Page 30 of The Omega's Fake Mate

He shrugged. “I'm not completely removed from reality, you know.”

“Yeah, whatever you say.” But I couldn't quite wipe the smile of my face. “What is it that you need to know?”

He licked his lips. “I'd be interested in hearing what it's like to grow up as omega. For example, were there things you were told you couldn't do because of your status?”

My status.Involuntarily, I scoffed. “Honestly, it's never been a big deal in my family. You know my mother's omega so she was always like, do whatever you want.”

“I see. But was there anyone outside your family who took a different point of view?”

I raised an eyebrow at him. Was he really asking this? “You can't tell me you don't remember the things our classmates used to say. Or did you never notice?” He'd always had his nose stuck in a book, after all.

“I noticed.” His expression grew sad. “But I guess I tried not to. Kids can be awful.”

I shook my head. “I'm sure they only repeated whatever they heard at home.” Not that it really made the situation any better. I was pretty sure that the kids who asked me why I was even going to school when my only purpose was to pop out babies grew into the adults who thought it was appropriate to harass the wait staff on their nights out. “Honestly, I try not to think too much about this shit.”

“I'm sorry. I'm only trying to understand some of these things a little better.”

“It's all right.” It was kind of nice of him to take an interest. I didn't know too many alphas who did. The way he interacted with Conner was wonderful. If I was the kind of omega looking for someone to have a baby with...

“How did you feel when you got your test results?” Zander asked next, his features not unsympathetic. I leaned in a bit, resting my elbows on the desk as well. Only half my mind was on his research, really, but I'd told him I wasn't the academic type, so I could hardly be blamed.

“You mean the test saying I was omega?” I asked distractedly while I studied his face. I remembered that day well. I remembered feelinggladbecause being omega meant I could be with Zander. But that was probably not the answer he was looking for.

“Yes.”

“How did you feel about being alpha?” I gave back, trying to stall while I thought about my response.

“I... huh...” Zander leaned back. “Nobody's ever asked me that.”

“No, of course not. Everyone celebrates being alpha. No questions about it.” There was no sarcasm in my voice. It was just the way things were. “It's like we've accepted that there's a good test result, and a bad test result. And everyone else gets a participation award.”

Zander chuckled. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a way with words?”

“And yetyou'rethe story teller.” I felt my good humor return to me. “It's not that I have a way with words. It's that I lack a filter. Whatever goes through my head comes straight out of my mouth.” I'd learned to be a little better about it, but it still happened. “When my mom told me that I was omega, you know, with a big smile on her face because she was omega too? I told her there was nowayI was going to mass-produce babies like her.” Not a kind thing to say, but the vision of being like her with seven babies by the time I was thirty scared the crap out of me even when I was ten. “I still haven't changed my stance on that whole baby thing. Sometimes I think I'm the only omega who isn't crazy about them. Sometimes I think my test results were wrong and I'm really just a beta.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because I'm not like other omegas.”

“In what ways?” Zander leaned forward again, curiosity apparent on his face. “Is this because you think you're not behaving like you're supposed to? Because I often think that other alphas and I have little in common.”

“It's not just that.” This wasn't a comfortable topic for me, but now that I was in this deep, I might as well swim all the way to the other side rather than backpedal. “I mean, behavior is one thing but I also get this feeling that... I don'treactthe way regular omegas do?” Did that make any sense?

“React? What are you supposed to react to?”

How to explain? “I don't go crazy over alphas the way other omegas do. I've never gone into heat.”

Zander's eyebrows went all the way up, but I couldn't tell whether he was surprised about my choice of topic or my confession. “Never?”

“Nope, never. If that doesn't make me different from other omegas, I don't know what would. I know I'm supposed to sniff at alphas and get turned on, but that doesn't happen.” I took a deep breath through my nose, drawing in all the fragrances in the room, from the old books to the bottle of fresh ink on the desk.... to that musky alpha scent coming off Zander. It was a good scent. Strong and clean, letting me know there was so much to him beneath the surface. Ilikedhis scent, but still...

I took another breath and somethingtuggedat me.

That was new.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. What was it about Zander that made everything different around him?

“Is something wrong? Are you feeling sick?”