Page 7 of The Omega's Fake Mate

“Nick!” he greeted me with open arms. “You found it!”

“Not that hard to find a new house in Oceanport!” I gave my friend a short hug. “It looks great! Spacious!”

“It is! Oh, I need to show you my basement studio. It's amazing!”

“Does this mean you won't be coming to LA as often anymore?”

“Aw, don't worry, you won't get rid of me that easily. Now, come on in. I need to show you everything.”

As we entered the house, the family dog came storming toward me and nearly knocked me off my feet. “Easy, Max!” I said, catching myself.

“Sorry!” Conner sprinted to us and grabbed the Golden Retriever by the collar. “He gets excited.”

“He might be a little calmer if you didn't forget to walk him all the time,” Kade chided.

“It's not all the time!”

“What about yesterday?”

Conner rubbed the back of his neck. “I was reading.”

“And today?”

“I only went to the bookstore because Hope kept crying.”

“Next time your little sister annoys you, take the dog out,” Kade suggested.

“Fine. I'll take him out now too.” Conner grabbed the leash from a hook by the door and the dog barked excitedly.

“Be careful,” Kade called after the two of them as they left. Then he turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“What?” I asked.

“You know who works at that bookstore Conner loves so much?”

Confused, I raised an eyebrow at him. What was he talking about?

The corners of his lips tugged up in a wide grin. He looked a bit like my aunt Camilla whenever she was about to share a delicious piece of gossip with her pet parrots. Poor aunt Camilla was a little bit out of it, but in this moment, Kade's expression mirrored hers completely. “Your alpha works there.”

My what now? I shot my friend a worried look. “Are you on drugs? I know your house is close to the woods and I know your career can be stressful, but if you've been collecting any mushrooms, please stop that now.”

Kade whacked me across the back of the head. “Stop that. I'm not on drugs.”

“Then what the hell are you talking about?”

Kade glanced around. We were still in the entrance of the house, but now he dragged me into the living room with him. “That alpha you ogled at the wedding. I saw him in the store!”

“What wedding?” I squinted.

“Your brother's wedding.”

“Which br—”

“Dean's wedding!”

Oh.I tilted my head. “That was almost two years ago, dude. I don't remember ogling any alphas at that wedding.” I lied, even though I was starting to realize just what he was talking about.

“No, you never ogle any alphas. Except that night, you did. It's why I remember, and so do you. I can see it in your face. Who is he?”