The Omni-Wolf’s Choice novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16 Training Day….

Alpha Ryder’s POV

Men

A few days have passed since Bridget started training, and it has been a mix-good moments, rough ones. Elder Lysander has been almost stunned by how fast she absorbs anything pulled from our history texts. The woman remembers pages like they’re stamped behind her eyes. That doesn’t surprise me. Night after night, she has been curling into me in our bed, telling me some old story she read and asking questions right before sleep takes her.

Lysander has been pushing too, trying every angle to pry open whatever is buried in her mind. Up to now, nothing has broken through.

Elder Evangeline has had better luck on the spell side. Bridget can learn the mechanics; the issue is scaling the power. It doesn’t rise smoothly. It arrives, vanishes, then hits again in bursts.

Combat training has been… fine. She is strong as hell, and she handles the bags and sparring with me like she was born for it. But no one else will step up to fight her. Talon and I probably share the blame for that; a few well-placed growls tend to end volunteer lists. And really-who lines up to swing at their

Luna while their Alpha looks ready to rip throats if a single hair gets disturbed? I’m not sorry.

Still, her wolf remains quiet. Dormant. Not even a flicker at the surface. Elder Preston is getting irritated, and that’s exactly why I assume I’ve been requested to “observe” today.

Walking to the fields, Bridget presses into my side like she belongs there. Then her fingers slide into mine like it’s instinct. Her wolf hasn’t shown herself since the other night. I have offered-more than once-to repeat what helped then, to taste her again and see if it shakes something loose. The problem is simple: she is dead on her feet after these sessions. Lately we’ve been eating dinner upstairs in our room because training runs her into the ground.

The elders are working her brutally hard. Every part of me wants to shut it down. But I also know she

has to get through this.

There hasn’t been another incident. No new attacks. That doesn’t mean we relax. The king and queen. are arriving soon-here to meet Bridget and to attend her ceremony. It will take place after Evelyn’s

party and Bridget’s coming-out event.

The royal guard has already shown up in advance. I have been drilling my warriors alongside theirs. We had been adopting royal standards before they even arrived, and it shows-I have some of the best fighters in the region. I’m proud of them.

But today isn’t about my unit.

Today I’m watching Bridget.

< Chapter 16 Training Day….

She has told me she’s tried reaching for her wolf and gotten nothing back. Talon insists he can femd

her, though can sense both her presence and her power.

“So,” I ask as we near the field, “how are you holding up today? You slept through the night again

She has claimed my room like it’s always been ours. She said it’s the only place her mind actually

settles. I didn’t argue. Having her in my arms every night is its own kind of salvation. Watching her

sleep is a problem I don’t want cured-her head on my chest, her scent filling my lungs, my attention

stuck on the spot on her neck where I will mark her as soon as I’m allowed. Waking up with her toned

leg thrown over mine has been making self-control feel like a joke.

I’ve been waking early anyway-cold shower, every morning, because my dreams keep turning into her.

After that I run with my warriors to patrol the borders, then I head straight into the day’s work before

training even begins. I need my team sharper than everyone else. Anything that comes for my mate, I

will shred.

And every time I leave her behind, I’ve been placing a note on my pillow. A promise she can touch Unte

I can mind-link her consistently, it’s my way of making sure she knows I will come back.

“I did sleep,” she says, and the smile she gives me hits Talon and me like a drug. “Thank you… for

staying with me. I’m trying to get used to that.” She hesitates, then adds softly, “Are you sure you have

time to come today? You’ve got pack responsibilities.”

Selfless. Always worried she’s taking up space.

“I’ve got it handled,” I tell her. “Pierce is running training. Connor is on border patrol. Lucas is managing

tech and the extra security-making sure everything is online. My people are solid.”

Her shoulders loosen a little. “I’m glad you’ll be there. Maybe you can help me figure out what I’m missing. I can only take so much of Lysander’s disappointed stare.”

My temper snaps tight. “I can talk to him.”

She shakes her head fast. “No. I can deal with it. Once I prove I can kick some ass, he’ll come around.

“That’s my future Luna.”

I love that she refuses to fold. I also know I won’t let her quit. Not ever. Even if I had to pin her to our

bed until she’s moaning apologies to the moon goddess herself.

Bridget tilts her face up at me, and I force a slow breath, trying to keep Talon from surging forward

“And,” she adds with a sly grin, “the quicker I get control, the quicker we can actually have quality time

You know-before everyone finds out who I am.”

My arms slide around her waist and pull her flush against me. She laughs, light and sweet, and loops

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her arms over my shoulders.

“This ball is for Evelyn,” I remind her. “You’re staying our secret until then. Mom is handling the cover story. My father has already invited and notified the heads and dignitaries. That night will be locked

down like Fort Knox.”

I lean closer. “Then we present you.”

Her gaze flicks to my mouth.

“And quality time?” I murmur. “Sounds perfect. I’m stealing you away the first chance I get. But hear

me-if you need me at any moment, you’ve got me. You’re mine to lean on.”

My life has been a nonstop pile of issues: the rogue threat, pack management, new applicants, transfers for mates who get pulled to other territories. I’ve had a strong team, but I usually shoulder it

alone.

That was before Bridget.

I didn’t realize how badly I wanted to simply exist beside one person until she walked into my world

and the bond tightened around my ribs. I can’t wait for her to feel it fully too.

“Okay,” she says, searching my face, “but if you have to leave, if something comes up… just tell me.

Promise?’

se?”

“I promise,” I say. “But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

We reach the open field. I know abandonment sits in her bones. I’ll spend my entire life proving I don’t

disappear. And today-this is progress. She’s voicing it. She’s letting me matter. The elders might not.

count that as improvement, but I do.

The elders are gathered in a loose cluster, talking. Bridget turns to me before she joins them. I settle

into the role they want from me: close enough to anchor her if she needs it.

“Well,” she says, exhaling, “here goes nothing.”

“You’ve got this, babe.”

The words between us come easy, like we’ve been doing this forever. It fills in some hollow part of me

I didn’t even know existed.

She looks up, and I lean in-close enough that we both feel it. We have wanted that kiss since the first

moment we met. Wolves don’t usually hesitate; we mate, we mark, we claim.

But she still doesn’t know who she is.

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Get S

Me

So I’ve been holding her instead. Keeping the nightmares away. Letting her set the pace. A couple of times she has woken and I’ve seen her wolf hovering right at the edge, aching for the connection.

I will wait.

She reaches up, hooks her arms around my neck, and a jolt races through every place we touch. Then she breaks away and jogs toward the group, leaving me standing there with a smile I can’t hide.

My eyes track her-black leggings framing every curve, sports bra covered by the T-shirt I insisted on, even though it still fits too snug for my liking. Her hair is pulled into a ponytail, thick curls falling past

her shoulders.

Perfect.

Perfect to grab when the time comes.

She needs new clothes. Immediately.

I send a mind-link to Evelyn, asking her and the girls to help Bridget build a proper wardrobe. Keeping her happy, safe, loved-and properly covered from any unmated wolf-falls under my job description.

‘Alpha, are you at the field? I’ve got intel I need you to see.’ Pierce’s voice hits my mind.

‘Come out here,’ I send back.

Minutes later he’s at my side with a tablet. He hands it over and taps the screen.

“What is it?”

A grainy video plays. A figure is slipping out near the southern border. That border is open; nobody needs to sneak. Everyone in our pack knows they can come and go.

“It looks like a male left the night of the bonfire,” Pierce says. “We’ve narrowed it to a group of high school kids, but I don’t understand why any of them would do it this way. Facial recognition is running right now.” He clicks through additional footage and timestamps.

“Good,” I say. “When you ID them, have them brought to my office. Guarded. They’ll wait for me.

“Yes, Alpha.”

Pierce straightens, and even from here he dips his head toward Bridget-respectful, careful-before he hustles back toward the main building.

I trust Pierce. He’s sharp, loyal, and as ruthless as I am when it counts.

My attention returns to the field.

< Chapter 16 Training Day….

Meno

Bridget’s posture has tightened. Frustration bleeds off her in waves. I shut my eyes and reach for calm, pushing steady energy toward her through the bond that’s trying so hard to form. I breathe slow

and deep.

Her heartbeat eases.

When I open my eyes again, she’s staring at me from across the grass, brows drawn together-

confused, like she felt something she can’t explain.

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