Page 5 of A Real Alpha
“Can you blame me?” I asked.
“Yes,” she returned. “There are plenty of cute,single,omegas who come into this place. Why zero-in on the one with a baby daddy?”
She had a point but I couldn't even pretend that I didn't find him cute as heck. He just had a soft air about him that drew me in... Maybe it was the baby.
I shook myself and turned back to the front counter. We were closing soon anyway. In about an hour, he would go on his way, and that would probably be it.
If he lived in the area, I might see him walking on the street someday with the baby older and the alpha parent in tow. And if not, then I would likely forget all about him.
Until then though, I couldn't help but to pay attention. When I neared him to sweep the floors, his subtle vanilla-like pheromones were just so lovely...
I could feel his gaze on me but I managed not to glance over as I passed his area, much as I wanted to. Sage was right, this omega was taken. Being friendly was one thing, but I felt that bone-deep tug toward him that only came when someone compatible was close enough for me to scent.
He was obviously going through something. There was no point in bothering the guy.
As the day wore on, the shop slowly emptied, and Sage came out the back, apron slung over one arm, and hair down.
“I'm off,” she said, glancing pointedly toward the table where the light-haired omega was still sitting, nursing and gazing out of the window.
“Want me to do the dirty work?” she asked. “You know I don't mind kicking customers out at closing time.”
“I'm well aware,” I said, but shook my head. “I'll wait until he's done feeding his baby and then I’ll tell him.”
She gave me a dubious look. “Uh huh. Alright, good night.”
“You, too.”
I watched her go, a tingle of anticipation running through me as I was left alone with the omega for the first time.
He's just a customer, I reminded myself.You’re not involved. You’re not getting involved...
I finished counting the cash and then wiped the counter again, even though it was already clean. Then, swallowing, I went around the corner.
At the last minute, I went to the door instead of the table where he was sitting and turned the sign around toClosed.
When I slowly spun to face him, he was watching me, his green eyes wide but unreadable.
“We're closed,” I said, stating the obvious.
He stared at me for a long moment. I sensed he didn’t want to leave but wondered if it was me who simply wanted him to stay. He looked down at his baby who was suddenly wiggling around and whining again.
He ignored the child in favor of collecting the meager items that had been in his bag, all baby items, before pushing to his feet and wandering toward the door.
“Thanks for letting me stay,” he mumbled as he passed me in a rush of warmth and vanilla.
I clenched my fists. The instinct to keep him there singing in my veins. The sound of the bell ringing was almost jarring in the silence that was left behind. For a moment, I watched him hurry away, his head down and shoulders up against the cold.
Why did I have such a weird feeling about letting him go? It wasn't my place to be protective of a random omega. Lunar City had a lot of people who were down and out. It had a lot of crime too...
I shook my head and locked the door, trying to push the thoughts away but it was useless.
I felt a gut-deep desire to get involved even though I shouldn’t.
I'd first thought maybe he’d just needed to get out of the house, but it became clear it was more than that. He couldn't bein too hard a spot considering that he didn'tlookhomeless, but that was a stupid way to think as Sage had pointed out.
If he’d truly been in trouble or danger, wouldn’t he have asked for help?
I groaned aloud.
