Page 70 of One Wild Omega

“It’s not like we could control it,” Fitz said. “It was an accident.”

“Was it? If I hadn’t had my pride, I would’ve accepted Tanner’s offer of that spa trip. I could’ve cycled off… and avoided all of it. But he’d already given me a place to stay, let me borrow his clothes, his car. Fed me until I had a few paychecks in the bank. I couldn’t take more from him, especially knowing I might not be able to pay him back for something so costly. Those spa retreats for cycling off are crazy expensive. Now I realize why he offered. He likely saw what happened coming a mile away.”

“But then that begs the question—why didn’t hesaysomething if he saw it coming? If he’d told you who I was to him, maybe you would’ve said yes to that trip.”

“At this stage, I think there are a lot ofwhat ifsandcoulda beens. It’s always much easier to see the mistakes we madeafterthe fact.”

“Indeed,” Fitz murmured. “I just wish he hadn’tseenit.”

Bellamy went silent on the other end for a moment. “I need to go. Carter’s crying… we’ll talk later. And I’ll get someone to get over to Tanner’s place. Don’t worry.”

“Thanks,” Fitz ended the call before an idea struck him. He quickly made a u-turn and headed back toward that part of town. He needed to find a way to make things right.

One way or another.

Chapter Sixteen

A little over a year and a half ago…

Fitz slammed a fist through the wall before ripping out the drywall and tossing it to the bare concrete floor. With each following punch, he let out a roar—the visceral feel of the destruction was good for the soul. He glanced over at a smiling Bellamy, who was covered in drywall dust and the gods knew what else.

“You’re right. Thisisfun,” Bellamy said before swinging the sledgehammer and hitting the X Fitz had marked on that part of the wall.

“You can get out so much aggression. It’s like therapy,” Fitz replied with a grin. “Imagine that asshole at work… the one who was stealing all your work. Imagine that wall is his face.”

“I told you… Ihandledthat situation. We’re all good now.”

Fitz lifted a brow. “Really? You wouldn’t love a chance to punch him in the face?”

“Okay… maybe.” Bellamy grinned a little wider. “Yes. Yes, I would love to punch that asshole in the face.” He lifted the sledgehammer and took another swing at the wall. “Take that,Steve.”

“Yeah, don’t mess with Bellamy,Steve.”

Bellamy grinned, and they both went back to work destroying the wall. It was the first of many. After several weeks of negotiating with the owners, and then the long, drawn out process of being approved for a loan… and then the time Bellamy took deciding exactly what he wanted to do and having an architect friend of his at the firm draw up his plans, Bellamy was finally getting to demolition on the old brownstone he’d purchased—which Fitz was more than happy to assist with.

Destruction that hailed a rebirth.

“Damn,” Bellamy said, taking off his hardhat to swipe his brow. “Is it boiling in here, or what?”

Fitz frowned. “It’s notthatwarm.” It was fall, well into it. Outside was crisp, just like he liked it, and the old place’s insulation wasn’t great. He could feel a cool draft hitting him. “Too much work for ya?” he joked.

Bellamy used the hat for a fan. “No seriously. It’s fuckinghot.”

Fitz lowered the claw hammer he’d been using and looked at Bellamy. The guy didn’t look right. Too pale.Reallysweaty. His eyes were glassy. “You okay?”

Bellamy shook his head before clawing at the top of his flannel shirt. He tore it open, buttons flying everywhere… and that’s when Fitz scented it.

Slick.

He took a step back, a roar sounding through his brain. Bellamy tossed the flannel shirt to the floor, panting. Then he leaned over, hands on his knees. Fitz took another step back as the alpha part of him compelled him forward.

“We… we need… to get out of here. Now,” Fitz said, feeling his cock thickening.

“Fitz,” Bellamy all but moaned. “I don’t… I don’t know… if I can…”

Fitz forced himself back against the studs they’d just cleared. Bellamy had been so adamant that they would only be friends—no matter if Fitz wanted more. It wasn’t fair to Bellamy. It wasn’t fair to him, either.

The omega dropped to his knees, a mournful wail coming from his lips. “It’s too soon.” He panted a few breaths. “The full moon isn’t… until… tomorrow night.”

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