Page 54 of Omega's Fever

“Corporate law isn’t quite the same thing.” Her smile widens. “But don’t worry. Everyone fumbles their first real criminal case. The partners at Schmitt and Petersen will understand. They’re very... forgiving of their omega associates.”

The word drips with condescension. She knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s reminding me that I’m playing in an alpha’s world, that I don’t belong here, that I’m weak.

“I don’t think I’m the one who’s losing here. My client is innocent.” The words come out before I can stop them.

She laughs, bright and false. “Oh honey. They all say that.”

She clicks away on her designer heels, leaving me alone with my churning stomach and the echo of her contempt. I close my eyes, counting to ten, then twenty.

When I open them, Kellen is standing in the hallway.

“You’re not supposed to be out here alone,” I manage.

“Neither are you.” His dark eyes search my face. “You look like hell.”

“Thanks. Really helpful.”

“The suppressants are making you sick.”

“I’m fine.”

“Liar.” The word is soft, almost fond.

“We need to get back.”

“Milo—”

“Don’t.” I hold up a hand, and God, it’s shaking visibly now. “Just... don’t. I can’t do this here. Can’t do this now.”

Something flashes across his face—hurt maybe, or understanding. He steps back.

“After,” he says quietly. “We’ll talk after.”

I nod, not trusting my voice. We walk back to the courtroom side by side, careful not to touch. But I can feel him there, solidand steady and absolutely everything I can’t have.

The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur of lying witnesses and sustained objections. By the time Judge Melkham calls it a day, I’m running on pure spite and stubbornness, but I know I’ve done more than enough to put that ‘reasonable doubt’ into the minds of the jury.

All I want to do is go home, have a long shower, something to eat and kiss my alpha until the world goes away.

So when a text lights up my screen from Anne, it’s the last thing I want to see.

Come by the office when you’re done. I need a word. Leave Hayes in the foyer. Security can watch him.

Security can watch him. I don’t know what she thinks Kellen is going to do or what our elderly security guard would do if he did.

I tell Kellen I need to stop by the office on the way home and he nods. He doesn’t argue with me either. I’m not sure if he’s given up on the Cobb issue with me or if he’s just waiting for us to get back to the apartment.

He follows me into the foyer, looking it up and down with a carefully blank expression. He looks completely out of place, too big and too rough.

“Wait here.” I gesture to the leather chairs in the waiting area. “I won’t be long.”

He settles into a chair that groans under his weight. As I turn to go, I catch him reaching for a magazine from the side table. It’s a Cosmopolitan.

And then I watch this massive, scarred fighter who could break a man in half, thumb through it until he reaches “50 Ways to Please Your Man” and starts reading. Despite everything, I feel my lips twitch.

The elevator ride to the partner floor feels endless. I look like a ghost in the mirror in the elevator: pale and listless.

Anne’s assistant barely looks up as I arrive. “She’s expecting you.”