Page 29 of Broken Alpha

“I really don’t know how many times I have to tell you that I’m simply not interested in Miss Richards. I have a mate, and I don’t give a flying fuck if he’s not good enough for you becausehe’s more than good enough for me. I don’t need your approval on my life partner, and I’m going to stay with him until I know that his heat has passed.”

The last time Luke spoke to his parents, it had also been a fight about me and insecurity clutched itself tightly around my body. Attempting to pull away from him, he clung to me, refusing to let me go. Luke turned around in my embrace, cupping my face in his free hand, exhaustion and sadness on his face.

“A mistress does not come before family and duty. Youwillshow up for Thanksgiving, or I’ll drag you out of your apartment myself. Do you understand me?” His father’s voice was loud over the phone's speaker, while his tone suggested that he viewed Luke as a problematic child.

“Mistress?” I whispered, smiling at Luke. “They do know I’m a guy, right?”

Luke gave a halfhearted smile and rolled his eyes, but there was a war raging behind his gaze. Like Luke mentioned last night, my heat didn’t give a damn about holidays or families. Luke’s family didn’t give a damn about anyone he saw as his mate, and it was clear that I wasn’t invited to their holiday dinner. That didn’t bother me. What did bother me was that I was coming between him and his family. I wouldn’t be the reason they fought.

“Go,” I whispered, placing my hand on his cheek and stepping on my tippy toes to kiss him.

“I can’t, you need me here.”

“Go. Please,” I insisted. “I’ll be alright, and I’ll be here.”

Luke’s eyes searched my face before he replied, “One hour. We’ll have dinner, and then I need to leave. My duty is here.”

Despite the plan, the closer to Thanksgiving we got, the more mini heat spikes I experienced. I doubled up on my suppressants, carried de-scenter spray everywhere, and ignoredLuke's look of concern. I just needed to get through the next few days.

I spoke with Dr. Easton the week of Thanksgiving about the change of plans, and Luke filled out the form to take a leave of absence for the week after, citing a family emergency. The issue was that not many could teach his class, so he left behind a list of documentaries the substitute professor could show with a quiz to review the information learned and required reading for his return. In the five years that Luke had taught at the university, he never took a leave of absence, so he was confident the university wouldn’t deny his request.

Dr. Easton explained that, unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done to stop my impending heat, but he said that it might mean I won’t go into one when we flush the suppressants out of my system in December before the winter holidays. He couldn’t find a reason as to why I was still having a heat, despite being on suppressants, and he apologized for the inconvenience. Which had me laughing, because holy fuck was this an inconvenience, and the idea that I might have a second heat next month just irritated the hell out of me.

We had gone shopping for water bottles, boxes of protein bars, and a box of Alpha condoms in preparation for my heat, and I placed them in the bedroom near the foot of the bed. It made sense to do so since my nest was likely where I would spend my heat. Luke had already left for his parents’ Thanksgiving dinner, and the apartment felt quiet without him. I tried to focus on homework, finishing a project that was due next week, but struggled once more. God, this was annoying. Sighing, I entered the bathroom, turning the shower on to let it heat up. Stepping under the spray, a heat spike surged through me, and I groaned in need, using the wall to prevent myself from collapsing to my knees as the wave crashed into me.

I could feel slick gathering at my entrance as I reached behind me, inserting two fingers easily into my body. I groaned in frustration, my fingers not quite reaching the spot within my body that would provide temporary relief. I had grown so used to having Luke assist me that my Omega became greedy for him, desperate for him to make us feel good. But I had to handle this alone. Grabbing my cock, I ran my fist along the velvety skin of my shaft, my back arching slightly in pleasure. Visions of Luke and me together flashed through my head, bringing my release quickly, splattering across the tile surface. But it wasn’t enough, and my body felt tight and unsatisfied, agitated. I turned the nozzle to cold, letting the water cool my feverish skin. This wasn’t like my previous heats. I had never spiked like this, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because I had access to another dominant.

The desire for my mate was quickly replaced by fear. Fear of the unknown and fear of my cycle changing. I trusted Luke; I wouldn’t have asked him to spend my heat with me if I hadn’t, but I couldn’t help the anxiety that welled up within me. Somehow, I knew that my Omega would take over soon, I would be going into heat soon, and I could only hope that Luke would be here when I did.

Luke

Iarrived at my parents’ estate for Thanksgiving dinner, only to be forced into the guest bathroom by my mother, with strict instructions to shower before coming to the living room. I wanted to get out of this evening as conflict-free as possible, so I did as I was told. I could drown in Aidyn’s scent when I returned to the apartment in an hour. However, my Alpha mourned the scent of our mate as it spiraled down the drain in a soapy mess that smelled strongly of coconut. When I stepped out of the shower, I found my suit was missing, replaced by a new one in a dark gray. I looked around to find my phone, panic surging until I found it on the floor under the bathroom sink.

I turned it on and was immediately greeted by the photo that Aidyn had taken of our hands, our fingers interlaced together on his lap. I had hundreds of photos of us together, but this was the most discreet one I had that was safe to display to the world. My heart hurt looking at it, and I could feel myself teetering on the edge, fighting my brain to leave and return to my mate. He needed me. Aidyn’s spikes were coming closer and closer together, and I needed to be at the apartment when the heat became too much for him, but he insisted I come tonight. It was my idea to have him scent-mark me before I left, and now I had only the image to try and settle me.

Sighing, I pulled on the fresh suit and growled in irritation to find that the jacket was slightly too small in the shoulders. I would have to watch my movements to ensure I didn’t split the seams down my spine. Exiting the bathroom, I could hear the voices of my parents and someone I didn’t recognize, allowing it to lead me to their location. I found my parents, cocktails already in hand, sitting across from a couple, with a smaller woman in a navy blue dress between them. She didn’t speak but smiled politely as my parents greeted me. She was rather small in frame with long blond hair that had been dressed up for the occasion but still fell down her back. Her large blue eyes watched me as I entered the room, framed by thick dark lashes. She looked like a carbon copy of the woman beside her, just younger and more timid. By his presence, I could tell the man beside her was an Alpha, so I could only assume that the younger woman was either a Beta or an Omega. Factoring in my parents, I could easily deduce that she was an Omega from a worthy lineage.

I noticed my mother's annoyed look when I refused the alcoholic beverage one of the household staff members offered me, requesting a soda or water instead. I pulled out my phone again, realizing I still had about forty-five minutes left. Fuck me. I told Aidyn I wouldn’t be here any longer than an hour. Itold my parents the same thing over the phone a week ago. And dinner still hadn’t been served.

“What time is dinner, Mother?” I inquired, shoving the phone into my pocket and taking the Coke bottle from the staff member.

“You’re being very rude to our guests, Luke. Sit down,” Father instructed, his face blank of expression.

I narrowed my eyes at him and sat in a chair away from my parents, turning my attention to the family my parents had invited.

“I’m sorry, but I have a prior engagement I must leave for soon. I’m Luke.” I leaned forward, shaking hands with the gentleman and smiling politely at the woman.

“Alexander Richards. This is my mate, Emilia, and our daughter, Anna. Jason has told us so much about you. He says you’re a teacher for now?”

“For now?” Tilting my head and casting a side eye to my father.

“Your father said you will take over the firm when he retires in five years.”

“I know nothing about that,” I chuckled forcibly. “My sister, Teagan, would better fit that role. I enjoy teaching.”

“And what is it that you teach, Mr. Ellis?” Emilia piped up.

It didn’t go unnoticed that Anna remained silent between her parents, letting them control the conversation.

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