The Omni-Wolf’s Choice novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Putting a Whitney in its place…

Ryder’s POV

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“You handled yourself unbelievably well with the elders. You don’t realize it yet, but you’re built for

this.”

I push my bedroom door open and shift aside to let her go first.

Part of me wanted to honor the boundary-she isn’t ready to share a room again. The rest of me just needed her close enough to breathe the same air. So I didn’t decide for her. We paused in the hallway,

and I waited.

When she gave the smallest tilt of her chin toward my door, Talon practically purred. And me? Every minute I spend with her, I fall harder into the certainty that the moon goddess shaped her for me.

Dinner had ended a while ago. I’d booked the private dining room because I wanted her to eat without the pack staring holes through her. The truth was going to leak soon anyway-glowing gold eyes aren’t exactly something you can tuck away forever.

Tonight, we kept it simple. Family.

Evelyn and my twins, Adrian and Aiden, did what they always do-kept the air light, found reasons to laugh. My parents were openly charmed by Bridget. Ms. Miriam joined us, and Connor came with his parents. We ate, we talked, we learned each other.

And I kept catching myself looking at her like I’d lost my mind.

Talon’s fault.

She steps into the room, then slows, like she’s weighing whether the day is finally over. “Well. That

was…a lot.”

Then she pivots away from me, almost casual. “Oh-and I almost forgot.”

My relief lasts exactly one second.

She turns her head, eyes hard. “Did you fuck her?”

My brain stutters. “Excuse me?”

The temperature in the room drops.

“Did. You. Fuck. Her.” She separates each word like she’s laying out evidence. Her face is carved into

stone.

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I let out a breath. So this is that.

» ”4′

Mar

Jasper had already told me he’d caught the tail end of whatever happened in the library. I’d meant to deal with it tomorrow, in my office, clean and controlled.

My mate apparently wants it handled now.

“Whitney…”

“Yes. Whitney,” she snaps. “Of course it’s Whitney.”

“It happened once,” I say, holding her gaze. “Over a year ago. Long before I even knew you existed.”

Her mouth tightens. “So that’s your type? Because we aren’t even close to the same. Not remotely.”

“No.” I shake my head. “We “No.” I shake my head. “We grew up around each other, and back then she wasn’t…this. I ran into her

at a training convention off-pack. I drank too much, made a mistake, regretted it immediately. I ended

it, and I haven’t touched her again since that night.”

Anger flashes across her face, sharp and bright. And beneath it-jealousy.

I understand it too well. If I had a name and a face for anyone who’s ever had her, I’d want to erase

them from the world.

Talon and I also can’t deny the satisfaction curling in our chest. The bond is tightening. She’s feeling

“Once?” she says, voice low. “Because she acts like she has you whenever she wants. Ryder, I can be many things, but I will not play the idiot while you entertain that woman-and I’m using ‘woman’ generously.”

I have never seen this version of Bridget.

And damn-no one has ever spoken to me like this. I can’t decide whether I want to argue or haul her across my lap and teach her what pushing me does.

Probably both.

“I swear,” I tell her, stepping into her space. I reach for her hands, slow, giving her the chance to refuse. She doesn’t pull away, even if disbelief still sits in her eyes.

I cup the back of her head and press my forehead to hers.

All day I’ve been trying to mind-link her. Some messages land. Others slip away. I cling to the hope

that this one reaches.

‘Jasper. Mason. Bring Whitney to my office. Now.’

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Manu

Bridget draws back, alarm flickering. “I don’t want to see her, Ryder.”

“Good,” I say quietly. “That means you heard it.”

I take her hand and guide her out.

She’s still bristling, radiating attitude. I can think of a dozen ways to make that defiance melt, but none

of them matter until she trusts me-until she’s ready.

This needs to be clean. Final.

In my office, she drops onto the couch and folds her arms like a furious child.

Adorable. Dangerous. Mine.

“Come here,” I say, taking my seat behind the desk.

She doesn’t budge. She just stares at me like she’s daring me to try.

I let my voice sharpen. “Over here, Bridget. Now.”

Her nostrils flare-cute, infuriating-and then she rises and stalks toward me anyway. Close enough that I can hook an arm around her and pull her down onto my lap.

Right then, a knock lands on the door.

“Enter.”

Whitney steps in wearing a smug little smile. “Well, Alpha… it’s pretty late, but-”

Her grin dies the moment she notices Bridget.

“Oh,” Whitney says, eyes darting. “You called Alpha?”

I keep my gaze on Whitney. “Yes.”

Bridget’s voice is cool. “Did you imply that you and I are currently sleeping together?”

Whitney’s eyes widen, then sharpen into something ugly as she looks at Bridget.

I snap, a growl riding my words. “Don’t you look at her when I’m speaking to you.”

The warriors flanking Whitney go rigid. Shock hits them like a wave.

Bridget’s expression doesn’t change at all.

“Ryder, I only told her-” Whitney starts.

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“It’s Alpha Ryder,” I cut in, each word clipped, “and you will explain what you ‘only told’ your Luna.”

Whitney swallows. “I… I told my Luna that you and I have history.” She forces the words out through.

clenched teeth.

A lie. A pretty one, crafted to save her skin.

Bridget tilts her head slightly. “If I’m remembering correctly,” she says, calm as a blade, “you told me

that when I kiss him, I taste you. Didn’t you, Whitney?”

Bridget hadn’t mentioned that detail in our room.

Heat detonates behind my ribs.

I slam my fist into the desk. Wood splits with a crack. Whitney flinches hard.

Talon surges toward the surface, eager for blood.

The warriors beside Whitney shut their eyes and breathe out slowly like they’re bracing for impact.

Whitney’s voice wobbles. “No-I mean-she misunderstood-”

“So now you’re calling your Luna a liar?” I ask.

“No!” Panic makes her words stumble. “I didn’t lie, Ryder. We were together!”

“Alpha Ryder,” I correct, cold. “You stand in my office and smear my name. You lie about me. You lie to my mate. You know what the mate bond means.”

I lean forward. “I allowed you to stay here out of respect for your family. I could banish you tonight. I

could do worse.”

My voice drops. “But I’m leaving the final call to your Luna-after you apologize. Now.”

Bridget shifts on my lap, and a soft, calming pressure rolls over me. Her aura.

I don’t think she realizes she’s doing it.

Whitney’s jaw works like she’s chewing glass. “Luna Bridget… I’m sorry for lying about the past relationship between Alpha Ryder and me. He’s right. I haven’t been with him in any way for over a year -at least. I’m sorry. I want the chance to stay in this pack.”

She speaks like each syllable hurts.

Bridget lets silence stretch until it becomes punishment.

Then she stands, stepping away from me, and faces Whitney fully.

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“I’m new here,” Bridget says evenly. “I know the laws, but I’m choosing to give you one opportunity to prove you deserve it.

Her voice stays steady, almost frighteningly so. “By law, you could be cast out as a rogue. Or executed. You have royal blood-even if it’s a thin line. And I would hope I’d offer the same grace to anyone who earned a second chance.”

She pauses.

“This is that chance. There will not be a third, no matter what name you carry. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Luna,” Whitney whispers.

Bridget closes the distance until they’re nearly nose to nose.

“Whitney,” she says, so softly Talon and I have to strain, “do not confuse my forgiveness with

kindness. You will not see this version of me twice.”

A shiver runs through Whitney as fear finally sinks in.

“Yes, Luna. Thank you, Luna.”

I nod at the warriors. They escort her out.

Whitney is lucky we didn’t lock her down in a cell.

The moment the door shuts, I’m on Bridget. I come up behind her and fold my arms around her waist.

She exhales like she’s been holding herself upright by sheer force, then leans back into me.

“I have to say it,” I murmur into her hair. “Watching you go full Luna was ridiculously sexy.”

She lets out a small laugh. “Good to know a hint of torture and murder does it for you, Alpha.”

She nestles closer anyway.

It feels like heaven.

I brace myself against my desk and draw her in, letting her rest her head on my chest. Her heartbeat

finally slows, settling back into something normal.

“Soon,” I tell her, voice rough, “your wolf is going to catch my scent properly. It’ll help soothe you.”

“I’m looking forward to that,” she says, sliding her arms over mine. “Right now your touch is doing a pretty good job.”

She tips her face up. “Can we sleep now? I’m exhausted.”

10:25

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< Chapter 14 Putting a Whitney in its place

“Yeah,” I say. “You’ve got training tomorrow.”

I take her hand and lead her toward the bedrooms-careful not to assume she’ll choose mine.

Talon and I want her in our bed so badly it aches.

She walks straight to my door anyway.

I release a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Inside, I can feel there’s still a question sitting behind her eyes.

AM

She turns to me. “Are there going to be any more women I need to ‘handle’? Bed warmers. Girlfriends.”

“No,” I say immediately. “I did everything I could to keep that out of my pack-out of my life-because! knew my mate was coming.”

She looks past me at the bed. “Do we need to burn the mattress?”

A laugh breaks out of me. “No. I’m the only one who’s slept here.”

“Good.”

Her gaze flicks back to mine, a new edge sliding into her voice.

And what about you?”

<The Omni-Wolf’s Choice