“I told you not to come.” It was easier to pretend like that was the reason for his poor mood, especially since he knew Sarang would fall for it.
Sure enough, the alpha’s hands noticeably tightened on the steering wheel, but just when Shiloh started getting his hopes up that he’d get a real reaction, all the tension drained out of Sarang as quickly as it’d appeared.
“You shouldn’t be away from home for this long,” Sarang said plainly. “I was instructed to bring you back.”
“I was literally at my old house,” he pointed out. “And like hell Kian ordered you to come here. You’re the underboss.Surely there are better things for you to be doing than following me all the way to another planet.”
The Dominus of the Eumia had been raised by an adoptive family on the neighboring planet Glyph. Once his position as leader had been secured, Kian had insisted on relocating their main branch. Shiloh and Sloane had gone along with it since the change seemed to offer better opportunities.
Laws were stricter there, and based more on fairness and justice, whereas the rules on Synastry still favored alphas and procreation above all else, including omega comfort.
Shiloh didn’t mind being omega, but it’d be a lie to say being one on this planet didn’t have its drawbacks.
“Technically, I was sent to check on the local branch,” Sarang informed him, completely unaware how something inside of Shiloh splintered at that revelation. “Since I was coming anyway, it made sense that I retrieve you. What were you doing?”
“What do you mean?” He crossed his arms and slid down in his seat, resting his forehead against the cool glass.
Sarang was silent for a moment and then replied, “Diogenes’ car was in the lot.”
“Jealous?” It was petty and pointless to instigate him.
Shiloh was never able to get a rise out of the alpha.
Tonight would be no different.
“Have you decided then?” Sarang’s voice dipped lower…or…maybe it didn’t. Maybe it was all in Shiloh’s head.
Maybe he was merely hearing what he wanted to hear.
Pathetic.
Weak.
Normal.
Good Light how he hated these moments of supposed normalcy.
And craved them all the same.
“Going to have to be more specific,” Shiloh said, which caused Sarang to frown.
“You’re acting strange tonight.”
“Strange how?” He knew how. He was snippy and less composed. But for the life of him, he couldn’t summon the usual veneer. Purging all that pent up rage downstairs had really done a number on him, and he felt exhaustion slip into his body.
Maybe a part of him was also hung up on Dio’s words.
That he never stood a chance with Sarang because the alpha didn’t really know him.
That he wouldn’t stand a chance with him the second he did.
A part of Shiloh, a desperate, needy part, wanted to prove him wrong.
“Is it because of him?” the alpha pushed.
“Him?”
“Diogenes.”
