Page 12 of No Strings Attached (Omega’s Preference #4)

Elias

I’ve been at the gala for barely twenty minutes and it’s already suffocating me.

The ballroom’s a whirlwind of glittering chandeliers, clinking glasses, and forced laughter, the air thick with perfume and ambition.

The scents are particularly cloying tonight, something that never truly used to bother me and I can’t stop rubbing at my gland, like the scent blocker is offending me.

The pain in my hands is starting to resurface and the places where Warren touched me burns like hell. I keep rubbing at those spots too, my jaw, my ear, my hands but it just seems to get worse—some kind of rum scent that strengthens with every moment.

It smells all wrong but without making a scene, I can’t get it to go away.

Tristan has been all but parading me around the venue, Nander making a short appearance before finding a sweet little Omega to terrorize. I finally can pull myself away and make a beeline to the entrance when Rhett stops me.

“Hey, Elias. We haven’t caught up in a while but I wanted to check in. What is going on?” He searches my expression carefully, obviously trying to pick apart the walls I keep putting up.

I force a smile, the one I’ve perfected for the cameras. “I’m fine,” I say, but the lie is barely convincing.

Rhett sighs and just pats my arm. “Take care of yourself. You’re looking a little rough around the edges. I know how Tristan runs his ship but that doesn’t mean you have to give into everything he says.”

Rhett doesn’t understand my predicament and I’m not going to sit here and explain that I fucked up when I signed that contract.

So, I just let him go, once again rubbing at my jaw where Warren touched me.

My stomach churns as the ghost of his touch flits through my body.

It’s like he’s crawled under my skin, and I can’t get him out.

I refocus my efforts on leaving the goddamn gala when I see Jamie just across the floor, his mouth stuffed with a mini sandwich.

He’s dancing in place, a wild smile on his lips, the Alpha in his own little world as Olivia leans on the wall beside him.

He spots me, that smile growing wider as he waves at me, another sandwich held in his hand.

But instead of comfort, guilt crashes over me.

Warren’s lingering scent makes it feel like I’ve betrayed Jamie and Olivia, like I’ve done something wrong just by letting him touch me.

The thought of them coming closer, smelling him on me, makes my stomach lurch.

I can’t face them, not like this, not with his mark on me, even if it’s just his scent.

“Excuse me,” I mutter as I frantically start pushing my way through the crowd, what little of my confidence is left cracking under the weight of everything else.

I catch Warren’s gaze just as I slip outside but I can’t focus on him.

He’s the last person I want to deal with. I just need a breath. That’s it.

My vision tunnels as I make it out onto the steps, stumbling toward what looks like the grass patch at the far right of the venue. My breathing kicks up as I blindly reach for the brick wall that I know is hidden there, chaos exploding in my head even as I try to get a grip on what’s going on.

This is the second panic attack today—first at the motel, now here, the fear clawing at me like it’s trying to tear me apart.

It feels like an eternity before I reach the brick wall and press my forehead against the rough but cool surface.

It’s not enough to soothe the panic as I rub at my jaw again, trying to erase Warren’s touch.

A whine slips from my lips as I rub a little harder and then start scratching at the skin beneath it, hoping to dig out his scent.

A whiff of citrus cuts through my panic and I open my eyes to see Jamie standing in between me and the wall, those hazel eyes full of worry.

His hands hover inches from my chest, like he’s not sure if he should touch me, but his scent wraps around me, chasing away Warren’s.

For the first time since I stepped out of that car, I feel like I can breathe again.

He drops one hand to his side and then reaches up further to try and cup my cheek but I push away from the wall, shaking my head rapidly.

“You can’t touch me,” I mutter. Warren’s scent is all over me, and the thought of Jamie’s hands on me, mixing with that filth, makes my stomach churn.

And yet every bone in my body craves holding Jamie against me for even a sliver of the calm his presence provides.

Jamie’s smile falters, his hand hovering in the air, his brows furrowing with confusion. “Did I do something wrong?” he asks. “Talk to me, Elias. Are you hurting? Did someone do something to you?”

I shake my head, my throat so tight I can barely breathe.

My scent betrays me, souring completely, the stormy rain of my Omega nature breaking through the blocker.

It’s like my body’s screaming what I can’t say.

Jamie steps closer, his voice softer now.

“Hey, sweetheart, come here. Your jaw is all red. What is going on?”

I whisper, my voice barely audible, “It’s everywhere. I can’t… I need .” The words tear out of me, a desperation to my words that I’ve never once felt . It’s on my skin, in my head, and I can’t shake it.

Jamie’s eyes widen further, but there’s no judgment, just concern, his citrus scent steadying me.

“Whatever you need.” No one has ever offered me that.

There’s always been an exchange, a promise of something to give later.

I hesitate because surely Jamie wants something—my business, my body…

“Elias, sweetheart, look at me. Take what you need.”

I don’t think. I stomp toward him and lift him up, my arms wrapping around his back as I crush him against my chest. His legs fold around my waist without hesitation as I stuff my face into the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent, chasing away Warren’s.

It’s like sinking into something safe, something real .

Jamie slides his arms around my shoulders as I shift, my hands fingering into his hair, the soft strands a calm against my rough skin.

“There you go, Elias. See? I’ve got you.

” His purr starts up as he nuzzles against my cheek, my heart cracking a little further as I realize what I’ve asked of this Alpha.

“You’re such a good Omega, Elias. Did you know that?

Absolutely perfect for me and my wife. Whatever happened, we’ll take care of it. You’ll be okay.”

I want to believe all that, panic settling as my grip tightens in his hair.

My body moves of its own accord, my lips traveling up and down his neck, my tongue adding to the mix as I crave more of his scent.

This isn’t enough. I need to be inside him.

I need to claim him. I need to remind myself that Warren can’t ruin me.

Olivia’s scent distracts me for a moment and I look up to see her standing a few feet away, concern etched into her features.

I slowly put Jamie down, looking between the both of them as I ready myself for their reprimand.

After all, I all but picked up an Alpha in public, an Alpha I haven’t yet claimed.

Correction, an Alpha who hasn’t yet claimed me.

Because that’s how society works.

Olivia steps closer, her hand on my arm bringing tears to my eyes.

I’ve gotten Warren’s scent all over Jamie now.

He smells wrong too and I’m not sure what will happen if Olivia tracks it as well.

I shrink back, hating myself that this is the second time I’ve done that to her.

I try reaching for her and then stop, my bottom lip quivering with the need to keep Warren’s scent away from her.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, stepping away from Jamie. “I shouldn’t…”

Olivia hums at me, quieting my panic. “Hey, I don’t know what happened, but I feel like the gala is making it worse.

Let us take you home, okay?” Olivia glances toward the gala, the noise spilling out through the doors, then back at me, her gaze softening.

“Tell me if I’m wrong, but you don’t want us to touch you, right? ”

I nod, my throat too tight to speak, my hands flexing at my sides. “I’m sorry… Jamie… I…”

Jamie pipes in. “I’m not mad, Elias. Really. It’s okay.”

“Is it because of this afternoon?” she asks, searching my face for the answers.

“No, it’s not that,” I say, barely holding together. “I… no.”

Olivia hums again. “Did something happen? Does it have something to do with that Alpha’s scent on you?”

My nostrils flare and I blink hard, fighting back tears. I twist to look at Jamie and realize that he somehow knew, that both of them know. The rage beneath the concern is starting to become clearer. They’re pissed off for me but I don’t want to be here any longer.

Olivia steps closer, keeping her hands poised in front of her; however, I can see that she’s itching to touch me. “I got you, baby, okay? We’re going to take you home and make sure you get something to eat. We won’t stay if you don’t want us to, but we’re not leaving you here.”

I stare at her, confusion and exhaustion swirling in my head.

“Why would you do all that? We only just…” I fumble my words, knowing I’m lying to myself.

They’re my Alpha mates—I feel it in my bones, in the way their scents settle me, in the way my body responds to them.

There’s no denying it, not anymore, and I’m too damn tired to fight it.

Olivia offers me a warm smile, my sorry ass finally calm enough to take in how beautiful she is this evening.

I’m mad I wasn’t able to enjoy it. “Elias, I’m doing it for the same reason you embraced Jamie without thinking.

For the same reason that you aren’t running from us, that you’re considering us as your safe space.

But we can talk about all that later. Our car is just down the hill.

Do you want to walk with me or stay with Jamie so I can pull it around? ”

I wring my hands together, the raw skin on my knuckles stinging. I almost say I’ll wait with Jamie until I hear Tristan’s voice in the distance, cutting across the gala’s noise. Then Warren’s laughter comes next, the panic in my chest returning . “I just don’t want to be here. Can we please go?”