Page 69 of One Wild Omega

“I want to be here for you.”

“Because you suddenly think we belong together? You don’t like me, Fitz. That won’t magically change because ofScentex. You don’t get off the hook that easily.”

Fitz looked down at the floor for a moment. “I’ve said ugly things. I’ve treated you badly. And I never,everunderstood why. So yeah, maybe I wanted it to be this. An explanation for my bad behavior.”

The alpha looked at him, imploring. The truth swirled in his brain. Giving in and telling Fitz now would end his suffering. Or only make Tanner suffer.

When Tanner didn’t say anything, Fitz shook his head before walking out into the living room. He followed and watched as Fitz took a seat in one of the oversized chairs.

“What are you doing? I told you to leave.”

“And you shouldn’t be alone. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Leave!” Tanner screamed. “I don’t want you here!”

Fitz gazed at Tanner, his eyes wide. After a moment, he gathered his gym bag and began to put on his shoes. Tanner didn’t really want the alpha to leave—but he’d spent so many years pushing the man’s buttons he didn’t seem to know how to stop now. Fitz gathered his phone and his keys before rising to his full height. After a quick glance at his cell, he looked at Tanner. “The site’s been cleared. You can go see if there’s something left to salvage—but I doubt there will be much from what my brother said. I was going to go with y—”

“I’m not digging through the ashes of my life, hoping to find something that won’t be there,” Tanner spat. “It’s gone. It’sallgone. The quicker I move on, the better.”

Fitz eyed him a second. “The arson investigator also wants to talk to you. I’ll text you his number.”

“Quinn and I will handle everything. I don’t need anything from you.”

The alpha sighed as he stood near the door. “I’m sorry, Tanner.”

Tanner watched as the man left, anger filling the fading numbness.

Now his life was truly in ruins.

* * * *

A few minutes later…

Fitz pressed the gas, speeding through town faster than he should. The anger had raged—hard—after he’d awakened. What he’d been able to hold back earlier in the day had churned deep, waiting to be unleashed, especially being awakened the way he had. It had taken every ounce of strength to walk out without saying the ugly words roiling on his tongue. Fitz knew full well that if he’d let any of them slip, it would’ve been a nail in the coffin.

He hit the Call button on his phone and dialed up Bellamy’s number.

“Hey,” a familiar voice said.

“Hey. I didn’t have Quinn’s number. I need to get a message to him.”

“Sure thing. Tanner okay?”

“I got him home, fed a little, and he slept for a few hours. He woke up angry and kicked me out… but he shouldn’t be alone right now.”

“Carter’s running a fever, so I’ll see if Quinn or Beau can go… or Tan’s friend, Raimy. Thanks for letting us know.”

Us.Before today, that word likely would’ve stung. Surprisingly, it didn’t. When he imagined an omega at his side, it wasn’t Bellamy any longer. It was Tanner. “Bell—I think you’re right about him.”

“You mean… heisyour omega?”

“I don’t know. He’s telling me no, but I think he’s lying to me. But then, I thought you were lying to me and I was most definitely wrong as hell. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m a total fuck-up.”

“I saw the way he was leaning into you at the fire, Fitz. I don’t think you’re wrong about this one.”

Fitz gripped the wheel a little tighter, pushing past the lump in his throat. “But… I’ve beensoterrible to him, Bell. And after what… after what we did. Thathadto kill him. There might be no going back. No matter if it was a bad reaction or not. I can’t simply wipe all that away like it never happened. Hell… even if he did let me into his life, all those words would hang over us.”

“I wish he would’ve told me… a long time ago. It breaks me inside to think we hurt him like that. If he’d just said something…anything…”

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