Page 73 of Meadowsweet and Marigold
"Convenient," she repeats, the word flat and bitter on her tongue. "Is that all you think this was?"
Meadow sighs, running a hand through his hair, mussing it further.
"I don't know what this was, Marigold. I just know that you came here running from something, and I don't want to be the rebound you settle for because I'm safe."
The words hit her like a physical blow, stealing her breath.
Is that what he thinks?
That she sees him as a safe harbor, a consolation prize after Rowan's rejection?
"You're not safe," she says finally, the words emerging soft but certain. "There's nothing safe about how you make me feel."
His eyes widen slightly, surprise evident in the subtle tension of his jaw.
"What do you mean?"
Marigold takes a deep breath, drawing courage from the newfound clarity in her mind.
"Safe would be keeping my distance. Safe would be focusing on the ranch and nothing else. Safe would be ignoring how my heart races when you walk into a room, or how your voice makes my stomach flip, or how I find myself making excuses to be wherever you are."
She watches the impact of her words register on his face, the careful mask of indifference cracking to reveal vulnerability beneath.
"Marigold—"
"No, let me finish," she interrupts, needing to get this out while her thoughts remain clear. "You're right that I came here running from something. From Rowan…my fiancé that I thought would marry and accept me into his pack with open arms, but instead, he embarrassed me at the end of my most successful ballet performance I worked years towards.” Finally admitting the past out loud feels empowering, which makes the next words flow out with confidence, “From having my twin sister, who I’ve always supported and yearned nothing but success for, added to the betrayal by sweeping into be my replacement with everything. My Alphas…my position…my position in my family hierarchy. She literally took everything, ruining the life I thought was set and waiting for me to blossom to my best potential. I ran here…hoping to start over, but I’m not going to run away when something is good. When this connection could be grand and beautiful and maybe the reason why my life fumbled so I could come to where…I may actually belong. I don’t know…”
She takes a breath and looks into his eyes.
“Like I said. I’m not running anymore, Meadow. I choose to stay…to build, and that means I need a foundation. I need a rock to help me keep my footing so that when other pillarsform around me, I have stability. I have control. I’ll be gifted that empowerment I never really had in the past with any other Alpha or pack.”
The warmth of their shared passion still envelops her, but it's different now — less the heat of physical desire and more the steady glow of something deeper, something with roots that reach beyond the events of this afternoon.
"And yes, Gus makes me laugh. Flint challenges me. They're good men, just like you said. However, I don’t know them fully yet. Not like I’m not up for it. To know more about the men that bring out the best parts of you. I do…and it’ll take time." She reaches out, placing her hand over his where it rests on his thigh. "But they're not you. You’re the sticky glue in this equation. The one that keeps us all aligned on whatever orbit we’re on…so again… there are options…but you’re the starting point for me.”
Meadow stares at her hand on his, then raises his eyes to meet hers.
The vulnerability there takes her breath away — this strong, capable Alpha allowing her to see past his walls. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that whatever this is between us—" she gestures between them, encompassing the fog-shrouded windows, the rumpled clothing, the lingering scent of their combined arousal "—it's not about convenience or safety or being a rebound. It's about connection. One I haven't felt with anyone else here."
Maybe he’s not used to an Omega standing her ground or voicing her wants and desires, which is okay with her. She doesn’t mind being the first, though she herself isn’t used to being so vocal to an Alpha.
She never boldly spoke up to Rowan and her pack, but look where that landed her.
She wouldn’t make the mistake again.
She’d speak her mind, no matter how frightening it is.
He's quiet for a long moment, processing her words. When he finally speaks, his voice is rough with emotion.
"I've wanted you since the day you arrived. Covered in dust from the road, looking like you'd rather be anywhere else, but so damned determined to make it work."
The confession warms her from the inside out, spreading like honey through her veins.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"You weren't ready," he says simply. "In fact, you’re still not ready. You needed time to heal. To find your footing. And I..." He hesitates, vulnerability flickering across his features. "I needed to be sure I could be what you needed. After Eliza…” he trails off, and I can only wonder who this Eliza is, but he doesn’t continue.
