Now I’m irritated.
“Which would have gotten youkilled,” I snap. “She’s not special, Dylan! Don’t you see? This is justhormones—”
His head snaps back up and my brothergrowlsat me.
He fuckinggrowls.
“Don’t talk about her like that,” he warns me, his voice dangerously low. And for the first time in a long time, I’m scared of my younger brother.
He looks like he might rip me to pieces.
It’s an argument I’m not going to win, no matter how much I want to rage at him.
So, I shake my head and sigh. “I’m…sorrythat you’re upset, but this whole thing is ridiculous. And, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to my work.”
He huffs and shakes his head. “What do we do if she goes into Heat?” He asks. “Do we…could we…”
I don’t like where the conversation is going, because I don’t have time forthat.
I imagine there would be bloodshed if we fought each other over her. The only one of us that’s ever taken an Omega is Killian.
Betas are just fine for a quick fuck and pulling out before the knot inflates.
“Stop coming to me for answers,” I snarl, slamming my hand down on the desk. “I don’t have them, because you and Killian aren’t thinking rationally. My response is always going to be the same—get her thefuckout of here.”
I hate the way he flinches, as if I’ve slapped him.
But I don’t take back what I said.
He stays in the office with me for a few more minutes as I go back to work, sending emails and setting meetings.
Ever since she’s been here, I’ve thrown myself more into my work than usual.
I haven’t slept for more than a few hours.
And it’s all because ofher.
Eventually, he leaves, muttering something, leaving the door to my office ajar.
I don’t have the heart to tell him to shut it behind him.
* * *
The sun startsto set when I realize I need to eat.
But work is the perfect distraction, complicated and anxiety reducing, so it’s easy to forget normal things like food.
There’s a slight knock at the door, timid and soft, and I already know who it is before I turn around.
Olive stands in the doorway to my office, dressed in a blue blouse and dark jeans.
Her new clothes must have been delivered.
And holy fuck, she’s beautiful.
Washed of the filth and grime, her face is dainty and heart-shaped, her long fire red hair shiny.
But Omegas are supposed to look like this.