80. Chapter Eighty

Chapter Eighty

Arrow

R ourke is hiding something, I know he is. I just don't know what it is, and if Gio makes him leave, I might never get to find out. Still, I don't move from the pantry when my lead Alpha takes Rourke by the arm and hauls him out into the kitchen.

I know Gio feels the need to protect me.

He's doing his job as my Alpha.

I'm a little mad at Rourke, but I also have to take some responsibility for jumping in with both feet the second I felt his presence outside. It's not like regular, honest people hang around in alleys, or on fire escapes, typically.

He was lurking around, probably looking for a way to get inside.

I should have at least wondered why.

Truth is, I didn't, because I knew he was meant to be my true mate and, in that moment, nothing else mattered.

I let my feelings dictate my actions.

Some see that as a weakness, unique to Omegas.

I see it as a strength. It felt right, so I don't regret one minute of it.

He's meant to be with me. He's supposed to be here with all of us.

The pantry door opens and Gio looks in on me.

"Are you okay?" he asks, concern in his eyes.

He's still angry and confused, but more than anything he's worried about me.

"I'm good. I was just thinking."

"Did he …"

"He didn't mark me," I reassure him.

I remember having a moment in the alley where he could have, and where I wanted him to, but he teased me instead of taking advantage of the opportunity.

"I don't think he's as awful as we suspected."

Gio frowns at me. "He hurt Beth, and he fought with Jack."

"He broke up with Beth. Break ups always hurt. We don't know why he did that."

"You like him," Gio mutters, shaking his head. "Mio dio. I can't deal with this."

"Well, you're going to have to find some way to deal with it."

He knows that. He just doesn't want to face it right now.

"I think I need to lie down," I admit as I wipe the back of my hand over my brow. "Rourke got me through the first spike of my heat, but there's more to come and I need some rest."

I should probably also bathe. I'm sweating my ass off right now.

"I'll take you upstairs. I should let Enzo know …"

"Abso-fucking-lutely not," I cut him off.

He raises an eyebrow. "What was that, freccia?"

"You will not drag Enzo away from Beth while he's finally getting a chance to spend some time with her. I'm not going to let my heat ruin that. You can text him when we're upstairs. Tell him we're staying out of the way to give them a chance to bond."

"We shouldn't lie to him."

"So, you think we should go through there together and tell them I'm in heat, and that you just threw Beth's ex-boyfriend out after he claimed me as his mate?"

I cross my arms, waiting for his reply.

"Fine," he says, blowing out a breath. "You can text him when we're upstairs and tell him whatever you like."

"That's better."

It's not an ideal solution, but it'll do.

I'm not about to let my heat ruin everyone's day.

Beth deserves a chance to get to know all of us.

She may just have to wait a few days to get to know me.