Ollie gives her a tight smile before returning to Kane and blanking her out.
Even though she’s acting possessive over Kane, exactly like the type of omega I hate, I can’t look away. The similarities are too much.
There are no piercings except for a stud in each ear, but the curve of her nose, the shape of her chin, and gold flecks in her eyes that I’ve only seen in Luke’s when I bent in close and wiped hot chocolate from his lips. Even the way her red fingernails tap her glass reminds me of him.
She looks like the female version of Luke. Her red velvet dress cuts a sharp line across her chest, exposing her shoulders and collarbones. The sleeves cover all of her upper arms, and she’s so skinny that I can’t imagine there’s any muscle there.
A purple pendant that sits between her collarbones on a gold chain matches her drop earrings. Her lips are deep red, her eyes heavily lined, and she looks like she’s comfortable in these kinds of restaurants. I suddenly feel lumbering and awkward compared to her, and I keep reminding myself that I’m at least twice her age, if Luke is anything to go by.
All the arguments I made for staying away from Luke apply here as well.
The intonations in her voice and how her head tilts as she laughs are identical to Luke’s. It’s so uncanny how I can’t separate them.
Each time Ash or I speak, she squeezes Kane’s hand as if she needs him for support.
Apart from that one glance, she doesn’t look at me again. Both Kane and Ollie do the heavy lifting by chatting to Ash, thoughOllie keeps her answers cold and short, and she nearly growls as Ash talks. I can understand why she’d be protective of Kane, but there’s no reason for her to feel threatened, and what do I have to do with it?
I hate possessive omegas more than anything, because that was exactly how my ex-wife kept me cut off from everyone apart from my team when we were together.
My alpha side is rising with the craziness that first captured me when I met my ex-wife. Seeing Ollie and Kane together, blending seamlessly between talking to Ash and seductive smiles, is messing with me.
I won’t give in to the urge to purr in approval as Kane strokes the back of her hand with his thumb.
I don’t realize how long I’ve been staring.
The waiters take our orders and leave, and we’re still waiting for our food when a chair bangs to the floor across the dining room, loud enough to pull my eyes from Ollie.
“What the hell are they doing here?” I mutter as I catch sight of another guy from the team.
“Looks like they got the same deal as us,” Kane replies as we peer at them. But they don’t have any omegas.
Beckett, a defenseman who joined the team before Kane, is sitting with his pack. I can’t hear their argument, but it’s tense enough to draw the attention of most of the diners.
One of his pack storms off, and the other follows, and Beckett stares after them with a crushed look.
If Marilyn is meddling with their lives, the same as she is with us, then doesn’t Beckett need an omega, too?
I glance at Ash, who’s looking at Beckett with the same shock I felt when I first saw Ollie. And an idea comes to mind.
“That’s Beckett,” I say, drawing her attention back to me. “He’s one of the guys on the team, probably way more interesting than we are. I can give you to him, if you want?” I ask before suddenlychoking. I didn’t realize how bad that sounded until I spat the words out.
“Give me?” she squeaks, and her wide eyes cloud over as I know I’ve fucked up.
“I didn’t mean…” I trail off
“Give me?” she echoes again, with a scared look. I glance at Kane, hoping he’ll help, but the asshole just shrugs and keeps watching me struggle for words.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. You’re using me for the free meal, as well.” The excuse is probably the worst thing I could have said.
She shoots up fast enough that her chair rocks behind her.
“Marilyn said you were rough around the edges, but you’re just a dickhead like all alphas.” She sweeps up her bag. “I’d rather eat with people who actually want me around. Even the awkwardness was better than this.” She glares at Kane and Ollie like they’re the ones who ruined the date, though it’s more on me for letting them sit down in the first place.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” I say again. “Can I make it up to you? At least take your food to go.”
“Forget it. I don’t want to be around someone who thinks he can just hand me off like that.” She looks down at Ollie, who’s still glaring. “I love the dress, but chill the fuck out, yeah? I don’t want your stupid alphas.”
Ash doesn’t give us a second look, practically running from the restaurant. I should go after her and apologize. She didn’t deserve any of that, especially when she said she was only here to eat. But the seat beside Ollie is suddenly free, and it’s taking so much for me not to slide into it so I can be closer to her.
