Page 46 of One Wild Omega

Tanner let Raimy lead him downstairs and out onto the sidewalk. As soon as they were outside, there was a buzz of activity out on the street. A few betas in hardhats were cordoning off the empty building next door.

“Oh,hello,” Raimy mumbled joyfully under his breath. “What do we have here?”

One of the men turned as they approached, a smile on his handsome face.

“What’s going on?” Tanner asked, bold as ever. When the man frowned slightly, he added, “I own the building next door.”

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll be renovating this place, so it might start getting a little noisy around here, I’m afraid.”

Great.Tanner forced a smile as the beta continued.

“We’ll try our best to keep the noise to a minimum… and when we’re done, this old place will look good as new.”

“The scenery isalreadyimproved,” Raimy said with a wink. He turned to Tanner, but his smile faded when it wasn’t returned. He looked back at the beta. “Good luck.”

Tanner felt Raimy tugging on his sleeve, and he followed his friend to his car.

“Now Iknowsomething’s really wrong.Youpassed up a chance to flirt with a fine-ass beta? The world must’ve ended and I wasn’t made aware.”

Tanner eyed Raimy over the roof of his car. “Just not in the mood today.”

Raimy’s frown faded. “Okay. I get it. I’ll let you marinate in those feelings today… butjusttoday.” He paused. “Want me to drive?”

Tanner reached into his pocket and tossed the keys over the roof. “Yeah.” Raimy didn’t own a car, but then many didn’t in the city—not when public transportation was as good as it was. Tanner owned one so he could transport projects and supplies, but still ended up using the trolley or the bus often, as it was simpler and he loved being around people. It made him feel more alive.

That day… he wasn’t so sure he wanted to be around anyone. Halfway across town, he turned to look at Raimy. “I don’t know if I feel like going out.”

In profile, Raimy’s face fell. “Okay.”

“Wanna order some take out and go to my place? I think I need to tie one on…”

Raimy chuckled. “I haven’t seen you drunk in years…” He paused. “Sheesh… wasn’t it your twenty-first?”

Being reminded of that night stung. “No, there was one more night… about three years ago.” After the first time he’d seen Fitz with Bellamy. It was interesting that every night he’d been wasted, Fitz had been involved. He’d say Fitz drove him to drink, only the first time he’d already been sloshed.

“Oh yeah. I remember now,” Raimy said. “You were feeling some kind of way that night, too. And never told me why.”

“Nope. I never did,” Tanner said, watching everything blur past outside the window.

Awkward silence filled the car for a moment. It was never awkward between him and Raimy, and he hated that it was. He sensed Raimy wanted to ask, but never said a word.

A few more miles passed.

“The guy in the painting…” Tanner paused, unable to finish the statement. He could feel Raimy turning to glance at him.

More silence fell.

“I always thought it kind of looked like that guy Bellamy was friends with,” Raimy said, his voice low.

Tanner nodded. “It is. Fitz Walker.” He turned to face Raimy. “My alpha.”

Raimy’s eyes widened, and the car slowed. They were suddenly swerving into a parking spot on the side of the street. Raimy threw the car into park and then spun to face Tanner. He turned, a smattering of shade and light cascading over him from the big oak they parked under. “What? Bellamy wasfuckingyour mate? As if I needed more reason not to like that guy…”

Tanner lifted his hand. “Donotblame Bellamy. He has no idea. None. Nor does Fitz.”

Raimy frowned, wide eyed and incredulous. “Why didn’t youtell them?”

Tanner sighed. “The way Fitz acts around me, I don’t know if he would’ve even believed me. The man loathes me. Even if he believed it, who knows if he’d accept me—probably not. By keeping it secret, I didn’t have to endure that humiliation.”

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