Page 79 of Brandy Snap: Part Two
“That’s not up to you,” she said, shrugging us off and pushing us away to step towards him.
Tension flew through me as she moved right into Caspian’s space. If I were the same level of domineering as Caspian, I would have dragged her away from him.
“Are you going to keep being an asshole and growling nonstop? Or are you actually going to talk to me like I’m a person?” she asked.
His nostrils flared as his rage whipped from him, but she didn’t back down.
Pride for our omega flowed through myself and Kai, feeding into her. Caspian should have felt it too, but his body tensed, his growls deepened, and both refused to give in.
The moment eked out long enough that Kai stepped forward, but I threw out a hand.
It was too delicate for us to interfere. We could have left the room and it would have made no difference. They were only there for each other.
Anger swirled between them like two beasts squaring off, sensing each other, waiting for the other to blink.
I realised then that I’d not seen Melanie as someone strong. I’d simply believed she needed protecting, like all omegas did. Kai had his own strength, but he always returned to us for support.
Her bond with Kai was temporary, and there was no guarantee she would choose us in the end. Especially when Caspian came at her so fiercely. If we lost her because of his anger and my ineptitude as an alpha, I doubted the three of us would recover, no matter how much Caspian insisted he hated her.
My eyes widened as Caspian’s chin dipped. Shock pounded through us as, in the slowest submission, Caspian averted to hisgaze and lowered his head to the beautiful omega who stood a foot below him.
“Fuck,” Kai whispered softly, tightening his grip as Caspian bowed, and accepted a position beneath her.
I didn’t pull back my aura, and Kai kept feeding him love. We knew better than anyone that the point between Caspian’s calm and his rogue was a pendulum which could swing either way. We couldn’t let our guards down, and Melanie had no clue what she was really dealing with, despite the blood splattering his clothes.
“It’s not enough,” Melanie finally said, and I desperately wished I could see her face, so I knew why Caspian staggered back as he lifted his head.
“Bowing your head doesn’t mean anything.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “Just because Sin and Kai are acting like it’s the second coming because you’re backing off it doesn’t mean anything if you can’t even say a sentence to me.”
This time, we both stepped forward, because Caspian was sparking up again.
“What the fuck do you want, then?” he growled.
“How about listening to what I’ve just said to you? Maybe you could try acting on something other than your anger or your cock?”
Kai’s worry drifted away as his grin grew. Because lust surged through all three of us at her words.
Caspian was completely absorbed in her.
And my pride swelled. It wasn’t only for Melanie—it was for my mate, who was softening inside, even though it appeared he didn’t realise it.
All three of us saw his struggle play out, but neither Kai nor Melanie had grown up with him and witnessed everything he’d endured at the hands of Zania. Melanie’s cut and bruise was minor compared to what others in our lives had suffered, but it was no less damaging.
And that’s why his gaze traced her cheek before meeting her with a determined stare.
But he wasn’t allowed to say a word as she bombarded him.
“There was no way I was going to let your mum break into my nest, slap me across the face, and then not take her money. I don’t care if she bribed me to stay away from you, or told me to leave the country. I don’t even care how I ended up meeting you three, or whether you sent my life to shit or not. But I’d rather spend her money sorting my life out than sitting around being miserable with my pride. You three have taken enough from me already. So you can growl and snarl at me as much as you want, but nothing will change here until you take some responsibility for yourself and stop acting like a petulant child.”
More tension floated between them as she panted. And even I wanted to smile at how much force she had flung at Caspian as she reeled off her piece.
His breaths matched mine and Kai’s as he searched for what to do. And he slowly blinked as he found his answer.
“I’m sorry,” he grumbled after a too-long pause.
“What was that?” she asked.
“I said I’m sorry,” he pushed through hard lips.
