Page 90 of Storm
To his credit, Rook doesn't flinch, though my scent must be overwhelming at this range. He meets my gaze steadily. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that under pack law, I could kill you for touching Storm. After I specifically warned you not to." I let that sink in, watching his expression carefully. "But I didn't."
His eyes widen slightly, the first sign of genuine surprise. "How did you?—"
"I have a nose," I cut him off. "I could smell you on her. Your scent was all over her." The memory makes my blood boil all over again.
Rook's expression shifts, something like understanding dawning in his eyes. "Is that what this is about? You're jealous?" A slow smile spreads across his face. "The great Reed Howard, elite alpha, jealous of a beta-born nobody?"
I clench my fists at my sides, fighting the urge to wipe that smug smile off his face. "Watch it, Holloway."
"No, I get it now," he continues, as if I hadn't spoken. "You want her. The omega who doesn't submit, who challenges you at every turn. The one who isn't impressed by your elite status or intimidated by your alpha posturing." His smile widens. "The one who chose me over you."
I move before I can stop myself, grabbing the front of his shirt and shoving him back against the wall. My face is inches from his, my voice a low rumble. "I said watch it."
To my surprise, Rook doesn't struggle. He just looks at me, something like pity in his eyes. "You can't intimidate me, Howard. I've been fighting alphas like you my whole life."
I should hit him. I should remind him exactly who he's dealing with. But something in his steady gaze stops me.
"She's a hurricane," he says quietly. "Storm by name, hurricane by nature. And she works her way into your heart before you even realize it's happening." There's a fondness in his voice that makes my grip on his shirt loosen slightly. "I get it. I do. She makes you feel things you don't want to feel."
I step back, releasing him. "You don't know what I feel."
"Don't I?" Rook straightens his shirt, regarding me thoughtfully. "I've been in love with her since we were basically kids. I know exactly what it's like to have Storm in your orbit. To be pulled in by her gravity until you can't imagine a world without her."
I turn away, unable to face the knowing look in his eyes. "This isn't about me. It's about what happens next. About our current situation."
"Sure it is." I can hear the skepticism in his voice. "Look, I'm not your enemy, Reed. I know you think I am, but I'm not." He moves to stand beside me, both of us now facing the window, looking out at the forest where Storm is somewhere with Frankie, Fox and Alex. "I just want her to be safe. To be happy."
"With you," I say, the words bitter on my tongue.
He considers this for a moment. "With whoever she chooses," he says finally, surprising me. "That's the difference between you and me, Reed. I don't see her as property to be claimed. I see her as a person who deserves to make her own choices."
The words catch me off guard. I glance at him, trying to detect any hint of deception. "You're saying you'd accept her being with someone else?"
"If that's what she wants? Yeah." He shrugs, though the movement seems forced. "Don't get me wrong, I love her. I'd walk through fire for her. But I want her to be happy more than I want to possess her. And if that means watching her choose someone else or a whole pack..." He trails off, his jaw tightening. "Then that's what I'll do."
I study him for a long moment, trying to reconcile this selfless declaration with the fighter I've watched climb into rings for years, the alpha who's never backed down from a challenge. "I don't believe you."
"I don't care what you believe," he replies evenly. "But it's the truth. Storm's happiness comes first. Always has, always will."
Something shifts in my chest, a grudging respect taking root despite my best efforts. "You really mean that, don't you?"
"Every word," Rook confirms. He turns to face me fully. "Look, I know you don't like me. The feeling's pretty mutual. But we both care about Storm, and right now, she needs us to work together, not against each other."
I hate that he's making sense. I hate even more that I'm starting to see him as something other than a rival to be eliminated. "What are you proposing?"
"A truce," he says simply. "For Storm's sake. We both know the father’s aren't going to stop. She needs protection that I can't provide on my own." His admission seems to cost him, but he continues anyway. "She needs a pack. Your pack."
The concession stuns me. "You'd leave her with us?"
"If I had to? Yes." His expression is deadly serious. "I trust you to keep her safe."
I don't know what to say to that. After everything I've done to keep them apart, after the threats and the warnings, he's telling me he trusts me with the person he values most in the world. It's the last thing I expected, and it leaves me off-balance.
"Why would you trust me?" I demand, searching his face for any sign of deceit. "You don't know me. Not really."
"I know enough," he says, echoing his earlier words. "I've seen how you look at her. How you protect her, even when you're pretending you can't stand her." A rueful smile crosses his face. "Besides, Storm's a good judge of character, and she doesn't hate you nearly as much as she wants everyone to think."
