Page 9 of Heat Hesitation

Oh, and the best part? They were players. Their pictures, three of the four of them anyway, were all over the Arrow Cove Daily Rag, out on dates with every wealthy omega around.

The only thing they could possibly want with me was my ability to reproduce since, as their scent-match, we had the highest chances of easy conception and producing more little alpha and omega babies. Of course, other matches can get pregnant, but it can be difficult and may not result in the desired designation. Why that matters to anyone, I've no idea. Betas are awesome.

My heart broke a little each day that passed as more articles came out with pictures of them with different omegas on their arms.

I'd never be what they wanted. I was from South Loop—poor, uneducated, a hustler. I was on heat suppressants, birth control, and scent-blockers, and I wouldn't change any of that if I bonded. They'd only want me for my ability to reproduce. Asher, who barked at me, knew what I was to him; he scented me, and still… he moved on so easily.

Well, they'd never be what I wanted, either. Despite what my friends think, I'm not against being with a pack. And a scent-match of all things, there's no other perfect match out there. But after what they did to my family, I could never be with a pack associated with the OFA or with any of those wealthy jerks from the Hills.

The entire situation was doomed from the start.

I glance down at the pills that consume so much of my time and biology. Then, up at Mel staring off into space, probably thinking how to break little Polly's heart because Momma's gotta work. I can't do that to her, no matter how much the idea of potentially running into the Constantines or Madam Fletcher, the Director of the OFA, makes me want to vomit.

"I'll do it. Of course, I will," I offer with a lightness I don't feel.

She might hear the false bravado but is too desperate to point it out. "Are you sure? Oh man, thank you so, so much. I owe you big time. Seriously. And hey, on the plus side, the tips are always huge at the OFA events. You'd know that if you'd ever been to one."

"I said yes, don't push your luck."

She laughs, rubbing her hands on her jean-clad legs. "Well, I should get back. Kids will be home soon."

"Okay. Oh, and I'll make the drop on Friday. If you can get the pills before then, let me know. I'm going to make some deliveries tonight in the meantime."

"Sounds good. And thanks again. For the OFA gig Saturday. I know how much of an ask this is."

She really doesn't. "It's fine. Let me know when you've got the pills. Give Polly and Brian a kiss for me."

"I will. Please be careful out there," she winks, making her way out of my apartment.

We live in a dangerous area, but most everyone knows me by sight and knows I'm under the protection of the Dante Pack. I smell unidentifiable, like sickly-sweet plastic, my clothes are baggy, pepper spray at the ready. Armed with enough pills to hide a dozen omegas, I'm set to take on the night.

Chapter 5

Asher - present day

I don't bother hiding my distaste as Enzo and I lean against the ballroom wall, passively watching the dancing and laughing omegas and alpha packs on the prowl. The glitz and glittering glamor, from the crystal chandeliers descending from the ceiling to the gold filigree painted columns and the four-string quartet playing on stage, makes me feel like I'm in a fucking eighteenth-century fish bowl.

My bowtie, long since untied, adds to my air of disinterest, and Sully keeps shooting me concerned looks from across the room. He knows there's no fucking way I'm entertaining the thought of an omega; I can't even breathe when I think of touching another.

For a while, my pack brothers were just as determined to find out what happened to her, the one on the bridge. Though they won't admit it, they began to wonder if I was making things up. That maybe my reaction was my alpha in fear of an omega in danger, not that she was a scent-match. Or maybe I just happened to find one who smelled good, someone more scent-sympathetic, and I was exaggerating her earthy lavender, sage, and rose beauty.

For a while, for me, they tried.

Now, for them, I'm trying. Not that I'd entertain an omega for myself, but if they found one they wanted, I wouldn't stand in their way. I don't know what that means for us as a pack, but I promised them I'd try. I can sit back while they bond another, even if the idea makes me sick.

My brothers glance nervously at me all night, worried I'll do something stupid.

Not like I can top that time I basically told the Bradfords to go fuck themselves in public after just signing a million-dollar contract with them, simply because they brought their daughter to lunch. It's not like they knew what a trigger that would be.

Leave it to the Rag to post pictures of me losing my shit and spin it, weaving a tale of my intense infatuation with the girl, so moved by her omega scent I nearly knocked over a server to get to her. The opposite happened, but it's not like the readers care. Sensational sells.

I haven't been as unhinged over the last couple of months, able to get back to work and find some semblance of normalcy. However, these omega events bring out my bitterness and self-loathing, and I'm not sure that will ever change. Enzo used to be the one that dreaded these events the most. I'm not sure what we'll do as a pack if half of us can barely stand the sight of all these unbonded women.

Enzo stands a little taller, but I laugh when it's puff pastries garnering his attention, not a woman. He picks the pastry off the tray without taking his eyes off the server, tilting his head slightly like he's trying to peer inside their soul. I distract him, so the server, who's obviously uncomfortable, can scurry off. "Any good?"

"Oddly zesty," he chews.

His answer brings a curl to my lips. "Feel up to sparring when we get home?" Enzo's a creature of habit, and he prefers to work out in the morning. He rarely deviates from his routine, but he senses my need.

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