By now I was thoroughly baffled. “I don’t see how that’s strange.”
Henry stopped walking again, and this time the amused smile disappeared. “What? Ryu, how do you not see how it’s weird? From what you’re telling me, it seems like this Scar guy just moved into your house with this random kid he found. No offense, but I think he’s taking advantage of your kindness.”
Completely dumbfounded now, my jaw dropped. “I’m sorry?”
“You’re a really nice guy,” Henry said, “maybe too nice. I mean, I know you’re good at standing up for omegas, like you did at the bar, so maybe that’s what this is about.” He sighed. “If you need my help getting Scar out of your place, I can help.”
Slowly, I replied, “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I invited Scar to stay with me.”
“Right,” Henry said as if I wasn’t quite getting it. “But only because you felt pressured to, yeah?”
“No,” I said. “That is not what happened.” I paused, then asked, “Henry, do you have a problem with Scar?”
Henry’s face turned wary and confused. “Um, he’s an omega staying at your house with some kid? So yes?”
Then the realization hit me—in Henry’s eyes, we were dating, and Scar and Angel were a threat. Suddenly it made sense why he was acting so tense and sensitive.
“Let me explain. Please listen,” I said, gesturing for him to sit down with me on a bench. He hesitantly sat, but his body language and expression were guarded. “The baby staying with us—Angel—she was abandoned on the Drunken Dragon’s door. We don’t know who her parents are. She’s young, not even old enough to speak. There was no way she would survive if we didn’t take her in.”
Henry’s eyes flashed with sympathy, but he said nothing.
“When Scar found me and asked for my help, and I laid eyes on Angel for the first time, I knew Ihadto protect her. Maybe it was my alpha instincts kicking in, just as Scar’s omega instincts activated for him. I’m sure the same thing would happen to you, if you found an abandoned child,” I continued.
Henry’s mouth tightened. He didn’t quite look convinced. “But why does it have to beyou? Can’t he go out and find some other alpha? I mean… Ryu, we’redating.Don’t you see how this is weird?”
I frowned. Even with the explanation, Henry still didn’t understand. Or maybe he did, but just didn’t see it my way. “Not really, no.”
The patience faded from Henry’s face. His fists balled up against his thighs in frustration as he stood. “Okay, well—why can’t Scar just raise the kid by himself, then? Lots of omegas do that, you know? I mean, he’s old enough to be a single parent, he should knowsomethingby now, it’s not like he’s some young clueless omega!”
Resentfulness bubbled in my chest. I didn’t like the unsympathetic way Henry was speaking about Scar. Filled with prickly, conflicting emotions, I stood as well, itching to storm away from this conversation.
“I don’twantto let him do that,” I said in a low voice.
Henry stared. “Excuse me?”
“I don’t want Scar to raise Angel by himself,” I continued. “And it’s not just that—Iwantto raise her. She was an unexpected surprise in my life, yes, but that doesn’t mean I can cast her aside. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I would die to protect her. Why can’t you understand that?”
“Because she’s notyourbaby!” Henry yelled.
People on the street fell silent. Everyone stared at us. Shame flushed my cheeks—not because they were staring, but because Henry’s immaturity had caused such a scene. I shut my eyes and shook my head, waiting for the crowd’s attention to fade.
Henry’s face was also flushed from embarrassment and anger. He bristled and was trying not to tremble. “You know what? I’m done with this. Why don’t you go make out with that ugly Scar since you love him so much? We’re through.”
I was so shocked by his awful words that I didn’t register him rushing away until he disappeared into the crowd. When his meaning finally sunk in, a new wave of understanding crashed over me.
Like I was opening my eyes for the first time, I realized that Ididcare about Scar—more than I ever did about Henry. I never hesitated when Scar asked for help raising Angel because there was something between us I couldn’t quite put my finger on before. Other memories fell into place; when Mav attacked Scar and a fire ignited inside me, burning with the desire to protect Scar at all costs—and when I’d helped him with his injury.
When Scar asked me that night if I felt something between us, I’d lied without knowing why. Now I recognized that I was afraid of his rejection. But I was only dreading his rejection because I cared for him—I didn’t feel the same way about Henry at all.
The puzzle pieces sank into place and I felt stupid for not seeing them all along. I knew I had to get home to Scar and Angel as soon as possible.
Back to my family,a small voice in my head reminded me.
