Page 91 of Patiently Yours
“Always,” I tell him. His eyes widen, slightly glossy. I think he was expecting me to banter with him, but is surprised by the sincerity in my answer.
I’ll have to tell him I appreciate him more often.
He recovers, giving me a peck before letting me greet the alphas. They’re standing in front of something that looks made of glass.
“What’s going on here?” I ask, raising a brow at them. They each give me guilty smiles. Before they can show what they’re hiding, my grumpy alpha flows through the opening of the tent, Sam in tow.
“We’re done with the event tour, Sam.” He tells him before he sees me. His eyes brighten and a smile adorns his lips as he finds his way to me. “Lovely Omega,” he says before pulling me into a hug.
I preen into it, feeling sparks where his bare skin touches mine. I almost forget where we are while in his arms, but then I feel him tense against me.
“What the fuck is that?” I hear him say near my ear, but he isn’t talking to me. I let my arms drop and turn in his hold, seeing the glass tank that was behind Kendall and Atlas is now out in the open. It’s hard to miss the gigantic snake inside it, all wrapped up and ignoring everyone in the room as it naps.
As Rory steps closer to get a better look, I realize that I no longer feel Uriah’s body heat. I look up to see he’s taken several steps back, his eyes wide and panicked.
“Are you okay?” I ask him, wanting to reach out and comfort him. His anxiety feels wild and tangible in the space between us.
He shakes his head, his gaze never leaving the glass cage. The other men in the tent try to smile and laugh nervously.
Are theysurprisedby Uriah’s reaction to the snake? I thought this was something they had planned.
Sam clears his throat. “My friend owns a reptile exhibit. She dropped this one off first, but she’s bringing more soon.”
“There’smore?!” Uriah yells, looking a bit lightheaded. He looks around, almost like the reptiles could show up at any moment. I’ve never seen him lose his cool this much before. He normally covers up his emotions with indifference or anger. This fear I’m seeing is really hard to witness.
My omega hardens with fury.
Rory joins in with the murmured laughter. I discreetly elbow her in the stomach, which makes her grunt way too loudly. Everyone looks over at us, and I try to put on a smile despite my blood still boiling at seeing my mate in so much panic.
“I thought you three said you chose the booth,” I state.
They notice my changed demeanor and look at each other like the answer to my mood is on each other’s faces. I snap my fingers, willing them to answer me.
“We did, technically,” Ciro responds. “Sam suggested it.”
The fraternity president tries to sneak out in my periphery. I avert my eyes. “Don’t you dare,” I say in his direction, emphasizing each word. He pauses his retreat out the door, looking inherently guilty. I point towards the others, which makes him rub his neck and join them, his head hanging from being snapped at.
“So, you all thought it would be funny to play a prank on my alpha? Use his fear against him?” Their eyes all widen, and I only feel a little bit of satisfaction at their worried expressions. I feel my omega burying herself underneath my skin, feeling unsettled by the soured scent of palo santo emitting around us.
The prime looks at me, shame rising for upsetting his omega. I hiss at him to answer me, causing an alpha whine to erupt.
I feel a hand on mine, and give a slight growl as I turn to the assailant who touched me, but it’s only Uriah. My alpha. Looking at me with those same eyes that speak volumes of his adoration for me. It makes me blink, causing the tension in my body to release a little.
“Omega,” he whispers like a lullaby. I flutter my eyes closed as he interlaces our fingers. His scent is mostly back to normal, only a tiny sliver of stress left behind. “I’m okay.”
I blink away some of the anger. My omega retreats, satisfied by her alpha’s calming tone. I feel a bit weird in my skin, looking around. There’s a different energy now, and I gulp slightly.
“Sorry,” I squeak out. “Oh, wow, I don’t know what just happened.”
Kendall steps forward the tiniest bit. “You’ve accepted us as your mates more and more these last few weeks, so your omega is going to come out more.”
I nod at that. It sounds reasonable, but it’s also a little troubling.
“Is this how you all feel? Does your alpha take over you like that, too?”
They all nod as Atlas steps forward. “We do, yes. It’s difficult to shake sometimes. You did a brilliant job?—”
“Oh, don’t play nice with me just yet, At.” I point at him. “Uriah obviously has a deep-seated fear of snakes and you thought it would be funny to force him to see them. What were you thinking?”
