Page 201 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus

The next week is busy as I prepare to head to The Omega Exchange.

I wait and wait to see if I’ll be pre-matched, but I’m not. It doesn’t matter. I’m going to New England to ride out my heat and see if anything works out when I’m face-to-face with the available packs.

I don’t know how long it’ll be until I come back to my apartment, so I spend a couple days cleaning everything.

I completely empty the fridge the day before my flight.

There’s not much since I purposely avoided going grocery shopping, but even the little bit of takeout and condiments manages to turn my stomach.

I know it’s stress.

I’ve never handled pressure well.

The only plus side is that Ben is completely MIA. I haven’t seen or heard from him since Valentine’s Day. I should be grateful for that fact, but somehow, even that manages to hurt my feelings.

The next morning, I grab my already packed suitcases and load them into the back of my car. It’s early, and my stomach rolls with tension.

My mom is driving me to the airport, but I already know she isn’t happy with me. She spent the last few days lecturing the hell out of me, but I’m twenty-six years old.

I have to start living for myself, or I’m going to end up not even really living at all.

The drive to the airport is tense.

As soon as we pull up to the drop off area, I blow out a breath of pure relief. My mom helps me unload my bags, but I can tell she’s itching to say something. She’s been distant and cold the entire trip.

“I love you.” I lean in for a hug, hiking my backpack up my shoulder.

My mom sighs, shaking her head. “I think you should come back home with me...”

I try not to let it bother me. I really do, but I hate the way she seems content to see me trapped in the same small town she’s been in her entire life. She knows there are no prospects for my future and no one to build a family with.

“Mel, I’m serious, men make mistakes, and sometimes you have to overlook bad behavior, but Ben loves you?—”

“I can’t do this right now,” I tell her, glancing over my shoulder toward the doors that lead into the airport. “I love you. I’ll see you soon.”

“You’ve never listened to my advice.” She presses her lips together, shaking her head.

My jaw falls.

Is she joking?

She’s the entire reason why I ended up with Ben. I dated Ben’s brother Luke in high school, but after the number of times that she lectured me about how it wouldn’t be fair to Luke for us to stay together, I finally caved. She went on and on about how I would need alphas and how Luke would never be one.

I broke up with Luke and Ben immediately started chasing me hard. Only as soon as he caught me, he realized he didn’t want me.

My whole damn life in Texas has been toxic.

I lean over, giving her a kiss on the cheek, and bolt before she can talk me out of it. I hate that I don’t have even one person in my corner, but I’m going to start being that for myself.

The flight is fine, but I don’t feel great.

I’m not sure if it’s stress or maybe a sign that my heat is coming faster than I expected.

My stomach aches, but I toss an arm around my middle and pull my shoulders back. I don’t care if I feel like crap. I’m not letting anything stop me from doing this.

I thought long and hard about it on the plane and came to the conclusion that it’s not me that’s unlovable.

It’s Ben.