Page 120 of Wild Omega

“Oh!” She laughs bitterly, brightening in a faked way. “Then, for kicks, how about we haul you up in front of the doctors who tended your dad, make you face them. Imagine someone murdered him, huh? Could you look the guy in the eye while recounting the story?” Anger radiates off her, accompanied with a charred flavor in her rising omega scent.

Callisto’s mouth draws tight. “I’m only asking for a statement, Red. I didn’t ask you to testify publicly.”

Her lips curl back. “But you were thinking it.”

He hisses with frustration. “I’m sorry you went through all that, I really am. But you’re safe now. It’s just a few words to write down, and then it’ll be over.”

“Just a few words?” Red freezes, agony rippling in her shocked gaze.

A painful throb clutches around my chest. She’s suffered so much, even just thinking about it is too difficult. I reach over and rest my hand on Red’s fist, which is curled up as tight as my heart. “You’re out of line, Calli,” I murmur. “Don’t push her.” He’s relentless when it comes to cases, but this isn’t right. I’m as angry as he is when I think of people hurting Red, and I want justice too. But not when it’s at Red’s expense. And I can’t trust his motives are completely pure.

Callisto narrows his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. “So, I’m supposed to let the fuckers walk free? Out of jail on good behavior in eight to ten months?” Irritation steams in his cold gaze.

A shudder runs through Red. “Trust me, you don’t want that testimony,Mr Wren. That Red is a different person, and you won’t like her.”

He snorts. “It’s not about that. Are you on a forgiveness kick or something? Let bygones be bygones?” Callist picks up the glass vial, holding it up so the light turns it a glimmering gold. “Forty-two vials, Red, and that’s just the ones on my desk. Well, forty, now. And you want me not to pursue max charges for these assholes? What if they reoffend? Because I guarantee they will. Do you want that on your conscience?”

She stands suddenly, thrusting her chair back so hard it falls. “Don’t you dare put this on me,” my omega hisses between clenched teeth. She drags down her shirt, revealing the line of scarring just above her collarbone. “I was their haze cow, and I fucking felt every single one of those needles for ten years, so don’t you dare to presume what I do and don’t want. Just words? You have no idea what you’re asking for. I’m not fucking going there. And the next time you ask me will be the last you ever see me!”

My throat constricts. I’ve run my fingers across those ripples on her skin so many times, and my brain knew what those marks were, but to have her confirm it with her own mouth breaks my heart all over again.

“Thanks for the meal, alpha.” She turns and marches upstairs, and a moment later I hear the shower running.

I stand, my eyes locked on her half-finished meal. “This is a new low, even for you,” I tell Callisto coldly. I’ve always known he can be a manipulative asshole, but this time I can’t turn a blind eye.

Callisto spreads his hands. “This is my job, Ricky! She’s the key to this entire case.”

“Oh, and therefore your precious win-streak?” I snap back.

Callisto rises, his face darkening as he points upstairs. “Everyone seems to have lost sight of the fact I’m trying to get justice forher.”

“At what cost? She ran away from the Omega Center of all places. Her psych barely released her the second time around. She can’t even open a fucking letter normally.” I grab the pieces of envelope and throw them at him, making them flutter wildly in different directions. “And you want to shove a bottle of haze in her face during dinnertime and drag her down memory lane and guilt her into doing what you want? We all want justice, probably Red most of all, but if she says she can’t do it, fucking listen.”

He stares at the ruined paper, jaw twitching, his alpha scent rising. I don’t give a rat’s ass if he’s pissed; I’m far, far angrier.

“What matters is Red’s life, Calli. The one she’s clinging to with all her strength. And it’s a fucking miracle she’s walking around on her own two feet and getting on with living, so watch your damn mouth.”

I pivot on my heel and thump up the stairs, wanting to cry and punch something all at the same time. I know it’s his nature, but I wish he’d stop seeing case numbers and start seeingpeople.

Red comes first.

She’s right to take his money and not him. Callisto doesn’t deserve her. But why does that realization hurt so fucking much?

Chapter fifty

Red

Bona fide actress. That’s me.

I mean, I’ve been one for years, but this time I’m getting paid for it. To prove it, real dollars land in the bank account Rickon helped me set up. Rickon says it’s a lot of money, but I’m afraid I don’t know. Never had a bank account before, and so far all the things I’ve bought were on someone else’s credit card.

First thing I do is take Rickon to dinner out at a nice restaurant. I considered inviting Callisto, but we haven’t spoken much since my outburst. I wasn’t real fair to him, but just the thought of walking back through those memories gave me the shakes. It’d destroy everything I’m trying to build as a functioning omega and as an actress.

During the table readings, I meet the rest of the cast, and we listen to the original book’s author on all the ways he envisioned his characters. Every moment of it helps me slide into Ashana’s skin in preparation for the filming, which starts in two weeks. He’s really pleased with my interpretation of a gutsy, spitfire omega. So’s the director.

But it’s not all roses and happy days. I can’t escape the faint tingles of coming cramps and the roaring alpha inferno buzzing inside my mind, both of which have made me more and more restless all day.

I sit on the couch, watching the setting sun attempt to slice through dark rain clouds. Spears of light puncture through to hit the ground. I need a divine ray like that to find my missing mate. If he’s not in the scent book, then he hasn’t registered.

---