The Omni-Wolf’s Choice novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Dinner for two

Ryder’s POV

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I was in the middle of saying, “Should we finish the tour and-” when her stomach made a loud,

traitorous sound.

Dinner. Right. The one we were supposed to be heading to.

The second I looked at her, everything else had fallen right out of my head.

“Can we eat first?” she asked, completely unapologetic. “I have been stuck at the hospital doing all these stress tests, and I have been counting on dinner.”

“Yes,” I said, already moving. “Come on. There should still be plates being kept warm.”

I reached down and took her hand to help her up.

Contact.

A burst of heat and electricity hit like a shockwave. Her eyes flared gold, bright and unmistakable- and then light seemed to spill from her, like she was lit from inside.

I let go so fast it was almost rude. I just stared.

I had never seen anything like that.

So the presence at our borders… it had been her.

I sent the update to my dad immediately through the mind-link, the moment my brain caught up.

“You felt that too?” she breathed, her voice small and stunned.

“Oh yeah,” I said, still trying to steady my own pulse. “We’re going inside. Away from the pack members. We need answers, and you need food first. My dad has the doctor meeting us in his office

in an hour.”

“Another mind link, huh?” she said with a quick smile, like none of this scared her the way it should

have.

I nodded. And damn, I loved that it didn’t rattle her.

We went back into the main building and cut through to the kitchen. The great hall had been cleared; the staff was already setting up for tomorrow’s breakfast.

I guided her past the prep stations toward the walk-in fridges.

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Chef Rebecca stepped out of her office wearing a grin big enough to split her face.

“There you are!” she said, practically buzzing. “I heard congratulations are in order. I’m so happy you found your mate!”

She seized both our hands and squeezed like she could pour her joy into us.

I laughed, then looked at Bridget. “Chef Rebecca, thank you. I’d like to properly introduce you to Bridget.”

Rebecca’s expression softened into something reverent. “It’s an honor to meet you, Luna.” She dipped into a bow.

Bridget blinked. “Please-just Bridget. And you’re the one making this place smell incredible?”

“Absolutely,” I said. “Rebecca has been running this kitchen since before I was even born.”

“And I’ve been forced to keep increasing production ever since this Alpha pup wouldn’t stop growing,” she shot back, eyes twinkling. “Sit. Both of you. I’ll get plates.”

“Thank you,” Bridget and I said together.

Even with people moving around us, it felt like the noise had been turned off. Like the room only had space for her and me.

Rebecca went to the oven, then returned with two full plates, setting them down like we were royalty.

Prime rib. Roasted brussel sprouts. Garlic mushrooms.

Bridget’s face lit up. “This looks-and smells-amazing.”

She didn’t hesitate. She took a bite.

The sound she made-soft, pleased, unguarded-hit me like a punch. I froze.

Talon didn’t.

A low growl slipped out of me as my gaze swept the room. A few unmated males had noticed.

“Everyone out,” I ordered, my Alpha voice snapping through the kitchen.

Heads lowered. Chairs scraped. Staff hurried to clear out.

Bridget lifted her eyes from her plate, sympathy on her face instead of offense. She reached across the table and laid her fingers over my hand.

“They’re working, right?” she said gently. “I’m sorry. I’m just starving. Let them finish what they need to

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< Chapter 8 Dinner for two

finish. I’d hate for them to get home late because of me.”

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Her touch calmed me immediately. Like she had found the switch in my chest without trying.

And the bond-God, it was settling into place so easily.

I exhaled, then mind-linked the staff to keep working and carry on. When I looked back, Bridget wore a knowing little grin as she went right on eating.

I shook my head, smiling, and started eating too.

Over dinner she told me about growing up in foster care, about never really having a home that stayed.

I made myself a promise, quiet and absolute: she would have one here. No matter what.

She talked about her parents-how they had died when she was a kid-and how she has been dreaming about them a lot lately.

It felt connected. Her closeness to me. The mate bond tightening. Something waking.

She’s nineteen, but her powers… for some reason, they didn’t seem fully in place yet.

When we finished, we headed upstairs to my father’s office. People in the main house greeted her warmly as we passed.

Every few steps our fingers brushed-accidental, brief-and each time a sharp current raced through

both of us.

At my father’s door, I knocked.

He opened it with a smile that didn’t quite hide his tension. Inside, Dr. Ramona was already waiting. Mom and Evelyn were there too, gifts in their hands.

Mom’s gift had always been calm-she could settle emotions, and she could see pieces of the future. Evelyn had visions too, but hers came sharper, more detailed.

Until the elders showed up, everyone was going to do whatever it took to help Bridget through

whatever this was.

And I was going to keep her safe. That part wasn’t negotiable.

“Alpha, Luna,” Dr. Ramona said, stepping forward, “I was told something occurred when you two made contact. Would you allow me to observe you holding hands now?”

I glanced at Bridget. Her shoulders drew in, wary.

“Sure,” she said after a beat. “I didn’t do it on purpose, but… we can see what happens.”

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We moved to the center of the office, facing each other.

We both took a deep breath, then laced our hands together.

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The sparks came instantly-strong, snapping, like heavy static bursting through my entire body.

Bridget had her eyes shut. Then she opened them.

Golden-brown light burned there.

And then her hand yanked away from mine as her knees buckled and she started to go down.

“What the hell?” I shouted, catching her before she hit the floor.

I carried her to the couch in two strides. My father was right beside me, helping me lower her.

Dr. Ramona stepped forward, wide-eyed.

“Don’t touch her,” I growled, dropping to my knees next to her.

Talon’s warning rumbled through my chest. Dr. Ramona stopped short, frozen.

“Ryder,” my father said, firm, “let him do his job.”

The doctor waited. I stared at Bridget’s still face, forced myself to breathe, then gave a sharp nod.

Dr. Ramona checked her pulse, her breathing, her eyes-hazel again now, like nothing had happened.

She stirred.

I brushed my fingertips along her cheek, careful, slow.

She leaned into my hand like she belonged there.

“Hey,” I murmured, voice low. “You scared the hell out of me.”

I heard Mom come in with tea; she must have called for it the second Bridget went down.

Dr. Ramona straightened, choosing his words. “Alpha Ryder, Alpha Marcus… in my opinion, she is

adjusting to her powers. They are very strong. And I truly feel that the more time she is with her mate-

the more the bond forms and they become one-the more stable this will become. Medically, there’s

nothing wrong. I have run every test possible.”

He paused, then continued, “I believe this is for the elders now. Maybe even witches and vampires.

She may need instruction-control. I’ll search the archives and see if anything similar has been recorded. I can only think of a few fables, but I’ll start immediately. For now, she needs rest and constant supervision. I would recommend pack hospital observation.”

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Ge15>

Meri

Bridget’s head turned toward me, eyes wide. “Wait. Did he say vampires and witches?”

“She’s not going to the hospital,” I said flatly. “She’ll stay on our floor. I’ll watch her. If we need to, we’ll

have an on-call nurse in the room next door.”

There wasn’t room for debate. She wasn’t leaving my sight.

Bridget frowned. “Okay, but we’re still just skipping past the vampire-and-witch thing?”

Evelyn leaned in. “The quick version? Yes, there are vampires and witches. But not like Twilight or The

Craft.”

She tipped her head toward Bridget. “We have some here. You’ll meet them soon.”

Bridget took the tea Mom offered, hands a little unsteady. “This is… a lot.”

Mom rested her palm on Dad’s shoulder, smoothing his tension down like she always could. “I think she’ll be fine staying here, don’t you, dear?”

None of us handled unsolved problems well. Seeing someone you care about unwell tore at you.

And I hadn’t even known Bridget for a full day.

Dad gave a short nod. “Dr. Ramona, make the arrangements. She’ll be moved to our floor.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

Just the thought of her in that hospital overnight made Talon restless-fur under my skin.

I would have stayed with her if she’d been forced to go. But she wasn’t going.

I lifted Bridget into my arms, carrying her out like she weighed nothing.

“I can walk,” she whispered, but she tucked closer against my chest anyway, not fighting me.

We reached the top floor. Every instinct in me wanted to take her straight into my room.

Instead, I carried her to the guest suite next door.

If she had been raised in the pack, if she had grown up wolf, it would have been normal for her to

come directly into my suite.

But she had been living human until today-human who had just found out she was a wolf, with

powers we didn’t understand.

We had time to take this right.

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< Chapter 8 Dinner for two

As long as she gave us a chance.

As long as she didn’t reject me.

Because now that I had met her, I knew the truth.

My wolf had chosen.

And I couldn’t survive without her.

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“This is your room,” I said, setting her down so she could stand and step inside. “Mine is right next

door.”

Bridget looked around, taking it in. “Wow. You guys have a beautiful home.”

“Thanks,” I said. “My mom deserves the credit. But it’s yours now too.”

I walked her through it, pointing things out. “Bedroom. Bathroom. That door is the closet. I’ll have your

things brought up. If you need anything, anything at all, we’ll get it. Just tell me.”

She turned slowly, still studying the space.

I mind-linked a staffer to come up, to introduce them-so she’d have someone she could ask for help

without feeling like she was bothering me.

Bridget’s head snapped toward me. “Who did you just call?”

“I mind-linked a staffer,” I said automatically-then the words caught.

“Wait.” I stared at her. “Did you just hear me mind-link someone? Without being part of this pack?”

I needed to know.

How much power was inside this woman?

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