Slightly panicked by the change in our relationship, I pull my anger around myself like a defensive cape.
“Look, like I told you yesterday, I can’t help it. It’s an Omega thing, we perfume.”
“I know,” he replies simply, unbothered by my outburst.
His voice is gentle, and it makes me pause.
“And? Aren’t you going to punish me for letting my designation cause all this…” I wave my hand around, gesturing generally to our current predicament. “All this bullshit?”
He snorts. “No. You can’t help what you are any more than I can help being an Alpha.”
“I’m so confused. Yesterday you—”
He cuts me off with a shake of his head. “Yesterday I was a dick.”
I blink at him and lick my lower lip nervously. Is he actually admitting he was wrong?
“Okayyyy…” I say slowly. “What’s changed?”
“You went into heat, and then almost died because of my fucked-up attitude,” he says gravely, looking away to stare into the fire.
I don’t know what to say to that. It’s not like he’s wrong. He didn’t force me into heat, but it also wasn’t my fault, either.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, his voice rough.
My heart stops beating.
He’s apologizing to me? Prime Alpha Knox, the one who makes me call him sir, is apologizing to me? The Omega. The worthless, broken Omega?
I don’t think I’ve ever heard him apologize before.
“I… I forgive you?” I offer hesitantly. “And I’m sorry too. For getting everyone into this mess. I was reckless and selfish.”
He scoffs. “Halley, I’ve known you for a little while now and I can confidently say you’re one of the least selfish people I’ve ever met. I’m surprised you haven’t stabbed me in my sleep yet with how much of an ass I’ve been.”
I laugh at that.
A real, genuine laugh that bubbles up from my belly and comes out in a squeak. I clap my hands over my mouth as the sound echos around the clearing.
His eyes flick to me and crinkle at the corners.
“That’s a nice sound,” he says softly.
“Thanks,” I respond awkwardly. “I’m not used to you being so…” I trail off, not sure what word to use to describe his sudden change in demeanor.
“Nice?” he offers with a shrug.
I snort. “Yeah, that’s a good way to put it.”
“I’ll work on that.”
I roll my eyes. “Please don’t. I’m not sure I could handle a nicer version of you.”
I sit back down beside him on the blanket.
He looks at me with those intense, deep eyes, the firelight illuminating the flecks of amber and gold in his irises. “Why’s that?”
“You’re confusing enough as it is,” I mutter under my breath and hope he doesn’t hear me.
