Page 12 of Feral: Part Two
Kael rumbles at my statement, a sound that's darker and more dangerous than before. He settles back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studies my face. "Is that all we are to you?" he asks, a tinge of hurt in his voice, maybe. Or disappointment.
"You of all people should understand that," I shoot back, my defensive walls slamming back into place. "You don't even want me here."
"That was because I thought you were going to hurt Preston," Kael admits.
"And now that I'm not, I can stay? That's bullshit." I shift back a little, relishing the darkness and safety that the movement provides.
Kael shakes his head. "That's not it. I thought I was doing right by my pack, but you're mine too, Slate."
A hiss releases from me, my body tensing for a fight. "I'm not going to submit." We’ve had this conversation several times and either one of us walks away or I find myself getting fucked. I don’t hate the second option, but I’m done rolling over. I can’t do that anymore.
"You wouldn't be you if you did," Kael agrees, throwing me a smile that’s equal parts soft and all Alpha. "I just don't want you to hurt yourself."
"Because of Preston," I counter, waiting for him to confirm what I already know - that I only matter in relation to their precious Omega. The very same Omega who claimed me a few days ago.
"No," Kael barks out, the sound running down my spine. I scoot back a little further, Kael running a hand down his face before massaging his fingers into his salt and pepper beard. "Because of you and your wellbeing."
I snort, not ready to believe anything that comes out of his mouth. I’ll thank him for healing my knuckles and I’ll apologize for scaring Preston, but that’s it. “Kael, let’s not play games. You hate me. And that’s okay.”
Kael sighs, his shoulders falling in defeat as he reaches toward me and then thinks better of it, dropping his hands into his lap. "I hated the idea of you, of what you represented, of what you've changed since you came to this house. But truthfully, I hate that you had to exist the way you are now for me to meet you."
"What?" I'm genuinely confused now, thrown off by the direction this conversation has taken.
"I wish you did not have to suffer to find us," Kael continues, his voice softening. "But I don't hate what you've become. You were right that you are my Omega, but I'm not your Alpha, and that's something I have to come to terms with so that one day I might be worthy of you."
This isn't what I expected. This isn't the rejection or conditional acceptance I've been bracing myself for. Kael finally leans forward and presses a kiss to my forehead, the gesture so gentle it makes my eyes burn with fresh tears.
He pulls away and stands up, gesturing toward Preston to come closer. I’m almost surprised that Kael would let Preston anywhere near me, but my beautiful Omega waddles toward me, eager to lie down beside me. Kael watches as Preston finds a comfortable spot, his purr rumbling through his chest. “You’re perfect right where you are, Slate.” He taps the top of my den before ushering Thane and Malik out, confusion still swirling around in my chest.
"I'm sorry I scared you," I murmur, guilt eating at me as I remember his shriek when I first hit the wall.
"I'm sorry for bringing it up," Preston tells me, scooting a bit closer. "I don't like seeing you hurt."
Kael
I stand up slowly, my knees protesting after sitting on the floor for so long. When I turn back to look at Thane and Malik, both of them are staring at me with expressions I can't quite read. Surprise, maybe. Or disbelief. Like they've just witnessed something they never expected to see. Frankly, I never expected to say any of those words to Slate, so I’m just as surprised.
Malik is the first to break the silence, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Alpha, I had no idea you had those sweet words in you."
A growl rumbles up from my chest before I can stop it, irritation flaring up at his teasing tone. The last thing I need right now is commentary on how I handled the situation with Slate. I'm still trying to process what the fuck just happened myself.
Thane steps forward, his expression more serious than Malik's. "Cousin, leave your shirt with them."
"Why the fuck would I do that?"
"I know it's not a nest," Malik explains, already reaching for the hem of his own shirt, "but they'll want your scent. And since both of our Omegas are in there, this seems like the room we'll be hanging out in."
He strips out of his shirt in one fluid motion, the fabric hitting the floor just outside the den. Thane follows suit, pulling his shirt over his head and adding it to the collection.
I grumble under my breath, not thrilled about the idea, but I can see the logic in what they're saying. I pull my shirt off and leave it at the edge of the den, Slate watching us, his dark eyes tracking our movements with an intensity that makes my skin prickle. There's something almost predatory about the way he's observing us, like he's cataloging information for later use.
Before I can fully process what's happening, he reaches forward and grabs onto my sock. His fingers wrap around the fabric with surprising strength, and I just stare at him, trying to understand what he's doing.
Then he tears it off my foot in one quick motion, the cotton stretching and ripping under the force of his grip. A sigh falls from my lips, a chuckle coloring the sound. Slate’s primal need for his Alpha’s scent is still there, regardless of our actual relationship. I throw him a small smile before heading down the hallway and into Preston’s room, his nest haphazardly deconstructed.
Thane and Malik follow in silence, Thane falling into the chair by the window as Malik leans against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest as he watches me start to pace.
"I know Nathan talked about how we'd all be changing too," I say finally, voicing the thoughts that have been churning in my head, "but I didn't expect it to be this fast."
