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“What’s wrong?” She sat down again as I pushed my drink away.
“What do you want from me?” I asked, looking at her as her face faltered from the happiness she had just shown.
“What do you mean?” A crease formed on her brow. I waved my hand at the bar and the crowd.
“What are you doing this for? I already know, Piper. I know you like Aiden, that’s obvious enough. But I heard you, that first night. You don’t want me, or Declan, at least not together. You don’t want apack.” She recoiled at my words, her mouth dropping open. “Admit it. You aren’t from here, you aren’t even used to your designation. So what are you doing this for? You could be out finding a single mate if that’s what you really want.” Her cheeks flushed as she stumbled over her words.
“Dominic - it’s not what you think.” I raised an eyebrow at her.
“So I didn’t hear you say ‘screw the other two’ when you were on the phone the night we first met? I seem to remember you being quite insistent that you weren’t interested in me or Declan.” Her face went pale as she stuttered.
“Okay, okay - I might have - well I did say that - but that’s not how it is anymore. I didn’t know what it was like. I couldn’t have imagined it where I was from. But now that I’ve seen it, now that I know you all, I just…”
I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. “You just what?” Her fists balled up on the table.
“I just can’t imagine myself with anyone else. I tried - I really did. I didn’t like the idea of a pack, couldn’t fathom it. But when I was near you all, it was like a flip switched. I just… I can’t explain it, but I want you.Allof you.” Her words sounded sincere. But I had heard from sincere omegas before who changed their minds.
“Why me? I’ve been nothing but cold to you since we met. You can’t tell me we have a connection.” She sighed as she looked me in the eyes.
“It’s how you act with Declan. I see how you care for your pack, for their safety. I meant what I said - I want your pack, and that means all of you. If what Aiden and Declan say is true, there is so much more to you than what I’ve seen. And I want to spend time getting to know you. Every side of you.” Her words sounded sincere. But I had to make sure this ended tonight. I couldn’t risk giving up on my true mate. This girl had to go.
“Here's the thing Piper - it has to go both ways. And Idon’t want you. I don’t want you in the pack, I don’t want you for me. There’s someone else. Someone who I really want.” I knew my words were like knives to her heart. Omegas hated rejection from an alpha. A good alpha would protect, reassure, and comfort an omega. But I couldn’t be that for her. I had to make her know this wasn’t going to happen.
I could see in her eyes the instant she realized what my words meant. Her lower lip trembled, and it hurt me to the core. I felt like scum. For an instant, I wanted to take it all back, grab her into my arms and take her back to my place to soothe her. But I had to end it - she wasn’t the one. She stood suddenly, her legs shaking as she stumbled down the platform. Was she running away?
“Piper!” I got up to follow her. She ran through the bar and out the front door. She was tipsy and in no condition to be out in the streets. I followed her as she quickly walked outside, her arms hugging her body as she faced away from me. “Piper! I have to take you back to the Omega House!” She kept her body turned from me as she walked.
“Fuck you! You don’t tell me what to do!” I had to take her back safely - not only because it was the right thing to do, but because we signed a contract to always make sure an omega was safe with our pack. Even if she wanted to stay out, I was responsible for her.
“Piper! Come back!” I sighed. She would hate me more for this, but it was for the best. I put an alpha bark in my voice. “Piper!Stop.” She suddenly went rigid, her body trembling with fury as I caught up with her. “I need to take you back now. After that, you never have to see me again.” I turned to face her, and it broke my heart. Tears were running down her cheeks. The guys would hate me for this. But they would understand once I found our mate. For now, I just had to get Piper home safely.
“I don’t want to go anywhere with you.” Her words shook as she stood there like I commanded. I sighed, running my hand through my hair.
“I’ll call an Omega rideshare. But you do have to get back home.” I pulled out my phone and called up a ride for her while she glared at me. Why was this hurting me so badly? Something about this omega just made it so easy to fall for her.
The car pulled up and a mated beta rolled down the window. “Here for an omega?” She looked at us confused. I gestured at PIper.
“It’s for her.” The Beta looked at me surprised. “I know she’s a bit taller - but she’s an Omega. Get her to the Omega House -safely- they will take her from there.” I handed her a large tip to emphasize my point. She nodded and I opened the door for Piper. “It’s time to go home, Piper.” She slowly turned and ducked her head to get into the car. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry it had to happen this way.” I really was. She deserved to find her mates. The car started driving away, and I felt a tug in my heart. Something was ringing in my head, something that didn’t quite make sense but was nagging at me. An omega who appeared like a beta. I turned around and looked for a new bar. I needed to drown out my feelings tonight.
Chapter 27
Piper
That asshole! I was still shaking after my horrible night. A night that had started out so promising. Even though Dominic had been distant, going out to a show with him was fun. I was having a great time. That is, until he came clean about what he had heard. He was right - I had said those things. But that was before meeting them, seeing them together and understanding what a pack meant. That was before I smelled them up close. I hadn’t been able to picture being with anyone else. No other pack scents could hold a candle. When I dreamt at night, it was their faces, their bodies, their voices that I dreamt of. His rejection of me struck something so deep inside me that I didn’t know it existed. It hurt terribly and I couldn’t understand why. What was it about him that made me feel so attached? When he told me he didn’t want me, it was like he extinguished the fire inside me. I had to get away from him, hide my pain.
But that wasn’t the worst part. After all that, he had to use an alpha bark on me. Ripping me of my free will. The fact that he had just hurt me so callously, then felt like he could order me around - who did he think he was? Why couldn’t I just ignore his words like I could in my own world! I decided right then in the car that I hated this world. All these rules were put on me due to my designation. I had fewer rights than everyone else, a damn curfew, and my body held me hostage to alphas. I couldn’t even deny their commands. I had no power here.
The rideshare was being waved through the gates by security, and I hopped out of the car before it was even close to the door. I flew past through the doors and up to my room, ignoring the concerned face of the check-in attendant. Once I was safe inside my room, I tore my clothes off and jumped in the shower to scrub his scent off of me. Just the memory of him made me hurt. I stood in the shower, hot water running down me as I washed away every trace of him.
I didn’t have to play by this world’s rules. I wasn't going to let other people or even my own body control me. I would do what I wanted. And that was exactly what I was going to do tonight. My body felt overheated, so I quickly left the shower and dried off. My heart was racing, and I was a bit concerned. I knew I had anxiety from Dominic’s rejection, but I hoped I could calm down enough to sneak out. I needed to be quiet. I quickly pulled a new set of clothes on and grabbed my phone. Making my way through the halls, I tiptoed until I got to the kitchen and snuck out. I would show this world that I was still me.
I ordered another rideshare once I was far enough away from the Omega House. Pretending to be a beta was easy. I had picked a random brewery to go back to in the downtown area, a few blocks away from where the bar that Dominic had taken me to. I didn’t want to run into him.
Walking in, I took a deep breath and calmed down a bit. It was humid out, and the brewery was alive with people. See, I could be just like everyone else. I could still be me. I looked at the list of seasonal beers and ordered a dark one. I was still a little buzzed from earlier, but I needed something to relax me. My heart was still racing and I was overheated. Being around Dominic, as cold as he was, had made me crazy with desire. He was still one of the most attractive people I had ever been around despite the horrible way he acted at the end of our date.
My heart still hurt at how things had gone, so I sipped my drink and found a seat at the bar. My phone pinged - it was Aiden
Miss you! How was your date?
