“And that’s why you need to talk to him. Let him know?—”
“Yes, I’m aware, Mom!” I snapped. Then guilt swamped me. “I’m sorry. To both of you.”
“No, don’t be.” Mom’s eyes were pained, her face tight. “I know we’re pushing. We just don’t want there to be any… misunderstandings.”
Oh, there would be a few of those, I had no doubt. No matter what I said or when I said it, things were going to be messy.
Mason
The water was much warmer than I thought it would be, but it felt heavenly as it sluiced over my skin. Only, it didn’t chase away the chill.
Something is wrong. Why didn’t Kip come back with me?
As soon as he’d told me to get back here, my heart stuttered. My wolf had accepted him as our Dominant, and Icouldn’t argue, as much as I wished I could. With nothing more than words, he’d conquered me. He did what Jerome would never be able to do, even if we were together a hundred years.
And it would fucking kill me when this charade ended and Kip went back to living his life.
Watching him walk away, knowing my wolf and I couldn’t follow, would break our hearts. I’d known him for years, and yet somehow, in the space of one day, he’d burrowed his way beneath our skin and set up a home.
One we couldn’t be part of.
I’d told myself I’d be fine with Kip fucking every girl we met, but now? The thought of seeing him with someone else would send me spiraling. My wolf—I— wanted to be his one and only. It made no sense to me. I’d never been interested in Kip, not like that.
I knew what it was, though. Almost from the moment I could speak I’d been told an Omega needed their Dominant. That they required someone who’d give them a clear path in life, who’d navigate the twists and bends and curves that lay ahead. I’d thought I could do that for myself, that I never needed anyone to be my Dominant. That I was strong enough.
Kip showed me how wrong I was.
My phone rang and I scrambled from the tub, sloshing water everywhere, trying to make a grab for it, hoping it might be Kip.
It wasn’t.
“Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“Are you doing okay?” she asked.
My whole world had shifted on its axis, and now I was longing for Kip. My straight best friend.
How could I be okay with that?
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, we wanted to say how happy we are that you andKip found each other. We—me and your dad—used to talk about how much we hoped you two would end up together.”
So even backthenthey’d had this idea in their heads?
“Then why did you want me to marry Jerome?” My heart felt as if my chest was squeezing it.
“Because as an Omega you need someone. An Omega never does well on their own. They’re always listless, unable to focus. You were headed down that path—at least, you were until you met Kip. Then it was as though he turned you around and set you on the right path.”
“But he was never my Dominant,” I protested.
“Are you sure? Who decided where you’d go? What you were going to do? Whatever he came out with, you’d happily follow him. Youneededhim, honey.”
“But he’s straight!” I blurted out.
“His sexuality isn’t at question. It’syourneeds that were important.”
He kissedyou, remember?
