16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

-Reese-

N aomi had made an excellent point about mates running together—the rush of blood, the connection to nature, the sheer joy of letting go. It was like a drug, and Naomi was already getting into my head, leaving me uncertain about everything. However, my wolf began panting in an odd way, as if excited at the prospect of running with Naomi’s. I told him to stop drooling, but he only denied the obvious need he showed for a quick run with Naomi’s wolf. I rolled my eyes at his obvious interest before turning my gaze back to the woman before me.

She barely met my eyes, a faint pink showing on her cheeks, and suddenly, the idea of a run in the near future didn’t seem so bad. I could chase after her, working for it, and once I caught her... I shook my head, quickly looking away before my thoughts revealed too much.

Goddess , I groaned internally, feeling my blood rush so fast it made me slightly lightheaded. I needed to focus on something unpleasant, but it was difficult with Naomi sitting in front of me, looking so ready to be devoured.

“I really think we should wait,” Naomi’s voice broke through my reverie.

“Wait for what?” I inquired.

“Running together. We haven’t had much opportunity to talk.”

“You seem to know me quite well already,” I countered, a hint of accusation lacing my tone.

She shrugged. “You’re the next Alpha.”

“But that’s not the reason you know me so well, is it?” I pressed.

“I...”

“You seem to know even simple things, like my sandwich preferences, without me telling you,” I reminded her.

“The staff knows what you like.”

“Yeah? Then what’s my favorite color?” I challenged, fixing her with a steady gaze. “And remember, I can tell if you’re lying.”

She swallowed nervously, a telltale sign of her discomfort. “G-Green,” she replied tentatively.

“Yes, green,” I confirmed, feeling oddly touched by her attention to detail.

“But not just any green, like the shade of pine trees,” she added quickly.

I blinked in surprise, then nodded. “Exactly,” I murmured, feeling a sense of connection rather than intrusion.

“Now it’s your turn,” I prompted, clearing my throat.

“Orange, like the fruit,” she answered with a small smile.

“It’s a lovely color.”

“It makes me feel warm, and I adore the scent of oranges,” she explained.

“They also taste fantastic on cakes,” I interjected, noticing her smile widening as our conversation flowed effortlessly.

“But you prefer strawberries.”

“I do. They’re the superior fruit or nut, as they’re now classified,” I agreed with a chuckle, relishing the easy banter between us.

“They do taste delicious,” she agreed, meeting my gaze with a serene energy that felt comforting.

“See?” I remarked. “We’re doing quite well for our first date.”

“I suppose it could have gone worse,” she conceded with a slight shrug.

“Then finish your food.”

She looked down at the half-eaten sandwich and quietly finished it. I allowed her to eat in peace, finding a strange comfort in the simple act of seeing her nourished... Typical Alpha behavior , I couldn’t help but acknowledge internally, a realization that unsettled me.

As Naomi completed her meal, she crumpled the paper wrapper and turned toward the trash can. Sensing her determination, I encouraged her to try, observing the slight hint of effort in her eyes. However, her toss only managed to reach halfway, eliciting a shared chuckle as it fell to the ground.

“I guess I won’t be joining a professional basketball team anytime soon,” she quipped, surprising me with her humor.

Shaking my head with a smile, I moved ahead of her, reaching for the discarded paper.

“You don’t have to do that,” she protested, hurrying after me, but it was a simple task.

I effortlessly tossed the paper into the trash, just as she reached my side, attempting to dissuade me from cleaning up after her.

“It was no trouble,” I assured her, turning to face her. Her eyes met mine, appearing larger, perhaps slightly swollen from crying earlier in the day. The thought of her being confined indoors all day was disheartening, and I felt an overwhelming urge to reach out to her, to offer comfort in the form of a gentle touch or a reassuring gesture.

Her gaze seemed to implore me to do just that, but in the absence of clear guidance from my wolf, I hesitated, uncertain if I was interpreting her signals correctly. So, instead, I took a step back, granting her some space. She seemed to notice the shift in energy, and the atmosphere in the room subtly changed.

Wrong move , my wolf remarked.

Shut up , I retorted inwardly.

He huffed in disapproval, clearly not pleased with my cautious approach. Merely being in the same room as Naomi felt like a betrayal to Rosa, yet I found myself reluctant to leave.

“How long are we supposed to spend time together?” she asked tentatively.

“I was thinking most of the evening,” I replied casually.

“Most of the evening?” she repeated, a note of fear creeping into her voice.

“Yes, why not?”

“Won’t you have to dine with the others?”

“I’ll hold off on that for a while. Eating together might... strengthen... something,” I hesitated, struggling to articulate my thoughts.

“Or perhaps it’s best not to strengthen anything.”

“Naomi, this is the only way we can understand what’s happening to us. If we don’t spend time together, we’ll remain in the dark.”

“Then maybe it’s better to leave it as a mystery?” she proposed.

“Why?”

“It complicates things,” she argued.

“Or perhaps you have someone waiting for you too?” I accused, recalling her strong bond with the other male wolf.

“No,” she stated firmly.

“Are you certain?”

“Do you smell someone else on me?” she challenged.

“A shower could erase any traces if you’re not marked,” I countered.

She crossed her arms defensively, clearly displeased with being accused of sleeping around. Yet, if we were indeed mates, as her Alpha, I felt a sense of possessiveness over her. She shouldn’t be involved with anyone else.

You’re being a bit hypocritical , my wolf interjected.

How? Do you want someone else writhing and grinding on top of— I started before he cut me off with a growl, refocusing my thoughts.

I meant she must feel conflicted about sharing us as well , he clarified.

I could see his point, and Naomi glared at me, her arms still crossed. I sighed deeply, realizing I had little grounds to accuse her of anything.

“I’m not involved with anyone,” she declared firmly.