“Well? How’d I do? I bet you’re not speechless too often, so I’m going to assume I’m right.”
She was pissed off at that, muttering a harsh, “Congrats.”
“Why are you here if you’re just trying to scare everyone away?” It was the only thing I could think, the only explanation for her attitude. Other than that, this omega must have had a ridiculous amount of self-restraint to not act as if my scent affected her.
“Because unlike you, some of us don’t get a choice.”
I didn’t know what I thought she’d say, but I certainly didn’t expect that. Though the words were laced in fury, there was acertain kind of sadness to them, too, and it was that sadness that made me say, “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s right, all these rules and expectations for you omegas.”
She frowned and rolled her eyes at me. “Like you really care.”
“I do. I actually work for Alabaster Security. 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 didn’t know why I was saying all of this. Was I trying to impress her? Make her believe I’m not like the other alphas here?
Probably, but sad and pathetic as it was, I didn’t think it was working one bit.
Why would she believe me? I was a stranger to her. She didn’t know me, didn’t know if I was capable of lying outright to her.
She shot back, “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.”
Whatever it was, I couldn’t seem to take the hint. I refused to think she wasn’t as drawn to me as I was to her. That was simply not an option in my head, so I said, “I don’t know. Maybe I’m right where I want to be, omega.”
“I wish you would disappear.”
“Is that what you really want, or is that what you’ve told yourself to want?”
She seemed speechless after that, which told me there was more to this whole act than she was letting on. It might have pushed others away, but I didn’t think I was like any other alpha in this ballroom. To some, that would be a bad thing, but here and now… it was the opposite.
I leaned forward, wishing the table wasn’t between us when I told her, “I’m Rourke Cunningham, and even though you might not say it, I will: it’s good to meet you.”
She looked away from me. “Go to another table, please.”
“Is that you asking, or is that you begging?” I didn’t know why I said that. I shouldn’t have. It was too much. We didn’t know each other, and she wasn’t mine. She was a stranger—a deliciously-smelling stranger, but a stranger all the same.
The omega did not like that, not one bit. “I am a Dryers. I do not beg.”
I instantly recognized the name: a last name. An old one, one that I haven’t heard much about lately, if I was being honest. “Dryers, huh? That’s a founding family, ain’t it? I’m surprised you’re here alone.”
“I guess I’m full of surprises.” She sounded bored, like she was purposefully trying to get me to go away. I supposed she was; she’d been trying since I sat down. It’s clear this whole night was nothing more than a game to her, and yet that didn’t explain why I was so drawn to her while she acted as if I was as gross as the dirt under her shoe.
“Yeah, I bet you are.” I leaned back, and as I leaned back I couldn’t help but think about how far-fetched putting an offer in used to be. Now… even though this omega wanted nothing to do with me, I couldn’t help it; I wanted to put an offer in for her.
“You better not,” she hissed out the words like a snake.
“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.” I grinned.
The omega muttered, “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.” She did know, somehow, exactly what I was thinking, but she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested in me in that way, as much as it pained me to admit.
And it did. It pained me. My chest ached in an unfamiliar way, my heart actually hurt, like it was constricting on its own. A strange sensation I’d never felt before in my life, all because of this omega and her denial of me.
“Am I wrong?” she asked with a huff.
I ran a hand down my chest as I tried to fight that feeling inside and act normal, like she wasn’t affecting me in such a way. “Maybe you are, maybe you’re not. I guess you’ll have to wait and see if you get any offers tonight, Dryers.”
