a sense of unreality hanging over me. She wouldn’t look at me, and I couldn’t blame her.

The fresh air outside the Center helped clear my head, and my instincts calmed with each step towards the car. I got into the passenger seat, wordlessly handing Lucas the keys.

“Well, that was interesting,” Ben said once all the doors were closed.

“Shut up,” I growled at him.

“I mean, for a man so convinced this was a terrible idea, you seemed to be enjoying yourself at the end there,” Ben said, needling me.

“Leave him alone,” Lucas said congenially. “Let him catch his breath.”

Ben was quiet for 30 seconds. “I told you it was her,” he said.

“Fuck. I hate that you were right, but also really glad you were,” Soren said.

“If we all just acknowledge it now, would you not mention it every five minutes?” Lucas asked, looking at Ben in the rearview mirror.

“I don’t need to gloat,” he said magnanimously. “I get to hang out with Maggie alone first, and that’s the best reward.”

“Don’t rub it in,” Soren said, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Are you okay with her coming to the house this weekend?” Lucas asked me quietly.

I scowled at him. “I am capable of controlling myself,” Isnapped.

Lucas shot me a confused look. “I know, man.”

“I’m not going to stand in anyone’s way,” I said. I’d keep my distance as much as possible, and hopefully, I wouldn’t poison everything like I’d done in the past. They deserved a chance at happiness. And if that meant I needed to take a step back after all, so be it.

Ben cornered me in my office that night. I was staring at my computer, trying to convince myself I was working, but actually just replaying the disastrous meeting over and over in my mind. I could still smell her scent on the shirt where I’d pressed her against my chest and, of course, Ben caught me sniffing it like a pervert.

“Working late, huh?” Ben asked, smirking.

I didn’t bother replying.

“You okay? I didn’t hear you come upstairs, and I figured you were brooding somewhere.”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

“Well, you had a beautiful Omega in your arms this afternoon, and you haven’t said more than a few words since then. Like, even less than usual,” Ben said and leaned against my desk. I angled my chair to face him.

“There’s nothing to say,” I said.

Ben’s eyes bored into mine, his usual smile replaced by a look of concern. “Do you regret it? Meeting her?”

“I regret how I acted,” I said simply. “It wasn’t my intention to be so…”

“Broody?” Ben supplied, and I glared at him. He glared back, pushing his face closer to mine and bugging his eyes out until I had to laugh.

“I acted like a brute, like that Alpha who attacked her last week,” I said, finally. “I’m ashamed of myself.”

“Lachlan, she practically threw herself at you,” Ben said, his brows furrowed. “You calmed her down. How the hell did you turn that into an opportunity for self-punishment?”

---