Page 29 of Omega's Fire

The dismissal of what we shared cuts deeper than I expected. “You’re wrong,” I say, conviction hardening my voice.

He doesn’t even bother to respond. Instead, he walks away, returning to his corner, taking the same position against the wall.

I’m left standing in the middle of the room, the bitter taste of failure in my mouth. An hour passes. Leo hasn’t moved from his spot against the wall, seemingly content to wait there until hisfriend arrives.

This is it. It’s my last chance to explain. To make him understand. I talk. I’m spilling out my old spiel so fast, it feels like babbling even to me.

Finally, I shut my mouth and just sit and watch him. This is the end. I don’t believe he is physically capable of walking away. I know what a prime match is. Hehasto want this. Maybe I need to stop talking at him and let the silence do its work, let him realize what he’s going to lose the moment he walks out that door.

Another hour passes in complete silence.

“Leo,” I say finally. “Please don’t go. I’m begging you.”

He looks up, surprise flickering across his features before his expression hardens again, , walls slamming back into place.

And finally, finally, he starts talking to me again. “Why would I stay?”

“Because what we have is real,” I say, moving closer. “You felt it too. I know you did. I don’t believe you didn’t feel it.”

Anger flickers in Leo’s eyes. “It doesn’t matter what you believe, you arrogant asshole. The court has ruled. I’m leaving.”

“Leo, please.” My voice breaks on the words, pride forgotten. “Stay. Give me a chance. Please.”

For a moment—just a moment—something softens in his expression. Then the sound of tires on gravel reaches us through the open window, and whatever might have been is gone.

“That’s Meg,” Leo says, rising to his feet and pushing past me toward the door.

Panic surges through me, a primal alpha reaction to losing my omega. “You can’t just go,” I say, desperation making my voice rougher than intended.

Leo pauses at the door, glancing back at me. “Watch me.”

I follow him onto the porch just as a compact car pulls up in front of the cottage. A woman with dark braids emerges, herstance immediately confrontational as she spots me behind Leo.

“You must be Thorndick,” she says, eyes narrowing. “I’ve got the court order right here.” She waves an official-looking document. “Leo’s free to go.”

“Let me see it,” I begin, grasping at straws now. I have no idea what they are, but there must be. “Proper procedures for—”

“Save it,” Meg cuts me off. “The judge was clear. The blood drive registration was invalid, which means the matching and cohabitation orders were illegal. Leo is leaving, and if you try to stop him, you’ll be violating a court order.”

I look at Leo, standing there in nothing but the Bureau-issued gray t-shirt and sweatpants, the clothes hanging loose on his frame. He has nothing. Brought nothing. Is leaving with nothing but the clothes on his back.

“Leo,” I try one more time, my voice low, meant for him alone. “Please. What we have—”

“We don’t have anything,” Leo says firmly.

Meg opens the passenger door of her car. “Let’s go.”

Leo nods, taking a step toward the car. Then he pauses, turning back to me one last time. To my shock, he leans in and presses his lips to mine—hard, fierce, almost punishing in its intensity.

I respond instantly, helpless not to, my hand coming up to cradle his face. His lips are soft on mine, desperate and hot. His tongue slips into my mouth. He tastes so good, my eyes want to roll back in my head with the pure pleasure of it. We have spent the last four days fucking each other’s brains out, exploring every inch of each other’s bodies, but my dick is not even close to tired. It is hard in an instant. For one blazing moment, everything is right again—the world clicks into place, and I can breathe.

Then he pulls away, his breath coming in harsh pants. “See? It’s still just chemistry. I don’t want you,” he says, his eyesmeeting mine. He holds my gaze. “I don’t want you. Goodbye, Thorndike, and fuck you.”

And then he’s gone, sliding into Meg’s car without looking back. Through the windshield, I see Meg shoot me a triumphant glare as she pulls away, taking Leo with her.

I stand on the porch long after they’ve disappeared, staring at the empty road. He’s actually gone.

Leo

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