Page 49 of The Beta's Bargain

“You’ve got everyone freaking out.”

“I was wrong.”

I shrug. “Even the perfect can have an off day.”

“I’m not perfect!” He snarls.

“You seem to be to me.” I say in a whisper back to him.

He shoots me an incredulous look. “I’m a mess. I ran from my alphas-”

“You stood up for yourself and your rights. How many other omegas could have walked away? Would have walked away?”

“I don’t deserve-”

With a frustrated snarl, I close the distance and straddle his lap, putting us chest to chest, nose to nose. I shiver with cold as rain drips down my clothes, soaking me. It drips off both our faces. “Tell me what you don’t deserve again, omega.”

“I don’t deserve-”

I slam my mouth down on his. I tease his lips and taste the salt from his tears mixed with the rain.

“You deserve everything.” I say to him, “You are kind and righteous and stronger than anyone I’ve known. You stand out among the crowds.”

“You didn’t see me.”

“I’m not allowed to look at the stars, Dylan.” I say quietly.

His arms close around me, pulling me even tighter to him. “I’m broken. I don’t shine so bright. You can look at me now.”

“I’m looking. I shouldn’t be, but I am.”

“What do you see?” He asks bluntly.

“I see an omega who needs his alphas. And I see alphas who are trying to make amends. They love you. It’s plain to see. Will you give them a chance?”

The struggle is transparent. I reach out and brush his hair back from his face.

“I can’t…” He says at last in a pained gasp.

“You could try. Courting again? Could you do that? A clean slate.”

“Why are you doing this?” He growls, refocusing on me. “Why are you sending me to them?”

I blink at him. “Because they are your scent matches. Because you seek them out in your sleep.” He blinks in surprise. “And because I want more than anything for you to be happy.”

“What if being happy isn’t with them? What if it’s with someone else?”

My stomach gets all fluttery hearing his words, but I push the side of me that has dreamed of hearing those words away.

“Do you really believe that?” I ask. “You can have the fairy tale. Three princes who adore you more than life itself. Who are trying, Dylan. Everyone can see they are.”

“I don’t want the fairy tale. I want more.” He whispers, and then he kisses me.

My heart is thumping in my chest, and all I can taste is him. I pull back, aware once more that I’m breaking the alpha’s trust and sabotaging their scent match. There is something seriously wrong with me.

“We should go inside. You need to talk to them.”

He’s silent for a long moment. “Yeah, I guess I should. I need to apologise.”

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