Page 32 of Unwanted

But I knew immediately that my words wouldn’t help. In his eyes, I probably looked like a frantic beta, odorized withalpha pheromones, with a device faking AO sounds, nervously searching for an omega for… whatever weird purpose. Weirdo alert!

The receptionist shrugged and said tensely, "You still can’t wait in the studio. Please leave!" His anxious tone made it clear that if I didn’t listen, he might call security or the police.

My restless energy probably didn’t help matters; negotiating wasn’t an option, so I stepped outside and returned to my car. I had to readjust my expectations a bit—if I were still a beta, I’d probably have been allowed to stay inside, but as an unstable, agitated alpha, I was now persona non grata. Was that the daily reality for alphas? To be distrusted and asked to leave whenever emotions surfaced? Was it a precaution or just prejudice?

After some thought, I changed parking spots to be as close to the door as possible. But then, the omega came out of the shop with a sour look on his face and said, "You can’t park here. These spots are for studio clients only!"

"Fucker," I muttered under my breath, moving my car across the street.

Fucker? Why did I even call him that? He was only doing his job. And I rarely cursed at all! Being so on edge, with my emotions in overdrive, was exhausting. What a life I’d wished for myself all these years, never knowing that being one of them didn’t mean everything would be wonderful. Alphas definitely had their own challenges, very different from betas.

This time, I got out of the car and stood near the entrance, making sure the omega couldn’t see me through the glass doors. I waited there for about 30 minutes, breathing deeply, desperate to calm down and get back to my usual state of mind.

Gradually, I started to feel more relaxed. Staring up at the blue sky and taking slow breaths helped clear my head. The beta in me knew Liam didn’t want to leave me; True Mates simplycouldn’t do that. He came here for a reason—maybe to get a new tattoo or to remove the old one? There was no need to go overboard. That realization was so trivial but… so reassuring.

Looking back, all my earlier nerves felt ridiculous, but at the same time—it was my new reality: once a calm, neutral beta who was hardly fazed by anything, and now? My hormones had launched me into the alpha spectrum way too fast to adjust smoothly. In all likelihood, I’d be reacting more intensely from now on—that was my new way of going. Alphas… with their growling, sniffing, fighting, and overreactions… I used to watch from the sidelines, amused, thinking, "What’s your problem, fire-eaters?" The fact that I used to envy them so much now seemed absurd, even childish. Well, it was too late; my wish had come true, and I’d have to face these new emotions head-on.

Suddenly, the door to the parlor creaked open, and… Liam walked out, with the omega receptionist beside him, looking around nervously.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame the guy. What if I had been some creepy stalker? His cautious behavior was warranted.

Liam turned toward me, his eyes widening as his face lit up. We stood there, about 30 feet apart, just staring at each other. I saw tears well up in his eyes before he broke into a run, and we fell into each other’s arms.

"You found me! I felt you coming closer, I knew you were worried. I’m sorry, and… thank you."

I hugged him even tighter, feeling almost like his presence was completing me, his closeness… it now meant everything. Alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the full circle, the full moon. We were ONE.

"It’s okay, Liam," I whispered into his neck. "I just need to know if everything’s alright." Then I tilted my head to look into his eyes. "Why did you come here, baby?"

Liam gasped, a bit embarrassed. "I’ve been thinking about it since the day you first saw my tattoo. I noticed your reaction, and I just couldn’t stand it anymore, the fact that the tattoo… wasn’t mine. It didn’t belong on me anymore. The past has been replaced by something way more powerful."

I wasn’t quite sure how to respond, so I just stared at him. Meanwhile, the omega who’d come out with him seemed more relaxed and went back into the shop, smirking.

"Liam… so what exactly did you do with the tattoo?"

"I had it covered up and changed."

I was silent for a moment, still processing. "Will you show me?"

He smiled slowly. "Of course, but we’ll have to wait until we get home. The tattoo artist put cream on it and covered it with a protective wrap."

"Right, sorry, I’m not too savvy with tattoos…"

"When we get home, I’ll have to clean it and reapply the cream, and then you can see it."

I gently brushed my fingers across his face. "Alright, baby…" I knew we should head back to the car, but I held onto him a little longer. Keeping Liam in my arms felt like the best thing in the world, and I didn’t want to let go just yet.

"I’m just glad to have you back, Liam," I whispered, skimming my fingers over his temple. "It may sound silly, but I was so worried when you disappeared. My mind went crazy when I got back and didn’t find you there. I saw how upset you were when we woke up, and—"

Liam closed his eyes slightly. "But that’s one of the reasons I felt so bad this morning. It was the thought of you constantly having to look at it, that tattoo—"

I shook my head. "That’s not how it was during your heat. I was looking at you, not the tattoo."

"Finn, it was a reminder of my feelings for someone else. And that’s no longer the case."

We shared a long, warm smile.

"It may seem quick, but I was so tired of loving him without reciprocation for years that it just finally burned out in me, leaving only ashes. It just… turned to dust, freeing me of him. I think that part of me died on that cliff, Finn."

---