A real damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation.
“I do. Doesn’t change the fact that it hurts to hear her suggest it.”
He blows out a breath. “She just wants you to be happy, Ren. That’s it. She wants you to have what she has.”
I grit my teeth to force back my tears. “Yeah, well, that’s not going to happen. She got lucky with you, Hale. You all were smart enough to realize what you had before it was too late.” I motion with a limp hand in the direction of the pool house. “It’s already too late with them.”
“Only if you say it is.” He folds his muscular arms over his chest, pinning me with a look. “They aren’t bonded and you aren’t dead.”
“They’re engaged to another omega, Hale.”
He shrugs. “Engaged isn’t bonded, Ren. And honestly, it’s disappointing that you’re just giving up like this. That you aren’t willing to fight for them.”
I blink at him. Fresh tears stinging my eyes. “They didn’t fight for me.”
“No?” He unfolds his arms and grips my shoulders giving me a little shake. “They’re here, Ren. They flew here and they haven’t left. They won’t leave. What is that if not fighting for you?”
God, I think I might hate him in this moment, more than I’ve ever hated him before which is saying something, because he did some fucked up shit to Haven in his quest to get revenge on her father.
But he’s fucking right.
Even though I don’t want to admit it.
They are here. They haven’t shown any indication of leaving, not without me, and that is a form of them fighting for me, for us.
His hands bob over my shoulders as I shrug. “I just need more.”
“I know. And you deserve more than they’re giving you, but you need to give them a chance to realize that.” Another shake of my shoulders. “I don’t think it’ll take much for them to get there.”
“So why do I need to go with them, while they do that? While they get there? How is that fair?”
“It’s not. All I’m saying—all we’re saying—is you shouldn’t just shut them down out of fear, Ren. You gotta take the risk. The reward will be worth it.”
“If there is a reward.”
He gives me a soft smile, well as soft as Hale can manage when he isn’t looking at Haven. “It’ll be there. I’m sure of it.”
“I wish I had your confidence.”
“Well, I do have the experience of majorly fucking up when it comes to my omega, and I can’t even imagine what would have happened if Haven hadn’t been willing to give us another chance.”
“She’s a better, more forgiving person than I am.”
He hums. “Maybe. Or maybe she’s just braver.”
Oh, okay.Ouch.
Even though he’s not wrong.
I am terrified. But can anyone really blame me when my life hangs in the balance? When one more rejection from them might send me spiraling?
I shake his hands off me, and he lets me go, knowing his barb struck where he was aiming. Knowing it’s going to prick again and again.
“You didn’t back down from learning to walk again, to dance again, Ren. I can’t believe you’d back down from this. Think about it.”
I grit my teeth, but give a jerky nod of agreement, before turning to leave.
“Oh, and Ren?” I turn back to him to find his pale blue eyes glaring at me. “Make my omega cry like that again and I’ll toss you out on your ass so fast, your head spins.”
