Page 38 of Royal Omega

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WITH CONRAD STILL MIA, I decide to take a breather on the balcony.

As soon as I step outside, I scent honeycomb and ginger. My cock responds immediately, and I curse under my breath at the intensity of the desire that runs through my blood. She has me completely captivated; completely under her spell.

As I get closer, I detect a little undertone of something sweet, like cookies, which I haven’t smelled before. It bothers me; it means she’s been close to someone else. Someone who isn’t pack. I growl despite myself, even as I pull in deep inhales of her essence.

“Hi, Henry,” Izzy says in a soft voice.

I turn to face her, swallowing hard. Izzy is standing on the next section of the balcony, a light blue robe wrapped around her waist and cinched at the side. Her hair is piled high on her head in a messy style, tendrils curling against her soft skin. She steals my fucking breath.

“Carissa,” I say, moving closer.

She steps closer, putting her hands on the railing between us. “Hi,” she says again. “Call me Izzy, remember?” Her eyes are red as if she’s been crying. I want to demand to know who made her feel this way... but we both know the answer to that question all too well.

I smile at her as gently as I can. “I heard you asked Ransom to call you that, too. Am I rising in your estimation then? Does it mean I have a chance?”

Her eyes turn sad, and I immediately regret my words. Of course she doesn’t want to think about that right now.

Clearing my throat, I add, “I meant... I know things are weird with you and Conrad, but you know you can trust me and Ransom, right? That’s what you meant when you offered us your nickname?”

“Conrad used to call me Izzy, too, back in the day,” she says.

“What happened there, Izzy? Will you tell me?”

She lets out a long, fatigued breath. “I would, but based on what Conrad has been saying, it seems like we have two different versions of the story. And I really don’t want to insert myself into the middle of his pack.” Her sad eyes are breaking me. She shakes her head, pursing her lips. “As much as I like you, Henry, I think we should keep our distance for a while. Conrad seems to think I did something truly terrible, and I’m not sure there’s any way to fix what’s broken between us.” She smiles at me. “Take care of him, ok?”

She lifts her hands from the railing as if she plans to turn away. I grab her wrist and press it to my chest, holding her in place. “Izzy.” She looks up at me, surprised. “Listen. Conrad... he’s not always the easiest to communicate with. And yes, we’re pack, but there’s something between you and me. We both know it. I want to hear your version of what happened. And I can promise you, I’ll believe it if you tell me it’s the truth.”

I raise my hand to her cheek and run my knuckles along the soft flesh. Her breath catches and she leans into my hand. Her scent gets stronger. Much stronger. Fuck. If she was on the edge of a heat before, she’s getting dangerously close to the cliff now. And she’s taking me with her.

She shakes her head and pushes back, trying to move away from me. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I shouldn’t... I’m too close to my heat now. My judgment isn’t where it should be.”

“If you’re close, then you need relief.”

“Maybe I’ll go to one of the ferals,” Izzy replies, talking more to herself than to me.

I growl, reaching out and grabbing hold of her hips. She lets out a little gasp as I grip her tightly. One of my hands moves to her chin, and I turn her face up toward mine. Her eyes are dark with desire, and I’m sure mine are, too.

“If you don’t want me, tell me no,” I rasp.

She blinks up at me.

“Izzy, tell me no,” I repeat.

“I can’t,” she whispers. “I don’t want to.”

I groan as I lean down and take her mouth with my own. My hand spans over her neck, holding her in place. Her lips part, welcoming my tongue, and I slide in, stroking her tongue with my own, possessing her. Claiming her mouth the way I will soon claim the rest of her.

My arms move down over her back and I pull her hard against me, the railing still in between us. She moans, her arms looping around my neck.

“Invite me over, Izzy,” I order gruffly.

“Come over, Henry,” she says in a dreamy voice.

“Your wish is my command, beautiful.”

I jump over the railing and grab her close, lifting her up in my arms. “Where’s the fucking bed?”

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