The Omni-Wolf’s Choice novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28 Let them speak..

Bridget’s POV

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I’m standing here with Ryder’s hand threaded through mine, still trying to wrap my head around what he’s just said.

He told me he loved me.

No one has ever said that to me. Not like this. And the fact that he didn’t push, didn’t ask for it back, didn’t even look disappointed when I couldn’t give it to him in return-it makes it land deeper. It’s his truth, offered without a price tag.

Evelyn would have a field day. Who is this man and where did he hide her brother?

Then Ryder apologized. For the woman. For her being in our room. He didn’t have to. He could have puffed up and played the dominant Alpha, could have told me to deal with it because it was “before.”

And it was before. He has a past. I have one too.

If we’re going to have any chance, I have to give him the same thing I’d demand for myself-trust. Will this be flawless? No. Am I going toChapter Unlocked, Enjoy Reading!rs of my life being angry over

something he can’t undo? Also no.

Losing my parents in one heartbeat taught me that tomorrow is never guaranteed. If I cling to every hurt, it’ll drag me under the way the water dragged them. So I do what I’ve always done-I box things up, sort them when I’m ready, and refuse to let them own me until then.

What I want is Ryder’s arms around me. I want to find out what it feels like when there’s no space left

between us. I want to stop living on pause.

I want to start living. With Mr. McCharming right beside me.

And I want him to show me-up close, first hand-what this whole werewolf world is supposed to be when it’s done right. He’s trying. He’s showing up. It helps that he’s obscenely attractive, and that this

mate bond makes him feel like a gravitational pull I can’t step away from.

I’m doing my best to act unbothered.

My body isn’t cooperating.

I can feel the edge of it-heat coming soon, close enough that every minute around him is both heaven and torture. Mystique isn’t helping. She’s been bombarding me with filthy, vivid little previews of what

sex with our mate could be like.

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I’ve never been someone with a lot of hang-ups about sex. Two consenting adults? Then yes. And if it’s good, then yes again-however many times you want.

And if the Moon Goddess matched us?

That has to mean the sex is ridiculous… right?

‘We should test it. See how “divinely chosen” Ryder and Talon really are in bed.’ Mystique purrs, and I roll my eyes so hard it almost hurts.

Ryder catches my expression and smiles like he knows exactly what I’m dealing with. “You talking to

your wolf?”

“Yeah,” I admit. “She’s… busy today.”

His face softens. “Do you need to talk? Are you okay?”

He takes both my hands, full attention on me like there isn’t a hallway full of people waiting for him.

There are. I know there are.

And still, he makes me the priority.

It’s a problem, how fast I’m falling for him. Even when he gets under my skin, I still want him.

“No,” I say, forcing a smile. “She’s just being her usual loud, opinionated self.”

I feel Mystique give me a dramatic little snub-tsk, head turned away in my mind like she’s offended.

Ryder nods, supportive, and opens the office door.

The room is already alive with overlapping voices. The moment we step inside, every conversation

drops dead.

I recognize nearly everyone. Ryder’s parents-Alpha Marcus and Luna Selene-Evelyn, Adrian, Connor.

And then there are two I don’t know: an older couple, striking and polished, with a presence that fills

the room.

Aurelia is with them.

She looks like she was made from both their faces-perfectly blended. When her gaze hits me. she flinches and looks away like I burned her.

Ryder guides us in. “Thank you for coming to my office this late. I’ll keep this brief.”

We move toward his desk. Connor is already positioned there, steady and watchful in that Beta way.

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I stay at Ryder’s side, hand in his.

“First,” Ryder says, voice clear, “I’d like to introduce Bridget Diana Winters.”

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He smiles-big, bright, proud-and squeezes my fingers like he’s anchoring me. “She is my mate. And

she is the Omni-Wolf.”

Silence.

Then Adrian throws her head back with an exaggerated gasp. “No way. I did not see that coming.”

The tension cracks. Evelyn and I laugh, and a couple others follow.

Ryder turns slightly, indicating the couple I didn’t recognize. “Bridget, this is Alpha Zachary and Luna Adriana of the Crescent Valley Pack.”

My stomach tightens.

“And this,” he adds, “is their daughter-Alpha Aurelia.”

I nod to the older pair. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Then I shift my focus to the part nobody wants to say out loud. “…Aurelia.”

Alpha Zachary’s brow furrows.

Luna Adriana, though-she watches with the calm of someone who’s already reached the answer.

Alpha Zachary’s voice sharpens. “What is the meaning of this? Do you all know each other?” His eyes go to Aurelia. “You know her? You know the Omni-Wolf-the one we’ve been searching for?”

His gaze sweeps the room, landing hard on Alpha Marcus. “And Marcus-we’ve been allies since before our children were born. You didn’t trust us with this?”

Aurelia steps forward, shoulders stiff. “Father, let me explain. I… may have set off a chain reaction. My choices caused the alarms, the border breach, and the warriors being sent out to retrieve the Omni-

Wolf.”

Alpha Zachary looks like he’s about to explode. “What?”

Alpha Marcus exhales and answers, controlled. “Alpha Zachary, I apologize. Her identity was classified. We kept it from everyone for her safety-our future Luna’s safety. The pack took a blood

oath.

“The only ones outside the oath were the Elders who trained her, and the King and Queen. They’ll arrive

tomorrow for the ball.”

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Alpha Zachary’s jaw flexes. “And my daughter’s role in this? Explain how she ’caused’ any of it.”

Ryder’s grip tightens slightly in mine before he speaks. “I can, Alpha. No disrespect intended, but… in the past, Aurelia and I had a sexual relationship.”

The words hit like a slap.

“Excuse me?” Alpha Zachary barks.

Luna Adriana’s voice cuts in, measured. “Dear. They were consenting adults.”

His glare snaps to her. “You knew?”

Aurelia lifts her chin. “Dad, it was just fun. Nothing serious. And honestly? Like you, before you married Mom.”

His attention swings back to Ryder, nostrils flaring. “So this is why you were missing. You were with an Alpha we trusted as family-an Alpha who had a mate the entire time?”

His anger spills toward me, and that does it. Something hot and sharp rises in my chest.

Ryder feels it.

“Babe,” he murmurs, tugging me gently. “Sit with me. Please.”

Before I can argue, he settles into his chair and pulls me onto his lap behind the desk, arms secure

around me.

I’m ready to strangle someone.

But then he starts rubbing slow circles along my back-steady, grounding-and the pressure in my chest eases, inch by inch.

Aurelia’s voice cuts through. “Father, Ryder wasn’t my first, and he wasn’t my last. It was a mistake.

And Mom says I’m basically you when you were young-which is honestly exhausting.”

Alpha Zachary snaps, “This is different.”

Adrian steps in like she can’t help herself, eyes bright with that “I read books for fun” energy. “Actually,

in most animal cultures, females and males engage in sexual activity at the same ages and rates. This

whole double standard really escalated with human influence-and then got reinforced when the

Moon Goddess created werewolves.”

She makes air quotes around “thing,” and I can’t stop my smile.

I really do love her.

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Luna Adriana moves closer to her mate and lays a hand on his arm, sending calm like it’s a physical

force. “Sweetheart. We came to be informed. To respect that our adult children have made adult

choices. And to be included before tomorrow’s ball, when the Omni-Wolf will be introduced to everyone

else.

“Let’s sit with this tonight, okay?”

Alpha Zachary’s shoulders lower a fraction. “I know what you’re doing, my love,” he mutters, but his

tone has softened.

Aurelia turns toward me, eyes careful. “Luna Bridget… I truly didn’t know you were his mate. I’m sorry. I hope you’ll forgive me someday. Maybe we can… be friends.”

“I appreciate the apology,” I tell her, keeping my face neutral. “And I’m willing to take time to know you better. You matter to Ryder’s history, and that matters to me.”

Inside, I’m already setting boundaries.

One mistake doesn’t earn a lifetime sentence. But I also don’t hand out trust like candy. People- especially women-have taught me to be cautious.

We’ll talk privately. I’ll make sure she understands exactly where she stands with me.

The room slowly loosens again. Side conversations restart.

Connor shifts into discussion with Alpha Zachary, and the older Alpha seems… marginally less hostile.

‘Thank you,’ Ryder’s voice slides into my mind through the link. ‘For what you said. For how you

handled it.’

I stroke the hand he has resting on my thigh and send warmth back with my smile.

Then I turn inward. ‘Mystique, I really want to leave.’

I’ve used up every drop of social grace I own.

‘Maybe this will help,’ she sings.

And then she sends it-an image so explicit my breath catches: me on my knees in front of Ryder, his

hand in my hair, my mouth-

‘Stop it!’ I snap at her.

Ryder’s arm tightens around me.

‘You okay?’ His mind-voice is low and concerned while he rubs my back.

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<Chapter 28 Let them speak.

I can’t even answer.

Not out loud.

Not in the link.

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The picture is too vivid. Too tempting. My body reacts instantly, and I’m suddenly fighting for air like I’ve forgotten how lungs work.

‘Breathe,’ Ryder orders gently through the bond, and it’s grounding in a way that makes my head tilt back against his shoulder.

Around us, people laugh and talk as if my entire world hasn’t just narrowed to one man and one filthy, perfect mental image.

I close my eyes.

And then-because I’m weak-I pull the image back up myself.

Just for a second.

My mouth curves before I can stop it.

Ryder rises, voice firm. “Alright. Thank you all for meeting with Bridget and me. I’d like the room now, please. I’ll see everyone tomorrow at breakfast.”

He lifts me easily from his lap and walks me toward the door, arm snug around my waist.

They file out.

When the last one leaves, Ryder shuts the door.

Only then do I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

“Well,” I say, leaning back against his desk and rolling my neck from side to side, “that was less of a disaster than I expected.”

Ryder turns away to lock up. “I’ll need to schedule follow-up meetings,” he says, voice calm, “but it can

wait.”

I watch him secure the lock, then punch in the security code before he faces me again.

My pulse kicks.

“What are you doing, Ryder?” I tease, because we’re alone now, and I’ve been thinking about exactly

this-just us-for the last hour.

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He’s a wall of muscle when he moves closer, usually intimidating.

Right now it’s just… distracting.

The bulge in his pants is impossible to ignore, and my mouth actually waters.

His eyes darken.

“Bridget,” he says quietly, “get on your knees.”

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