Page 60 of Your Wild Omega

I could swear my watch is the silent type, but it’s like I can hear the second hand ticking in my ear. Where did I learn to trade work for living? It’s what my father did, and he seemed like the coolest person on the planet. I always heard pride in his voice when he told me he was busy, like it was his greatest achievement.

Which is why he was never home.

And now I’m never home either.

The news has little else to say about Red because no reporters are allowed inside. The story seems to be leaking from anonymous individuals in the VIP crowd, which is why the press only has one photo so far. But they do play video footage of Red and her entourage walking the red carpet.

The omega looks like a fae queen, walking gracefully, pausing to speak to reporters with one entire side of her body exposed. She twinkles with every step, the light catching on the diamonds in the bracelet I gave her. But it’s not enough. I want it to be my arm around her, not some bracelet I picked up on a whim.

Rickon matches her with his otherworldly charm. His favorite teal eyeshadow sparkles, highlighting his expressive eyes as he watches his omega with obvious admiration. Even Zack looks disgustingly good. Rickon can perform magic on anyone, I suppose, like a fairy godmother.

I click the TV off and stride back to my office, the panicky feeling squeezing my insides.

I can’t bear it. Can’t stand being at arm’s length, even though I put myself there. What will it take for Red to accept me? Because I don’t want to live in a half existence without my soulmate.

“Soulmate,” I whisper to myself.

There, I said it. I was never keen on the idea of a phenomenon even science has trouble explaining, but every day I’m separatedfrom my omega feels like my soul frays a little more. The incompleteness gnaws at me like a disease. And if it’s that way for me, how much worse is it for Red?

She’s out there facing a world of sharks, and I’m in here with my hands tied, unable to step up and help her as her alpha. I want to go to events with her, stand at her side, and protect her from the cruel world.

With that conclusion in mind, I hurry back to my desk and pack up my laptop. I can’t pretend I’m fine any longer, because my heart’s withering inside. I have to know if she’ll take me back. For Red, I’ll get down on my knees to show I’m sincere.

Surely I’ve done enough to earn a place at her side, haven’t I?

I need to go home, right now.

Chapter twenty-three

Red

We arrive home after midnight, giggling and handsy. My alphas snuck sexy touches for hours throughout the gala, and now my skin draws tight as a drum, hotter than a furnace. Tonight I stripped, and although it was public, it feels like I did it for Rickon alone. The look on his face when Lyra fled was priceless—worth any amount of baring my body.

Nothing is too hard to do for the alpha who opened his arms to me wholeheartedly.

“More,” Zack demands, reaching for the bottle of champagne Rickon picked up on the way home, claiming he’d promised the wild alpha a taste after the party. Seems like Zack’s a fan as he swigs from the bottle, sparkling fluid running over his chin.

Rickon tugs his head down where he can reach and licks the juice off Zack’s face.

Our wild alpha snakes his arm around Rickon’s cinched waist and spins him into the wall.

I giggle and lean against the table to steady myself as I kick off my heels when something in the living room moves. “Fuck!” I cry as Callisto stands up. My heart thunders from the shock. “I didn’t see you there.” My words slur a little, a mix of alcohol, adrenaline, and giddiness.

“You all right?” he asks, his handsome brow wrinkling in concern.

“Yes,” I wheeze out, pressing a hand to my chest to calm my racing heart.

Zack’s fingers descend on my shoulders protectively, and his possessive rumble vibrates through my back.

I stroke his hand and grin. “We had a fun night.”

“So I saw,” Callisto says, running a hand through his dark hair. “It’s already on the news.”

“Oh?” I spring forward, but the TV’s off.

“Yeah.” Callisto crooks his fingers into air quotes. “Drama at the Spring Film Festival when actress Lyra Gray reportedly demanded a rising actress hand over her dress.”

I giggle but it turns into a snort. “Is that really what they said?” I might be a bit tipsier than I thought. Another giggle escapes me, and I cover my mouth.

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