Especially when he smiles.
“Mom?” I turn to her, praying she’ll see the fear in my eyes. “Don’t make me,” I whisper as softly as I can. But there’s no point. Tallen can hear me. His alpha ears probably heard me the second I pulled up.
“Autumn,” Mom shifts, taking both my hands in hers, “I know the idea of being mated scares you, but it’s time to?—”
“No,” I cut her off, and Tallen pushes out a heavy breath—It’s almost a growl, but not quiet. “I don’t want to…” I trail off, too scared to tell her that I don’t want Tallen. At least not with him standing right here.
“Omega,” Tallen’s voice is hard, edging toward commanding. My body responds to it, waiting for his order. It’s disgusting behavior. Any polite alpha knows not to command an omega they don’t own. “There’s no need tofight this anymore,” he says. “We’re a good match and you know it.” He forces his alpha-tone into the words, like simply saying them in a commanding way will force me to love him. But it only makes my body recoil.
“Where’s your pack?” I blurt out.
His brow twitches.
“I uh.” I swallow hard, trying like hell to get through this without crying. “If you want to claim me, then why haven’t I met your pack?” My voice keeps getting smaller and softer. “Even at the Beechworth events, you never bring them.”
There’s a moment of silence—just the sound of birds chirping and my dad scratching the underside of his beard. Tallen’s smile falters, then he pastes it back on like a mask that doesn’t quite fit.
“They’re busy,” he says with a dismissive shrug. “You know how pack life is.” He looks at my dad with all his alpha energy. It makes my father sit a little taller. “Full schedules. Pack dynamics to manage. Lots of travel lately.”
My father nods, like he understands, but there’s no way he can. Both my parents are betas. They’ve never been part of a pack. “Of course.” Dad smiles widely. “It only makes sense. That's why packs need omegas. To settle them.”
I glance sideways at my mom, then pull my hands back, forcing her to release me. “Why would you trust an alpha who hides his pack?” I whisper.
Her face falls, softens, then hardens again. “Because you’re almost twenty-six, baby. And if you don’t find a mate soon...” Her voice trembles. “You’re going to die.”
I blink. “We’ve already talked about this,” I say. “The academy’s being dramatic. That death-clock science is outdated. Unmated omegas have been known to live to thirty.” I plead with my eyes, hoping that she actually listensthis time. “I’m not going to die just because I haven’t been marked. I still have plenty of time.”
“You don’t know that,” Mom says firmly, like I’m going to drop dead any second now. “You think you have time, but what if you don’t? What if this is it, Autumn? What if you turn him away and during your next heat you?—”
“I’m not turning anyone away,” I cut her off, sharp and low. “But I’m not mating someone who won’t let me meet his pack.” This is the safest way I can think to reject Tallen. To put it all back on him, but honestly? I don’t think the jerk has a pack.
“Autumn,” Mom says my name firmly. Her tone tells me she’s about to demand I do something, like she’s already dismissing every fear I have, but I don’t stay to hear it. I spin on my heels and walk back toward the house, blood rushing in my ears.
I step inside, slam the door shut behind me, and run upstairs two at a time. My old bedroom greets me with all my childhood comforts—soft lavender walls, an overstuffed chair in the corner, childhood books still stacked on the shelf, and my desk is filled with journals and old letters to my friends. Even my grandfather’s old golden letter opener still sits right where I last left it.
It’s like time completely stopped in this room, but right now, it doesn’t do much to settle my nerves.
I sink onto the edge of the bed, hands shaking and throat tight.
Almost immediately, the back door opens downstairs, squeaking loudly. I hear my mother first, then I hearhim. His voice is deep, syrupy, and fake.
“I’ll check on Autumn,” Tallen says smoothly, like he’s doing everyone a favor. “Sometimes an omega needs a tender word from her alpha.”
My mother murmurs something in response. I can’t make out her words, but her tone…God. She sounds pleased.Hopeful, even.
The floor creaks beneath heavy feet. My blood runs cold.
No.
No, no, no?—
I jump up and spin toward the door just as it opens without a knock.
Tallen fills the doorway like a threat, tall and broad and radiating smug authority. His scent rolls in after him—cloying and sharp, making my skin crawl.
Every instinct in me is screaming to drop to my knees and sob, but I refuse. Instead, I force myself to square my shoulders. To face him…and it physically hurts.
“Please get out of my room,” I whisper, unable to talk any louder.
