“What?” Shocked, I recoil. Am I missing something? “You didn’t make me uncomfortable. I thought this was a date.”
“But you didn’t let me buy your drink.”
I frown. “I don’t understand.”
“Alphas are supposed to spoil their omega. It’s what we do.” His shoulders almost touch his earlobes. “Usually, if an omega isn’t interested in an alpha, they’ll pay for themselves.”
Shit. I was only being polite, but I’ve really upset him. Unable to stop myself, I reach across the table for his hand, desperate to take away the pain smeared over his face. Especially knowing that I’m the one responsible for putting it there.
“That’s not why I offered to pay for myself,” I say emphatically. “I’ve never really been around alphas before. I didn’t want you to think I was a gold digger who is taking advantage of your kindness. You already sent me the most amazing gift.”
“Really?” He meets my gaze, but the doubt in his tone makes me think he doesn’t believe me. “You don’t have to spare my feelings.”
“I’m not trying to spare your feelings.” I squeeze his hand. “I want to be here. With you. On a date.”
“I’d understand if you changed your mind.” He hangs his head again. “Omegas aren’t normally interested in me.”
I don’t know what’s made him so self-conscious, but I want to change that. He’s a hot nerd with a big heart. Who wouldn’t be interested in him?
“Well, they’re crazy,” I tell him. “And if you’re questioning whether I’m interested, then you need to remember what happened when we were together in the library.”
At the memory, the wrinkles creasing Ren's forehead disappear. But as he sips his coffee, I sense he’s still a little unsure by how his knee bobs up and down.
I eye the delicious-looking pastries on the counter. “You know, I am feeling a little hungry.”
“I can get you something to eat.” He takes the bait instantly. “What would you like?”
“You choose.” I smile at him. “Surprise me.”
His chest puffs out with pride as he stands to order, striding away with a confident determination. When he returns, he’s carrying a plate filled with apricot-stuffed croissants, pains au chocolat, and sugar-dusted blueberry turnovers.
“Thank you … alpha.”
Ren’s eyes light up with a different kind of hunger. A hunger that undresses me with one look and makes me want to explore this quiet bookworm’s secret wild side. To distract myself, I sink my teeth into a croissant, sending buttery flakes flying everywhere.
Ren loosens the top button of his shirt and pulls on it, like he’s having a hot flush. “How have you been since I last saw you?”
“Better,” I say after swallowing. “I’m sorry about what happened, though.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” Ren’s kind eyes and genuine tone tell me he means what he says. “Although I hated you being in so much pain, I’m glad I was the one who was with you when it happened. It helped bring us all together. You know, we’d given up on looking for an omega until you stumbled into our lives.”
My stomach lurches. “So you’ve looked for an omega before?” The thought of anyone else being part of the Silverwood pack makes me feel physically sick.
“Not in the way you’re thinking.” Ren rushes to reply. “We never joined a matching service or went to speed scenting.”
“Speed scenting?” I wipe my hands on a napkin. “What’s that?”
“It’s basically getting a group of omegas and alphas together to sniff each other’s dirty laundry. It’s as terrible as it sounds.” Ren shudders. “On a biological level, every alpha wants an omega to take care of. Cole’s dad tried to set us up with a senator’s omega daughter. Her name was Belle. We only met a few times, and we could hardly stand to be in the same room as her. She smelled like pine-fresh toilet cleaner.” His nose wrinkles. “But bonding with her would have helped Cole’s dad’s business, so we would have gone ahead with it.”
“Really?” I’m stunned. “You’d have bonded with someone because it helped a business?”
I’ve read online about how unbonded alphas grow more unruly and competitive over time because of their unmet needs, which is why many are so eager to find an omega. So eager that many packs choose to bond out of convenience instead of love, but I’m still stunned that the Silverwood Pack would consider it.
“It’s more common than you think.” Ren takes a thoughtful sip of his coffee. “None of us truly believed in scent matches, and we’d have been doing Cole’s dad a favor, but there was a problem.”
“What happened?”
Ren leans forward, elbows resting on the table. “Well, you’ll find out eventually. I guess it’s best if you hear it from me.” He takes a deep breath. “I was the problem.”
