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My anxiety returns. I don’t know what that sappy internal monologue was. It feels like a thought said by someone else. I don’t think like that. It’s just hormones and emotion. I hate it. I don’t want that. I don’t want to hurt Alden when this fog clears, and I realize I’m not in love with him.

“I have to go.” I feel out of control. I can’t kiss Alden. I can’t hurt Alden.

I don’t care how much I want Elliott, how much he felt like mine, how he’s the only omega whose scent ever dragged my attention away from Alden’s. Elliott could be my fated fucking mate, something I definitely don’t believe in, and I would still leave.

I’ll never let an omega stand between me and Alden’s happiness.

I cradle the back of Alden’s head with my hands. “I love you more than I want to knot an omega I just met.”

“Ty…”

“I’m so glad he belongs to you.” I try really fucking hard to mean it. “He just imprinted on me like a baby goose because I was the only alpha around.”

“You mean gosling?”

I pull back with a frown. “You have an omega in heat on the couch and you’re correcting my semantics?”

He huffs a short laugh, then leans toward me, and nuzzles his nose against mine, his own scent blooming. “You two smell good together.”

“Naw.” I step back and release him. “He’s your date, not mine. He’s perfect for you.”

I sound like I’m reassuring myself more than him and he knows it.

“I don’t want an omega,” I add. “I want you to be happy.”

“Ty, I want you to be happy too. If you want to stay or if you want me to go so you can explore this with him, I understand.”

“No. It’s just biology. It means nothing.”

“Right.” Alden’s spine straightens, his face smoothes. I call it his boarding school look, the structure he falls back on when he doesn’t want to be vulnerable.

A soft sound like a breath exhaled draws my attention. I return to my post with a view of the living room, and Elliott. He’s turned onto his side, and the towel didn’t come with him, exposing more smooth skin over statuesque bone and muscle. The scent of orange blossoms summons me like he’s got me on a leash. I bet he’s slick between his legs, ready to be taken.

Taken by Alden. Not me.

I shake myself and will my erection to disappear. I need to get out of here. “I’m going to go.”

Alden turns his head away from Elliott slowly. “What?”

“I’m behind on my grant proposal. I have work to do. My board’s on the beach. I’ve got to pick up my dry cleaning.” I can keep coming up with excuses all day because I can’t stay here.

Alden quirks a brow. “Dry cleaning? I’ve never seen you dry clean anything? Do you even own something dry clean only?”

I head to my room and hide inside my bathroom.

“Tyler?” Alden says from the other side.

“I’m fine. I’m just getting dressed. Tell him goodbye for me?”

“What? No, Tyler.” He pulls on the door handle. “You can’t just leave without saying goodbye. He’s in heat. He’s going to feel rejected. It’s going to kill him.”

I know. But it is what it is. If he didn’t belong to Alden, I wouldn’t be doing this. But he does, and if I stay around to explain that, I’ll never be able to leave.

“I mean, what did you expect me to do?” I pull a shirt over my head. “Just hang around while you two fuck?”

“He might not want me,” Alden says quietly.

“He will. Trust me.”