Page 4 of The Rejected Omega

I rub the cloth against the swelling mating gland on my neck and groan. The gland is sensitive, almost painfully so.

My vision goes fuzzy at the edges, and then someone is pulling me away from the table.

The omega elder. We enter one of the tents, and the woman ushers me to sit.

“You’re alright, darling. I know it’s overwhelming.”

The woman wraps her hand around mine and attempts to gently pry the shirt from my fingers. “It will be easier if you give this to me.”

I hiss and jerk it away from her.

Mine.

The elder raises her hands. “I’m sorry. You can keep it. Do you recognize the alpha’s scent? You seem to have a strong attachment already.”

I look up at her and blink my eyes.

Connor. It’s always been Connor. Of course it has. He’s perfect. Beautiful, considerate, unwavering. When the rest of my life was filled with turmoil, he was my one true constant. The mast I lashed myself to to ride out the storm. He knows me better than anyone else in this world.And now he’s mine.

“Where is he?”

“Everything’s alright He’ll be here soon.”

There’s something I ought to remember, some problem looming on the horizon, but my brain is functioning on a baser level now.

Alpha will come.

It feels right that it’s him. I’ve fantasized about us being mates more than I’d like to admit. We already loved each other platonically. This should be easy between us, right?

The woman sticks her head out of the tent, and there are a few quick, whispered words exchanged.

I pet my skin with the shirt, taking slow, deep breaths of his scent. I’ve alwayslikedhis scent, but this is something more. Something heady and drug-like that stirs my inner omega.

The elder ducks back inside and kneels in front of me.

“Omega. Stay with me. Who is your alpha? I need you to tell me his name.”

I blink slowly. Didn’t they know? Wasn’t he here? He will come for me soon. I need him.

“Connor.”

The elder’s eyes widen. “Connor Masters?”

I give her a fervent nod. “Of course.”

The woman swears, then pastes on a smile that doesn’t meet her eyes. “Okay. You’re going to be okay.” She reachesfor Connor’s shirt again. “Are you sure I can’t take this, honey? There might be a delay. It will make you more comfortable.”

I yank the oversized shirt over my head and stick my arms through the holes. They’ll have to cut me out of it if they want it back.

“Shit. Alright.” She pats my knee and says, “You sit tight, okay? I’ll be back soon. If you need help, there will be an elder outside the tent.”

“Are you going to get him?” I ask. Something needles at the back of my mind. A warning like a klaxon blaring just out of audible range.

The elder gives a slow nod and a weak smile and leaves the tent.

I huddle atop the metal bench she sat me on, tucking my knees up under the roomy shirt and wrapping my arms around them. Wearing Connor’s scent is satisfying, but I’m beginning to feel feverish, my cheeks uncomfortably hot. It’d be better if his shirt was the only thing against my skin.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and fumble with the lock screen. Surely he’s responded by now.Surelyhe is on his way.

---