Page 9 of Talk About… Trouble

“You’ll find your omega,” he promised. “You’ve got someone out there. Just because it won’t include Jesse, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Look at both of us—our packs didn’t meet until we found our omega. It might be the same for you.”

“They look good together,” I said, trying to force a smile. It was like I was a robot, trying to force emotions that just weren’t there. I should be happy for him. Deep down, I really was. He deserved this life with her. I just hated that it didn’t include me.

“Get him over to the bar,” Cameron said, turning around and rushing behind it.

I could hear them talking and the clink of glasses, but it wasn’t until the sharp scent of whiskey hit me that I finally focused enough to swallow down the fiery liquid. It burned its way down my throat, warming my stomach and dulling some of my senses.

I wasn’t sure if this was the right approach, but as he refilled it, I slammed back the second.

“I told Mom and Avery, so you don’t have to,” Maverick said gently. “They’re all here for you if you need anything. Forget the videos you were going to work on tonight. Why don’t you take a couple days off?”

“Maybe I will,” I said, staring down at the third shot.

I could hear tires crunching on gravel, and Maverick looked from the front door to us.

“Let’s take this back to the office at least,” he offered. “The staff are coming in.”

Maybe I’d regret it tomorrow, but drowning my emotions in a bottle of whiskey sounded like the best course of action right now.

“Get it all out, brother,” Cameron suggested as he sat down across from me. Maverick was watching me carefully, like he was expecting me to have a breakdown at any moment.

Lucky for him, I was too numb for tears.

“He was so excited,” I said with a hollow laugh. “He said she smelled incredible. We walk in, and I see her, and she’s just… not my type. I felt nothing. Even her scent wasn’t good.”

“She definitely wasn’t your omega then. I don’t think it would have mattered what hair color or style she had. The moment I saw Oriana, I knew she was mine,” Cameron said. “It’s a soul deep thing you can’t explain.”

Maverick gave him a look. “That’s probably not helpful.”

“No, it is. It makes me feel less crazy,” I said, standing up and starting to pace. The fact that I only had to steady myself once was a win at the moment.

“She smelled like cleaning products. I’m sure to him she smells like something incredible, like lemon meringue or something, but—” I gave a shudder. “I couldn’t imagine spending every day with that.”

“Omega scents are like that,” Maverick said. “To one, they smell incredible. To another, they smell awful. It’s our sign that we’re compatible. And when it’s a drop-you-to-your-knees kind of amazing, then you know that you’re true mates.”

“I tried to tell Jesse this wasn’t going to change anything between us, but it’s going to,” I said, clutching at my hair hard enough it started to sting. “Now, he’s going to be locked into pack life, finding a new place to live and new packmates.Literally everyone around me has a pack, and I’m just here. Forever fucking alone.”

“Don’t lose hope,” Cameron warned. “Fate’ll come right back and smack you in the face when you’re not expecting it.”

“If all else fails, there’s the Omega Network. They have a whole scent-matching program. You’ll find your pack, Nash.”

“I don’t even want to think about it right now,” I said, stumbling towards the door and snatching the bottle of whiskey from Maverick’s desk. “Someone get my ass home.”

Devon

My constant need for attention and validation was starting to backfire on me. Today, especially.

I’m not sure what compelled me to sign up for this omega roommate matching program with the Network Clinic, but it was… questionable at best.

Now, I was standing in the middle of this shared apartment with only my things here, waiting on the other two to arrive.

The anxiety was killing me.

They reassured me that if things didn’t work out, since I was here first, I’d be able to request a shift in placement.

But I didn’t want that. All I wanted was a group of omega friends that made me feel normal for once in my fucking life.

Growing up in a pack of macho alphas and betas meant that my bullying started at home. The moment I presented as an omega and not a beta like they were hoping and praying for, they lost all love for me.

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