Page 27 of A Hal for my Heart

I mulled over Gus’ words in my head. Was it really that simple? Did I instinctively know how to be a good alpha for Briar? Perhaps I did. After all, I had known how to take care of him through his heat, although I’d never been with anyone before.

“Huh,” I shrugged, scratching my head. “It… it makes sense, I guess.”

“It does,” Gus said softly, then wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Now, go be with your omega. If he wakes up and finds you gone, he’s going to panic. And if he panics and tells Seb about it, and Seb finds you with me, then…” Gus shook his head, then winced. “Not good. Neither for you nor for me, my friend.”

I laughed at that. “Gods, you are so whipped.”

“Don’t I know it,” Gus grinned. “You will be too, soon enough.”

If I weren’t already. I had a feeling that, although I was the alpha, Briar still held all the power over me, and I kind of liked that. I liked belonging to him.

Chapter Thirteen

Briar

I woke up alone, but before I could panic, the door opened, and Hal walked in, carrying a bouquet of flowers. He appeared slightly nervous as he carefully closed the door behind him. I smiled as my entire body lit up with joy at seeing him.

He must’ve been gone for some time, because I felt the need to touch him take over, like an insistent buzz under my skin. “Hal,” I begged, reaching for him. His eyes shot to me, worried and overspilling with affection. In a flash, he was by my side, the flowers still in hand as he cradled my face with his other big hand and searched my face.

“What’s wrong, sweetness?” He stroked my cheeks gently, and his touch instantly soothed me. I leaned into him, soaking up the warmth emanating from his body.

“Need you close,” I admitted. I hated how needy I sounded, but my words only made him smile wider, like it was the sole purpose of his existence to sit and hold me and not a nuisance at all.

“Anything for you,” he smiled, then kissed my nose. “Did you rest well, Briar?” A flicker of protectiveness appeared in his dark eyes. “No one disturbed you while I was gone?”

I stretched my arms languidly, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. “No. I slept like a dream.”

“Good.” A blush crept along his stubbled cheeks as he held up the flowers between us. “I brought you these. I hope you like them. I picked them near the stables.”

They were a mix of wildflowers, all different colors, and so beautiful. “Thank you,” I whispered, sniffing them just so I had something to do while fighting back the tears. “Thank you for bringing the garden to me. It feels like I’ve been cooped up inside for months.”

Hal looked panicked, then smacked his forehead. “Of course, you need sun! Why didn’t I think about that?!” Before I could assure him that I wasn’t dying of light deficiency, he picked me up like I weighed nothing. I decided not to argue with him this time and simply enjoyed being carried around by my strong alpha.

I did have one thing I wanted to change this time around. “Can I please sit on your back instead? I feel like that would be less of a strain on your arms.”

“Do not fret over my arms; they were built to carry you, sweetness.” He regarded me with amusement. “You really do say the silliest things sometimes.” There was nothing but adoration in his voice. “But what my omega wants, my omega gets.” He stopped by my leather shoes and put me down. Once he’d helped me into the shoes, he kneeled so I could climb onto his back. I secured my arms around his neck, barely reaching around him, and it was the best feeling ever, how big he was. Nothing could harm me when I was with Hal; there was no doubt in my heart. I felt protected and cherished.

Hal wrapped his hands around the back of my thighs, holding me tightly against him. “Is this alright?” he rumbled.

I smiled into his hair, sniffing my alpha’s unique scent that now belonged to me alone. “Perfect,” I sighed, resting my cheek against his shoulder. I tapped my heels gently against his thick thighs. “Giddy up!” I exclaimed.

Hal froze mid-movement. “What?” he snorted.

“Nothing!”

“Oh, you are trouble, Omega!” He pinched my thighs lightly. “But I dare say I like it.”

“Just living up to my name,” I spoke against his neck. “I’m your silly omega, aren’t I?”

“That you are.” And I didn’t miss the pride and affection in Hal’s voice.

We left my rooms and ignored the servants who gawked at us as we passed. I felt proud to be sitting on Hal’s back and didn’t want to hide from anyone that he was mine. He’d staked his claim on me, so it was only fair that I did the same to him.

When we passed Stefano, Hal asked him politely if he could make us a picnic basket and have it brought into the garden. Stefano was all smiles as we left, promising lots of delicious treats for us.

As we entered the palace garden, the last bit of tension evaporated. I’d had so much on my shoulders ever since Seb had my father and the other royal advisors banished. It seemed no matter how much time I spent working, more work would just magically appear. The old advisors had made a mess of our kingdom, forgetting to journal repairs on buildings in town and other things the palace had funded, like the closest school for kids between six and twelve. We had to go there in person to know what they needed for funding and other necessities, something that hadn’t been done since before Seb took over as king.

Seb was my friend, but it was clear that he’d trusted his advisors too much, a thing he should’ve been able to do, had they actually done their jobs. Now Elias and I paid for their laziness, and I still had to spend most of my time teaching Hal to become a royal advisor, too.