The Omni-Wolf’s Choice novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60 Still Waiting…

Bridget’s POV

“Sweetheart… if you lead with that, nine times out of ten you’re going to make the other person angry,” Ryder says, forcing himself to steady. “I love you. Whatever you’re about

to tell me, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Talk to me.”

“Okay. I” I draw in a slow breath. “I might be overreacting. You’ll probably tell me it’s

not as bad as I’m making it. But… you know how I’ve been getting flowers? Like, random

bundles showing up?”

His eyes narrow.

“Well, I got flowers from someone. A guy. And it basically said I’ll be his soon.”

Ryder snaps.

“What did it say exactly? When did this start? Where are they coming from? Who did

you see?”

“Uh… the first one was lavender roses. Earlier today. They were left at our bedroom door.

I didn’t see anyone, I don’t know who it was.”

“They were brought to our room?” His voice rises as his mind reaches out, linking fast

and hard. Connor. Lucas. Pierce.

They rush in almost immediately.

Ryder’s gaze cuts back to me. “You said the first. Meaning there were more.”

His fangs begin to lengthen, and I feel it-Talon surging forward, hungry to take the

wheel.

“Talon. Stop.” I let Mystique’s voice roll out, cold and absolute. “You don’t get to move

until we know what we’re hunting. Ryder comes first. Give him control. Now.”

Instantly, he yields.

I swallow. “Second was tulips, with a card saying we’d be together soon. Third was a

text message saying basically the same thing.”

Ryder’s expression turns sharp with fury. “Why didn’t you come to me the second it

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happened?”

Because I wanted one day.

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“I wanted my birthday,” I admit, heat flooding my face. “I was scared you’d shut everything down, and… I’ve never had an actual birthday party. Not really. So I tried to ignore it.” My voice drops. “But then it kept happening, and I knew I couldn’t keep it to

myself.”

He doesn’t argue. He just pivots into command.

“Show us everything. Notes, flowers, the message.” He points as he talks. “Lucas-pull

the camera feeds. I want to see who came to our door, who made it onto our floor, who

went in and out of that hallway. Pierce-dust for prints. Full sweep for bugs and hidden

cameras. Connor-everyone in the pack house over the last twenty-four hours. Anyone

with access to our wing, and everyone who went through the tunnels.”

He starts moving, and we follow.

In the bedroom, I go straight to the nightstand, open the journal where I’d kept the cards,

and make sure my hands stay off them. It hadn’t even occurred to me to think about

fingerprints.

I point out the bouquets that matched each note. Then I pull up the text on my phone

and show them.

Lucas settles at the table, connects my phone, and immediately begins running the

number and the message through his tracing tools.

Ryder paces while the tech team combs the room, methodical and tense, checking vents

and outlets and corners for anything planted.

The staff has been summoned and corralled in Ryder’s office. Connor mind-links that t

hey’re ready.

I drop into a chair and start peeling off my shoes. My feet ache. I slip into ballet slippers,

then duck into the bathroom to change into a sweatshirt and leggings.

Ryder is already bracing to leave, jaw set like stone.

Guilt sits heavy in my stomach. Everyone had been excited to go out. I had been excited.

He pauses at the door. “Do you want to question them with me?”

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“No.” I shake my head. “I’ll go to Evelyn’s and wait there until our room’s cleared.”

“Alright. I’ll be quick.” He leans down, kisses me, and is gone.

I’m not even sure he registered that I changed.

Not that it matters. The night feels wrecked anyway.

I step into the hall with Iron Fang, Elliot, and Mason. Security is heavier than it was earlier, and that’s saying something. Every floor already had checkpoints; now it’s like the whole castle has tightened into a fist.

I pass through the controls at our wing, then make my way to Evelyn’s.

When I knock, she yanks the door open and drags me into her arms. It’s just a hug,

simple and warm, but my chest loosens like I’d been holding my breath for hours.

“Hey,” she says into my hair. “Don’t stress. We’ll reschedule. And Archer and Sienna are

coming up with snacks and drinks.”

“I hate this,” I whisper. “I hate that I ruined it.”

“You didn’t ruin anything.” She pulls back and fixes me with a look. “Whoever sent that

garbage did. And you’ve seen my brother-he won’t sleep until he finds them.” Her hand

lands on my shoulder. “And we are still celebrating your birthday as soon as this is

handled.”

I nod, trying to believe it. “Yeah. You’re right. If I’m with you guys, it’ll still be perfect.”

A knock interrupts us.

Evelyn opens the door to Sienna and Archer, pushing in a cart loaded down with food

and drinks.

Iron Fang immediately steps forward. He flips lids, opens containers, inhales like he’s

reading a story in scent alone. He’s one of the best trackers we have-and he’s

terrifyingly good at catching poison.

We wait.

Finally, he gives a single nod.

“Thank you, Iron Fang,” I tell him.

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He returns the nod, expression unreadable, and shuts the door.

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Archer twists a bottle in her hand and laughs softly. “You know… I don’t even remember what his real name is anymore. You gave him a nickname and he never talks, so that’s it.”

She hands out peach Clearly Canadian waters.

My favorite.

“Honestly,” I say, taking mine, “I don’t think anyone ever formally told me his real name.”

I grab a nacho-carne asada, piled high-and the food actually helps a little.

Archer’s eyes widen as she settles in. “So have you heard anything from Alpha Ryder? I still can’t believe someone had the nerve to send you notes like that.”

“No,” I admit, voice thin. “I can’t reach him. I don’t know what’s going on. I just… I really want them to leave me alone. I wanted one party. That’s all.”

Sienna lifts her drink like it’s a vow. “We are getting you to that club. We are getting you

that party. Right, ladies?”

We cheer and clink our peach waters together, loud enough to feel defiant.

An hour drifts by.

Still nothing from Ryder.

My mind-links don’t go through. Evelyn and Sienna eventually curl up and fall asleep on the bed. Archer and I end up stretched across the foot of it, talking in the dim light.

Somehow, I realize this is the most we’ve ever actually talked.

“I’ve been here since I was little,” Archer tells me quietly. “My dad died in battle, and my

mom moved us back here when I was a baby. Two sisters, a brother. This pack is

basically my whole life.”

“Is your mom still on the lands?” I ask.

“Yeah,” she says. “She has a cottage close to the witches’ coven. My brother’s mated to a

witch. And my sisters… one’s with a vampire, the other’s with a werewolf.”

I blink. “That’s… a lot.’

She grins. “It’s chaotic. But it’s ours.”

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“I always wanted siblings.” The words come out softer than I expect. “I guess I kind of

got them anyway. Evelyn, the twins… I’m lucky I ended up here.”

“I’m glad you did,” Archer says, and there’s real warmth in it. “You’re a good Luna for this

place.”

I let out a slow breath. “I’m trying. Training, control, power… it’s a balancing act.”

I prop my head on my arm, and our voices fade into the quiet until sleep takes me.

Another hour passes.

I wake to the TV playing infomercials-too bright, too cheerful, selling things no one

needs at midnight. The room is still. All three girls are out cold.

I ease off the bed and pad to Evelyn’s door.

The moment I open it, Mason and Elliot are there, waiting.

They escort me back through the hallways.

Part of me wants to go downstairs, to Ryder’s office, because I still haven’t heard

anything. But I know I shouldn’t, and the thought of being in the way makes my stomach

twist.

So I head back to our room instead.

At the doorway, Pierce is there with his team, equipment cases open as they finish

packing.

“Luna,” he says, “we’re done. The sweep is complete. Your room is clear.”

Relief hits, quick but shaky.

“What time is it?” I ask. I don’t have my phone, and I can’t see a clock.

Pierce glances up. “Twelve fifteen, Luna.” He holds out my phone. “Lucas left it when

they finished.”

“Thank you.” I smile, hoping it reaches my eyes.

When they file out, I shut the door behind them and walk into the bedroom.

I try to mind-link Ryder.

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Nothing.

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His blocks are still up.

I sit in the middle of our California king, then pull down my hair, sliding out the ornate

pearl pins one by one-the ones that had turned my hair into something out of a fairy

tale.

Since I can’t do anything else, I decide to keep watching that Harlem series Evelyn got

me hooked on.

Seriously-can someone give me a season three? Because I could use the distraction

right now.

I carry the hairpins into the bathroom, wash my makeup off, and switch from the

sweatshirt and leggings into one of Ryder’s T-shirts.

Then I crawl back into the big bed alone.

I tug the sheets up to my nose, press play, and grab a lemon water from the mini fridge.

I tuck myself against his pillow and wait for him to come back.

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