Page 15 of Such a Shy Omega (His Alpha Desires #8)

Heath

A loud crunch followed by a honking horn woke me with a start. I sat straight up, hand pressed to the center of my chest.

What in the world?

Living in the city was a big change from the country.

I got up and walked to the window to find the loud noise was from a car accident on the street below. Neither party appeared to be hurt, but they sure were putting up a verbal fight about whose fault it was.

Mate.

I sucked in a breath as the events from the night before, no, earlier, that morning, flooded my mind.

Erik’s lips on mine. The tingling, blissful sensation that carried me inside and then into a deep sleep.

The way he touched me. Looked into my eyes. Listened without judgement. Cared while barely knowing me.

Erik turned my definition of the role of alpha on its head. He was the one omegas dreamed of.

I used the restroom and took a quick, cold shower to wake myself up and went to the kitchen to get something to eat. Working nights meant I woke up in the afternoon, but the first thing I thought about was coffee.

Ramsey said it made omegas irritable. He didn’t allow us to drink it. My father had no such rules, and it was one of the least popular of Ramsey’s.

What an asshole. It was the first time I’d dared thinking about some things. Sometimes, it was like he could read our minds.

“Ramsey is an asshole!” I yelled at a moderate volume level. “I can say that out loud because I’m free now!” I lifted my arms above my head and made fists, celebrating my rebellion. It was silly, but people didn’t appreciate their freedom as much as they should.

I did a little dance. Not because of the kiss or because I’d cursed my former villain but because I’d found my mate.

My wolf had been right the whole time.

Erik was mine, and I was head-over-heels his.

While I swayed my hips, my phone rang.

“Hello?”

Erik was awake as well and wanted to know when my next free evening was. “Tonight,” I told him.

“Want to come run with me? I know a place outside the city.”

With Erik, my shyness faded away. “You want to take me to a dark place in the country? What if you’re a serial killer?”

My mate cracked up. I didn’t even know I was funny until I got away from pack oppression. “Aww, mate. There’s no way I could ever hurt you. But yeah, I want to take you somewhere dark so I can have you all to myself.”

That sounded promising.

“Okay. What time?”

Erik would pick me up in a few hours and until then, I would be a nervous, excited mess.

And he’d called me mate. More dancing ensued.

Erik came up to my door, and I invited him in. “It’s a nice place,” he said, looking around.

“It’s what I could afford.” I laughed. My apartment was small, but small and free was way better than vast and big.

“After everything you’ve been through, this must feel nice.”

“It does.”

“Has my omega gone shy on me again? Is your wolf just as timid?”

My face filled with blazing heat. “I hope not. I didn’t let him out around alphas. I was afraid they would take advantage.”

“Such a good male, protecting your wolf like that.” He closed in and kissed my lips. “I hope he will trust me. You’re safe and sound with me.”

I nodded. “I know.”

We got in Erik’s car, and he drove almost an hour to a forested valley between two mountains, and as soon as I got out, I could hear other animals beyond the tree line.

“Should I turn around?” he asked, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

“No,” I said, gathering every drop of bravery I had. “I-I like your gaze on me.”

“Take your time,” he whispered.

I turned away and took off my shirt and then my shoes and pants and finally, with a loud sigh, dropped my boxers to the ground and looked back as Erik’s hungry gaze roamed my form. I felt loved. Adored.

No icky feeling whatsoever.

“My turn.” He removed all his clothes and shifted first. My wolf followed and took off at a run. It had been too long since I let him out. He was eager for the movement.

We ran until my furry legs were sore. Erik’s wolf lay on the ground, panting.

He whined, wanting something from me. My wolf curled next to him, nuzzling his snout next.

Our animals had bonded this afternoon. I knew Erik was my mate and so did my wolf, but bonding our animals sealed things deeper than any mating could ever.

It was cosmic. Supernatural. Paranormal.

Our animal spirits formed a connection that would last forever.

We shifted back and, this time, I was less sheepish about being naked in front of him. I suspected my shyness would completely wane after some time with Erik. Good thing we had the rest of our lives.

“Is it presumptuous to ask you to come home with me?” Erik asked.

“I was hoping you would.”

He kissed me then. Not like at the end of our date. That kiss was chaste and sweet. His lips barely grazed mine. Just as important but nothing like the passion-filled way he was loving me right now.

Erik pulled away, and I let out a whine. “Take me home, alpha.”

“Anything for you, omega.”