Page 29 of The Omega's Fake Mate

“They're all books about omegas,” Conner said.

“Either fiction books with omega characters or non-fiction books like this.” Zander stepped forward and pulled a book from one of the shelves to show me. I glanced at the title.Omega Achievements throughout the Ages—The Most Important Omegas Nobody Tells You About.

“I had no idea there were books like this,” I muttered. Even Zander was a better omega than me, and he was supposed to be an alpha!

“There's a good number of books like this. Not nearly as many as there should be, I have to admit, but progress is being made.”

“That's actually pretty amazing,” I said.

“It is,” Zander agreed before turning to Conner again. “And since it was your idea that started all this, I'm gifting you one book from these shelves. Pick whichever you want.”

“Really?” Conner looked at Zander as if Christmas had come early.

“Yes.” Zander's eyes twinkled. “Just tell me later. Nick and I will be over there.” He pointed to the back of the store, near the desk with the register.

“I never knew you were so good with kids,” I said to Zander as we left Conner behind to look through all the books. Zander took a detour to the front door and flipped the sign toClosedbefore facing me again. “Me?” he asked. “I'm not good with children.”

I simply raised my eyebrows at him and glanced back at Conner.

“He's an exception,” Zander said.

I had to chuckle at that. “He kinda reminds me of you a bit when you were younger. I guess it's because you're both book nerds.”

“You never minded.”

“No, I don't. I think it's cute.” And there I went again, saying things I should have kept to myself. Was that a hint of red I saw coloring Zander's cheeks? No, that must have been my imagination. Alphas didn'tblush.

“Glad to hear it.” Zander opened a door in the back of the store which seemed to lead to a small office. I remembered his grandmother getting us cookies from back there sometimes. “Come in,” Zander said, gesturing at me to follow. He pulled up a chair and offered it to me before flopping down in another chair behind a small desk. The room smelled like old paper and a glance around told me why that was; the walls of the office were lined with shelves upon shelves of old books. There wasn't much space, but what little there was was crammed with leather-bound tomes.

To Zander, this must have been a vision of paradise.

“What are you smiling at?” he asked.

“Nothing.” I leaned back in my chair. “Just this seems like the perfect place for you. I'm glad.”

“Oh.” Zander gaze traveled along the shelves. “My grandmother left all these behind. I should probably sort through them at some point. I spotted some seriously old ones. I mean, the printing techniques used on some of these books...” He stopped himself and shook his head.

“What?”

He waved me off. “You didn't come here to hear me ramble about old books.”

“No, but I don't mind.” Some people could go on and on uttering every inconsequential thought that went through their brain, but Zander wasn't like that. If he was going to ramble about something, it had tomeansomething to him. I wanted to know all about that. Besides, it was nice to see him get enthusiastic about something.

“All right, but still, that's not why I asked you to come here.” Zander leaned forward in his chair and rested his elbows on the desk.

“You wanted me to help you research.”

“Yes. I'd like to ask you some questions. Some of them might be a little personal and it's okay if you don't want to respond.”

Now I was intrigued. “What sort of questions?”

“I'm trying to find out more about what it's like to be an omega.”

Okay, that really was a little personal. “I'm not sure I'm your best source of information on that. Aren't there books you can read?” I gestured around me at all the shelves.

“I'm afraid books are won’t be enough in this case.”

In spite of my discomfort, I grinned. “Never thought I'd hear you say that.”