Page 36 of His Reluctant Omega

“Iknowyou’re an omega.”

Avery sucked in a gasp.

“Well, I didn’t know for sure until now,” Brett murmured.“How are you here?”

“Omegas are just as capable as anyone else. We’re smart. We’re strong. I’ve more than proven myself.”

Brett waved a hand. “I didn’t mean that. You’re almost always the smartest person in the room. Of that, I have no doubt.”

Avery sighed, thankful Brett hadn’t assumed the worst.

“Howhave you hidden…all this… for years? And why the fuck didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped. I thought we were friends?”

“Wearefriends,” Avery replied. “And for that reason, I couldn’t drag you into this and make you an accessory.”

“You know how much I care about you. I would’ve done anything in my power to help.” Brett stopped short, a brow rising. “That’swhy you have no interest in me. I’m just a beta. You’re hunting for an alpha.”

“I’m on no hunt for any alpha. I needed to make sure my brothers were provided for, and I refused to wait around for an alpha… so I did this.” He paused. “As far as you… I knew we could never be. It wouldn’t work between a beta and an omega.”

“I wasn’t asking for forever,” Brett replied.

“It would’ve likely ended badly. I could’ve lost a friend.”

Brett smiled suddenly. “Well, that makesmefeel better. I’ve wondered why my mojo wasn’t working on you.”

“Your mojo? Really?” Avery chuckled.

“It works every time.” Brett rifled through one of his drawers and pulled out a pair of sweatpants. “These have a drawstring, so you can tie them tighter.”

While Avery was big for an omega, Brett was bigger than him.

Avery took them. “Thanks.”

“I want to know everything,” Brett said, as he sat down on his bed. “How you covered for so long…”

“It’s a long story,” Avery said.

He lifted his gaze. Fear filled him a moment. What did he tell Brett?

“Look, Abe…” Brett paused. “Is your name even Abe?”

“Avery.”

“Avery,” Brett murmured, frowning. “You’ve been lying to the world… and to me… for years. Do I even know you?”

“I’m the same person, Brett. This is me. It was just a name. A way for me to provide for my brothers in case I didn’t have an alpha out there.”

“What makes you think you might not have an alpha?”

I do. But I didn’t know that when I made this decision.“My uncle. He lived for many,manyyears unmated. He’d gone to dozens of Omega Balls and… nothing.” He paused, remembering how lonely Gray had once been. “He had no power. No autonomy. No way to provide for himself except by the grace of my parents. When they died, he had nothing. No alpha. No property. No savings. No job. I saw him and thought that someday, that could be me. What could I do for my brothers? Would we starve? Would the situation force us to sell our bodies? We had a little savings from my parents, enough to last three or four years—but what if I didn’t find my alpha in that time?” He paused, growing angrier by the second. “Why should I be forced to hope some alpha shows up to save us whenI’mcapable of saving us?”

Brett stared, silent.

“Sorry to ramble on like that… I’m sure that was more than you wanted to hear.”

“No… no… I just don’t know what to say to that. You’re right. You shouldn’t have to rely on an alpha to protect you.” Brett shook his head. “Me not being an omega… I don’t know what it is you’ve experienced. Howhardyour life was.”

“Harder than you know.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com