Page 26 of Omegas Need
“Thank you,” he whispered, “for everything you’ve done for us.”
Before I could answer, he glanced down at Usman, hand absently stroking his shoulder.
“I don’t know what it is, but I really like you,” he said. “And I know Manny does too, or we wouldn’t still be here.”
I didn’t know what to say, but apparently Wren didn’t expect me to say anything because his eyes drifted closed, and breathing evened almost at once.
After a moment, I reached for the bedside table light and switched it off, but it was a long time before I could sleep because everything felt off.
And in the morning, it was even worse.
Somehow, I got up, got dressed, and Wren and Usman got into my car. Somehow, I drove them to the river to drop them off. Like it was normal. Like it was okay.
I could see the tents stretching down below the bridge. Last year an effort had been made to remove the tent city by Lunar City officials, but that campaign had gone nowhere. I had barelygiven it any thought, but Wren and Usman had probably been down there wondering where they’d end up.
Wren opened the door and climbed out, but Usman hesitated.
He placed a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to catch his green eyes while my heart clenched.
“Thanks Chase,” he said softly. “We’ll see you again, right?”
It occurred to me that we hadn’t figured out the phone issue. I cursed internally, suddenly panicked. How was I supposed to find them, to keep in touch with them, to check on them?
Swallowing, I forced a nod.
That seemed to be enough, because he smiled, gave my shoulder a little squeeze and climbed out after Wren, who bent down and gave me a little wave and a smile.
Until next time.
And in the meantime, they wouldn’t be eating nice food or sleeping on nice beds or probably even warm...
My logical side cursed me for ever getting to know them. For getting close enough to worry about them. My true side ached as I watched them walk away.
And then all thoughts pushed aside when someone suddenly stepped into their way.
I could tell even from a distance that he was an alpha and even though I had no claim to either of them, my entire body stiffened. I watched with razor sharp focus, body ready to jump from the car until Wren pulled Usman around the dirty looking being and they kept walking.
Forcing the breath I’d been holding from my lungs, I put the car in drive.
As I started to pull away, all of my instincts screamed at me to stop. To go back.
My knuckles were white on the steering wheel. My heart started to thud.
Everything inside me told me that I had found them for a reason. That I was abandoning them when they weremine.
It wasn’t just the sex, although that was amazing too. Somehow, even though we weren’t bonded—even though I didn’t think we possiblycouldbe, it felt like more. It felt like... like kismet.
My hands were shaking.
No one else would understand how I felt in that moment. I didn’t want to betray Ari’s memory by moving on. I had never planned to replace her, and never withtwoomegas simultaneously. Yet I couldn’t deny that wefit.But how could I be meant to be the alpha for three omegas in my lifetime?
It made no sense, but my instincts were blaring alarms in my head to turn back and take what was mine. To protect them and love them even though they hadn’t asked me to.
And the future that had seemed so bleak, now looked like it was filled with unknown possibilities once more.
My car swerved, like my body had decided before my mind did. I cut someone off, nearly causing another pointless crash, but sweating and heart racing I continued to turn around.
I forced myself to drive faster, feeling overwhelmingly like I’d thrown both Wren and Usman into a den of hungry wolves.
