Page 11 of Collateral Omega

Xaine laughed, but there was no humour in his voice. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t have fucked him if he let you.”

Holi gasped as embarrassment washed over him. He closed his eyes, wishing he could disappear. Why would Xaine say something so vulgar about him?

He was so…so… Holi couldn’t think of the words to call him.

Everyone was watching.

Dammit.

Holi wondered what they would say about him now. He was already an outsider. The poor omega who was searching for an alpha at every party his father could finagle an invitation out of the host.

Tears prickled Holi’s eyes, and he couldn’t stand there any longer. Blindly, Holi ran. The need to hide from the world was so strong, it drove him to an alcove with large pot plants that could hide him from view. Holi tucked himself behind them and faced the wall.

He leaned his head on the cold surface and tried his best not to cry. But he couldn’t help it because his brain was determined to replay every second of the humiliating moment from the time alpha Lane approached him.

Holi should have known Lane was using him. But Holi hadn’t. He had thought the alpha was interested in him. Lane had smiled and said the right things. Holi had been so flattered he hadn’t seen Lane’s lie for what it was.

Or maybe he’d been a little desperate for the tiniest bit of attention. When alpha Lane had approached him, Holi had thought that he was finally being seen. Someone was seeing him for who he was. His family’s status didn’t matter.

He hadn’t really liked alpha Lane, but he was willing to look past that, because the alpha was doing the same. Taking on a poor omega wasn’t easy.

Holi buried his face into the wall and whimpered. Tears ran down his face. He wiped them away as best as he could, but they kept coming.

Where was his alpha?

Master Tarymn’s face filled his mind. Holi longed for the alpha even though he didn’t know him.

Why was it so hard to find his alpha?

Holi suddenly froze. The whimpering sounds died in his throat when he felt Xaine’s overwhelming presence wrap around him again. The alpha was close. Closer than he’d been in the party hall.

Chapter 3

Holi

Holi stood still, not sure what to do. Behind him stood a massive and scary alpha.

What do I do? Holi panicked. His heart hammered loudly. He was sure Xaine could hear it.

Tell him to go away, Holi told himself.

He was tired of being pushed around. Holi turned around to face the alpha. His stomach churned, but he pushed through his nervousness. Holi opened his mouth to tell him to leave, but no words came out.

Fuck. Not again.

Don’t look him in the eyes. Holi looked away from the alpha’s strange eyes. He took a deep breath and…

“Say thank you for saving me,” Xaine bit out, interrupting him.

What?

Was he crazy?

He wanted Holi to thank him for what he’d done. For embarrassing him in front of those people. For making sure he’d never be invited anywhere.

Why was he bothering him anyway? Didn’t he have something important to do?

“I’m waiting.”

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