Page 30 of Heat Hesitation

He runs his hands through his hair and laughs, but it's dry and lacks humor. "She said she told you about Alma's car accident."

"You don't sound convinced."

"Just wondering if she told you the truth or the same bullshit she tried to feed me over the last decade. She thinks she's clever or that I'm too stupid to know when she lies. Maybe both." He adds, shaking his head, "She's a terrible liar."

That makes me snicker. "Well… she explained where her hatred for the OFA stems from."

"You know them? The pack that hurt Alma?"

I struggle with what to say. I don't want to betray Ophelia. Even now, despite having known her barely a week and spending almost no time with her, I feel loyal.

"Why'd she lie to you?" I land on.

"Hell if I know. Trying to protect me, I imagine. I didn't know what happened, not at first. But the story didn't make sense. There were rumors about what the Olcenes did to Alma. I've never wanted to murder someone so badly, but Ophelia needed me. We used our anger. It fueled us."

"Do you think it did her a disservice? Staying away from the OFA?" I ask, honestly curious what he thinks.

I'm surprised when he considers the answer rather than dismissing me.

"No, I don't. I wish she had more support. I'm an alpha. I was born to beta parents. The only omega's we know are the ones we take under our wing to try and help. We've never had guidance from one, which could have been helpful. But they're corrupt, the OFA. You know that, don't you? You have to know they aren't what they say they are."

If what she said tonight was true, about the OFA protecting the Olcenes, who might have been in their early twenties, taking a sixteen-year-old girl, scent-match or not—protecting the pack over the young omega, just because she was poor? Would that have happened if she was from the Hills? Or had any connections?

The truth is, I don't know. And I didn't think the OFA was capable of that. I feel like there's a lot we don't know, but tonight, my only focus is Ophelia.

Red eventually gives up trying to get me to leave but agrees he won't tell Ophelia I'm here. Every once in a while, I glance down the street, wondering if I'll have tires on my car when I leave after the sun comes up. I'm amazed at how easily the time passes, just looking out for her, and when the sun finally crests the sky, and I don't want to worry about her catching sight of me, I leave, pleased to find my car in one piece.

An old guy leans on the wall near the ground, like he slept beside my car all night. Something about the way he watches me gives me pause.

I nod. He nods.

I narrow my eyes, he narrows his. Finally, he gestures to an upside-down hat with some cash in it. "Red paid me twenty bucks to yell if someone tried to fuck with the car. You need a lookout, I'm your man." He hooks his thumb into his chest proudly.

That old softy. I'll have to give Red a hug next time I see him. I'm sure he'll enjoy it immensely, I laugh to myself. I pull a hundo out of my wallet and hand it over. The man's eyes light up.

"I'm Theo."

"Waylon."

"Waylon, thanks for watching the car. I'll try to park near here from now on."

He gives me a wide, toothless smile, and by the time I'm in my car and driving home, I've got a little pep in my step.

Chapter 13

Ophelia

Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

That's what I'm told happens, anyway, but I wouldn't know—ever since that night they followed me, I've been paying closer attention and realized pretty quickly that I'm never alone. My omega loves this.

I love it, too. And, like every other complicated thing involving them, I hate that I love it.

Running late, I stuff a clean pair of short black booty shorts and a new pair of tights into my bag and run out the door. It takes me all of ten seconds to track down their SUV, Enzo in the driver's seat and Theo, surprisingly, in the passenger's.

My lips tug in amusement watching Theo talk animatedly with his hands with all the enthusiasm of a kid showing off his school project. Enzo notices me immediately, watching intensely with an unreadable expression. I doubt he's listening to a word Theo's said.

Typically, when I spot them, I make a point to flip my hair or do some other action to make a point that I don't care that they're there. Today, though, I'm late, so I march straight over.

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