Page 41 of Power Shift

14

RONAN

I wanted to come alone.

Fuck me, I almost got away with sneaking away undetected. If Jasper hadn’t been so antsy to leave after practice, he wouldn’t have caught me on my way out of the arena.

We’re only a few days from heading off on an away game, and the only thing I want—the only person I want—is the beautiful omega waiting for me at her place.

Ever since her text appeared on my screen this morning, I’ve been fighting back the urge to ignore all my responsibilities and go straight to her. But Briar has a job too. She made it very clear that we would meet tonight, and I couldn’t risk upsetting her already. I’m already hanging on by a thread; I can’t imagine how out of my mind I’d be if she didn’t want to see me because I screwed up.

Jasper was never a part of the plan, though.

He sits behind the wheel of his car, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel at a quick, off-tempo beat. We’ve been lurching down the road every few minutes when he gets restless and presses too hard on the gas pedal. If I didn’t hate driving in sucha confined space, I would have kicked his ass out of from behind the wheel already.

“Tell me again what she’s like,” he begs, tugging anxiously at his hair before gripping the wheel with both hands again.

I swallow, staring straight ahead. “Perfect.”

“That doesn’t help me. I want to know something about her. Something important.”

“I don’t know anything more than that.”

“You didn’t try to learn anything when you were texting? Please, Ronan. I can’t mess this up. I can’t.”

Sighing, I shift in the leather seat, making it creak. I’m not lying to him. Everything I know, I’ve learned from being a fucking stalker.

“She’s . . . tiny.”

“Tiny? Really, Ronan? Every omega is tiny compared to us.”

“Well, fuck. I’ve only seen her twice.”

Well, a few more than two. Technically, I’ve only spoken to her twice, but I’ve seen her more than that. Following her to and from work and everywhere in between has become a bit of a habit of mine. It’s only so I can make sure she’s safe. Protecting her is my job.

“That’s twice more than I have!”

“Let it go,” I grunt.

“No, I won’t let it go. This is my omega we’re talking about. It’s important that I don’t make a fool of myself in front of her today.”

“She’souromega,” I correct him, not bothering to mask my growl.

“Semantics. My point stands.”

“You weren’t even supposed to come with me tonight.”

He whips his head to glare at me. “That narrative isn’t helping at all.”

“Sorry.”

“I’m terrified, Ro.”

I ditch the scowl. “Why?”

“What if she doesn’t like the way I smell? I’ve only smelled her on you, but even that was enough to make me sure about who she is supposed to be to me. She could feel differently, couldn’t she? Or she could hate the way I look. Or speak. Maybe I breathe too loudly, and she hates loud breathers,” he rambles, nerves bringing his tone up a pitch.

“You’re freaking out over nothing. I’m pretty sure it’s unheard of for only one half of a scent match to feel the pull. And you breathe quietly.”

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