Page 38 of Choosing Their Omega

“Lily?” Knox is beside me, and his scent is strong, so strong, but his voice sounds far away. “Lily.”

My heart is racing like I’ve been running a marathon and I feel almost lightheaded. I’m too hot. I’m so hot I want to rip my clothes off. I want—I want—

“Lily.” Knox’s voice is a growl that cuts through absolutely everything, and I jerk and turn, staring at him. There’s a light scruff on his jaw, and his face is angular and rugged. I want him so badly.

Another scent reaches me, besides Knox’s, and I realize it’s my own. “What’s happening?” I whisper.

Fear is hitting me. Something is wrong with my body. Something is very, very wrong, and I don’t understand.

Knox takes me by the shoulders. His pupils are dilated, and he’s tense. I feel like he’s holding himself back from devouring me, but I wish he wouldn’t. I want to be devoured. Please devour me.

“Lily. Listen to me. Look at me. Just focus on my voice.” Knox’s voice dips into a lower register. He’s using his Alpha voice, the one that I’ve only read about in my romance novels. Somehow, hearing it cuts through everything, and I’m able to focus on him just like he asks. “There you go. Listen to me. You’re perfuming.”

“That’s… no. Perfuming?” I shake my head. “That’s not possible. Only Omegas perfume.”

It’s something Omegas do in order to spread their scent and let nearby Alphas know that they’re available for mating. I’ve read plenty of romance novels where the heroine perfumes at an inconvenient time.

But that can’t be me. I’m a Beta, and I’m an adult. If I were an Omega, I would’ve presented years ago.

“Hey, sweetheart, you seem distressed.”

I hear another Alpha voice speak from behind me, and I turn to see an unfamiliar man standing there. His eyes are alight with interest and his scent is… it’s fine, it’s sexy, but it’s nothing compared to Knox’s. I want Knox. I don’t want anyone else.

Before I can say anything, especially anything embarrassing, Knox inserts himself between me and the guy, glaring.

“Back the hell off,” he snarls.

Knox has several inches of height on the other Alpha, and he’s definitely more muscled. The other Alpha stares at him for a second, like he’s trying to figure out if it’s worth it. I press close to Knox, grabbing on to his arm. I don’t know what’s going on and I’m so confused, but I trust Knox will help me. I don’t trust a random stranger I don’t know.

The Alpha’s gaze flicks over to me, and when he sees I’m clinging to Knox, he relaxes and backs off. “All right. Fine. But get her the hell out of here, man.”

He sounds put out, and he turns and walks away a second later. I look up at Knox as he turns to face me.

“What’s going on?” I breathe.

I sound scared. I am scared, but I don’t like that the fear is so obvious. I feel almost sick, or high. I don’t understand how I could be perfuming. None of this makes sense.

“You’re an Omega,” Knox says, his voice low and soft as he tries to soothe me. “Something must’ve tripped your hormones, and now you’re perfuming.”

I want to drown in his voice. It makes me feel safer, but it can’t entirely erase the panic.

“That’s not possible,” I choke out. “I’d know if I was an Omega! I can’t have been an Omega all this time.”

“I don’t know.” Knox picks up Ben and wraps an arm around me. “But I’m getting you home. You need to be somewhere safe and secure. Perfuming with who knows how many Alphas in the vicinity won’t help you at all right now. I’ll take you back home, okay?”

I nod. I’m still freaking out, but Knox sounds calm and steady, his voice washing over me. Even though I wasn’t sure he liked me before today, I’m so, so glad he’s here. I feel safe with him. Even if I can’t handle myself right now… I know that Knox can.

He can take care of me.

Chapter 12

Lily

By the time we get to the car, I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin. I’m hot all over, and I’m insanely aware of all the scents around me, particularly Knox’s. I had no idea this was what Omega’s experience, and it’s overwhelming, almost too much to deal with on top of the sudden revelation that I’ve been wrong about myself my entire life.

“Uncle Knox?” Ben sounds worried as Knox straps him into his seat. “Is Lily okay?”

“Lily’s fine, don’t you worry, kiddo. She just got a little sick. Lily’s an Omega. You know what Omegas are, right?”

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