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Neither looks away. Neither runs.

A wave of nerves hits me as I once again wonder if I’ll be enough on my own, but Daphne runs her hand over my head, like she feels my panic and wants it gone.

This woman—this omega—is going to ruin us and I think we’re going to let her.

COURAGE AND COWARDICE

CONNOR

I lied.

Even as every instinct begs me to turn around and go back to my omega, I don’t know if I can.

Heat helping scared me before, but it wasn’t real until we stepped into the suite at Revelry. My chest tightened at the idea of crawling into that low bed, palms slick as I struggled to breathe through the thick pheromones. To think beyond my fear and toward Daphne.

Beautiful, sweet Daphne, who needs me. Needsus.

But all I could see was another nest. Another omega who used me until I couldn’t move. Until I had to hide the bruises under my eyes and the damage she caused. Memories I wish I could forget.

So, I ran out of the suite. Down the stairs and into the parking lot with the scent of sugar coating my nose. Nate followed. He keeps a steady stream of bullshit commentary going as he pulls bags out of the stuffed trunk while I panic beside him.

But the second the trunk snaps closed, a switch flips.

I can’t fucking do this.

The driver’s door opens easily and I’m already leaning in when he shoots me a glare I feel in my fucking toes. “What are you doing?”

Running, obviously. “Going to the store. Want to pick up some of those electrolyte drinks.”

“They have them here,” Nate counters. “It was on the grocery sheet.”

Fuck, he’s right.“What if she doesn’t like the flavor?”

“Then we call down for something else.”

My chest hurts and my vision’s so blurry I can barely tell where we are, let alone drive, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll fuckingwalkif it means getting away from here.

“You can’t sneak away, Con. Whatever’s going on, you can’t do this to Daphne when she’s so fragile.”

I don’t know this woman. Didn’t ask to have another scent-sympathetic omega dropped in my lap. Screw him and the universe for making her my problem. “You can’t force me to fuck her when I don’t want to.”

Another lie. I want Daphne. Want her in my bones, in my blood. This is the type of all-consuming desire that makes it hard to function. Not the rut, but something deeper. Somethingmore.

But I’m not good for her, and she’s definitely not good for me.

“I didn’t say you should, but if you’re backing out, tell her. Daph deserves to hear it from you.” Nate traps me with a narrowed gaze that says I’m not hiding half as well as I hoped.

Frustration morphs to anger, and I cling to it. Anything is better than the terror threatening to swallow me whole. “It’s a trip to the store, not a flight out of town, and she’s not our fucking girlfriend.”

“You’re deflecting, Connor. Stop pretending you’re fine. Acknowledge your feelings, and?—”

“I don’t need a fucking therapist,” I snap. Can’t he leave this alone?

“Yes, you do.”

“Fuck you, Nate.” The words rip from my throat like they have their own will. He has no clue what happened in that nest with Shelby. No idea what I went through to keep her happy.

How can he ask me to do this whenhe doesn’t know anything?