Page 32 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

I kept my gaze fixed on the mahogany desk as I sipped from the cup, pretending to be absorbed by the clutter spread across its surface. There was the stack of papers, the custom seal stamped with the pack’s sigil, the maps stretched across one side, a worn ledger, and an old lantern. Anything was better than acknowledging Damian’s eyes drilling into me. The ticking of the brass clock on his desk filled the silence, each beat growing louder until it pressed against my nerves. But I kept drinking the tea, forcing myself to endure it.

“You’re avoiding me,” Damian said, not a question, but a statement.

Without looking up, I kept the rim of the cup at my lips and murmured, “I’m not.”

“You are, Tala,” he insisted.

“I’m not, Damian,” I repeated, glancing at him briefly. “If I was, I wouldn’t be here… in your quarters.”

“Then why have you stopped having breakfast and dinner with me?”

“I prefer to eat alone,” I said evenly.

“And the Rite of Passage ceremony? You didn’t honor my invitation.”

“I was exhausted that day. Besides, my presence wasn’t necessary.”

“What about the Full Moon ceremony?”

“Well, I…” My voice faltered, but I quickly recovered. “I had other responsibilities to attend to.”

A beat passed after my last word, and then Damian’s low rumble broke the silence. I snapped my head toward him, only to find him trying and failing to laugh quietly.

I scowled. “What’s so funny?”

“You, Tala,” he said between chuckles. “You’re obviously avoiding me. And you just confirmed it three different ways.”

Rolling my eyes, I took a final sip of tea and set the cup down gently on his desk. “Thanks for the tea, Damian. I think it’s time to call it a night. We can go over the outreach details tomorrow.”

I stood, brushing down my dress as I moved. “Goodnight,” I said briskly, already turning away. But I hadn’t made it two steps when a firm hand caught my wrist.

“Tala, wait.” Damian’s grip was gentle as he turned me back toward him.

I almost collided with his chest, stopping just inches away. Heat rushed through me, spreading like wildfire. My heart rate spiked, pounding against my ribs, and my breaths came shallow and uneven. This was what his proximity did to me, undermining every ounce of resolve I had. I hated how my body betrayed me. And worse, I hated that Damian knew exactly how to get this reaction.

“Damian,” I breathed, barely finding my voice. My thoughts scattered, caught between nervous tension and self-awareness as his gaze swept over my face. The pull to lean into him was overwhelming, but I fought against it.

“We can’t keep doing this,” I said, closing my eyes briefly as his scent wrapped around me. “You can’t keep doing this.”

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his finger brushing along my cheekbone. “Unlike you, Tala, I don’t know how to hide wanting what I want.”

He leaned in, burying his face in the crook of my neck. A low growl rumbled from his chest, vibrating against my skin.

“Why can’t I still get your scent?” he whispered, his voice raw with confusion. The words were muffled, but I heard them clear as day.

I pressed my hand against his chest and gently pushed him back. “You really need to stop coming close to me, Damian.”

“Why?” he challenged, stepping forward again, closing the space between us. “Because you don’t want to face how you feel? How I make you feel?”

“Because it’s wrong,” I whispered. “You’re going to mate with Serena in less than a week.”

“It’s not Serena I want.” His eyes never left mine. “It’s you, Tala. It’s always been you.”

My eyes fluttered closed as my heart clenched in my chest. There was a time I would have given anything to hear Damian say those words. But he was seven years too late. Now, they didn’t mean a thing. They shouldn’t mean a thing.

I shoved him again, this time harder than I intended to. “My job here is to protect the alliance, not destroy it,” I snapped, turning to leave.

“Why, Tala? Why do you resist me so much?” Damian called after me, his voice rising above a whisper, mixed with anger and frustration.

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