Chapter 19
Crystal gave us a wary glance as we left the front door, but didn’t say anything since she knew Neil was also a guard, and Crystal took her job as a guard deathly seriously.
Soon the big glass house faded behind the pines as we walked deeper into the forest. It was chilly and quiet among the trees. I hoped the scenic walk would help clear both of our heads.
Neil walked a few paces ahead of me, still looking tense and deep in thought. Was he still mulling over our heated conversation?
“Are you really mad at me, Neil?” I asked hesitantly after a moment.
Neil paused and turned around. “No, Matheson, I’m not mad at you,” he said with a sigh. “I’m frustrated with this situation.”
I lowered my head. “I know. But I am too, y’know? All this prophecy stuff… It makes no sense to me. I didn’t even ask to be an omega, or have this huge destiny, or anything.”
Neil put his hands on my shoulders. “I understand. But now’s not the time to sit around and mope. This is something you have to face.”
Neil suddenly put his finger under my chin and lifted my face so I was looking up at him.
“I’m only trying to help you,” he said softly. “You understand that, don’t you?”
I averted my gaze. “I guess. I mean, yeah.”
For some reason, this seemed to annoy Neil. He drew his hand away and began pacing, kicking up loose pine needles.
“Tell me what I need to do, Matheson,” he demanded. “Because everything I do is for your sake. Don’t you get that?”
“I know,” I said, getting increasingly frustrated with myself. “I know you came all this way just to protect me, and I appreciate it. But I’m honestly trying as hard as I can! I don’t know what else to do.”
Hot tears burned in my eyes. Even with Neil here with me, I felt truly alone. He didn’t understand what I was going through. Nobody did, except…
Neil grabbed my arms again. “Then let me help you.”
“Neil…”
“I’ll help you figure this out,” he promised. “I’ll even give you a piece of free advice right now, but it’s going to hurt to hear. I don’t think your destiny is with these three alphas. Any of them. They’re notrightfor you, Matheson. Don’t you see that?”
I frowned. “No, I don’t.”
Neil blinked hard, pinching the bridge of his nose, and sighed. “Well, I do. I know you’re young and you think you’re in love with them, but trust me when I say I have more experience. I’m looking at this from the outside and it’s just not right.”
I stepped away. “What?”
But Neil didn’t let me get far. He put his hands on my shoulders again, holding me in place.
“Matheson, they’re three alphas from enemy packs,” Neil said in a low, serious voice. “They only want one thing from you, and I’m sure I don’t have to spell it out.”
I shook my head. “No, that’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” Neil said venomously. “Tell me how much time you’ve spent fucking them.”
For a moment I was too shocked to reply. “I--I don’t want to answer that.”
He scoffed. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. They’re our enemies, Matheson. You can’t forget that. They don’t care what’s best for you. All they want is to fuck the first omega they’ve ever met.” More gently, he added, “It’s not their fault, sure. It’s in their biology. And it’s not your fault either, Matheson. Your omega awakening must have been hard. It’s difficult when you’re being ruled by your hormones.”
I frowned harder. I didn’t like the words coming out of Neil’s mouth, but some part of me thought there had to be a kernel of truth in there somewhere… Right?
“But I’m not like them,” Neil continued, staring into my eyes. “I’ve always looked out for you, haven’t I?”
“You have,” I admitted quietly.
