The Omni-Wolf’s Choice novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7 How we met…

Ryder’s POV

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“I can’t believe this. She’s been here-what-maybe a week? And the whole time she has been spending her days with my sister. When she saw me, she looked terrified. What if she turns me down? What if it’s all too much and she shuts down?”

The thoughts had been looping in my head ever since we reached the office. My dad sat in the room. with our Betas, while Lucas and Pierce were posted outside my mom’s office door. I wasn’t taking a single risk with my mate’s safety. No one was getting close to her unless I trusted them to help me lead this pack.

“Son, breathe.” Dad’s voice stayed calm, but his grin was massive. “She’s learning a lot in one day. She’s a wolf. She has a mate. And that mate is an Alpha. That’s a hell of a lot to take in. Your mother will help her understand.” His eyes shone. “And I’m thrilled for you. The Moon Goddess has finally

delivered your mate.”

I wanted to feel what he was feeling. Instead, my chest stayed tight with one fear: rejection.

Inside my head, Talon had curled up small, tail tucked, whimpering like he couldn’t contain himself. He wasn’t scared-he was overloaded with excitement. He’d waited forever to find our other half.

“What the hell is taking so long?” I paced the carpet until Connor stepped into my path.

“Give her a minute,” he said, clapping my shoulder. “She’s going to have questions. And with the elders arriving tomorrow, they’ll be able to explain things we can’t.”

We were twenty-five. We had been waiting for our mates all our lives, and now the Moon Goddess had chosen to bless me with mine. I wanted to see her-talk to her tell her my heart already belonged to

her.

“What if she’s the reason we’ve been feeling that power lately?” I dropped onto my father’s leather sofa, elbows on my knees, my hands covering my face. “The timing with the elders feels…too perfect. I just- I hope she stays. Long enough for us to actually know each other.”

“I think she will,” Connor said. “I saw her watching you. She doesn’t understand what she’s feeling yet. You’ve had twenty-five years to grow up with this world. She’s had, what, an hour? The Moon Goddess

matched you for a reason.”

A second later, my mother’s mind link hit all of us.

‘She has asked to see you, son.’

She wants me.

<Chapter 7 How we met

Goddess-yes. Please, not to end this before it starts.

I was already moving, out the door and down the hall, when my Gamma and Delta caught me.

“Alpha,” they said together, grinning like kids.

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I nodded back, forcing myself to inhale slowly, checking my palms like that would somehow make

them not sweat.

‘Congratulations, Alpha,’ they mind-linked at the same time.

‘Thank you. Head down for dinner,’ I sent back.

They turned toward the dining hall, and I faced the door that stood between me and my soulmate. I

drew in one more steadying breath, then knocked.

“Come in, son,” my mother called.

The moment I stepped inside, everything narrowed to one person.

Bridget.

She looked unreal-stunning-and her scent hit me again, warm and sweet like caramel cake. Talon

was practically sprinting laps in my skull.

1 took a step, then stopped.

Behind her, the room was crowded with women smiling like they knew a secret I didn’t. Bridget’s gaze

stayed on me, curious and searching, sliding from my face to my shoulders and down as if she was

trying to make sense of what her instincts were screaming. I let her look. I wanted her to feel safe.

“Hi. I’m Ryder.” My voice came out rougher than normal, deeper, and I could feel Talon pressing

against the inside of me, eager to surge forward.

I closed the distance until we were standing face-to-face. She was about five-eight, all soft curves and

quiet strength. Jeans hugged her perfectly. A cream sweater fit close, outlining every line Talon and I

wanted to memorize. Her brown-and-blonde curls were twisted into a bun, and my mind immediately

painted them loose across my bed while she gasped my name.

She bit the side of her lower lip, and I had to force my hands to stay at my sides.

“I’m Bridget,” she said.

I could feel my mother’s eyes-along with Evelyn’s and Miriam’s-locked on us. When I glanced past Bridget, they were smiling and offering me enthusiastic thumbs-ups like we were on display.

Bridget shifted, then looked back at them. “Could we…maybe get out of here? Take a walk? You could

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< Chapter 7 How we met

show me around. The gardens, maybe?”

My mom gave her a small nod, permission granted.

“Yeah,” I said quickly. “Of course.

“Sure,” Bridget agreed, and she smiled-sweet, cautious, hopeful.

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I held the door as she stepped into the hallway. Every part of me wanted to pull her close, but I kept

reminding myself: slow. However slow she needed, I could do it, as long as she stayed and gave us the

chance.

We started on the second floor, walking the main corridor lined with offices and meeting rooms.

“This is the pack house,” I explained. “My parents’ offices are down that way. On the other end is mine,

plus Connor’s-he’s my Beta-and then offices for my Gamma and Delta. Guest rooms are over here

for out-of-town visitors.”

We kept moving, our footsteps soft on the floor.

“First floor is where unmated wolves live unless they choose one of the cottages,” I continued. “Fourth floor is for Betas, Gammas, Deltas, and any family living here. The top floor is for the Alpha and Luna-

my parents. My room is on the opposite side facing the garden. My sister’s on this floor too, and my twin siblings, Adrian and Aiden. They should be finishing training soon.”

Bridget’s eyes widened. “A sister and twins? That sounds…really nice. I’m an only child. I always

wanted a house that felt full.”

I laughed. “It’s nice right up until the twins wake you up to collect on a promise you made four months.

ago-after you’ve already been training all day.” I shook my head. “But yeah. I wouldn’t trade them for

anything.”

Her smile held as we took the stairs down.

On the main level, I pointed as we passed. “Dining hall’s here. More offices. Rec room, TV room.

There’s a family-only library on the top floor, and a regular library down here too.”

“A library?” Her face brightened. “That’s perfect.”

“You read?”

“Yeah,” she said, clearly proud. “I’m a big history person.”

I couldn’t stop the grin. Seeing her light up did something to me. “Then you’ll like what we have. There are books on all kinds of things-especially wolf history. You can read anything you want.”

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“Yes,” she said, breathless with relief. “That would help so much. I need to understand all of this.”

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She glanced up at me. She was tall, but I still towered over her, broad enough that I probably looked like a wall when I stood too close. As we pushed through the front doors, the warriors on duty dipped

their heads.

“Alpha…Luna…”

I returned a nod, my stomach tightening at the title. I wasn’t ready to share her with anyone, and it was obvious the news had already flown through the pack.

We turned right toward the gardens. From there, the entrance to the labyrinth came into view-an elegant maze my father had built for my mother as a gift. Couples wandered it all the time. Since I hadn’t had anyone, I’d spent too many late nights staring out windows, tracing the routes from above and imagining the day I’d walk it with my mate.

We kept going until we reached the flower garden, where paths and benches were arranged in labeled rows for quiet walks.

Bridget spoke first, voice turning playful. “So, how was your day? Because I just found out I’m apparently a werewolf, and I don’t think you can beat that.”

I tried to match her teasing. “Mine was great. I found my mate…then she sprinted away from me.”

Her smile vanished like I’d snapped a light off.

“I’m really sorry,” she said quickly. “That moment is important, isn’t it? And I took it from you. I ruined i

t.”

“No-Bridget, no.” I shook my head, words tumbling out. “I’m sorry I said it like that. I was trying to joke, and I’m clearly terrible at it. Please don’t feel bad.”

Talon cut in, annoyed. ‘Nice job, dumbass. Now she thinks she hurt us.’

I almost blocked him, guilt already burning. ‘I don’t need you piling on. You’re the one who lost control. She ran because you scared her. So we fix it. Together. Not like this.’

His excitement collapsed into a soft whimper.

I exhaled slowly, sending the one thing I knew he needed. ‘We’re going to win her over. Okay?’

Bridget tilted her head, brows knitting. “What are you doing right now?”

I stopped beside a bench and gestured for her to sit. She went first, and I took the space beside her without crowding her-even though every instinct screamed to pull her onto my lap and bury my face in her neck, breathing her in.

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“I was talking to my wolf,” I said. “His name is Talon. He…can’t wait to meet you. And your wolf.”

She studied me, curiosity taking over again. “How do you do that? Talk to your other side?”

I liked that she asked instead of judging. That hunger to understand would make her an incredible Luna.

“It’s sort of like having a conversation with yourself in your head,” I explained, “except your wolf answers back.”

“Can I see him?”

I hesitated. “Wolves can be…a lot. More intense than humans. Talon would love it, but I don’t want to scare you again.”

Bridget’s eyes softened. “Then can you promise Talon will be the first wolf I ever meet?”

“Absolutely,” I said, meaning it with everything in me.

Her smile returned-brighter, warmer-and Talon and I held on to it like it was a lifeline.

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