Page 27 of Heat Hesitation

The urge to scream burns hotter in my throat, but I don't.

"We just want to know what's going on, little one. Are you… you're on heat suppressants, I assume? You're dealing to other omegas? It's not that big of a deal. Why the cloak and dagger?"

Theo snorts, plopping down on their fancy-ass couch next to Enzo, who's still running his fingers over the hem of my shirt. We all ignore Enzo's odd behavior when Theo stretches his long legs out like he doesn't have a care in the world.

"Bratty little omega needs to feel important. She jumps off a bridge to scare her alpha. She illegally sells legal drugs to other omegas. She refuses to give in to her scent-match. Always with the drama, this one," Theo waves me off like I'm an insignificant bug.

I want to throttle him. He knows it, too, but I smell like plastic and floral candles, so he doesn't seem even remotely moved that I'm upset.

Just like an alpha, that one.

Mel's voice in the back of my head, telling me I'm judging them for their designation echoes, but Theo is only proving my point. "You don't know what you're talking about," I spit out.

He won't look at me, and my omega whines. His jaw clicks, like maybe I'm affecting him, but not enough to sway him into thinking I'm worthy of his attention. It's enraging for so many reasons.

"Please," he scoffs. "Nothing you've done impresses me."

"Theo, shut the fuck up." Sully growls.

Theo grimaces but, thankfully, for all of us, stays quiet. I glance at the front door, wondering how long it'll take Red to get here.

"Ophelia?" Asher gently prods. If anyone in this room warms my heart, it's him. Maybe Enzo. I don't owe these dicks a thing. But… Enzo's confession crosses my mind, how Asher looked for me, how he felt after he thought he had lost me. If anything, if anyone in this room is going to soften me, it's him.

"Yes, Asher. To answer your question, I am on heat suppressants. And scent-blockers. And birth control. And I'm not a virgin. Does that bother you?" I cross my arms, looking directly at Sully, then Theo.

"I am. Does that bother you?" Enzo asks quietly. Shocked, I look over, but he doesn't look embarrassed or ashamed like an alpha his age might. He looks thoughtful and curious.

I shake my head slowly. "No… not at all." In fact, my omega is suddenly preening, joyous that she could be his first. I shut her up, reminding her all about double standards, but she doesn't feel at all guilty thinking of sinking onto Enzo's cock, watching his expression as he gets to experience sex for the first time.

I have to change the subject before I start perfuming all over this house.

"Look, what I do or don't do is none of your business."

"It is when you're ours. Enough of this. Are you on something else? Is that why you haven't given us even a fucking inch? I've never met an omega so determined to pretend she doesn't feel something for her alphas. We're fucking scent-matched, Ophelia! That is so incredibly rare. Don't you feel anything for us?" Sully roars, no longer able to contain his anger, his worry, his hurt. He's taking the responsibility for our courtship and its failure personally, and while it makes me mad he thinks he's got that kind of power all by himself, I also feel guilty that he's hurting.

They're all hurting.

We're all hurting.

I don't tell them why I deal to omegas because they wouldn't understand, and I don't want the OFA involved in my business. But, maybe I can tell them something.

"I've told you before, you don't know what it's like for omegas who don't join the OFA."

"But I don't understand why you didn't join or why you fight so hard against them. Or why any omega would fight against them. They protect omegas, that’s the whole reason for the OFA’s existence."

I sigh. "Do you know why I was out at the bridge last year? On July 22nd?"

Unsurprisingly, Enzo's the one who answers, "Your family died on the bridge. We assume you went out there to be close to them?"

I nod slowly. "Yeah… did you find that information from old news articles?"

"Yes. After I learned your name, I researched you. Some information I found through the OFA database I hacked into." I file away the fact that Enzo is so cavalier about hacking for another date.

"And what else did the OFA have to say?"

Enzo's shoulders stiffen, and he adjusts his glasses, deciding what to share. It's Asher who speaks up. "The report said your sister was performing that night. Your dad had a little too much to drink… They left during intermission after an altercation with a pack. It said…"

I know all about what it said because it's what the OFA tried to shove down my throat after the accident. Only I knew it was a lie, and even when I told them so, they acted like their version was the truth.

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