Page 20 of Bait Wolf
Still, I glowered at him in warning, backing Ember toward my house without letting Everest out of my sight.
He rolled his eyes.
“Call me in the morning when you’re normal again.”
I managed a curt nod and opened the door without taking my eyes off him.
Once Ember was over the threshold, I followed him closely and shut the door behind us. Finally, I could breathe.
ChapterNine
Ember
The house was dark. Silent. I didn’t need to be told that we were the only ones here.
Alone with Coal, my nerves spiked.
Being near him was like being wrapped in insulation: warm, comfortable, anditchy. I couldn’t help wanting to put distance between us while, at the same time, I soaked in the warmth of being near him. I was confused. And I was scared.
A light flicked on, illuminating an entryway far nicer than I had been expecting. The floor was polished marble, the ceilings high with a dim chandelier hanging from above.
Right. Coal was the current champion. I couldn’t even imagine what level of payment he got for each fight he won. Probably millions.
A large hand landed on my back, not pushing me or steering me, just letting me know it was there.
I looked at Coal’s face, at his rough, masculine features that were unexpectedly beautiful.
“What would you like first?” Coal asked. “Food? Rest? Something else?”
I purposely ignored the last suggestion, my stomach dipping at the heated look in Coal’s eyes as he said it.
“Food,” I murmured.
Coal nodded, motioning for me to follow him. He looked back after a few steps, making sure I was nearby. That almost made me laugh. Truth be told, I didn’t have the strength to fight our connection right now. My body moved of its own accord, closer to Coal’s back than I had been planning, and then, despite myself, I inhaled the alpha’s scent as subtly as I could.
A calmness immediately settled over me.
I was led to a large living room. A lamp was on in the corner, casting shadows across the walls from the large, plush couch, the wrought iron tables, and the I.
To my surprise, a mat made up of the letters of the alphabet was tucked against one corner. A child-sized desk and chair sat atop it, as well as a storage box overflowing with toys. Pictures clearly painted by a child were hung up on the wall.
I turned to Coal, eyes wide, but the alpha didn’t notice what I was looking at because he was already leaving the room.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he said. “I’ll just be a minute.”
For the first time since the fight, Coal left me.
For a minute, I was dumbfounded. Then I heard Coal’s mumbled voice and realized that he hadn’t gone far. He had shut the door to the next room, but he was just on the other side of it, clearly not willing to leave too much space between him and his new omega.
I could hear the worried tone of his voice, then the clipped edges, then, worst of all,defeat.
I wanted to help him. It was so weird.
I didn’t know Coal, and yet I wanted to open the door between us and dosomethingto make him feel better. Whatever the issue was, suddenly, I thought I could fix it.
Was this how every mated omega felt?Poor bastards… It was unbearable.
Coal’s voice lowered, growing distant, and I realized he was walking away.
