The Omni-Wolf’s Choice novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67 A little heart to heart…

Connor’s POV

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Last night was a catastrophe-start to finish. I watched the woman I love grind up on my cousin like it meant nothing. I flipped a table in front of my best friend-my Alpha-then fed him some bullshit excuse I knew didn’t land. I had a were-bear threaten to end me

while I was still trying to cover my own ass.

And then I went and slept with my best friend’s virgin sister in a damn club bathroom.

Not before I yelled at her for never telling me she was innocent-until I was already in

her life, already wrecking it with my hands on her and my mouth on her and everything

else. I should feel disgusting.

But I don’t.

Because as screwed up as it was, it was also the best night I’ve ever had.

Now she’s furious, and she won’t even look at me. Her friends keep cutting me off like a

human shield line, and my cousin is right back in her space-like I didn’t mark her from

the inside out and make it clear who she belongs to.

I pull my phone out the second I’m off Pack Land and text Violet, asking if she has found

anything. I can’t keep swallowing this. My head is buzzing, my patience is gone, and I’m

one more shove away from losing it.

“Making plans for later, Beta? Scheduling a little midnight maintenance?” Beatrix slides

into my orbit out of nowhere, grinning.

I hit send and shove my phone into my pocket. “Yeah. Something like that.” My eyes stay

locked in Evelyn’s direction.

“I’d invite you over,” Beatrix says, then pauses and inhales. Her expression shifts into a

smirk. “But you can’t stop staring at a certain she-wolf… and you smell like you’ve

already been busy. So I’m guessing you screwed up?”

“Story of my life.” I grab the double shot I ordered and throw it back in one burn. “Sorry,

Bea. I’m… dealing with something.”

“No offense taken.” She pats my shoulder, then starts to walk off. “Just maybe quit

gawking. The only person who doesn’t seem to notice is the Alpha.”

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I push up from my seat-and the second Evelyn sees Beatrix touch me, her face hardens even more. Great. Worse. I draw a breath and force myself to move toward her anyway.

She’s at the bar, gorgeous as always, like she was made for a spotlight.

And Patrick-my absolute pain-in-the-ass cousin-is planted right beside her, talking

like he owns the air she breathes. It’s beyond infuriating. What kind of Alpha can’t smell

sex clinging to a woman’s skin?

Evelyn catches me coming.

Before I can take two steps closer, Sienna and Archer appear like predators dropping

from the sky-sharp, fast, perfectly placed. They slide in front of her and shut me out.

“Ladies,” I say, giving them a flat nod.

“She’s occupied, Connor.” Sienna’s tone is too sweet to be anything but a warning. “With

her date.”

My eyes flash. She hesitates for half a second-long enough for me to know she just felt

Drake’s aura flare inside me.

“You know I need to talk to her.”

“Not here,” Archer sends through the link, her gaze steady and unafraid. “Not now.”

Since when does Archer get bold enough to warn her Beta like that?

I keep my temper in check, nod once, and turn away toward the bar, lifting two fingers

for another drink. I can feel Evelyn’s eyes on my back like heat.

I could mind-link her. I could pour out everything I’m choking on. I could demand she

listen.

Instead I let her have what she’s asking for-distance.

Space from me.

Not like I haven’t been trying to force the opposite since the second I realized what she is

to me.

But I’ve tasted her now. I’ve had her. I know it in my bones: she’s mine, and no one else is

going to touch what belongs to me.

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<Chapter 67 A little heart to heart

I will figure out how to claim what I already feel.

It’s morning.

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We all made it back, and Evelyn immediately disappeared into Sienna’s room. I’ve been

boxed out since we got home, and every hour of it has been driving me feral.

Lord Jude asked for a brunch meeting with Bridget. Ryder only agreed if Mistress Nikolai

sits in with them.

And we’re supposed to head down into the dungeons with Beatrix to squeeze answers

out of the witch-preferably the violent kind of answers. I’ve got frustration stacked so

high in my chest I’m looking forward to an excuse to let it out.

Right now, though, we’re in Ryder’s office while he runs through pack business and what

he needs lined up for the coronation.

I’m here with Lucas, Pierce, and Montgomery. Ryder clearly wants Montgomery on his

council. From the look on Montgomery’s face, Ryder’s going to have to work for it.

Ryder finishes. “That’s it. You’ve got your assignments. Meet me in the dungeons in thirty

minutes.” His gaze shifts. “Montgomery. Connor. Stay.”

“Yes, Alpha,” we answer together. Lucas and Pierce file out.

Ryder’s tone turns sharp. “Something has been happening, and I’ve ignored it too long.

Pack safety is on the line, and I need to know my men are focused.” He looks to

Montgomery. “You’re not officially ours, but you’ve been useful. A high-ranking seat may

open soon. Would you want it?”

He glances at me as he says it.

My stomach tightens. Is he actually considering replacing me?

“Alpha-” I start.

“I’m talking to Montgomery,” Ryder cuts in without looking away from him. “Do you

know what’s going on?”

Montgomery holds himself still, careful with every word. “Alpha Ryder… what I’ve pieced

together isn’t mine to say. It’s not my story.”

That answer makes my pulse jump. How much has he noticed?

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He continues, “If I joined, I wouldn’t take someone’s position. Not like that. And we’d

have to talk about what I require for my private rescue missions. But I’ll say this-there’s more happening here than either of us can fully process.”

Ryder and Montgomery both look at me.

I keep my eyes forward, jaw tight, waiting for the opening to speak-wondering how the

hell I’m supposed to stop this from turning into an avalanche.

Ryder nods once. “Thank you. You can go.”

Montgomery heads out. Right before the door shuts, he catches my eyes and gives me a

small nod.

Then Ryder turns back to me. “Connor. Have a drink with me. We’re talking.”

He pours scotch into two glasses. I take mine and sit.

My gaze drifts to the window, and for a second I’m back in the old dreams-the ones

where Ryder and I ran the pack together, side by side, with our mates at our heels and

nothing between us but loyalty.

“What can you tell me?” Ryder asks, staring into his glass before he drinks.

I exhale. “Honestly? I wish I had something I could hand you. But I don’t. Not without

starting problems I can’t undo.” I swallow, forcing the words out. “Things that would hurt

people I care about. Ryder-listen to me. I’m handling it, and I can’t say anything. Not a

word-”

The office door swings open.

There’s only one person on earth who walks into Ryder’s space like she owns it.

“What’s happening?” Ryder is already standing. “Bridget-what’s wrong?”

“We need to talk to you.” Bridget’s voice is firm. “Right now.”

Violet steps in behind her.

I look straight at Violet, silently asking if she kept her promise. I can’t have more people

caught in this.

Ryder’s attention flicks between them. “I’m in the middle of something with Connor. Is

this urgent?”

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There isn’t even a hint of irritation in his tone. Lovesick idiot. If I weren’t drowning, I’d laugh.

“It’s about Connor.” Bridget says.

I’m on my feet instantly.

“With all due respect, Luna-no.” The warning comes out rough as I look back to Violet.

Violet lifts both hands in front of her chest. “Connor-Ryder-just listen.”

Bridget takes over, eyes bright with that determined, too-smart clarity of hers. “Last night, when my head cleared, I started picking up everything. It was like I was a walking ancestry report. I could smell bloodlines-lineage-on everyone around me.”

She steps closer. “When I got close to Connor, I could tell he has Alpha blood. And there

was something covering him. I couldn’t identify it. So I went to Violet, we researched,

and we found it.”

She looks at me like she’s solved some grand riddle.

“Connor,” she says, “you’ve got a curse on you.”

If only it were that simple.

“I know, Luna,” I answer.

Bridget freezes, shocked, then looks to Violet like Violet must have told me.

Violet’s face stays composed. She kept her word.

Ryder’s eyes go hard-not with anger, with hurt. “Connor… why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because the fewer people who know, the fewer people can get hurt.” My voice stays

steady. “I’ve been working on it since I learned. I haven’t found a way out yet.”

“How long have you known?” Ryder asks.

“Over a year.” I don’t blink. “An anonymous letter warned me.”

Ryder’s jaw flexes. “All this time you carried it alone? And then you changed-why?”

“The letters started again a month ago. Then they came more often,” I say. “Like

whoever’s behind it sensed something coming. Something I didn’t.”

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Ryder nods, already moving into command mode. “I want those letters. All of them.

Lucas will comb through everything you’ve received. We’ll figure it out.”

He mind-links Lucas mid-sentence.

A moment later Lucas is at the door, stepping in like he never left, laptop already open.

“What exactly is the curse?” he asks as his fingers start moving.

“No.” I cut him off fast enough the air snaps. “That’s the one thing no one is going to hear

-no one besides me and Violet. If anyone repeats the curse’s wording verbatim, they’ll

get sick and die. There are no exceptions. That’s why I refused to involve the pack.

People make mistakes. People get careless.”

Bridget slides her hand into Ryder’s and gives me a small, warm smile. “We’re your

family. We’re here.”

And she’s right-whether I like it or not.

Ryder’s voice drops into iron. “This stays in this room. Do you understand me?” His gaze sweeps over us. “No one else learns about this curse.”

I want to believe him.

But I also know how vicious this spell is.

One wrong sentence, one slip of the tongue, and people die.

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