Page 64 of Omega's Heart

I wiped my hands on my towel and this time, I did sigh. “I’m omega.” I moved to sit on the floor and lean against the couch by his head. “I can’t go someplace with a bunch of alphas and whatever Garrick is. I’d be ruined.”

“You aren’t ruined being over here with me all the time.”

“It’s my job. And I’m sure there are rumors.” I smiled humorlessly at him. “But, I mean, look at me. No one’s going to think anything’s happened between us.”

Kaden frowned and rolled up onto his side, propping his head up on his hand and ignoring my wince as I pictured the liniment getting rubbed all over the fabric of the couch. “That’s a bit ridiculous,” he said sharply. “You’re good-looking, you’re easy to be around. Or are they saying that the cripple couldn’t catch you?”

“Why would you want to?” I said bitterly. “And roll back down onto your stomach before you ruin the couch!” I started to get up but he grabbed my arm and pulled me down again. “What?” I demanded.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, you’re looking at a twenty-eight-year-old omega who’s never even been kissed because what alpha wants to have to look up at their omega?” I turned away as I felt my eyes start to water.

“Really?” Kaden said quietly, thoughtfully.

“Yeah.” I sniffed, which wasn’t an alluring sound, but it wasn’t like I was trying to be attractive anyway.

“Funny,” he said behind me. “That’s not how I see it.” Something in his voice sounded like he’d made a decision.

I turned back to him in surprise. “No? Then what--”

He kissed me. Full on the mouth, the kind of kiss that I’d seen in movies and, occasionally, during Full Moon dances. Startled, I tried to pull back, but he wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and held me there until I finally relaxed and decided to enjoy the moment. He was a good kisser, as far as my limited—read non-existent—experience could tell. Certainly, it made my heart race and my body come alive with the urge to roll over for him, to let him press that muscular, alpha body to mine. He made me feel wanted, the way that alphas wanted a proper omega.

After a few moments, I found myself responding, cupping the back of his head, his hair surprisingly soft against my fingers. When his tongue brushed against my lips, I tried to do the same back, then was surprised when his tongue came to meet it, and how good that tiny, intimate contact felt. A warm heaviness settled in my groin, demanding that someone touch me there. Instead, I touched Kaden, exploring the muscle of his shoulders purely for my own pleasure. His breath sighed against my mouth and the pressure of his lips against mine increased.

I’d probably regret it later. This would change everything between us, and how could we be friends now when I’d be forever wishing he’d kiss me again?

Like all good things, though, it had to end. I tried to be casual about it when he pulled his mouth from mine, but it was hard.

“Well, now you can say you’ve been kissed,” he said with satisfaction and ruined the entire moment.

“You jerk,” I said and stood up, horrified at what he’d done, and what I’d done. “You think you can just fix my life with a kiss? Like that’s going to change how everyone sees me?” My heart raced and I had to get out of there, I couldn’t stand to be in the room with him anymore. This was worse than any of the other teasing, any of the unintentional slights I’d ever experienced in White River. Lysoonka, why had I come to Mercy Hills in the first place? I regretted it so fiercely it was like a knife in my heart.

“That’s not what I meant,” Kaden cried and began to struggle to his feet. “Come here, Felix, and sit down, dammit.”

“Why?” I took a step toward the door, oddly reluctant to leave. Deep inside, I wished, though what I was wishing for… oh, it was a fool’s dream. Like some stupid part of me, the part that still lived in that time before I’d had my growth spurt, was in charge.

“Why would I kiss someone that I didn’t find attractive?” he asked me and wobbled down onto the couch again. “Come here. Talk to me.”

I shook my head. “I’ll tell Holland I can’t help anymore.” I took another reluctant step away.

“Felix,” Kaden said, his head down and that dangerous look in his eyes. “Don’t make me follow you down the hall like this.”

“Jerk!” I picked up a cushion off the chair and threw it at him, then went in with another to finish the job. Maybe I’d hit him with my fists, too. He was big enough to take it. And if he hit back, well, I was big enough too.

He ducked and grabbed for the pillows and dragged me down beside him, then almost immediately let me go to roll onto the floor in front of the couch. “Dammit, Felix, I thought my packbrothers were stubborn, but you take the cake,” he snapped at me, and that’s when I realized he had my phone.

“Give it back!” I shouted and lunged for it.

“No,” he said and fended me off with his other arm. I saw my list of contacts flash across the screen, but missed which one he hit until he turned to me and said, “What’s your father’s name again? I know you told me once.”

I sank down onto the floor and felt the blood drain from my face. “What are you going to do?” I asked. I thought I would be sick.

“Hello?” Kaden said into the phone. “My name’s Kaden Salma Wood, I’m one of Quin Mercy Hills’ brothers. Am I speaking to Felix White River’s father?” I buried my face in my hands, then lifted it in shock at Kaden’s next words. “I wondered if you had any objection to me paying court to your son. Maybe with a fall mating, if he can get organized that fast. Though I have some packbrothers I’m sure would be glad to help. That’s if he’ll have me. He’s being a little cantankerous right now.” His eyes met mine over the edge of the phone, while I gaped at him like Moon Moon. “Yes, I’ll have him call you. Yes, sir. That’s right. He might need a few minutes, we’re fighting and I think I just threw him for a loop.” Kaden laughed, then said goodbye and handed me back the phone. “Call your Dad when you’ve put your eyes back in their sockets.”

“What did you just do?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“Proposed in the shittiest, least romantic way ever.” He shrugged. “You forced my hand. I’ve told you before that your pack are fools and idiots. It kind of hit me recently that if I didn’t ask, I’d be just as big a fool and an idiot. I don’t like to think of myself that way and I’d be stupid to pass up a chance to get in ahead of the rest of the boneheads here in Mercy Hills. I know some of them are starting to wake up—I’ve seen them watching you.”