23. Chapter 23

Chapter 23

-Reese-

T he next day, my body felt battered. Despite mating with Rosa and finding release multiple times, I didn’t wake up with a sense of satisfaction or as if I had enjoyed a wonderful night. I almost crawled to work, stumbling slightly and feeling dizzy. My dad watched me, clearly concerned, even as I tried to rally us all to get back to business.

However, I could barely stifle my yawns, and they kept recurring as the words before my eyes blurred. I groaned, rubbed my face, and tried to focus when my Beta abruptly threw the papers in his hand down and stood up. We all turned to him, and he gave me a strange look that I couldn’t quite decipher before leaving without a word.

Confused, I watched him go, telling myself I didn’t have the strength to deal with his odd mood. Yet barely 10 minutes passed before the office door swung open again, and he returned, holding Naomi’s wrist and dragging her with him. We all stared in disbelief at the scene, but my Beta brought her over to me and gently pushed my chair back, placing Naomi directly in my lap. The moment she settled close to me again, her sweet scent enveloping me, I instantly grew calmer, a soft rumble escaping my chest, even as she trembled in my arms, obviously as confused as I was. Yet I began to understand the purpose of this as my Beta returned to his chair, looking somewhat pleased.

“You already look better,” he remarked.

I didn’t know how he had come up with the idea, but everyone began smiling, though it felt somewhat inappropriate with Naomi there. Nonetheless, it quelled something within me, and I wrapped my arms tightly around her, lifting her higher onto my lap.

She continued to shake, her eyes meeting mine with an expression of fear, but I simply stroked her hair before returning to work. No one paid her any attention, and I knew this situation must be incredibly confusing for her, but I didn’t want her to leave. Holding her helped me regain focus, and I found myself working more efficiently. Of course, Naomi shifted around after the initial shock wore off, but I drew her closer and leaned down to her ear.

“Stay still. I need you here if I’m going to concentrate,” I asserted.

She turned to me, blinking in surprise, but as if sensing my seriousness, she fell silent. She seemed to relinquish her resistance and slumped down as I worked around her, familiarizing myself with everything. Naomi clearly felt overwhelmed by the powerful male wolves in the room and sought refuge closer to me. She buried her face in my neck, sending shivers down my spine, but it also filled me with a sense of completeness, as if having Naomi in my arms was what I had been waiting for my entire life.

I held her tighter, ensuring she felt my protective presence, and the day progressed much more smoothly now that I didn’t feel disoriented. Naomi even appeared to drift off slightly, as if she had also endured a rough night. Perhaps she had. It wouldn’t be surprising. Having her asleep in my arms only intensified the feeling of completeness, and I couldn’t help but smile as I worked.

I noticed the way my dad looked at me, recognizing the peaceful expression on my face, and I rolled my eyes, silently signaling him not to comment. But why was everyone suddenly starting to accept this situation?

As Naomi slept peacefully, a serene energy enveloped us, signaling the rare opportunity to sort things out uninterrupted. The day grew late, and one by one, my dad and the others departed from the office, concluding our work for the day. I reclined in my chair, relishing the moment with Naomi by my side.

Unaware of our solitude, Naomi remained in her tranquil slumber. I couldn’t help but smile, running my fingers through her long ponytail, savoring her delightful scent. How had she managed to captivate me so completely? And why hadn’t I realized it before? It dawned on me then that there was a significant age gap between us, and I wouldn’t have recognized Naomi as my own until she reached the age of 18. Frustration welled up within me at the thought of not being present when she came of age, missing the chance to confirm our connection definitively.

Perhaps it wasn’t as straightforward as my wolf instinctively declaring her as my mate. Maybe there were other factors at play, given my attraction to two individuals. Nevertheless, I was beginning to find solace in this complex situation.

As I gently stroked Naomi’s hair, she stirred, gradually awakening from her slumber. Blinking groggily, she stretched before realizing that we were alone once again.

“Oh,” she murmured, attempting to rise, but I held her close.

Turning to me, her eyes brimmed with admiration, but then she averted her gaze, clearly still puzzled by our circumstances.

“Why am I here, Alpha Reese?” she inquired.

“Just Reese,” I corrected her softly.

Her reaction to my correction was evident, but in the context of being potential mates, formal titles seemed unnecessary.

“I-I don’t think—”

“Yes, as my mate, you should,” I asserted.

“But I’m not your mate.”

“Then how do we make sense of all this?” I questioned, my hands gliding over her body, eliciting a soft whimper from her. I relished that sound, despite not even targeting any sensitive areas. It was merely the sensation of my hand moving along her form that made her react. “Something is happening, and I’ve been experiencing restless nights lately. I fear it’s because of our separation. How have you been sleeping?”

“Um,” she hesitated, her uncertainty conveying what I needed to hear. She, too, was struggling, indicating a connection deeper than mere attraction.

“You haven’t been sleeping well, have you?” I pressed.

She sighed, averting her gaze. “Not really,” she confessed.

“In that case, it’s clear we need to make some adjustments.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I believe you should stay in the house with me.”

“What?”