He knew all of this about me, just like that, before he even knew my name. It was like I stepped into some alternate realitywhen I wasn’t looking, and instead of me being in charge here at this table, he’d taken the reins.
When I stayed silent, the alpha cocked his head at me and asked, “Well? How’d I do?” I still couldn’t answer him, so he went on, “I bet you’re not speechless too often, so I’m going to assume I’m right.”
I groaned, pretending to be displeased with him. “Congrats.”
“Why are you here if you’re just trying to scare everyone away?” For some reason, whatever it was, this alpha could not let things be. He wanted to keep prodding, keep poking, as if he was desperate to unravel me.
Screw him.
“Because unlike you,” I hissed out, “some of us don’t get a choice.”
My reply made him soften, and the über said something I wasn’t expecting him to: “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s right, all these rules and expectations for you omegas.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like you really care.”
“I do. I actually work for Alabaster Security.” He name-dropped the same company Delilah did earlier, and it made me wonder if the two of them knew each other somehow. Probably not. Alabaster Security was probably a huge company here in the city. “Used to be strictly private security, but lately we’ve been dipping our toes into other things. Rescue missions. Omega escorts. Even bought and renamed Solus Academy.”
I hadn’t heard anything about that. For all I knew, he was lying to me to try to make himself sound better. To make him sound like an ally.
With a shrug, I muttered, “Am I supposed to be impressed by your list? Sorry to say, I don’t give a shit. I don’t care what you do, and I don’t care who you are. You’re wasting your night at this table, alpha.”
“I don’t know.” He took everything I said in stride. “Maybe I’m right where I want to be, omega.” The way he said that last word sent a chill down my spill, and I didn’t know why. I did my best to hide my body’s reaction to him saying that word, but I didn’t know whether or not I succeeded.
“I wish you would disappear,” I muttered with a frown.
“Is that what you really want, or is that what you’ve told yourself to want?”
God, this alpha knew exactly how to get under my skin. I didn’t know who he was or where he came from, or why the hell he was zeroing me out like this, but nothing I said would get him to leave. He always had a reply ready on his tongue, always a twinkle in those deep blue eyes, and all of that said nothing about how my body had reacted when he’d called meomega.
Again, I couldn’t answer him, but he was ready to say, “I’m Rourke Cunningham, and even though you might not say it, I will: it’s good to meet you.”
I averted my gaze from him and muttered, “Go to another table, please.”
“Is that you asking, or is that you begging?”
My nostrils flared as I drew my eyes back to the alpha across from me, giving him my worst death glare. “I am a Dryers. I do not beg.”
“Dryers, huh? That’s a founding family, ain’t it? I’m surprised you’re here alone.”
He must not have been updated on current events, otherwise he’d know the Dryers name had fallen out of favor lately, ever since my parents died. The Dryers had been on a constant downward spiral, though my aunt would never say that aloud.
Ugh. I probably shouldn’t have said my last name at all. Now he could write me an official offer—assuming he was crazy enough to do so, and I’d bet anything this alpha was that nuts. The fact that he was still here, still talking to me, said enough.
“I guess I’m full of surprises,” I said with a shrug as I willed him to go away. Seriously, why wouldn’t this alpha pick up the hint and leave me the hell alone? I already made it obvious I wasn’t here for a match. There were dozens of other omegas here who would love to sit across from an alpha that looks like Rourke.
“Yeah, I bet you are.” He leaned back after he said that, and based on the way he stared at me, I knew the wheels in his mind were turning. I’d bet anything the freaking alpha was wondering how to match with me.
“You better not,” I warned.
“Better not what?”
“Please, the innocent act only works for someone like me. For you? Nope. You know damn well what I mean when I say you better not.”
“Maybe I don’t. Maybe I’m more stupid than you think I am.” He flashed me his pearly whites again, egging me on, trying to get me to say it out loud.
Fine. Whatever. If that was the game this alpha wanted to play, then we could play. We were nearing the finish line, anyway, so I might as well cut to the chase. I told him, “You better not put in an offer for me tonight. I’m not going to accept any. You’d be better off putting one in for any other omega here.”
“That’s funny. You act like you know what I’m thinking.”
