Page 44 of The Omega Archives: Part Two

Ella blushed but didn't chuckle with me.

She mumbled, “Yeah, I guess that is one way to put it.”

I shook my head, wanting to reach out and catch her fidgeting hand. I wanted to touch her. I can’t believe that I managed to keep myself away this long. Keep myself from touching her in all the ways I have always wanted to. However, there was a reason.

Of course, there was a reason.

I took a deep breath, grasping her hand in mine. I ran my thumb over her knuckles. “I don’t hate you, Ella. I’m sorry if it seemed that way."

"I hadn't seen you since everything happened back outside the club, so I just figured..."

Of course, she did. I was an idiot. But I already knew that.

"This is all just me,” I started to explain, hopefully, a little better.

“Are you seriously about to pull out the whole, it’s not you, it’s me speech?”

“No. Seriously. I'm not breaking up with you. I swear. That’s not what I’m trying to say.” I corrected her.

This was not going the way it was supposed to. For one thing, I thought I was going to be able to speak my mind a lot better than I was. I usually had no problem with it whether or not it was the best for me or anyone else around me. But for her... for this gorgeous not beta, but an omega that I was already falling for way too easily, I wanted to get this just right.

“I mean, yeah,” I tried again. “That is what I’m trying to say in a way... It isn’t you at all that's the problem here and why I pulled away. I was shocked. I won’t say that I wasn’t when I rushed out of the club to find you in Marko’s arms omega-ing out. But I’m not upset with you, Ella.”

She didn’t seem convinced.

“I started to panic. I do that,” I admitted. “Marko likes to call it my momentary breakdowns.”

The corner of Ella’s lip curled up almost in a smile. “Really?”

“I have a feeling another one is about to come on,” I joked. Though, was I?

“I get how that feels lately,” Ella whispered.

Her thumb slowly stroked the outside of my hand and I forced myself not to grin as I watched the tiny movement.

“Yeah, well. I should’ve been here for you more than I was when I realized what happened. When I walked out of the club and realized what was going on and that Marko was holding an omega–holding you, I should’ve taken responsibility for you,” I said. “Instead, I... I sort of shut down.”

Ella took a deep breath, meeting my gaze as I looked around and then back to her. “Why?”

“Well, I’m not exactly the guy you need any more,” I told her as bluntly as I could. “I couldn’t even be a man enough to take care of you over Marko who I had never seen that way over someone before. At least not since...” I shook my head. That was Marko’s story to tell.

“What are you talking about?”

I took a deep breath. “I’m no alpha, Ella.”

“Well, no,” she whispered. “I’m no beta.”

“That’s become very clear.” My nose screwed up as I took a deep breath of her.

"I'm confused."

"You're an omega. I'm not an alpha..." Did I need to spell this out?

“Do I smell bad or something?" she asked.

“The opposite,” I said immediately, trying not to full-on not break out into laughter now. “You smell like...”

“Like what?”

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