(11). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 11: Broken Bonds don't heal .Now alone outside, Carlos has time to breathe in the crisp night air. It’s cold, goosebumps creeping along his bare arms, but the anger inside is boiling. His stomach burns and it hurts because Ricardo is not at his side and their bond is practically shattered. Shattered into tiny pieces he doesn’t want to clean up, not right now.He crouches down to pick up the pile of clothes left behind. The only thing intact is the sweater because it’s so thick, but the pants and underwear are shredded. The sweater smells like sandalwood and Carlos can’t seem to let go of it even when the meeting ends and wolves slink out of the meeting hall, and all he can feel is pitiful eyes behind his back.“Erik said that if anyone else wants to say stuff like that, he’ll kick them out of the pack.” Leo says, standing a comfortable distance behind Carlos. “Jeff has always been a hot head, Carl. Especially with his mom. . . You can't blame

(13). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 13: All he needs is an omega to reel him in .The alpha grins at that, wading over to close the distance between them. “Everything affects me more, remember?”The omega clears his throat and leans back against the rocks. “I didn’t think you’d come back.”That sobers them both, reminding them of exactly how harsh their last interaction had been. Ricardo looks properly chastised, which surprises Carlos, considering he’s almost seen nothing except pride and a bit of arrogance coming from the mountain wolf.“I didn’t mean what I said,” Ricardo finally says, which Carlos is figuring out by now that this is probably as much of an apology as he’s going to get. “When I left, it felt— God, you have no idea how bad it hurt, but I was too proud to come back, too stubborn. I didn’t think you’d want me back. But I remembered. . . you said you liked flowers and rabbits so . . .”“No, thank you,” Carlos replies shyly, “you remembered and that’s. . . that’s n

(15). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 15: maybe in the future .As luck would have it, Leo begins to show signs of having a heat not even twenty-four hours after Ricardo’s return. He’s affectionate enough on a normal day, but pre-heat Leo to exceptionally cuddly. If he isn’t clinging to Kai, nosing along the alpha’s neck, he’s hanging off Carlos, complaining about how hot he feels and how his head hurts.As wolves mature, their heats and ruts usually come and go with the cycle of the moon. A full moon means a stronger pull to mate, often sending alphas into a rut and omegas into a heat. It’s not a full moon, but wolves in their late teens and early twenties are prone to off cycle heats and ruts, so it’s really not a cause for concern.Pre-heat symptoms usually last a day, and they consist of feverish symptoms, a need for physical contact, and nesting, among other things. Carlos’s helped Leo through heats before, but with Ricardo here. . . well, he can’t stay holed up in the omega

(17). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 17: what is happening? .And that’s how they find themselves in the river.Dragging Ricardo out of bed this early is a feat, but Ricardo’s awake and alert because he just wants the faint smell of Kai off the omega as soon as possible.After making Ricardo turn around again while he undresses, Carlos slips into the water and wades over to where the alpha is, leaning against the rocks on one side of the riverbed expectantly.“You know, you’re going to have to get over me seeing you naked. What are you going to do when we shift together?”“I’m going to make you face away from me during that too.”“You’ve got to be the only wolf still concerned about modesty.”The omega sticks his tongue out in response.“Get clean, little omega,” Ricardo orders with a cluck of his tongue, sinking lower in the water until it brushes over the tops of his shoulders. “You smell.”Carlos grumbles but disappears below the water completely for a few seconds before emerg

(19). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 19: I wish he would love you instead .The omega grabs one of the blankets from their shared bed and settles it over Ricardo’s nude form, then cards his fingers through the alpha’s hair.Part of Ricardo’s hair framing his face is matted with blood and Carlos can see that Ricardo can’t really open one of his eyes, a long scratch traveling from his cheekbone to the area separating his brows. Ricardo’s eyelid was only scraped over, but Carlos grabs the bandage and brushes Ricardo’s fringe back so he can begin patching up around the area, gentle with everything.“I don’t know if that’s going to leave a scar or not,” Carlos admits, worrying his lower lip between his teeth once he’s finished with the bandage over Ricardo’s eye. Hopefully everything heals but. . . he can’t say for sure. Not yet.“M’already all scarred up. One more don't matter.”“But that doesn’t mean you should get even more scarred up. I don’t. . . I don’t like seeing you get hurt.