Page 22 of Broken Alpha

And I can’t wait to hold you, little fawn.

I found that I couldn’t control myself around Luke; filters were not installed, and I just said whatever popped into my head at the moment, and not once has Luke made me feel like I was being too much or too forward. When nothing more camethrough, I put the phone back in my pocket and grabbed my pork. I glanced up to find Erik staring at me, his expression blank.

“Who’s that?” he asked slowly.

“Classmate from another class. He couldn’t remember what pages we needed to read before Monday. Dumbass waited until the night before.” I lied easily.

Erik made a sound in his throat as if he didn’t believe me but left it alone. He mixed his food before standing up, stating he was full. He packed up the food before taking it into the kitchen to put it into Tupperware and placing it in the fridge. I smiled at him as he walked past, handing me the TV remote. He mumbled ‘good night’ before disappearing into his room. I couldn’t help but sigh at his absence. I could tell by his response that he didn’t really believe me and he was upset, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it. He knew where I stood on our relationship and was only setting himself up to be hurt. I pulled out my phone again, unlocking it.

Are you comfortable with me telling Erik I’m seeing someone?

I watched the dots appear, disappear, and reappear before disappearing. Luke had read my message, and he was struggling to respond. Finally, a response came through.

I don’t want to hide you. I want to openly kiss you and hold your hand and tell everyone you’re mine. But the university has rules against dating students. As long as you’re in my class, I cannot see you romantically, so I have to hide you. I’m sorry, but does Mr. Harllow need to know?

I wasn’t angry. I understood. He and I being together was a danger to his job as an educator and violated several ethics laws. I would honestly hate myself if he were to lose his job over us, over me. I wasn’t worth that at all. However, Erik needed to move on. Mentioning that I was seeing someone would solidify the idea that I had found my own happiness; it was time he found his.

I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was important. He needs to stop hanging onto the idea that we’ll be partners, that I will ever love him the way he loves me. He deserves his own happiness, but it’s not with me. I won’t mention who, just that I’ve started seeing someone. It might even allow me to stay at your apartment for an extra day. Come home on Sunday instead of Saturday. [winking face emoji]

I see; manipulate me into saying yes [winking face emoji] Leave me nameless. I promise it won’t be forever. Once you’re no longer in my class, we can tell everyone.

Even then. There is no rush to tell anyone anything until we’re ready. Until you’re ready.

Taking a deep breath, I unfurled from the couch. Tossing the empty food container and wandering into my bedroom, I set my alarm 15 minutes earlier than normal so I would have time for a shower before class. Stripping off my clothing except for my boxers, I pulled the cardigan back over my bare shoulders. Now I knew what it was like to lay in my mate's arms, his front pressed against my back as he tucked me close against his body, his warmth and scent enveloping me and creating a placewhere I was safe, protected, and loved. Without him, I felt cold and alone, and I think it is time my brain and anxiety stopped fighting what my Omega was telling me.Luke was my mate.It was okay to miss him. It was okay to want and crave him. We move at our pace; he even said so. And if that meant coming off as desperate and obsessive, then so be it. If it makes Luke uncomfortable, I’ll back off, but until then, I’ll give in to my Omega. Let him do what he wants. And the first step is telling Erik.

Luke

Ipinched the bridge of my nose while my mother practically screeched in my ear. My parents are very traditional. My mother was in charge of raising me and my sister, as was her place dictated by my father as her Alpha, with little to no power in the relationship. She couldn’t make financial decisions, have her own bank account, or make long-term decisions for the household, such as servant employment or decor. Everything had to be run by my father first. His word was absolute and never questioned. He was the head of our household, and I hated that my mother ranked lower than I did. I wasn’t a ‘mama’s boy’;I just felt she deserved better, and I generally gave in to her a lot simply to make her life easier and out of pity.

Over the past few years, my relationship with my parents had strained due to their refusal to accept my choices and their ability to turn every event into a matchmaking opportunity. Normally, I would have a preplanned excuse as to why I couldn’t attend my fathers birthday parties, but with the sudden development of my relationship with Aidyn, it had slipped my mind. By not showing up, I had unintentionally made things rather difficult for my mother, and there was no doubt in my mind that my father took his disappointment out on her and blamed her for her inability to keep her kids in line.

“I just don’t understand why you weren’t there.” She sighed finally, her voice in a more normal tone.

“I got sick, I’m sorry,” I lied. “I meant to call, but I barely had the energy to do anything.”

“Then you need to make it up to your father at Thanksgiving. We’re inviting the Richards over; their daughter is an Omega, and she’d be perfect for you. Good family.”

“A female. I’m into men, Mother, you know this.”

“I’m fully aware. However, finding a male Omega from a good family is like looking for a needle in Central Park after a blizzard.”

“And if I’ve met someone?” I inquire, my knuckles turning white as I grip the armrest of my chair.

A knock on my office door distracted me, and a wave of relief washed over me as Aidyn entered my office, his forest scent calming me instantly. We didn’t have class together today, so he stopped by just to see me because he wanted to, and my Alpha preened under that knowledge. He sought me out because he wanted me, and I breathed a sigh of relief just having him in my space. A look of concern washed over his face the moment he could sense how tense I was. I pushed back a little from my desk,switching the phone to my other ear, and smiled up at him as he came to me, crawling onto my lap without asking. The chair protested under our combined weight, but I could finally breathe again when he touched me. He nuzzled into my neck, releasing pheromones to help calm my agitation; a low rumbling started in his chest as he began to purr, smoothing away my anger so I could calmly respond to my mother.

“‘Met someone?’ Who? I don’t know of any prominent family with a male Omega available.”

“Jesus, Mother. It shouldn’t matter who his family is, this isn’t the 1700s. It should matter that I’m happy.”

“Luke Aaron Ellis! It does matter. You have a duty to the Ellis name and lineage. If he is not from a prominent family; fine, even your father has mistresses. Just close your eyes, pretend you’re knotting him, and do your duty.”

“Jesus fucking Christ. I would never do that to him. I want him by my side, not treated like some whore who must remain in the shadows and I can’t have a proper life with. He deserves better than that.”

“Watch your language!” my mother scolded, as if she hadn’t just told me to close my eyes to knot.

“If that’s all you have to say, Mother, I’m going to hang up now.” I could hear her voice still coming from the call as I clicked to hang up. I immediately set my phone to ‘do not disturb’ so I wouldn’t get any incoming calls from her.

I tilted my head onto Aidyn’s as his head rested on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer and burying my face into his neck, breathing in his scent. I don’t actually hate my parents; I just hated how they forced their ideals onto us, refusing to let us be our own people. Even my sister was set up to marry someone of their choosing, though I didn’t get the impression that she was in love with the Omega they chose. I’m sure Emily was sweet, but seeing as she rarelyspoke and interacted with the family, I couldn’t say for sure. I closed my eyes and let out a pleased sound when Aidyn began to run his fingers through my hair.

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