The eyes were enough.
The blue of them was something I’d never forget.
She looked thinner. Paler. Her hair wasn’t quite as long, and it didn’t shine the way it had back then, as if made of polished obsidian. But it washer.
Now I did move, crawling forward until I was close enough to use the coffee table for leverage. I pulled myself to standing, walking slowly to where the others were already crowded around the PR manager and unofficial assistant who had absolutely zero idea that she’d just shown me the only thing I’d wanted for nearly two years.
I pushed between Mac and Tray. I didn’t even care that they protested. Cat quirked an eyebrow in confusion as I took the tablet from her and brought it closer. I didn’t cry. Ineverfucking cried, unless minutes away from blackout drunk, that is, when I’m momentarily caught in that hyper emotional state of losing all inhibitions. But now, a scorching, rebellious tear broke rank.
“Christ, man, what the fuck’s wrong?” This from Dixon, who moved into view and clamped both hands over my shoulders. He stared at me, black-rimmed eyes intense. He shook me a little when I didn’t immediately respond.
Blinking up, mind still reeling, all I could manage was two words.
“It’sher.”
19
DIXON
1 DAY AGO...
“You’re full of shit,”I yanked the file from Ryder harshly, rage blooming in my chest. I was seriously dying inside, fighting ferality tooth and nail, and Ryder was going to start in again about that goddamn mystery Omega. “No fucking way the girl you’ve pined for just happens to be our fucking match.”
“Believe it, Dix.” Ryder managed to say, voice still thick with emotion.
Now that I was staring at the photo, my quick-to-ignite anger went from a five-alarm fire to a smoldering pile of ash. The girl, though beautiful, had hollowed-out cheekbones and painfully pronounced collarbones. Her hair was dull, not shiny. The purple-hued bags under her blue eyes made it look like she’d not slept in ages. Was she one of those fame-fueled influencers I’d seen too many times—willing to starve themselves into a size zero? Why did a fucking size zero even exist? It wasn’t a real goddamn size. It implies that a woman’s size should be nothing instead of what she naturally should be according to her own fucking biology. My brain started sliding sideways. It was easier to focus and mentally rant on something other than reality.
But then it dawned on me that Tessa could be sick.Fuck, she could be dying?
Rage began to build again. I was so tired of feeling angry. It was exhausting. I was a damn pot on the stove, full of water, with the burner kept on medium-hot at all times. I was always on the edge of boiling, all anyone had to do was adjust the temp knob the tiniest fraction. I thought back to what Catalina had read from the email. Our Omega was an orphan. Zero damn family. I felt a little ashamed now. Only moments ago, I’d been prepared to track the girl down and bring her here immediately. I’d wanted, no questions asked, to keep her safe. I wasn’t sure what had flipped my switch. Was it simply the fact that she was someone I’d resented for too long? She was this stranger who’d kept Ryder obsessed, kept us from finding a match, or matches, earlier, and been like a phantom in our lives we couldn’t shake. Maybe I wouldn’t be so fucking broken if not for her.
Still though.
There was no denying that there was something magnetic about her. Something buried deep behind those startling blue eyes. It was hard to stop looking at the photo.
“They’re trying to screw us over,” I grumbled, gaze still locked on the Omega’s face. “She’s either one foot in the grave, or the chick seriously needs a few cheeseburgers.”
“She looks fine,” Ryder growled, as if I’d personally offended him.
“Look at her again, man,” I snarled back. “Goddamn skin and bones.”
Ryder lunged for the tablet, but I held it off to the side, then lifted my other hand to slam against his forehead and keep him from coming any closer. He began flailing, hands trying to hit me, but I easily kept him at bay. Asshole tried to kick out, but I shifted my bodyweight and angled my lower half away. Our sizes were just different enough that he couldn’t reach me with his manic, frenzied fists.
“Take your damn hand off me, you absolute dick.” He tried to kick again, nearly losing his balance and falling.
“Stop trying to attack me for telling the fucking truth and I will,” I huffed out.
“Not going to happen. You’ve made life hell for everybody. Losing your shit. Breaking furniture. Going after fans.” Ryder finally smartenedup and targeted what he could actually reach—the arm extended towards him. He gripped my wrist with both hands and yanked sharply. My hand slipped off his face and next thing I knew, Ryder was biting my knuckles like a rabid dog.
“What the fuck, man!” I yelped, pulling back sharply. But Ryder, the wily mother fucker continued to latch on. “I’ve only been making life hell because you couldn’t let go of some chick you kissed.”
“Some chick,” Ryder mumbled, teeth still digging into my skin. “That chick is our Omega.”
Someone took the tablet away from me, but I didn’t turn to see who. All I cared about was that I had another hand available. I dug my fingers into Ryder’s hair and gripped tightly. He winced, but he kept his mouth firmly clamped. In fact, the asshole bit harder. He was going to draw blood. I began pulling his hair towards the ceiling. Let’s see how he enjoyed being lifted off the floor. I wondered if his scalp could stand the pressure. About the time Ryder had maxed out his height on tiptoes to try and relieve the increasing pain of me yanking his hair, Catalina’s voice broke into our brawl.
“Stop it, you stupid, macho idiots,” Catalina scolded. “She doesn’t need a cheeseburger. She needs an Alpha. Four Alphas, to be exact. You think you guys have been struggling? She has no family. She’s alone. And we’ve no idea what else she’s been through.”
Catalina paused, letting her words sink in, and then she spoke again. “Tessa is your Omega. She is coming here and whatever you guys need to work through, do it before she arrives. Do not ruin this because you all are too pig headed to settle your shit.”
