Page 120 of Stolen Omega

I move along the corridor and go downstairs without checking Dale’s bedroom.

He was in the kitchen when I left the monitors, and I know that’s where he’ll still be.

I push open the kitchen door and step into the room, letting it swing closed on its own.

Dale looks up at me from the counter, his smile dropping away.

A frown darkens his face. He stops cleaning the flour off the counter, dropping the cloth he was using, and folding his arms. He’s not happy to see me. I expected this reaction. I deserve it.

I’ve got a lot of missed time to make up for.

“I called Cameron to pick me up,” he tells me. “So, this … whatever you planned out here … You might as well forget it.”

“I didn’t think you were still seeing Cameron,” I start, “but I’m glad he’s on his way out here.”

He binks at me. “You drugged me to get me out here, and you’re happy that I called my … boyfriend to pick me up?”

“Ex-boyfriend,” I murmur, not that it matters.

“You’ve been keeping track? Why?”

“You’re fated for me, Dale. Of course I’ve been keeping track.”

His amber eyes get shiny, but he’s mad under the shock.

“You can’t just …” He shakes his head as his words trail off.

I’m his Alpha, so I can, but I’m dumb enough to put it that bluntly.

I move closer, and he completely drops his guard, his gaze widening as I back him into the counter, placing my hands at either side of his body on the cold metal. He looks up at me, and I can see the desperate need in his eyes.

“I came to your prom,” I tell him, my voice soft.

“What? You came to my … You came to my prom?”

“I realized that night that you needed me, and I came with the intention to claim you.”

“You did?” he whispers.

“I was ready to give up the search for Zoey. I was ready to be everything you needed me to be.”

“You were?” He sounds completely stunned.

I nod slowly. “Then, I found you with him, and I thought it was too late.”

“I … I didn’t have you, and I needed something,” he starts, his lips trembling.

“I know. It’s okay,” I tell him. “I understood. You wanted a life, and I thought I was ready, but in reality, I wasn’t there yet. I’d spent too long wallowing. I wasn’t everything I needed to be. You deserved better. You deserve an Alpha who’s ready to be everything you need. So, I walked away while I pulled myself back together. I watched over you, made sure you were being well looked after. He was always good to you, and you love him.”

“I … I do,” he murmurs, his frown starting to fade.

“I never should have let anything break us apart,” I admit. “We were always better together.”

He swallows, drawing my attention to his slender throat.

My teeth tingle with the need to mark him, but I know we’re nowhere close to that moment.

“I want you to have everything you need, Dale. Everything. I know I haven’t been around like I should have been, but that changes now. I want to be the true mate you always deserved, if you’ll give me the chance to be.”

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