Chapter 42

The door barely clicked shut before I felt Gideon’s glare boring into me. My pulse spiked, a mix of irritation and something sharper tightening in my chest. But I wasn’t backing down.

“Seriously, Gideon?” I shot out, crossing my arms. “It was just a joke. Xiomara can handle it. She’s not exactly—”

“Enough,” he cut me off, his voice low and harsh. He stepped closer, his jaw set, and something dark in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. “You think humiliating her, like that, was funny?”

My irritation flared. “I think Xiomara takes herself way too seriously. Besides, it’s not like she hasn’t dealt with worse before.”

Gideon’s grip on my shoulder tightened. “Xavier, this isn’t just some random girl you can mess with. Xiomara is…” He hesitated, and his gaze flickered to the door, as if making sure we were alone. “She might be more important than you realize.”

The words sent a fresh twist of jealousy roiling through me. I clenched my fists, that sharp, familiar ache lodging in my throat. More important. Xiomara. That irritating, too-good-for-her-own-good shadow of a person. The thought of her worming her way into Gideon’s life, claiming his attention, his affection…

My voice came out harder than I intended. “And what is she to you, exactly? Some fragile little thing you need to protect?” I scoffed, but the desperation leaked into my words. “Is that what you want? An Omega who’ll wrap herself around you and just… steal you away from me?”

Gideon’s eyes narrowed, his tone soft but steely. “Xavier, you’re not losing me. I’ve always been here with you, even before all this.”

“But it’s different now!” The words came out sharper, edged with an ache I couldn’t hide. “You don’t get it, Gid. I don’t want to lose you. Not after finally…” My voice wavered. “Not after finally having all of you.”

He stepped back, his gaze softening, but his tone held firm. “You’re not going to lose me. What we have—it’s solid. And even if Xiomara were an Omega—and that’s a huge if—it doesn’t mean you and I just end.” He shook his head, frustration bleeding into his voice. “Have you forgotten packs exist?”

My fists clenched tighter, and I felt my heart pound against my ribcage. He just didn’t get it. “And what if she did choose you, Gideon? Do you think she’d really want me there?” I swallowed hard, the bitterness lacing my voice. “You think she’d want someone who’s been awful to her, who she hates?”

I could feel the anger boiling over, my fists shaking at my sides. “I’ve been worse to her than you ever have, and if she wants you—if she wants you as hers—then you wouldn’t let that go. You wouldn’t walk away from that chance. Not for me.”

Gideon’s face twisted, as if the words had physically stung him. “Xavier,” he said, his voice a shade softer but laced with frustration. “Even if she asked me—hell, even if she begged—I wouldn’t be with someone who made me choose. You think she’s the kind of Omega who’d just expect me to drop everything? To walk away from you?”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words wouldn’t come. Because in some part of me, the raw, aching part that felt ripped open every time I saw him look at her, I knew she wouldn’t choose me. That if she ever laid claim to Gideon, it wouldn’t include me. That was the terrifying truth lurking beneath it all, the thing that choked my every breath.

“You don’t get it,” I whispered, the desperation clawing up my throat. “You’re everything, Gid. I don’t want her. I don’t want anyone else. Just you.”

My voice cracked, and I hated it, hated the vulnerability that crept in, hated that he was seeing this ugly, twisted part of me. “I can’t handle losing you, not when I’ve finally had… just a taste of actually having you.”

Gideon’s face softened, and he stepped closer, his hand resting on my shoulder, his touch grounding even though I felt like I was coming undone. “Xavier,” he murmured, his voice gentle but resolute, “I’m not going anywhere. You’re not going to lose me to her, or anyone else.”

I shook my head, my jaw tight. “But what if you do? What if one day she’s everything you need, and I’m just… left out?”

His hand tightened on my shoulder, his gaze steady. “That’s not going to happen. What we have—it’s ours. No one can take that from us.” His eyes held a fierce determination. “No Omega, no matter how powerful or enticing, could ever make me walk away from you.”

The words hit deep, loosening the knot of jealousy and fear that had twisted in my gut. I wanted to believe him—needed to believe him. But the fear lingered, a shadow I couldn’t quite shake. I met his gaze, searching for something, anything that would convince me.

And as I looked into his eyes, I felt a faint glimmer of hope, like maybe, just maybe, he meant every word.

“Do you trust me?” Gideon’s voice was barely above a whisper, his gaze unwavering.

I swallowed, the vulnerability raw in my voice. “I… I want to.”

He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against mine, his hand slipping to the back of my neck. “Then hold on to that,” he murmured, his voice steady. “Hold on to me.”

I closed my eyes, letting his touch steady me, letting the words sink in. Maybe he was right. Maybe, just this once, I could trust that what we had was enough—that he wouldn’t walk away.

But somewhere in the back of my mind, the fear still lurked, a shadow I couldn’t quite banish. Because losing Gideon… that was a loss I wasn’t sure I’d survive.