Derek met the Beta’s gaze, showing no fear nor anger, simply waiting for Cristian to either agree or disagree. The guard not trusting him didn’t bother him, but the fact Derek didn’t trust him either meant he didn’t want this Thomas listening to the conversation he wanted to have with the Omega. The wolf was just doing his job, and maybe he had a strong bond with the one he swore to protect, but he had no business staying around–all the Alpha wanted to do was talk.
He waited for the other to stop coughing, his guilt growing at the realization Cris was yet fully recovered. "I’m not going to hurt him,“ Derek told Thomas, honesty in his voice, not caring if he was believed or not. Cristian was agreeing to talk alone, and that was the only wolf the Alpha needed believing his words. Derek waited until Thomas took Nimue and left, turning to Cristian. Silence fell between them for a moment, the older male swallowing hard before speaking.
”–I’m sorry, for what I did to you. I know that isn’t much, and I don’t expect it to be. I just wanted you to know.“
A better person would graciously accept the apology, absolve Derek of his guilt and send him on his way. A better omega would humbly bow and scrape, astonished that an alpha would so debase himself. Cristian was neither.
“Why?” His voice was flat, with an edge of anger. If Derek wanted absolution, he wouldn’t find it here. “I’m an omega, right? You don’t have to treat me like a person.”















