Page 53 of Collateral Omega

Though standing up didn’t change anything, Holi still felt the alpha’s domineering presence. Xaine’s eyes finally slid from him to Blaine. Holi pulled the omega close to him. He wasn’t going anywhere without him.

“Is he coming with us?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“No.”

They spoke at the same time. Holi turned to Blaine. “You’re coming with me. Wherever I go. You go.”

“Excuse us.” Blaine grasped Holi’s hand and walked a few paces from Xaine. He leaned close and whispered, “I don’t think I should go with you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You stayed with me when you didn’t have to. This is me paying you back. Living in the Covus mansion would be better than living in some commune house.”

“That’s what you think. I would rather not be the third wheel in whatever is happening between you two.”

“Nothing is happening between us. He wants me to pay back my father’s debt by....” Holi blushed, “becoming his service omega.”

Blaine gasped. “Oh, that’s what I heard. I thought I heard you wrong that time.” Blaine gave him a concerned look. “I thought you two were…you know.”

Holi shook his head. “I don’t like him.”

“Not even a little. He’s hot.”

“You can have him.”

Blaine laughed. “He doesn’t look at me the way he looks at you. He didn’t even notice me sitting next to you until a few minutes ago.”

“I don’t care how he looks at me.”

“Then don’t do it,” Blaine whispered. “Don’t become his service omega.”

“I don’t have a choice. It’s no big deal though. It’s only for a year,” Holi laughed, trying to make light of the situation. But he was scared. “Come with me.”

Blaine looked over his shoulder at Xaine. The omega shook his head, much to Holi’s disappointment. He couldn’t force Blaine to go with him if he didn’t want to. And besides, he couldn’t hide behind Blaine. He had to deal with Xaine on his own to set himself free.

“Okay,” Holi said.

“We should get going. Your alpha looks impatient.”

“He’s not my alpha,” Holi bit out.

“He might not be your alpha for now. But I think he’ll be your alpha by the end of the night,” he said, making Holi shiver. His first time was going to be with that beast. He fucking hated this.

Don’t think about it, Holi told himself.

They returned to where Xaine and Klane waited for them.

“I need to find a commune house for my friend before I can…”

“Klane will arrange everything. Let’s go,” Xaine said. He grasped Holi’s arm and walked out of the health facility to the waiting pod outside. Holi wrenched his arm out of Xaine’s grasp as he got into the pod. He chose the seat at the back of the pod and sat down. Xaine followed him there, sitting close to him. Holi clenched his jaw but said nothing. They drifted away in silence. Holi looked back to catch a glimpse of Blaine. But he didn’t see him.

Fuck. He just left him there.

“How will Klane arrange a commune house for Blaine?” Holi asked. “He’s not going to abandon him, right?”

“No. You really don’t trust me,” Xaine said. A sad note to his voice. Holi ignored the feeling of sympathy it elicited inside him.

You hate him, don’t forget that.

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