Chapter 24: Part 24

/Abel's POV/

As soon as Emma left, I turned towards Avon, watching the fond look on his face. Did he like her? I could feel a surge of lightning shoot through my body, jealousy like a hot iron prodding my side. My hands clenched into fists, and my chest vibrated with the inexplicable urge to growl. They have been so close the entire night that I wanted to rip his arm off.

For a second, these kinds of violent thoughts worried me. It should not affect me like this, having sworn to stay away from the omega. Why was it so difficult for my wolf? When I heard that Alpha Avon was bringing a friend to the packhouse, I decided to stay back. I had a hunch that it was Emma, and he proved me correct.

My eyes narrowed at him while Avon brushed me away and started walking. I blocked his path, our shoulders almost colliding when he took a step back.

"What's your problem?" He glared at me, crossing his arms against his chest. I followed the tight clench of his jaw, the hatred in those eyes.

"Why did you bring her here?"

"What does that have to do with you? Can you pretend that she's not your student for one night?"

No. The answer was on the tip of my tongue, sharp and loud. I have been trying to hold back calm my wolf for that very reason. How can I pretend she's not a student?

"This is a pack house, and you should be careful on who to bring..."

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" Avon raised his voice, his lips pressed in a thin line. "You are not the Pack Alpha yet, so why don't you stay out of this?"

"Watch it!" I yelled back. "I am still a member of this pack."

"Okay, member of the pack, for your kind information, I already asked for Pack Alpha's permission before bringing her in. Why do you care?"

My mouth opened and closed at that, tongue feeling heavy. How could I answer without revealing the true nature of our relationship?

"Thought so! Stay away from us." Avon scoffed, shoving my shoulder on the way out.

***

Liam swung an arm around my shoulders as he came to plop on the seat next to me. I made a face at him, eyeing his dog next to him. He always had Cliff along—the reason he skipped lunch.

"How is he now?"

"Much better. The doctor advised me not to let him eat chocolates again."

"I could have told you that, you know?" I raised a brow at him. My best friend and beta skipped out on the party so that he could take his dog to the vet.

"Awe, I had no idea you own an animal clinic, my friend?"

"Am I supposed to laugh?" I gave him a look, watching as Cliff let a pitiful sound in the back of his throat.

Liam rolled his eyes, running a hand through his furry pet, making cooing sounds. "I saw you earlier with Avon. What's going on with you two again?"

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Liam.” I shrugged, giving him a look of indifference that did not work. Then we have been close for a while now, so by now, Liam knows all my tricks very well.

“Don’t start with me. He looked like he wanted to punch you.”

I snickered, my hands drumming through the polished table. After making sure that Emma was with the omegas, I decided to sit in the living hall, away from chaos.

“Avon always looks like that. Nothing new there.”

Liam banged his palm on the table, almost startling me. “Abel, can you be serious for a second?! You both already hurt each other a lot. When is this going to end?”

“What do you want me to say, Li?” My teeth grind together, a hand raking through my hair and tugging on the strands. It was enough to force to burn at my strands and make me wince. “Avon won’t even look at me, and there’s no point in trying anymore. It’s a thing of the past and let it remain in there.”

“Fine.” My friend exhaled. “What about now? Why are you guys at each other’s throats again? Is it because of that new omega?”

“Did he tell you that?”

“So it’s true then?” Liam quirked a brow, letting go of the leash. “Why? Do you like her too?”

Before I could open my mouth to answer him, I stopped myself, a furrow in between my brows. “What do you mean by too?!”

“I mean, it’s obvious Avon likes her, or he would not have bothered to bring that omega here. It’s the first time he voluntarily bought a girl home. He’s not like you. Do you even remember the last omega he liked?!” Liam swiped his tongue over his bottom lip, eyeing me with a curious look on his face.

A lump lodged in my throat, making it difficult to swallow as I answered the beta. “N-No…I don’t.”

***

I felt a rush of foolishness carve inside, my eyes scanning the area, not finding Emma at all. The pack members were making a bonfire in the woods, as a way to celebrate a successful hunting party. Usually, I refrained from stepping out and gathering with them, but today was an exception.

I was determined to find her after making her do something that was not even expected. The only reason I asked Emma to help out the other omegas was to get her away from Avon. They have been attached at the hip ever since he bought her along, and it's been irking me.

I moved away from the door, weaving through the crowd and nodding politely at anyone whose eye I happened to catch. On the way, I poured a glass of brandy and took a sip just as Emma emerged from the other side. I nearly spit the liquid out at the sight of the omega, spluttering and wheezing.

An unbidden smile pulled at the corners of my lips, a sense of peace rushing through me.

Before I could approach her, music started blaring through speakers, and the omegas tugged on her wrist. A bright smile took over her face as she stepped around them, hands clapping on beat. She moved elegantly, her feet sure and stature poised. Almost as if she received proper dance lessons when she was younger, never missing a beat or a step, the smile never fading.

Emma looked magnificent. Her top fit her perfectly, the dip of her waist an elegant curve. Her wispy strands ruffled due to the harsh blow of air, drawing attention to her piercing blue eyes and the sharp cut of cheekbones.

I stayed rooted in the spot, breath caught in my throat. The song drew close, and Emma applauded the omegas dancing, momentarily turning away. She smiled at one of the omegas who said something to her that made Emma throw her head back and laugh so loudly that I could hear it above the chatter.

Emma lifted her head, her eyes falling on the crowd, seeming to search the same way I did only minutes ago. The omega's eyes land on me; they stop, lips parting in a gasp. She never broke from my stare as the people around nudged and pushed at her.

My palms felt damp with sweat, and indeed it's the crowd's heat in such a small space, but I knew the real reason. Before I could take a step in her direction, Avon came rushing to Emma. Their sides pressed together, his eyes growing soft and almost gleaming under the lanterns strewn across them.

The first thing I saw was a large hand resting on the small of her back, holding the omega close. A possessive touch that made my fists clench and teeth grinding. How dare he touch her so casually?

I gaped at them as Avon whispered something in her ear that made her walk along with him. They joined the couples around the bonfire, moving in sync. My grip around the glass tightened, feeling my insides twist in irrational jealousy.

I never held her in such an intimate manner, but the Alpha inside me raged that only I should have her in such a way. That Avon's wolf was blatantly challenging me.

That thought made me feel like I was been abruptly doused in icy water. Emma would be furious to know that I was thinking such possessive and controlling thoughts about her. She was her own person and perfectly capable of choosing the dance partners. Despite my instincts screaming at me that I should claim my mate. I was not naïve or foolish enough to believe that there's any truth to that claim.

“You know…” Liam cleared his throat next to me, almost startling me. “They may make a good pair if you don’t do something about it.”

***