The smile faded then.
“I don’t want to give you more certainty. I want you to have less, to get some fucking humility and acknowledge the fact that you need to talk to us about important decisions. Talk to Lucien, talk to Beau, but most of all, talk to Max. Actually, scratch that, always talk to Max. You say you want me? Well, he’s the only one I feel safe around to…”
My hand slid up, tracing the mark my mate had left on my neck, which made parts of my body throb so sweetly in response, something Tobias seemed to watch with undue interest.
“To let go with and be an omega. You promised you’d never do another thing to hurt me if I give you this?” I gripped the collar in my hand. “You can’t do that, Tobias. Scarlet is one hundred percent right, and has your back, something you should thank her for profusely. What if I’d just clicked this around your neck without too much thought? What if I forced promises from you that no one could ever live up to?”
I waited for it, for the moment when he realised what I meant, and it came all too quickly. He stared at me, brows creasing.
“Like I did with Chloe.”
“That’s right. Personally, I don’t think you guys know how to human properly. You’re alphas who’ve been raised as betas, neglected by your family, and turned into poor little rich boys with way too much power and not enough consideration for others. I think you all need therapy and lots of it.”
“And…that’s what it will take for you to become comfortable with becoming our mate?”
“No, that’s what you need to be a happy, functioning human being. The other part…”
Guys always had baggage, even if you were their first girlfriend. Whether it was with their parents, other girls, or whatever, it was always there. I had no delusions that walking into this relationship would be a challenge, but…sometimes, the secret of a good relationship seemed to be finding someone who you liked, respected, and were attracted to, whose baggage didn’t disrupt yours too unduly. I smiled and let out a sigh.
“We need to date, just like any other couple does. We need to go out, have fun, get to know each other. Our wolves might recognise what we are to each other, but our human selves are the ones that rule the roost, and they are very much a work in progress.”
“Permission to get down from this bench?”
Holy shit, was this what my future was going to look like? His voice was a feline purr, making him sound exactly like the snake tempting Eve right now.
“Yeah, of course.”
Shit, yep, I was in a cordoned off area with a shirtless hot alpha who wanted me, me, me, something I’d forgotten all about until right now.
“Permission to come closer and hold you?”
“Is this the way it’s gonna be?” I asked, trying for snarky but sounding flustered. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to need some of those classes Scarlet promised.”
“You’ll get them.” He moved closer, not waiting for permission at all, but that was the way it was going to be, wasn’t it? I’d grasp for order or a rational way forward for a second or two, and then they’d swoop in and get all growly and Sage would be a puddle on the floor. “You’ll get everything you want and need, omega. Just keep communicating. Correct me, tell me how it’s going to be and why. I’m on your side. I’ll always be on your side, even if I don’t agree with you.”
“So what do we do then?” I asked, jumping as his arm wrapped around me and tugged me against his body.
“We argue. We hash things out and listen to the other person’s side of the story, and then we work out a way forward together.” His mouth dipped down, hovering over mine, and suddenly, I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to taste more. “Then we get to the bit I like the best.”
“What’s that?” My voice was little more than a hoarse whisper now.
“Aftercare.” He brushed his lips against mine, smiling when my mouth followed them on automatic. “Something to soothe you, make you feel safe and secure and heard.”
“You’re making assumptions about what I need again,” I grumbled, but that was entirely ruined by the fact I was leaning in for another kiss, and just like an alpha, he gave it to me.
“You’re right—I will do that a lot.” His hands went around my wrists, and for some reason, I loved that feeling of pressure, of ownership. “You’ll just have to…correct me, over and over and over…”
That statement should’ve filled me with fear and irritation, but it didn’t. While Lucien had admitted the pack was thinking with their dicks, if I was being completely honest, my kitty was making a whole lot of decisions too, ones she might need all of her nine lives to survive.
“No collar?”When we emerged, Scarlet stood leaning against the bar, her arms crossed and a shit-eating grin on her face. “I called it. Tell me I didn’t call it.”
“You were on the money, as always,” Tobias replied, pulling me close.
“And the whole teach me about…this place thing.” I made a vague gesture at the club, and she just smiled. “I’m down for that. I need someone, anyone with some sort of clue to help me find one.”
“Of course.” She strode forward. “I would advise not going too far with this one yet.” She jerked her head at Tobias, and he growled in response. “He’ll try to convince you that it’s all oh so urgent with his alpha bullshit, but…” She stared into my eyes, serious now. “You want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into before you get too deep.”
“Not ominous at all,” I said with a little laugh, then looked past her to the well-stocked bar. “So can people come here and just get shitfaced drunk and soak in the ambience? Or is it no spanky, no entry?”