Page 36 of The Rejected Omega

I jerk my head up. “What?” I refuse to be disarmed by grilled salmon.

“You’re running yourself ragged. You look tired every time I see you. You need to give yourself a break.”

“We already talked about this. I can’t afford a break.”

His mouth hardens. “Where’s all the money going, Lana?”

The food loses its flavor. I swallow and take a long sip of my drink. I should’ve known Connor would come back to this. He’s like a dog with a bone, but that bone is me.

“I have living expenses.”

“You rent the cheapest studio in town and drive a beater slated for the junkyard.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Been checking up on me?”

“Yeah. Not like you or Mac were going to tell me shit. I wanted to know what was going on in your life.”

“I have medical bills,” I admit. Vague, but close enough to the truth to appease him.

His scent spikes. “Are you okay? What happened?”

“I’m fine. It just adds up quick when you don’t have health insurance.”

His eyes soften. “Mac and I…”

I raise my hand. “Enough. I draw the line at apology muffins.” I take another bite of food. “And apology salmon.”

I need to change the topic. Something that will distract him from this line of questioning.

“Since you’re transferring, and Cassandra is still out West, how is that going to work?” She followed him to college—or he followed her. One way or another, they were still together, last I heard.

“We’re on a break.”

I struggle to keep my face blank.

“Trouble in paradise?”

“The older we got, the more the differences in our designations became a problem. Things are strained. My alpha’s been angry ever since I moved out West.”

I clench the fork and stab another piece of fish. “Surprised you aren’t married by now.”

“She’d like to be.”

The words are a gut punch.

“I don’t think I’m ready. So we’re taking some time apart before we take that step. I never saw myself marrying a beta.”

“Just stringing one along for four years?” I can’t keep the venom from my voice.

‘Before we take that step’rings through my head, cutting me deep.

Connor sighs. “I think we’re only together still because it’s comfortable. Easy. To be honest, I thought—hoped—I’d find my mate by now.”

“Might help if you showed up,” I mutter under my breath.

He catches it, of course. “I’ve been to a lot of mating ceremonies over the last three years. Including the ones in Crestwood. You haven’t, I’ve noticed.”

“Nope.” Mac had mentioned his…searching. Connor hasn’t missed the local yearly ceremony once, despite living across the country and having a long-term girlfriend. Not ever sincethe one.

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