Page 70 of Empty Heat

“I always respect the privacy of others,” he continued.

“Of your patients.” It was not a question.

I saw his eyebrows rise as he sipped his orange juice. “Of anyone who asks. You had already asked me not to make notes before all this. I want you to know I will continue to honor your request.”

“Oh. Well, it was very personal for me. I didn’t feel like your patient.”

“I know.” His voice was low and contained a tone that went right through me.

My throat constricted and I could not swallow any more food. I’d had two helpings of everything anyway.

I got up and walked into the living room, plunking myself down on the couch.

Lev followed. “Callum, can we talk?”

I stared straight ahead. “About what?”

“About what happened. It was remarkable for you, a huge breakthrough.”

For you.My mind kept replaying parts of his sentences. “I am very happy about that.”

“Good.” He sat forward. “But you also seem uneasy.”

I finally met his gaze. It had such depth. Like affection—but I had to be making it up. We were at the point now where he went his way and I eventually went mine. I had a few more days to stay here, and I would be seeing Rhodes, but that was it.

I tried to speak my thoughts. “I don’t know any alphas who would be like you. Out in the real world—the wilds—they’re not trained.” I let out a humorless chuckle. “And they are not patient to being trained.”

“You are making a lot of assumptions.”

“Am I?”

I knew I was being difficult. Lev tried for another hour to talk to me before I sort of kicked him out, telling him I needed sleep. A lot of sleep.

He left too easily, too light on his feet. I didn’t like it at all. I wanted him to fight. To be slumped over and stepping heavy down the blue path. I wanted him to be sad and miss me and turn back around and run into my arms.

But how could he? I’d already closed the door.

I did slept on and off for the rest of the evening.

Rhodes came by and brought a late dinner from the dining room. We ate under the stars. I didn’t talk much and he didn’t prod me, even though he knew Lev had been with me for my heat.

Rhodes was a good guy.

* * *

It wasday five of my week-long stay on Omega Island. There was a huge outdoor party event planned that evening. Live music. Catered dinner. Games and decorations and fireworks.

Rhodes and I had plans to go swimming every day, too, and lounge in the tropical sunlight.

We lay by a more public pool area. The waterfall there was huge and the pool five times as big as the little private ones.

“Lev did not send in his notes yet. Do you want to talk about your heat?”

I sipped my strawberry lemonade. “Not really.”

“I’ll wait.”

“Didn’t Lev tell you?”