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Finally, finally, I feel a little more like me. No feverish feeling. No anxiety. My lids droop, exhaustion filling me now that I’ve found relief.

“Thank you, alpha,” I murmur.

He kisses the crease of my thigh, the first kiss, and it isn’t even on my lips. “You don’t know how hard it is to resist knotting you right now.”

“Do it then.”

He shakes his head ruefully, black hair shifting and shimmering beneath the sunlight. “Soon.” He kisses my thigh again, sits up, and slowly withdraws his fingers, lavishing my skin with kisses, and a long luxurious lick of my slick from his fingers.

“Close your eyes and rest. I’ve got you. I’ll carry you upstairs.”

I do as he says.

“Good omega,” he says as I drift off to sleep.

7 ALDEN

“I’ll take the check now, Mari.” I tap my card on the table as she approaches.

Elliott’s over an hour late. The Heat Seekers app came back online shortly after I got here, but the last text I got from Elliott was that he was excited to see me and had forgotten the name of the restaurant. I tried calling and texting him through the app to no avail. I even gave him my phone number and address.

I could wait another hour, but I’m conceding defeat. I just don’t get it. He seemed so excited and enthusiastic. Did something happen to him on the way? Did he turn back when he couldn’t get ahold of me? Was he in an accident? Am I pathetic and clueless to even ask myself that?

Mari takes my card and places a lager with an orange slice in front of me.

“On the house,” Julio shouts through a window to the kitchen.

“Thanks, man.” I take a long sip. It’s refreshing as hell, but leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I lower my voice and ask Mari, “Be honest. Is this a pity beer?”

“It’s not a pity beer,” Julio says over his shoulder, back to us. “Call it a sympathy beer.”

I take another swig. “Yep. I can definitely taste the pity. I can’t believe I got stood up at my favorite restaurant.”

“At least you’re among friends,” Julio slides a wet burrito under the heat lamp. “Order up, mija.”

Mari returns my card, smiling kindly. “Your omega is out there. Don’t give up.”

I nod, and take another swig.

Julio slips out of the kitchen, and leans his forearms on the counter beside me, watching Mari deliver the plate to a customer. “What about Tyler?”

“Huh?” I cough mid-swig.

“Invite him to lunch next time.” He slides a napkin toward me, eying me suspiciously. “Just in case your date doesn’t show up.” He winks and returns to the kitchen.

I drain the rest of my beer, even though I don’t feel like it, because the people pleaser in me doesn’t want to disappoint him. Then I tip them a twenty and leave when they’re both preoccupied with a bunch of high schoolers hungry for tacos after school. Tyler and I used to do that too.

Outside, my head swims in the shock of heat. Bright light stings my eyes, and I rub them before tears form, afraid I might actually cry, which would be even more pathetic.

I wish I could talk to Tyler, but it’s been hard for me to be vulnerable after that rejected kiss. My dating failures feel embarrassing. Hopefully, Ty already left for work.

My phone rings. My heart lifts. Maybe it’s Elliott? The brief flicker of hope shrivels when I see Tyler’s name. It’s like he knew I was thinking about him or something. I send it to voicemail and stuff it in my pocket.

He calls again. I reach into my pocket and reject it again. On the third call, I answer.

“Alden?” Waves crash in the background.

I walk faster toward home at the worry in his tone. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”