Page 66 of Broken Omega

I glance over at the crowd that’s gathered close by now that the hall has emptied out. Not everyone is looking, but anyone who happens to be watching is whispering and laughing. I look back at Donnie, wishing I could do it. Just take hold of his hand and never look back.

There’s nothing here for me. I know that.

Yet, I don’t trust myself enough to say yes.

“Maybe next time,” I tell him, feeling all the hope drain out of me as I turn down the offer of a lifetime.

I can’t do it. I can’t walk away from the only world I know. The only world I’ve ever known.

Even if I don’t want what it has to offer, I can’t just leave.

The sexy ex-stripper gives me a wry smile, completely unfazed by my knock-back.

My heart races a little faster when he leans in closer, cutting off the world around us. All I can see, feel, and hear is the man who’s standing right in front of me.

“We’re on back-shift, most of the time,” Donnie murmurs, close to my ear, “Call after six and we’ll do whatever we can to be the first ones here.”

It’s the first offer I’ve ever had that’s made my stomach flutter.

He’s telling me he’ll come back for me whenever I’m ready.

Oh, God, I wish I was ready.

He moves back, and I can’t help but smile at him.

My skin feels flushed, and I definitely need a cold shower.

“I’ll think about that,” I promise.

“Take your time,” he calls back as he leaves.

BROOKE

Giving the crowd a wide berth, I move back toward the gardens, this time alone and very much concerned with keeping the faint scent of my freshly awakened perfume out of the range of any nearby Alphas. I can’t risk that happening, even if it’s so weak I doubt anyone would notice it unless they leaned in close and inhaled deeply, kind of like that second EMT did before he whispered his invitation in my ear.

I perfumed for a couple of insanely attractive Betas, and at least one of them noticed.

Apparently, I’m capable of doing things other Omegas can do, after all.

Still, I wouldn’t exactly say I wasn’t broken. Omegas don’t usually perfume for Betas.

And it could be a false heat. My perfume is weak, and I was exposed to a nest before I became crazy attracted to a couple of hot strangers.

I just really wish I wasn’t so close to every Alpha I’ve ever met right now. The first one to smell my perfume will think I’m his, and there’s no way in hell I belong to any of those dickheads.

I don’t start to relax until I’m back on the bench in the garden, close enough to the flowers to mask my scent. I don’t know where Henry went, exactly, when Donnie told him to get lost, but I can’t see him around. The other guards are preoccupied with their jobs, and with keeping control of the noisy, intoxicated group of Omegas and Alphas who don’t seem to realize the reason they’re out here is because something terrible happened tonight.

My stomach churns when I think about what I saw, but then things start clicking together in my head.

Cassidy was here tonight. Geraldine was sending his male Omega to Colvindale. Those dead guys, that’s where they came from. Maybe he did that to them. If he did, then he probably saved Dylan and got Secret out of here, too.

The thought makes me smile.

I hope that’s what happened.

I just kind of wish I hadn’t stumbled across what her Alpha did to those Colvindale assholes.

The shock of that find is going to stick with me for a while.

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