Page 62 of One Wild Omega

Tanner took a few steps back, shaking his head. “You’re out of your mind.”

“Am I?” Fitz said, closing the gap again and moving too close. “I think I might finally have some answers.”

“Answers about what?”

Fitz lifted the pages. “There’s a problem with some alphas when their omegas are onScentex.”

Tanner searched Fitz’s face. He couldn’t read the man’s emotion and feared opening up and admitting the truth. “What has that got to do with me?”

“It’s a study done about a rare reaction in some alphas when they meet their omegas… if those omegas are onScentex. They become angry… irate… and feel like they need to push their omega awayinsteadof pulling them closer.” Fitz took a half step closer. “The same way I feel wheneveryou’rearound. Only… I felt this once before. Many years ago. A drunk omega with green hair plopped in my lap and I felt the same way… if not stronger.”

Tanner was speechless. No words came to mind, especially when his alpha moved closer. Fitz lifted his chin with one finger and demanded his attention.

“If that was another omega, then I’ll know what’s in my head is absolutely crazy. If it was you? Well…” Fitz held Tanner’s gaze, still giving away no clear emotion. “Was it you or not, Tanner? Were you my little green-haired alien?”

One word. It would be all it would take, but after all that had transpired, he didn’t know what he wanted. He needed time to think…

“It wasn’t me,” he fibbed.

Fitz’s face immediately fell. He let go of Tanner’s chin and took a step back. And then another. “I knew Bellamy was grasping at straws.”

“Bellamy?” Tanner tensed at the name. “What does he have to do with this?”

“He told me about the study. Wondered if that was why I have such an adverse reaction to you. I stopped by to talk over something… and he asked me about you.”

Naturallyhe ran to Bellamy to discuss something. “I’m sorry… but that wasn’t me,” Tanner lied. “You’renotmy alpha.”

“I’m sorry I even brought it up. Forget it.Please.”

Tell him the truth!

And what—have him use it to hurt me again?“Already forgotten,” Tanner murmured.

As the inner devil and angel warred inside, Tanner looked down at the pages, curious as to what it said. He needed more information. There was no way he was giving his alpha any more ammunition that could be used in anger, not without knowing more.

“I guess I have all the answers I need now,” Fitz said, backing away toward the door. He tossed the twisted pages into the garbage before walking toward the studio’s door.

Tell him the truth!Tanner opened his mouth… but nothing came out.

“Sorry I bothered you. I’ll go.” Fitz turned and headed down, his big feet noisy down the stairs.

“You, too, Fitzy.”

He turned back to his painting and peeled back the burlap.Good thing he didn’t see you!

Tanner glanced back at the door leading into his studio before facing the painting again. The Fitzes on his canvases were perfect. They weren’t cruel. They didn’t make him feel worthless.

What if he has a legitimate excuse? Is therereallya legitimate excuse for someone being an asshole?

Tanner crossed his studio and reached into the wastebasket for the pages. It was an article from some medical journal. The article’s title?Adverse Reactions of Alphas to Scentex. He locked his studio door before sliding into the papasan chair in one corner where he curled up to read.

Chapter Fourteen

Later that night…

Number twenty-five.Fitz counted off as the car’s headlights sent long shadows against his bedroom ceiling and walls like some kind of abstract art.Art.Every-damned-thing brought him back to Tanner. Glancing at his alarm clock, he saw the pale blue 2:30 staring back at him. Another set of headlights crossed his ceiling.

Twenty-six.

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