Page 34 of Rejected and Regretted

“Don’t worry. I’ll be paying for everything,” he reassured me, leading me inside before I could protest.

At first, I wasn’t fond of the idea, but I soon shrugged it off. I would take it as compensation for what he had done to me. Not that money could magically fix everything, but I guess he owed me, and I wouldn’t be ashamed to indulge in it.

We stopped at the reception, where a man dressed in a suit promptly approached us. “Same spot as usual, Mr. Alpin?”

“Yes, please,” Koen replied.

The man bobbed his head, heading off to fetch a key card he soon handed to the alpha. We proceeded to the elevator, where Koen swiped the card, granting us access to the top floor. As soon as we reached our destination, I realized it was a secluded rooftop - a VIP area of the club with exclusive service.

This time, I didn’t wait for Koen to show me around. Drawn to the view, I gravitated toward the balcony, and I was awestruck by the panorama that unfolded before me, captivating my senses and stealing my breath away. The city sprawled out beneath me like a glittering tapestry while skyscrapers pierced the night sky, their silhouettes etched against a canvas of twinkling stars.

“Wow,” I breathed out, taken aback by the scenery.

I heard footsteps approaching, followed by Koen’s voice. “See the appeal now?”

As I turned around, I found him right behind me, mere inches separating us. My heart raced, startled by his proximity. I opened my mouth, yet struggled to formulate a reply. Thankfully, a waiter soon walked over to save me.

“May I take your order?” he politely asked, pulling out a tablet. “I suggest our famous margaritas.”

“I don’t drink,” I confessed.

“Neither do I,” Koen revealed, to my surprise. “Luckily, they do have the best coffee in the city.”

“Twocaffè shakerato?” the waiter guessed.

“Yes, please,” Koen affirmed, and the man was off to prepare our order.

For a moment, all I could do was stare at my ex-mate, trying to see through him. I loved coffee, and certainly drank it more than would be considered healthy for a regular human. Rather than shutting my brain off with alcohol, I valued the high from the energy provided by caffeine.Did Koen know this?I wondered, though quickly dismissed the idea. It had to be a coincidence.

We sat at the table by the balcony, where Koen started a conversation. At first, I wasn’t really interested in talking to him, but once our orders arrived and the caffeine started kicking in, I found myself giving him more than monosyllabic answers.

“So, you’d never spent a night in the city before tonight,” Koen observed as he took a sip of his coffee. “What else?”

I flashed him a confused look. “What?”

He leaned forward on the table, a half smile painting his face. “What are the things you’d like to do but never have?”

Again, all I did was blink at him in silence. Was he asking about my dreams? Because I sure as hell wouldn’t be sharing them with him.

He sighed, relaxing in his chair. “Fine, I’ll go first. I’ve always wanted to learn how to cook, but my parents insisted I shouldn’t bother with making my own meals, and I hadn’t had the time to take up lessons after I became alpha.”

"It's not that difficult, you know. It’s one of the first things omegas are taught," I criticized before a realization struck me. "Is this some sort of 'never have I ever,' but with coffee instead of vodka?" I huffed, observing his expectant expression as he looked at me without saying a word. Fine, I'd play his silly game. “Okay. I’ve never been to a fancy bar before.”

“Well, now you have,” he pointed out, lifting his cup to propose a toast. “Drink.” As if it was a dare, I did, not missing the shadow of a smirk beginning to form on his lips. “My turn. Never have I ever…” he paused thoughtfully before a full smirkadorned his face. “Growled at another alpha, like a bold omega I know.”

I still hadn’t swallowed all the coffee I had in my mouth by the time he finished his sentence, which I wasn’t expecting in the least. Taken by surprise, a blush crept up my cheeks at his words, and I accidentally spilled the drink, letting some of it drop down my chin and onto my sweatshirt.Goddess, get a grip, Avril!

“Shit,” I muttered, looking down at the mess I had made.

“Wait, let me help you,” Koen chimed in, rising from his seat to approach me with a napkin.

“No, it’s fine,” I insisted, but he paid no mind to it.

Eager to avoid him, I jumped out of my seat. But, in my haste, I ended up tripping on the foot of the chair before I could stand properly. As I stumbled back, I prepared myself to pathetically hit the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Yet, Koen was somehow faster than me. One of his arms reached around my back, supporting my body mid-fall, while the other slammed against the table for stability.

As I found myself caught in his strong embrace, my heart pounded wildly against my chest. With him inclined forward over me, our faces barely touched, and I found myself focusing on his half-parted lips as he panted from the shock. Heat surged through me at the close proximity, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement mixed with embarrassment.

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