Page 14

I don’t want to explain over text

But the least I can do is answer your question

Laney:

Okay…

Eli:

No, I don’t have another omega

Laney:

Why was that so hard to tell me over a text, Eli?

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I exhaled a thin breath. I gave myself a few seconds to carefully craft a response.

Eli:

Because there’s a more in-depth explanation

Admittedly, that response didn’t need to be carefully crafted.

Laney:

Are you going to share with the class…?

Eli:

I can take about an hour, maybe two, away from work.

Can I meet you?

Delaney sent his location. I quickly changed out of my work uniform, yelling out instructions to my highly capable staff as I dashed through the restaurant. Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into a parking structure, letting him know I was there. Within minutes there was a knock at my window. I unlocked the door, waiting for him to settle in the passenger seat.

He looked devastatingly beautiful. His hair was swept up into a sleek, high ponytail with a few carefully placed curls framing his face which, coupled with the light dust of shimmer, made his cheekbones a bit more prominent. Thin winged eyeliner caused his amber eyes to glow and smolder, reminding me of an evening sunset. His attire, while all black with a pop of color, was very chic; a long-sleeved, high-necked lace shirt with a blood red ribbon tied loosely at the collar, skintight black slacks, and suede black loafers with gold accents.

“How do you constantly look like you’ve stepped out of a fashion magazine?” Awe filtered into my voice the longer I stared at him.

Delaney turned in his seat, leveling me with an icy glare. “Flattery will get you nowhere until you tell me the truth, Eli.”

“Straight to the point, I see.”

“I don’t intend on wasting your time. I would appreciate you not wasting mine,” he huffed, folding his arms over his chest.

“You’re right.” I inhaled slowly and as I exhaled, I explained, “I’ve—never actually been with an omega.”

Delaney’s eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t—that couldn’t have been your first—”

I shook my head, interrupting, “No, no. It wasn’t my first time. Just my first time with an omega.” I was painfully aware of the swift shift in Delaney’s scent, but instead of immediately launching into a long-winded explanation based on the growing sour notes of suspicion, I waited for him to say something first, recalling how upset he was at the hospital.

“So, what was all of that? Something to cross off your bucket list? I thought all alphas only fucked omegas.”

“I am not like other alphas.” I stressed.

“No, you’re not. And I don’t understand why.” Delaney fired back. “You desperately try to hide your scent, you aren’t so assertive that it borders on aggression and you didn’t kn—,” he paused mid-sentence, shaking his head. “Never mind.”

I pointed out in a tight voice, “You aren’t like other omegas, Delaney. You don’t scent either. You don’t beg to be knotted and bred during sex—”