Page 4 of Suddenly His Alpha

Beckett turned, hiding another eye roll. He didn’t want to be mated. There were more important things he needed to do with his life. Unconsciously, he pushed up his glasses again.

“Why are you wearing those things? I told you to try the corrective lenses. You look like a bookworm.”

“Iama bookworm.”

“Oh gods,” Titian muttered. “You’re never going to find an omega.”

“Is that so bad?”

Titian gasped. “It is!”

“What? That I don’t want a money-grubbing omega?” Not that he’d have much of a choice if he came face to face with the mate fate handed him. But if he kept the gold-diggers far enough away, perhaps he’d luck out and end up not linked to one.

“Money-grubbing?” Titian sighed. “Brother, we aren’tallowedto work. Omegas have a role to play… we are the life-bringer. What we seek in an alpha is… a provider. You must play that role for your family, so of course, they’re looking for someone who can take care of them and their young. Someone of means, able to ensure their children would have every chance in life.”

“I’ll have enough to care for a small family when the time comes.”

Titian shook his head. “I swear, you’re a lost cause.” His head perked up as a hand waved above the crowd. His brother waved back, a wide smile crossing his face. “Excuse me a moment. I see a friend I haven’t spoken to in some time.Don’tgo anywhere.”

“Go… don’t worry about me.” Beckett scanned the crowd again and saw most of the omegas weren’t paying him a bit of attention. Smiling, he considered himself lucky.

Once Titian was out of sight, he made his way to a long banquet table. At one end was a huge punch bowl and cups. Littered along the length were other small finger foods, bite-sized desserts, and more gaudy decorations, enough to make his eyes bleed. He poured himself a drink and nabbed a small appetizer, popping it into his mouth.

Music began to play, and a shriek of delight came from where most of the omegas had congregated together. Beckett turned and saw bodies begin to move to the music, as did a few of the lights.

“I see you couldn’t stop them from sucking you in, too?”

Beckett lifted his head to see Rohan Parker standing nearby, pouring himself a cup of the punch.

“No,” he said, chuckling. “I finally gave in to my papa and agreed to come to one of these things.”

Rohan smiled, taking a drink. He cringed. “My gods, that’s sweet.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small flask. After he added a shot to his punch, he offered to add some to Beckett’s.

“Please,” Beckett said, offering his cup.

Rohan poured the drink before turning to look at the crowd dancing and then pocketing his flask. Beckett spun the cup around to mix the alcohol in some and took another drink.Better.

“Is this your first one, too?”

Rohan shook his head. “Third.” He took a sip from his cup. “And something tells me I won’t find what I’m looking for here, either.”

“How can you know that? It’s only been a few minutes.”

“My father once told me that he’d felt this… something. A thrumming… he didn’t know quite how to explain it. But the minute he walked into the ballroom where he met my papa, he knew. He simply knew.” Rohan sighed, and Beckett’s stare went to the dark stranger across the room hiding, for some reason. “I’veyetto feel it.”

Beckett recalled that slight tremor and wondered if that had been hissomething. His stare drifted across the room to the darkened corner. He could barely see the lone man there, more just an outline… but he felt drawn for some reason. Ignoring the direction his mind was going, he turned to Rohan. “How’s work going?”

“The Public Defender’s Office is abysmal. I was excited at the thought of helping those in need, but the backlog of cases is so thick that I barely have more than a few moments to read through a file before I’m shoved in front of a judge, trying to plead the case I’m woefully unprepared for. I have more work than I could ever handle.” He shook his head. “I have no business even being here. I’ve got twenty files I brought home to read through tonight.”

“Well, if you haven’t sensed thatsomething, perhaps your time would be better served at home,” Beckett said.

“I promised my parents I’d give this at least an hour. Once that’s over, it’s takeout and case files for me.” Rohan looked at his watch and lifted his stare. “Forty-five minutes left.”

Beckett smiled. “Then maybe you should mingle a little and not sit here talking to me all night, hmm?” His stare went to his mysterious stranger again.

“You’re right. I’m going in,” Rohan said. He downed what was in his cup before heading toward the dance floor. He turned midway there and offered Beckett a salute.

Beckett drained the rest of his liquor-infused punch and poured himself another from the bowl. After pouring one more, he headed for the shadows, to solve a little mystery.

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