Page 86 of Claiming the Pack's Omega

“I mean, it always seems to be with me," she continues. “And the last thing I want to do is unintentionally freak you the fuck out.”

I swallow hard, running my tongue along the inside of my cheek nervously.

“I—I just don’t want to do something you don’t want,” I say.

“Why?” She tilts her head. “I’m pretty vocal about what I want and don’t want. I mean, you heard me yelling in that hospital room.”

I did. It was honestly impressive. I can count the number of people who I’ve seen stand up to Killian on one hand. And technically, the only people who I’ve seen stand up to Killian and not buckle underneath the stress are Theo and Stone.

“I—I want to tell you,” I say slowly.

I mean it, too. I’ve never wanted to tell anyone this stuff. I don’t know why she’s different. An omega, especially one as smart, outspoken, and stunning as her should be the last person I should want to tell.

“But…” She prompts. “There’s a but there, considering you’re not telling me why you don’t want to tell me.”

“But I don’t want you to hate me,” I whisper.

Her brows draw down in confusion.

“Hate you?”

I nod.

She purses her lips and there’s a crease between her brows as if she’s thinking hard.

“I’m not sure how to reassure you because I don’t want to lie to you. I’m going to be completely honest, and if it is something terrible, I’m not just going to be quiet about it," she says.

My gaze falls to the floor. I swallow hard and start to pull my hand away from hers.

Or at least I try to.

“Hey, I didn’t finish,” she says, lacing our fingers back together again. “I seriously doubtyou,out of all alphas, have done something bad enough for me to hate you.”

“Because—because of how I look?”

“Because you seem like a good guy, Milo," she says.

She lets out a huff of laughter under her breath as if she thinks my unusual body type for an alpha has nothing to do with things.

“Trust me, I’ve met a lot of bad guys. I’ve also met a lot of bad guys who pretend they’re good guys. You’re not one of them. Now, are you going to tell me what’s eating you up inside so I can figure out what I’m doing that’s freaking you out all the time or not? We can drop it, if you want. I know I’m being intense.”

My fingers finally close around her hand as I hold her hand back.

“I—I was accused of touching a girl, Angie Winters, inappropriately in middle school,” I whisper. It takes all the courage I possess, but I stare down into her eyes as I speak. I need to see her reaction to what I have to say. “Everyone—everyone believed her, and I was bullied pretty badly.”

Her expression remains open, maybe a little curious. It’s far from the immediate disgust and hatred I’m used to seeing from everyone before.

“What did she accuse you of?”

“Of—of pinning her down in the library and trying to reach up her skirt,” I mumble.

“And did you do that?”

“No.” I shake my head vehemently. “We—we only kissed, one time. And she was the one who kissed me.”

“And then she went and lied to the whole fucking school? What a bitch," she scoffs.

My mouth goes dry.