Page 28 of Your Wild Omega (The Feral Actress #2)

Chapter twenty-two

Callisto

Hale looks me up and down. “Your cases are piling up,” he tells me gleefully.

I glare at him. “You sure sound happy about that.”

He leans both hands on my desk. “It tells me the great Callisto Wren is human after all.”

“Ha ha,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Why are you even here? It’s the weekend.” My gaze slides out the window to the city skyline, illuminated by a dying sun. Red, Rickon, and Zack are probably getting in their limo right about now to head to the film festival.

My paralegal shrugs. “You think you can find the Osiross company’s maintenance schedule on your own?”

I groan. He’s right; I am falling behind, and this health and safety claim won’t solve itself. It’s a worry, even for me, but I’m finding it hard to focus on anything that’s not Red’s case. I won’t find the schedule in the discovery boxes without him, but unlike me, Hale has a pack.

“Go home,” I order, flapping my hand at him. “Do that on Monday. I need to review the depositions on the Hadler case today.”

“If you insist.” Hale studies me, mouth pursing. “I’ll get you a coffee before I go.”

“Thanks.” It’s not his job to fetch me that kind of thing, but I think Hale’s invested in my career too. Might be the only reason he’s resisted offers from other lawyers to work for them.

When he sets the black coffee on my desk, I remember something else I wanted to ask. “Hale, where do you recommend for taking a lady out to dinner? Nowhere too busy, because she gets anxious.”

Hale eyes me like I’ve grown an extra head. “If she has anxiety, don’t take her out to dinner. No matter where you go, stress will tarnish the memory. Take dinner to her—either book a private chef or cook yourself.” His brows rise in doubt. “If you can.”

I bristle. “I can cook.” Not all that well but enough to get by.

He smirks as if he can read my mind. “Is this for Mrs Wren?”

“You really can read minds, can’t you?” I ask with a huff. Leaning back in my chair, I let out a groan. “I want to get her a gift too, but she has everything.”

Hale folds his arms across his chest. “Assuming you want my opinion, Madame Lexi Wren doesn’t need a gift from you.

Given how persistent she gets about calling, the best thing you can give is your time, because anyone around you knows how much you value it.

” He holds up one finger. “Without glancing at your watch once. In fact, leave your watch at home. Time is priceless. Maybe you forget that because you’re so used to billing it by the hour. ”

I tense, the idea of going anywhere without looking at the time eating at me.

He smirks. “Can’t do it, can you?”

“You missed your calling,” I grumble.

“How so?”

“Should’ve been a dungeon torturer in the dark ages. Now get lost.”

Hale laughs and holds his hands up in surrender. “Consider me vamooshed.”

I bury myself in my files, building my arguments and highlighting weaknesses in the depositions to pry into, while also compiling a list of notes for Hale to investigate.

A few hours pass before I wander out to rinse my mug in the staff room.

The muted TV catches my gaze as the news covers Laversham’s famous Spring Film Festival.

Suddenly a familiar slender body with crimson hair flashes up on the screen, naked. A black rectangle blurs out Red’s ass crack, but everything else is clear, including the cream gown pooling around her high heels.

“What the hell?” I hiss, reaching for the remote.

The reporter stares right at me as I turn up the volume.

“Drama has broken out at the star-studded annual Spring Film Festival’s opening gala.

Actress Lyra Gray reportedly approached another actress and demanded that she hand over her dress.

Details are still coming in regarding what the altercation was about, but it appears bodyguards have intervened.

We’ll cross live to the red carpet now.”

A chill crawls through my chest. Bodyguards? Does that mean Zack lost his shit? If someone tried to lay hands on Red, I imagine even Ricky would balk. I should be there beside them to—

The lump in my throat thickens until swallowing hurts.

I slump down on the closest seat. I should be there. It’s ten o’clock at night and I’m in my office, working. I never saw anything wrong with that before this moment, but now I know it’s something I chose instead of my omega. And everything is wrong with that decision.

My heart beats overtime, pressuring my rib cage. It hurts and feels hollow at the same time.

I could swear my watch is the silent type, but it’s like I can hear the second hand ticking in my ear.

Where did I learn to trade work for living?

It’s what my father did, and he seemed like the coolest person on the planet.

I always heard pride in his voice when he told me he was busy, like it was his greatest achievement.

Which is why he was never home.

And now I’m never home either.

The news has little else to say about Red because no reporters are allowed inside. The story seems to be leaking from anonymous individuals in the VIP crowd, which is why the press only has one photo so far. But they do play video footage of Red and her entourage walking the red carpet.

The omega looks like a fae queen, walking gracefully, pausing to speak to reporters with one entire side of her body exposed.

She twinkles with every step, the light catching on the diamonds in the bracelet I gave her.

But it’s not enough. I want it to be my arm around her, not some bracelet I picked up on a whim.

Rickon matches her with his otherworldly charm. His favorite teal eyeshadow sparkles, highlighting his expressive eyes as he watches his omega with obvious admiration. Even Zack looks disgustingly good. Rickon can perform magic on anyone, I suppose, like a fairy godmother.

I click the TV off and stride back to my office, the panicky feeling squeezing my insides.

I can’t bear it. Can’t stand being at arm’s length, even though I put myself there. What will it take for Red to accept me? Because I don’t want to live in a half existence without my soulmate.

“Soulmate,” I whisper to myself.

There, I said it. I was never keen on the idea of a phenomenon even science has trouble explaining, but every day I’m separated from my omega feels like my soul frays a little more. The incompleteness gnaws at me like a disease. And if it’s that way for me, how much worse is it for Red?

She’s out there facing a world of sharks, and I’m in here with my hands tied, unable to step up and help her as her alpha. I want to go to events with her, stand at her side, and protect her from the cruel world.

With that conclusion in mind, I hurry back to my desk and pack up my laptop. I can’t pretend I’m fine any longer, because my heart’s withering inside. I have to know if she’ll take me back. For Red, I’ll get down on my knees to show I’m sincere.

Surely I’ve done enough to earn a place at her side, haven’t I?

I need to go home, right now.