Page 23 of Royal Omega

Chapter Eleven - Carissa

I’m sitting under agiant umbrella, trying to concentrate on what the Army pack is telling me. They’re talking about their lives, their goals, what drove them to join the military... it’s interesting, I have to say. At least two of them seem to be really noble and focused, and there’s something inherently attractive about that. I’m sure it will hit home with many of the viewers who watch it later. It could probably be an interesting part of my writing, too, if I could pay attention. Profiles of the packs would be well worth including in my notes, if not the article itself.

...But all I think about is Conrad. What the hell is he doing here? Where has he been all this time?

And why didn’t he come back for me?

***

THE LAST TIME CONRADand I were together, we were on a balcony at the Stevens’ mansion. We had agreed beforehand that we would rendezvous there, and my heart pounded as I stepped out into the cool summer air. My shoulders were bare in my strapless gown, and I shivered as he touched my skin, running those long, elegant fingers down over my back as he pulled me against him.

“Izzy, will you be mine?” he asked.

We both knew it was a longshot that our families would agree: one omega to one alpha, and both of us just eighteen? It was going to be a scandal. But we didn’t care; we were in love. We were going to be together. Our love, we decided, would conquer all.

When we kissed that night, it was as close to a vow as either of us could take. After the party, we went to my parents and told them that we were going to bond.

I remember being so nervous. So sure they would explode with anger or close themselves off from me, cold and disappointed. But they all embraced us with open arms. My fathers offered toasts, my mother hugged me tight, telling me she was proud of me. It was one of the best nights of my life.

And then the next day, my mother was telling me that Conrad had gone to UP in Iceland, and we shouldn’t expect to see him again for a long time.

I was dumb-founded. Conrad had never mentioned Iceland, let alone going to college there. He was supposed to start at San Fran U with me in the fall. We were going to be together. I thought it must be a mistake.

I called, I wrote emails, I even showed up at his parents’ house but no one was home. My mother was adamant that I drop it; that Conrad had shown his colors. “Dear,” she said with her usual exasperated sigh, “if someone has to fly across a whole continent and an ocean to get away from you, maybe it’s time to take a hint.”

I refused to believe it. I dove into online research, trying to find a way to connect with him. Looking back, it was my first foray into journalism. But nothing worked; he didn’t have a phone or an email address in the directory, for some reason, and most of the web materials I found were in Icelandic. He wouldn’t answer any of the emails I sent to his old address, and none of his high school friends knew where he had gone. It was as if he had fallen off the face of the earth.

Finally, when I was starting to research the cost of flying to Iceland, an email arrived from Conrad. I opened it hungrily.

Izzy —

I’m sorry, but it would never have worked between us. You’re a nice girl, but I had an opportunity to travel, to make a name for myself, and I’m going to take it. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Izzy, I really didn’t, but I’m moving on. You should too. Don’t write me anymore.

—Conrad

The words burned into the backs of my eyes. I read it over and over, looking for some explanation; some reason for this abrupt shift. I cried for months. Sometimes I still cry about it, if I’m honest. He was my first love, and my first heartbreak.

And now he’s here, looking grown and muscled and... well frankly, pissed off, which seems like a really unreasonable response since he’s the one who abandonedme. I stare back at him across the lake until he looks away, his lips forming a curse. Next to him, his pack mate — the one from the balcony — doesn’t blink. He’s watching me with a singular focus that makes me shiver despite the swirling emotions in my mind.

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