the family my best." Conversation over, Morty headed inside while motioning for his men to follow.
The Shadow Force paraded by, separating Gil and I on either side of the door. My mood got darker as each one stopped to greet Gil, even with simply a smile. More than one slapped his palm in greeting or asked why he hadn't used the number he'd been given.
I must have growled or something because Dear bumped against my side and pressed his cheek against my bicep, peering up at me and batting his lashes like he thought he was cute. "What's up, big bro? You getting a hankering to take a ride on the bunny side? If so, you might want to try looking friendlier. And maybe aim lower because you'll never have a shot with Gil after the way you've treated him over the years."
The last guy had disappeared inside when Dear spoke, so of course Gil heard every word. I felt every note of his mocking laughter all the way to my bones. "Sorry, Dear. Believe it or not, Danny boy had his chance once upon a time. But I don't go where I'm not wanted."
Whatever short leash I had on my temper snapped, and I was in his face before I realized I was moving. "Nobody ever said you weren't wanted, bunny boy. Don't rewrite history because I was there, remember?"
Snarling, Gil got right back in my face. "Rewriting history? Oh, precious. Would it kill you to admit you were wrong twenty-three years ago? Not only can an omega lead the brood, I have done a damn fine job of it. If you can't say it to me, I hope you at least know in the depths of your sorry-ass soul—you made a mistake walking away from me."
"I walked away from you? Sorry, sweetheart. I'm not the one who hopped so fast in the opposite direction they trampled half the greenery between our estates bad enough it took months to recover."
"Months? Somehow I doubt your words. If anything killed the greenery, it was your toxic masculinity. Alphahole said what?"
"What?" I’d walked smack into his punchline.
Gil's victorious smirk made me want to scream. "Exactly. Alphahole. Tell me, do your omega brothers know precisely how deep your—"
I had no idea how he would've finished his sentence and honestly didn't care since I wasn't listening at this point anyway. Gil was so sexy, standing toe to toe with me and screaming in my face, that I acted without thinking. Fulfilling my ultimate fantasy, I silenced him with a kiss.
Grabbing him by the back of the neck, I planted my lips over his so fast it took me a moment to feel the electricity tingling between us.
Fuck. I'd forgotten how good touching my true mate felt. But to finally kiss him?
It was heaven.
It was everything.
It was… over?
Before I'd truly begun to enjoy the feel of his soft lips—or the teasing tongue brushing over the seam of mine—a hand gripped my shoulder and yanked me backwards. Clay was scowling as he turned me around, but Dear slapped me across the face so hard my head turned to the side. "No. Not okay. You don't get to talk to my friend like shit and then manhandle him."
I'd ended up facing toward Gil, naturally, so I had the pleasure of seeing his disconcerted blink before he flipped his hair back and adjusted his shirt. I'm not sure how I expected him to react, but he shocked the hell out of me when he stepped in between us and smacked Dear back on my behalf.
Dear gasped from the stinging slap, as evidenced by Gil's red handprint on my brother's pale cheek. Gil held a finger up and wagged it in his face.
"I love you for that, Dear. But although I appreciate the sentiment, I don't need you to protect me. And brother or not, this is your one warning. Never lay hands on my mate again unless you want to face my fury."
My brothers’ eyes all just about popped out of their heads as they gaped at the two of us. Naturally, they spoke in stereo. "Mate?"
Chuckling humorlessly, I tapped Gil on the shoulder. "You're gonna have to clue me in, bunny boy. Are we admitting we're true mates now? Cute. Listen, I wouldn't ask, but I need to know what to tell my mother when she presses me for details. First you refuse me, and now you want to admit it after twenty-three years? And to my