Theo Rivers was supposed to be mine.
Or hewas.
“Don’t come near me,” I breathe. “Or I swear I’ll slash your jugular this time. I mean it.”
Theo drops his face into his hands. His shoulders shake.
Oscar clears his throat. “Ah. Kennedy—,”
“No.” My throat threatens to close. “If it’s an excuse, I don’t want to hear it.”
No more. No fuckingmore.
Theo lifts his face. His eyes are shining. And he’s…laughing.
Maybe. It sounds like something between a laugh and a sob. Oscar’s voice breathes into my ear as he shuffles forward. “Listen to him, Ken. He’s not lying.”
No, Theoislaughing. A choked, wet, hoarse laugh as he presses his hands to my cheeks, ignoring my warning growl that fills the air between us. He’s so close that I taste his words on my lips. “You think I’d go near another omega? Ever? You’re it for me, Kenny Traylor. There is nobody else. Not now. Not before.”
His voice drops. “Not ever.”
I turn my face away. “I cansmellthem.”
“It’ll wash off.” The smile lingers in his voice. “But it’s nice to know you care, Ken.”
He’s still grinning when I glance at him. I shrink back into Oscar. It feels like… like it’s coming back.Me. I’m coming back. And I’m still pissed. Although the anger wavers, the longer he watches me. “Go away, Theo.”
He only leans closer. “No.”
“I just woke up from – something.” I snap the words. “And you’re being an asshole.”
“Being an asshole is what brought you back.” His amused expression flickers. “I’ll argue with you every day for the rest of our lives if needed, Ken. As long as you’re here.”
Behind me, Oscar stiffens. “Take it easy.”
When I tense, his hand brushes my back. “Not you.”
Oh.
“God,” Theo searches my face. “I’ve missed you so fucking much.”
My anger flickers again. Threatening to collapse. He looks so… certain. “But the scent—,”
He nods, and I follow his gaze to the hoodie crumpled on the floor. “I ran into Kristen. And I told her – in very clear terms – that I ammated.”
My growl at the mention of Kristen trails off. My head begins to spin. “Mated?”
“Mated.” He enunciates the word, each syllable landing clearly. “To you.”
I stare. I can still taste copper on my tongue. “But you didn’t…wantme, Theo.”
I think. It’s all jumbled up in my head. But I remember - clear as fucking day - the way he made me feel.
The way they all made me feel.
The light slips from Theo’s face. Something darker flashes in his eyes. “I was wrong.”
“No.” Oscar grunts his refusal, pulling me closer when I try to pull myself free. “We were all wrong, Kenny. All of us have something to atone for. Be angry at us. But this – you, with me, with us - this is what you need right now. No arguments.”
