Page 61 of The Rejected Omega

I’m stunned. He can’t be serious right now. Had all of this been avoidable from the start? All the pain and longing?—

“Why would you hide that from me? It doesn’t make any fucking sense.”

Connor puts his hand on my shoulders.

“Look. I was a stupid kid, raised on dad’s bedtime stories of his epic mate bond with my mother. How no one could evercome close to her after she passed. Ilovedyou. You were my best friend in the entire fucking world. Where other people just saw the alpha jock with a reputable last name, you sawme.”

“Exactly—”

“Stop. Let me finish. I’ve had a lot of time to dwell over the past three years. I think part of me was afraid to try things between us. Afraid to go to that mating ceremony with you. If we weren’t a match, it would just confirm my worst fears. And if we dated, and one of us found our mate later? It would ruin us, Lana. I never wanted to lose you like that.”

My gutacheswith his revelations. We’ve been dancing around each other for years, always just passing each other by. One plane landing as another departs.

My head is a riot right now, my body still alight from his attentions. The sun is dropping fast, and we’re already five miles into the woods.

“Don’t give me your answer right now. Just tell me you’ll think about it.”

I nod.

Connors wipes away my tears and takes me by the hand. “Come on. Let’s turn back.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

When Connor dropsme back off at my car in the school parking lot, I’m dragging. I haven’t eaten since barfing up breakfast, and the impromptu hike drained me. I want to just drive home and crawl into bed, but I need to shower first since I’m still doused in Connor’s scent. I’m too close to my heat to risk transferring it to my sheets.

My phone rings from the depths of my purse, and I drop my head against the steering wheel. If it’s Martha at the grill asking me to fill, I’m going to scream.

I let it ring out, and it starts up again. I relent and dig the phone out of my bag, a sliver of relief sliding through me when I see Roy’s name. I answer before it goes to voicemail again.

“Hey.”

“So, how’s my magnificent scent holding up, Cucumber Melon?”

“Long story.”

“Well, you can tell me all about it at my birthday party tonight. Time to return the favor.”

“Your birthday—”Shit.

“Isn’t until next week. But we’re celebrating early.”

I wince and rub my forehead.

“I canfeelyou trying to come up with an excuse. Stop it. You’re coming.”

“Do I have to?”

“You shouldn’t ask questions you already know the answer to. Callahan’s at eight. See you there. No presents necessary, just bring the tea.”

I drive home for a power nap and oversleep my alarm, which leaves me scrambling to get made up and out the door on time, still smelling like I’ve been bathing in Connor Masters. The nap did little to help my fatigue.

Callahan’s is the dingy college bar in town, complete with bad music and cheap drinks. I have to park a few blocks away because the place is so crowded.

When I get inside, I weave my way through the crowd towards the group of familiar faces in the back. I get more than a few looks as I pass.

I hate the hot press of too many bodies in a small space. The way alphas stop and size me up before stepping aside every time I need to squeeze past them, as if deciding whether they’re going to actually let me through.

Roy starts cackling as soon as he sees me, then nudges our mutual friend and fellow former roommate, Tessa. “Holy shit. Pay up.”

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