Chapter 32

Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

AUTHOR’S POV 

Gage paced back and forth in his office, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He couldn’t believe what he had just done. Dragging Indigo to his pack like that—what had he been thinking? He replayed the moment over and over, the look of shock and frustration on her face haunting him.

You must’ve scared her half to death, he thought bitterly. He stopped pacing and leaned heavily against his desk, staring out the window at the silver glow of the nearing full moon.

It was no use. The guilt was eating him alive. With a heavy sigh, he pushed off the desk and headed back to the room Indigo was in.

\---

Indigo sat cross-legged on the bed, her arms wrapped around herself. The room was warm and comfortable, but she couldn’t shake the unease twisting in her stomach. She never imagined Valtor would actually tell the rest. But of course what was she thinking? That it was some sort of secret?

Gage’s outburst had caught her off guard, but beneath the anger, she had seen something else—something deeper.

Deeper than just a childhood crush at least.

A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up just as the door creaked open, revealing Gage standing in the doorway. His shoulders were tense, and his face was a mix of guilt and vulnerability.

“Can I come in?” he asked politely.

She hesitated but nodded. “Sure.”

Gage stepped inside, closing the door gently behind him. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, as if trying to put some distance between them. “I’m sorry,” he said after a long pause. “For how I acted earlier. I shouldn’t have… I shouldn’t have done that.”

Indigo watched him carefully, sensing the turmoil beneath his composed exterior. “You were just trying to protect me,” she said softly. “But you scared me a little, Gage. That’s not like you.”

He winced at her words but nodded. “I know. I don’t know what came over me. I just…” He let out a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair. “I feel so damn pathetic sometimes.”

Indigo frowned, tilting her head. “Why would you say that?”

Gage’s jaw tightened, and he began to pace again, though this time it was more out of restlessness than anger. “Because I have a mate—you—and it doesn’t even feel like I do. I mean, look at us. Three Alphas, one mate. What kind of twisted joke is this actually? The Goddess must have a sick sense of humor.”

His voice cracked slightly, and Indigo felt her chest tighten. Gage wasn’t the stoic, confident Alpha she usually saw. Right now, he looked… lost.

“I want to believe there’s a plan,” he continued, his voice quieter now. “That this is all happening for a reason. But it’s just… it’s hard. This bond, the pull—it’s supposed to be simple. But with us, it’s anything but that.”

Indigo’s heart ached at his words. She hadn’t realized how deeply this was affecting him. She reached out, placing her hand gently on his arm. “You’re not the only one who feels that way,” she admitted. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Wondering what the Goddess was thinking, why she would put us in this mess. It’s overwhelming, Gage. But you’re not alone in this. Valtor and Lyriq probably feel the same way.”

Gage looked down at her, his eyes searching hers. For a moment, the tension between them melted away, replaced by an unspoken understanding. Slowly, he took her hand in his, his touch warm and steady.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

The room fell into a heavy silence, but this time it wasn’t uncomfortable. Indigo could feel her heart racing, her pulse quickening as Gage’s gaze lingered on her. The air between them seemed to shift, growing warmer, more charged.

Without thinking, she leaned in slightly, her breath hitching as Gage’s hand came up to cup her cheek. He hesitated for a moment, as if giving her a chance to pull away, but when she didn’t, he closed the distance between them.

Their lips met in a kiss that was slow and tender at first, but quickly deepened as the emotions they had both been holding back came rushing to the surface. Gage’s hand moved to the back of her neck, pulling her closer as his other arm wrapped around her waist.

Indigo’s breath hitched as her hands found their way to his chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. She could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her palms, a stark contrast to the frantic pace of her own.

Gage pulled back just enough to whisper, “Are you sure about this?” His voice was low and rough, his eyes searching hers for any hesitation.

Indigo nodded, her cheeks flushed but her gaze steady. “Yes.”

That was all the confirmation he needed. In one swift motion, he lifted her and carried her to the bed, laying her down gently. He hovered over her, his eyes filled with hunger and desire glowing faintly in the moonlight streaming through the window.

Their movements were slow and deliberate, every touch and kiss charged with a mix of passion and restraint. Gage was careful, his touch gentle as he explored the connection between them. He treated her like something precious, something fragile, even as his instincts screamed at him to let go.

For Indigo, the experience was overwhelming in the best way. She felt completely consumed by him, yet safe in a way she hadn’t expected. This wasn’t just about the bond or the full moon. It was about them—about finally giving in to something they had both been fighting for too long.

After tracing every inch of her, taking in the beauty of her body, he sighed, still holding himself back.

“Can I really?”

“I said yes the first time,” she smiled and with that, he took her.

\---

The Next Morning

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Indigo stirred, her body warm and content in a way she hadn’t felt in years. As her eyes fluttered open, the events of the previous night came rushing back.

Her cheeks flushed as she realized where she was—and who she was with. Gage laid beside her, still fast asleep, his features relaxed and peaceful.

I just bedded my first Alpha.

The thought sent a jolt through her, but it wasn’t panic she felt. Instead, it was a strange sense of calm. She couldn’t deny that something had changed between them, something she couldn’t quite put into words.

As she watched him, her fingers unconsciously brushed against the mark on his collar bone, a dark mark that she had never taken notice of. 

Suddenly Gage’s hand covered her wrist.