24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

-Naomi-

A lpha Reese appeared resolute, but his suggestion of me staying in the house with him seemed utterly nonsensical. Yet, his unwavering gaze conveyed his absolute certainty, though I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief.

“We can’t!” I exclaimed.

“But we can,” he insisted firmly.

“Alpha—”

“Reese,” he interjected, correcting me again.

“No, Alpha—”

“Reese,” he reiterated, prompting a frustrated groan from me as I shook my head.

“Fine, Reese,” I conceded, and his smile in response was gentle, his hand tenderly brushing against my cheek.

A soft moan escaped me unintentionally as his touch sent shivers down my spine, and when he leaned in closer, inhaling deeply, I couldn’t help but whimper.

“Goddess, I love it when you sound like that,” he murmured against my skin, planting gentle kisses.

“This is all too much,” I whispered, feeling overwhelmed.

Respecting my boundaries, he withdrew, though an unmistakable desperation lingered in his eyes—a desperation reminiscent of what my mother had described. I tried to push aside any connections, refusing to entertain thoughts that seemed too absurd. Instead, I redirected my focus to his proposal.

“I can’t just move here,” I stated firmly.

“Why not?” he inquired. “Being closer to each other is only natural, especially if we are mates and have claimed each other.”

“It would be... complicated and awkward,” I countered.

“We can simplify it,” he proposed.

“No.”

“Naomi,” he chided gently, clearly displeased with my swift rejection of his idea. Yet, I couldn’t acquiesce this time.

“I have my mother. She needs me,” I explained.

He leaned back in his chair, mulling over my words before nodding as if reaching a conclusion.

“She could come along,” he suggested.

“No, she couldn’t.”

“Why do you dismiss the idea so readily?”

“Because she doesn’t need more people around her. She’s already broken enough. And if I’m potentially in danger because of any influence I might have on you, imagine the risk to my mom. I can’t take that chance,” I insisted.

Reese sighed, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. The room fell into silence as I allowed him to contemplate, his hand still on my lower back, radiating warmth through my clothes.

I tried to ignore the sensation, preparing to stand, but his hand on my hip prevented me. Turning to face him, I met his gaze, observing an almost pained expression, as if my departure from his side was unbearable. It was puzzling, yet I remained seated, locking eyes with him.

“Is there something we can do?” he inquired.

“About what?” I asked.

“About moving you and your mom. Perhaps we can find a solution.”

“Reese, we’ve only had two meetings, and before that, you were convinced I’d cast a spell on you,” I accused.

“I know, but I’ve come to realize my mistake and have been more open to accepting what’s happening between us,” he explained.

I sighed, shaking my head. “Well, I’m not.”

His expression showed hurt at my words, and slowly, his hand lowered, granting me space. I slid off his lap, distancing myself a few steps away.

“Why are you resisting this?” he asked, his voice tinged with pain.

“Because we don’t even know what ‘this’ is!” I retorted.

“You know me well, Naomi.”

“And?”

“It makes me think you’ve been keeping tabs on me,” he suggested.

“I...”

“Do you have feelings for me?” he asked bluntly, putting me on the spot.

“I-I...” I stuttered, feeling utterly exposed.

“Because if you do, then why are you fighting our connection?” he inquired.

“What connection?”

“What’s happening between us!” he exclaimed, standing up and appearing frustrated.

“Well, I don’t see any connection,” I retorted.

“What do you mean you don’t see one? Just a touch from me, and you were practically on fire,” he pointed out, causing my cheeks to flush red.

“T-That was just...”

“That’s the effect of a mate. We’re drawn to each other, and the slightest contact ignites intense attraction,” he explained.

I shook my head in denial.

“Yes, it does,” he asserted, advancing toward me as I retreated. He noticed and warned, “Don’t try to run away again, or I’ll chase after you. I’m losing control. I shouldn’t be like this when I have another mate who depends on me.”

“Exactly. You already have a mate, one your wolf has claimed. Why isn’t that enough?” I questioned.

“I don’t know!” he exclaimed, his voice resonating in the room.

“I don’t... know,” he murmured, his tone softening. “Even my Beta recognized that it was you I needed, not Rosa.”

“But why?” I pressed.

“I just told you I have no idea. This is simply how it is. For some reason, I feel pulled in two directions. It was just as intense in the beginning with Rosa. Obviously, I need more time with you as well.”

“Time?” I inquired.

“Yes, more time.”

“As in more dates?” I clarified.

“As in more dates, more nights, more hours. I want it all, and I want a lot of it,” he declared.

“We can’t...” I started to protest.

“Why not?” he interjected.

“Because what if it turns out we’re not mates?” I challenged.

He appeared somewhat taken aback, his behavior confusingly inconsistent. First, he wanted me nowhere near him, then he wanted me closer than ever.

“We have to be!” he insisted.

“We can’t be certain.”

“That’s why we need more time,” he countered sharply.

“No.”

“Naomi!” he scolded.

“No!” I shouted, causing him to draw back. “I wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

“What?” he queried.

“The fact that you wouldn’t be mine in the end. Can’t you see how devastating that would be?” I challenged. “What if we grew to care for each other so deeply that we could barely stand to be apart, only to realize that our wolves would never claim each other?”