The Lycan King's Outcast Omega (by Cara Anderson) novel Chapter 51

Sage

My fingers keep straying to my lips, still tingling from his kiss. From my first real kiss. Everything about it was different, better than the fantasies I’d conjured in my mind – the raw emotion in Alaric’s eyes, the gentleness of his hands on my face, the way he held me like I was something precious.

The memory of it makes me shiver – the way he gently but firmly demanded I let him in, the silk of his tongue sliding against mine as he dominated our kiss, showing me what to do. For a moment my lack of experience had gotten in my head, but then Alaric groaned, his sound of pleasure putting my mind at ease.

He tasted of pine and winter wind and something wild that called to parts of me I didn’t know existed. How his hands trembled slightly when they cupped my face, like he was touching something infinitely precious. The low sound he made when I gasped against his mouth, like something finally breaking free.

It was so unlike the measured, controlled way he always carries himself. Alaric kissed me like a man drowning, like he’d been holding himself back for too long. Like I was air and water and salvation all at once.

The man who falls more in love with your strength every day.

His words echo in my mind, making my heart race all over again. Sleep is impossible, so I find myself wandering to the healing wing in pre–dawn darkness. The herbs need sorting anyway, after yesterday’s destruction.

But even simple tasks feel different now. Everything feels different. The memory of his kiss follows me like a shadow, making my skin flush at random moments.

“Well, well.” Eris’s voice shatters my reverie. “Still here, I see.”

She glides into the healing wing, perfect even at this early hour. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she only showed her face here when she knew I’d be here for her to torment. But today, I can’t be bothered to care. My hand rises unconsciously to my lips before I can stop it.

Her eyes narrow slightly. “Interesting.”

She leaves without another word, but ice slides down my spine. Of course she would notice. Of course she would see the change in me.

“There you are!” Iris bounces in as the sun rises. “I was worried when you weren’t in your room, but then I saw my brother looking particularly smug this morning and…” She stops, studying my face. “Oh. OH! Finally!”

“Iris-”

“Did he kiss you? He kissed you, didn’t he? About time, the stubborn-”

“Please,” I whisper, but I can’t help smiling.

She drags me to a private corner, practically vibrating with excitement. “Tell me everything.”

So I do. The words spill out – how he found me packing, how he wouldn’t let me leave, how he kissed me like I was everything he’d been waiting for.

Chapter 51

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“But now…” I trail off, reality creeping back in.

“Now what?”

“Now everyone will know. They’ll see it as proof of what they’ve been saying that I’m trying to influence him, that I’m a distraction-”

“Or they’ll see that their King chose someone who makes him stronger.” She squeezes my hand. “Someone who heals not just wounds, but hearts.”

“The nobles will fight harder now.”

“Let them.” Her grin turns fierce. “Some things are worth fighting for.”

“I’m probably making too much of it anyway. It was just one kiss.” I try to downplay it, scared to get my hopes up too high.

Iris opens her mouth to argue but movement in the doorway makes us both look up. Alaric stands there, still in his formal clothes from handling the border situation all night. Our eyes meet, and electricity shoots through my whole body.

“My King,” Iris says with exaggerated formality. “I believe I hear Garrett calling me. Very urgently. From very far away.

She practically skips out, leaving us alone. The air feels charged with awareness as Alaric moves closer.

“You stayed,” he says softly.

“I stayed.”

His hand rises to cup my cheek, and I lean into his touch without thinking. This feels so natural, so right, but also terrifying in its intensity.

“Alaric…” I start, not sure what I’m going to say.

“I know.” His thumb traces my cheekbone. “I know it won’t be easy. But nothing worth having ever is.”

Voices in the hallway make us step apart quickly. Victoria passes with her usual entourage, their whispers following like poison: “-using magic to seduce him-“” undermining pack authority-” “—never accept a wolfless queen-”

Queen. The word hits like a physical blow. Is that what this means? What being with him would require?

“Breathe, sweetling.” His voice anchors me. “We’ll face it together.”

More wolves approach, and he has to step away, return to being the untouchable Lycan King. But his eyes hold mine for a moment longer, full of promises I’m only beginning to understand.

Later, alone in the garden, I touch my pendant and think about choices. About the difference between running from fear and running from truth.

The truth is, I’m falling in love with him. Maybe have been since he stayed up all night letting me tend his

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Chapter 51

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