Page 54 of Claimed Omega

“What if shit goes sideways like it always does?” Daniel protested with clipped words.

“Wouldn’t it make more sense that we have your back, or even go and find Aspen and Viper to rescue while you take care of Axel, just in case…” I trailed off, unable to complete the sentence. I couldn’t let myself think of anything bad happening to Shadow. Otherwise, I’d never make it through the day without going into full-blown panic.

Shadow glanced away, his expression troubled, eyes darkening.

“Please,” I pleaded while Daniel reached over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Trinity has a point about us rescuing the Viper and Aspen. Even the best hunter should have backup.”

Shadow hesitated, his gaze flickering between the two of us. Conflict deepened on his face, the struggle between wanting to protect us and knowing that we could help him clear.

“I don’t like it,” he finally said, his voice raspy. “I can’t put you both in danger.”

“We’re already in danger,” I remarked, slightly louder than I’d intended. “Axel is a threat to all of us.”

Shadow’s jaw tightened, the muscles in his arm around me bulging as he clenched his fist.

“Shadow, see reason,” Daniel pressed him.

Our Alpha huffed loudly, his chest rising and falling quickly.

“Fine,” he quipped. “I know you two won’t give up, but if things go wrong, you both get out of there as fast as possible. Don’t try to be heroes.”

“We won’t,” I promised. Leaning against him, I took comfort in the soothing balm of his acceptance of my frayed nerves. My heart filled with love and trust. “Thank you for being here for me. For always being my rock.”

Daniel stroked my cheek, drawing my attention to his wide smile.

“I’ll destroy anyone who touches my family.” The corners of his lips curled into an adorable grin, which was contagious.

“You blew me away because I didn’t know you were so freaking strong and an incredible fighter.”

Shadow chuckled behind me. “Oh, Daniel is magnificent and works out a lot but rarely shows his talent.”

“You’re going to make me blush.” Daniel’s smile widened, and I loved seeing him so happy.

Shadow embraced me, his warm breath on my neck, his kisses reassuring.

“I’m so lucky to have all of you,” I murmured, holding onto Daniel’s hand as Shadow embraced me. “Daniel, you are going to teach me some of your moves.”

He chuckled, and I loved hearing the sound of laughter when my world felt like it was crumbling. There was something so different about Daniel. I found myself drawn to him in a way I couldn’t explain. Loving the way he sounded, the way he smelled like chocolate, and the way he stared at me.

Reaching over, he stroked my chin, and warmth spread through my chest, which had me slightly confused by my feelings. Daniel was Shadow’s boyfriend, and while I remembered him once telling me that he’d had girlfriends in the past, he’d never shown me that kind of interest. Well, he had been too busy being jealous, I guessed.

“You got it,” he agreed, minus any green-eyed monster traits.

I preferred this side of him.

“I’ll be present during these training sessions,” Shadow purred against me. “You both mean the world to me, so to see you working together is a new level of…” He paused as though he was going to say the wrong thing.

“Level of what?” I asked, glancing back at him.

“Arousal,” Daniel answered for him as Shadow grinned.

We were his, and it never really occurred to me until now that he’d get off on seeing Daniel and me getting along… maybe more than getting along?

Wait, did I feel that way toward Daniel?

The thought caught me off guard, heat crawling up my neck and curling up and over my cheeks. Daniel had always been slightly confusing to me—a friend, my lover’s boyfriend, the Beta—but perhaps the problem had always been mine in not seeing him for so much more than just the guy who soothed my Heat pain.

---