Page 9 of Conflicting Lyrics (Heartbreak Melody #1)

My first two weeks at Calling Wood have been nothing but amazing. Everyone here has been so nice and welcoming. I don’t get strange looks like I don’t belong, and no one is in my business, trying to find out my life story.

In a way, I blend in, but not enough to feel like I don’t exist.

Classes are good; my teachers are decent, and I enjoy the things I’m learning. Every day I wake up, excited to see what it will bring. Honestly, I’ve been so busy with all the new changes, I’ve hardly had time to think. And when it comes to a certain someone, that's a good thing.

However, I have around two more weeks before my heat is expected to hit, and the worry has set in these last few days.

I’ve been doing some over-the-phone sessions with my therapist, and she's been helping me deal with all the mixed feelings.

She reminded me that I survived something horrible and made it out on the other side. Solo heats aren't uncommon for Omegas, and I’ll be just fine. It’s not going to be a pleasant experience, but it’s not the end of the world. And that's what I’m choosing to believe.

“Where to?” Rick asks as we pull away from the Omega compound.

“I have to start on a project for my media class. So, I’m thinking a few hours at the library will do me some good. Is that okay?”

He nods his head. “Fine by me. I’m just here to serve you.” He shoots me a wink before focusing on the road again.

Smiling, I roll my eyes. “You make it sound like you have no choice in this.”

“I kind of don’t,” he responds with a chuckle. “But honestly, I don’t mind. I have nothing better to do. And hanging out with you isn’t so bad.”

“Gee, thanks,” I laugh. “And what do you mean you have nothing better to do? Don’t you have, like… friends, family, a pack to go home to at the end of the day? It’s the weekend. You should be out, enjoying yourself.”

It’s after supper, and normally, I’m curled up in my nest, toiling away at my school work, but after an hour, I knew I needed to get out of my house. I’ve been stuck inside for most of the day.

“I could say the same about you.” He raises a brow.

“Seeing how you’re the only friend I have here, and going out alone doesn’t sound like a fun time, studying at the library on a Saturday night doesn’t sound like a bad way to spend my time.”

He lets out a little sigh. “Don’t have many friends, unless you count colleagues. But seeing how most of them have packs and lives of their own, we don’t hang outside of work much.”

“And you don’t have a pack?” I press. Rick and I have become fast friends. I was quick to realize nothing will ever happen between us, even if some of his comments have my cheeks heating. He’s like the big brother I never had but wish I did.

At this point, this man knows most of my life story. But me? I know nothing about him. Apart from him being thirty-two and from Canada.

“No,” he murmurs. “No pack.”

The way he says it and the look on his face tells me there’s something more to that story. One that I’m not going to hound him on right now, but would like to find out eventually.

Sometimes, I can be a bit nosy. But it’s only because I care. And I just like to know things.

I changed the subject for the rest of the ride to the library. When we get there, Rick takes his place at the front of the room while I head over to one of the quiet working spaces.

With a heavy groan, I throw myself onto the empty couch and pull out my textbooks, getting straight to work.

After twenty minutes, I start to zone out, my brain turning to mush from all the studying I’ve been doing for most of the day.

My eyes try to focus on the page, but they keep going crossed-eyed, making the words go blurry. “Ugh,” I mutter, shaking my head as my eyes refocus before attempting to read the same line again. When it happens again, I let out an annoyed huff and start over.

“Do you mind?” a voice sounds from nearby.

Eyes lifting from the book, I look up to see a girl sitting on the couch across from me. Has she always been there?

“Sorry, what?” I ask, blinking, not sure what she’s talking about.

“I’m trying to focus, and your little sounds of frustration are messing with my flow.” She stares at me, blinking.

“Shit, sorry.” I laugh. “Maybe I should just call it a night. My brain and eyes are not working together.”

She lets out a sigh of her own. “I think I might do the same. I’ve been here all day, my ass is sore, and honestly, at this point, I’m just writing gibberish.” She places her laptop onto the coffee table in front of her before her eyes go wide.

“You okay?” I ask.

“Nope. Didn’t realize how bad I have to pee until just now.” She jumps to her feet, looking around frantically as she tries to gather her stuff.

“Go. I’ll watch this for you.”

She pauses, looking at me with her brown eyes. She’s a pretty girl. Short, long brown hair, and I might not be able to smell her, but I can tell just by looking at her she’s an Omega.

“Are you sure?” she asks, biting her lower lip. “I don’t know.”

“I mean, it’s that or pee your pants.” I chew on my lower lip, trying not to laugh.

“Fuck,” she hisses. “You're right. Okay, I’ll be right back.” She rushes off. “Please don’t let anyone take my stuff!” she calls out as she runs towards the bathroom.

Laughing, I shake my head and put my own things away. As I wait for her, I look around, tapping my fingers on my knees.

My eyes drop to the open computer on the table, and I pause.

No, Lulu. Don’t do it. Mind your own damn business.

But… I just want to know what she’s working on. Maybe she’s taking similar courses as I am.

Looking around to make sure no one’s watching, I reach forward and spin her laptop around. Just a little bit. Enough to glance down at her screen.

Brows furrowing, I notice it’s not school work. At least I don’t think it is. Unless she’s writing a paper.

Knowing I shouldn’t, but doing it anyways, I scroll up the page and pause when I read the title.

The Girl Who Gave It All. But it’s not the title that has my heart racing. It’s the author's name. Marie Day.

Marie Day, as in the indie author who takes up pretty much half of the space on my Kindle. Marie Day is a smaller author, no more than a few thousand reviews on her books, but to me, she’s one of my favorites, and honestly, I think she should be way bigger than she is.

But this can’t be right. There’s no way it’s her.

Quickly, I spin the laptop around and grab my phone, searching up Marie Day on social media.

Going to her Instagram, I scroll through her posts. She never has any that show her face. No one knows what she looks like, so that's no help.

But one of her recent posts has me pausing.

It’s a teaser to a book she’s writing. Clicking on it, I read the caption and my lips part.

“ Hey book babes. I have some exciting news. I’m starting a new series!

That's right. Something brand new. Can’t wait for all of you to read it.

It’s still in the early stages, but I can tell you now, these characters are going to change my life.

I hope when you meet them, they can do the same for you. It’s called The Girl Who Gave it All.”

Holy shit. Holy fucking shit. No way. It’s her.

“Thank you.” The girl comes back, sounding out of breath. “I really thought things were going to get awkward, fast.”

“No problem.” I wave her off lamely as I try to keep my cool. “Any time.”

She closes her laptop and slides it into its case.

“Are you new?” she asks. “Don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.” She pauses and frowns. “Seeing how I hardly leave my house apart from going to school and the library, I don’t think I’d have seen you around anyways.”

I laugh. “I am new. Been here only two weeks.” I shrug. “How about you?”

“Been here almost a year,” she answers.

“Oh.” I perk up. “Does that mean you're leaving soon?”

“Ah, no?” she says it like it’s a question. “Why would I?”

“Most Omegas only stay the first year after they meet their pack.”

She snorts out a laugh. “No pack for me.” She shakes her head.

“Why not?” What is wrong with me? I just met this girl and I don’t even know her name. Because I highly doubt it’s actually Marie Day.

She raises a brow, a small smile playing on her lip. “Because I haven’t found the right one.” She shrugs. “I’m what you might call… picky?”

“Have you tried that pack matching program thing?”

“I have.” She nods. “No luck.” She shrugs again.

“Don’t blame you, I turned it down. Not really interested in sleeping with strangers, you know?”

She lets out a soft laugh. “Feel the same way. That's why I’ve turned down every pack I’ve met so far. Or at least, that’s part of the reason.” She groans, leaning back into the couch, throwing her arm over her eyes in a dramatic way.

“Really?” I gasp. “What’s the other part?”

Moving her arm away from her eyes, long enough to peek over at me, she answers. “Because none of them are my scent match,” she mutters.

“Ahhh.” I nod my head. “You're one of those.”

“What does that mean?” She frowns, moving to sit back up.

“An Omega who wants the people the universe has planned for them,” I answer. “And that's totally fine,” I reply quickly. “It’s just not for me.”

“No? Why not?”

“Because you get no choice. And I’m very big on having a choice in how I live my life.

I want to pick the pack I’m with, the people I love.

Not have it done for me. Also, like I’ve told my bodyguard, Rick, what if they’re murderers?

I don’t want to be all goo-goo-eyed over a serial killer, okay? That’s just fucked up.”

She stares at me, blinking her stunned eyes before bursting into a fit of laughter

“Hey.” I laugh back, throwing one of the pillows on the couch at her. “It’s not funny. I’m being serious!”

“I know,” she wheezes through her laugh. “I can see it in your eyes. That's what makes it even more funny.”

“Haha.” I roll my eyes. “Laugh it up at my expense.”

“I’m sorry.” She wipes at her eyes. “That was rude of me.”

“Nah. I can be a little dramatic sometimes.” I wave her off. I can’t really be mad at her anyways, I mean, I was just snooping through the girl's things and found something I don’t think she meant anyone to find out.

“Are you busy?” she asks me.

“Nope. Was just going to call it for the night and go grab something to eat.”

“By any chance, would you want some company? I’ve been stuck in here all day and haven’t come up for air. Or food. Turns out I’m starving and my stomach is eating itself,” she grumbles. “Don’t let Lacy hear me say that, though; she would shove a protein bar down my throat.”

“I would love that.” I laugh. “And who’s Lacy?”

“My guard.”

My eyes light up. “Is she single?”

“Ahh, I think so? Most Beta guards are.”

“Perfect.” A grin takes over my lips. I know I said I need to stop inserting myself into things, but Rick really looks like he could make some friends. And maybe more? What could it hurt?

“I’m not sure if I should be worried about that grin or not,” the girl comments, raising a brow.

“Definitely not.” I jump to my feet, grabbing my bag. “Come on. Let’s go grab our prison wardens.”

She snorts out a laugh and grabs her things. As we head towards the front of the library where the guards hang out and wait, I realize I don’t even know this girl’s name, and I never mentioned mine.

“By the way, what's your name?” I look over at her and ask.

Her eyes sparkle with amusement, realizing the same thing I have. “Maya Danvers,” she answers.

A smile lights up my face. “Nice to meet you, Maya. I’m Lucy Carter. But you can call me Lulu.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Lulu.” She smiles back.

I loop my arm through hers without a second thought, and I’m grateful she doesn’t seem put off by it. I lean my head against her shoulder and sigh. “I think we’re going to become good friends. I can feel it in my bones.”

She’s quiet for a second before whispering. “I’d like that. I could use a friend.”

My heart clenches because I feel the same way. There’s something about this girl that calls to me. Not because she writes books that I enjoy, but sometimes you can just tell when a person has a good soul. And this girl has a great one.

Maya sounds like she needs someone in her life, and when I think about it, I think that’s exactly what I need, too.