Page 85 of Sweet Omega
“Henri, was it? I know I might come off as weird, maybe even awkward since I don’t always know what to say, but I’d never goout of my way to be cruel to anyone,” he said calmly, but the fury crackling beneath it was unmistakable. “And Baron…” he turned to the alpha. “Why the hell did you invite me if you thought I was mentally challenged?”
“Ludiin, I don’t think you’re mentally challenged. I…”
“Answer me.” His eyes narrowed, his chest heaving.
Baron shifted in his seat, his gaze darting nervously around the table, avoiding Ludiin’s glare. “I told them I went on a date with you, but they didn’t believe me. So…”
“So, you invited me here to laugh at me,” Ludiin said, his voice tight with hurt. He pushed back his chair. He turned to leave…
And then he heard it.
“Ludiin?”
That voice. Deep. Familiar.
Ludiin froze, stomach sinking like a stone.
No. No… no no.
He slowly turned, eyes lifting to find Tarymn standing a table away, gaze locked on him. His expression unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders and the heat behind his eyes said enough.
Fuck.
Had he heard what Henri said?
Mortification surged through Ludiin’s chest like acid.
“Excuse me,” he choked out, bolting for the door.
He pushed through the entrance and onto the walkway, blinking against the glare of neon signs pulsing overhead. Tall buildings loomed on either side, the press of the crowd surging around him like a wave.
He just needed to get away.
“Ludiin!” Tarymn’s voice cut through the noise, but Ludiin didn’t stop.
He couldn’t.
Until a strong hand closed around his arm and pulled him to a halt.
His body jolted violently. Electricity surged through his nerves. His knees buckled. Air abandoned his lungs.
Ludiin hated how his body reacted to him. Hated that this was the touch he’d craved for years, the one he had dreamed of, only to be forced to bury it deep inside because Tarymn didn’t want him. He rejected him.
A hot flare of rage swept through him.
Ludiin yanked his arm free and stormed down the walkway. He didn’t care where he went. He just needed to put distance between himself and Tarymn. From the mess of it all. From the heat burning in his chest and the shame crawling up his spine.
But of course, Tarymn followed.
“Ludiin,” Tarymn snapped as his hand wrapped around his arm again.
That feeling returned, like lightning threading under his skin. Ludiin’s breath hitched. He stared at where they touched.
He hated it.
“Let go,” he hissed, yanking his arm back again.
“You can’t just wander around out here alone, you know that,” Tarymn said, voice taut with concern.
