Page 49 of Heat Hesitation

I don't think any of us ever thought about how hard it is on omegas who don't join the OFA or even on those who do. Ophelia's been opening our eyes to shit we've been ignorant of, and I want to show her I care about her, and her causes.

We've been courting women for years, and each year, things get more and more artificial. It never occurred to me that it might have something to do with the OFA curriculum, what they're teaching the omegas not only to want but to accept: that we alphas are the decision makers and the breadwinners and that it's their job to shut their mouths, make babies, and look pretty.

Maybe peripherally, I'd noticed, but I'd never really examined it.

So while Sully works on learning more about South Loop and ways he can help that don't involve a charity luncheon co-hosted by the OFA and instead, actionable change, I'm determined to learn more about Ophelia's pastime as a drug dealer.

It's a win-win.

The only reason I know she has deliveries tonight is because Enzo, incapable of letting her out of his sight, told us through a group text; Ophelia didn’t even bother trying to shake him loose, so she’s letting him tag along.

Enzo called out of work for the first time, ever. Well, he worked from home, but only because she threatened to start sleeping in her nest alone if he didn't give her space. She's only been here a few days, but she's already the center of our universe.

Our gravity pulls toward her and her alone.

Her things arrived a couple of days ago, and I helped her unpack, regret bleeding into every smile I gave her. Her responses were terse, but we managed to bring everything into the nest, the largest room of our home that's sat empty and unfurnished since we built the place, without getting into any more fights.

I admit, fighting with her is a little hot. But I'd rather fight over the remote or what we'll eat for dinner than this uncomfortable cold war we've got going on.

It all gets fixed tonight, I decide. I don't want to end up like Sully.

We finish sparring, both dripping in sweat, when I bounce happily, renewed with energy and determination.

"Tonight's the night, brother," I tell Sully.

He chugs water from a bottle, downing the entire thing to avoid responding.

"She'll come around. She's just stubborn," I slap him on the back.

"Make sure she's careful tonight. And find out which pills she's been collecting. I have a meeting with Dr. Rubens from the OFA to discuss why these pills aren't readily available for unbonded omegas."

"Why don't you tell her that?" I ask. It's obvious brownie points for the omega who's mad.

"I'm not doing it to make her like me, asshole. It's not illegal for her to take them, so why did she have to put herself in danger to get the pills? For her and others like her? It's supposed to be our job. As alphas, as OFA sponsors."

"She'd want to know," I say. "Not for brownie points. She'd want to be involved."

He presses his lips together, then looks away, grabbing a towel off the hook and wiping the sweat off his neck. "I'll talk to her if I need to. She has a right to be involved. But it's not about her, not really. It's about all of them. It's time we stepped up."

Sully stalks off to the weight-lifting bench, picking up the barbells and lowering down. I could stay and spot him, but Sully can deadlift three hundred without batting an eye, so I leave him to it.

Dressing in my most shady-looking outfit, complete with black pants and a black zip-up hoodie, I sneak outside and wait by the SUV for my little delinquent to join.

After texting Enzo a million times—that mother fucker was probably balls deep in my omega—he finally texts me back and lets me know she's ready to leave.

I climb in the backseat, and when Enzo takes the driver's seat and Ophelia climbs into the front passenger, I squeeze my arms around her from the back.

She shrieks, slapping my arm away. "What the fuck, Theo! You scared the shit out of me!"

I chuckle and pat her cute little head. Her wild hair tufts out of the hood, and I comment, "Hey, look, we match!"

Enzo starts the car and heads down the driveway when she turns in her seat, "Nuh-uh, no way are you coming with us. It's bad enough Enzo's here," she hooks her thumb toward him. He doesn't react, it's unlikely he's offended. But he also knows there's no way in fuck she's ever doing this again without at least one of us with her.

Hopefully, if Sully succeeds, she won't have to do it at all.

"What? Me? I'm just along for the ride."

"Theo."

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