Page 53 of His Reluctant Omega

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HavingWilder so close was taking every ounce of Avery’s strength. He couldn’t embarrass himself in front of friends and family—or risk being outed, either. Add in the curiosity of what Wilder had brought him…

Avery’s fingers trembled slightly as he ripped open the paper covering the small box. He allowed the wrapping to drop to the floor, keeping his eyes on the gift. The heat of Wilder’s focus was too much, making it harder to breathe.

Harder to think.

That growl still rang in his ears and the inner animal within demanded he respond to it. His body throbbed with need… and the urge to surrender.

Right there, in the middle of the party, filled with college classmates, distant family members, friends of Gray and Rohan—and he wanted to lower to all fours and beg Wilder to claim him.

Why did they have to invite him?

Inside the box was another one—a rich carved wood that smelled of the outside. As soon as he opened it, he saw a pen and pencil set.

An engraved set.

His gaze followed the scrolling, beautiful lettering.

Congratulations, Avery

He lifted the first one out, his lungs besieged. His gaze lifted to Wilder’s.

Wilder leaned a little closer. “I know everyone calls you Abraham… but you feel more like an Avery to me.”

He should’ve been upset. He should’ve admonished Wilder and the gift. Yet after being called another name for four years, it felt too good to receive the gift of his own. Tears burned the backs of his eyes, the weight of all his deceptions so heavy.

All he had to do was give in. Admit who he was to Wilder and succumb, and it would all be over. The lying, the pretense, the… everything.

It would be easy.

A lone tear slipped as he let out a cry. Spinning, he raced from the room, unable to contain all the battling emotions of the day.

* * *

Wilder took a step back,his skin tingling with discomfort. What had sent Avery running?

Damned fool, you know why.He’d attempted to get a reaction from a name, his own curiosity getting the better of him. All the stories and lies—he simply wanted to know the truth.

Brett took two steps in Abe’s direction—and Wilder put a palm to the guy’s chest.

“No.”

Then he saw Gray go running—or as fast as a waddling pregnant omega could run—through the room.

He stalked in front of Gray. “I’ll fix this.”

“You?”Gray asked.

“I made this mess. Allow me to clean it up.”

One of Gray’s brows rose, but he held back. “Fine. Clean it up.”

Wilder strode in the direction Abe had raced off to. He searched the empty rooms in the house and finally found the beta on the second-floor landing, overlooking the foyer. Abe dangled his legs through the spindles of the balustrade, his forehead pressed against them.

Wilder took a seat beside the man. “I’m sorry my gift was… misguided.”

Abraham wiped a tear away. “No… it actually wasn’t. This…” He paused, waving at his tear-streaked face. “… is all me.”

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