Page 29 of Gold Rush
Noises in the kitchen make me slow as I keep my head raised, walking through the archway. My eyes find Seth and Bennett immediately, both seated in the corner breakfast nook.
It’s Theo behind the stove, making a pancake, with Arin across from him that makes the words die in my throat.
Their chatter fades. Theo looks up, his bright blue eyes finding mine, pinching at the corners in a glare. Bennett tilts his head, his nostrils flaring as Seth opens his mouth from beside him.
“Had to scrub off last night?” Theo prods at his pancake, his words terse.
I jerk, looking at him sharply, shaken all over again. “What?”
“You heard me.” He doesn’t bother looking up from the pan. “We’ll have to air out the townhouse when you finally leave, everything smells like burnt sugar. I take it from the scent-cancelling soap you didn’t like our alpha’s scent all over you? Are you about to move on and find someone you can tolerate better?”
“What thefuckis your problem?” My entire plan shatters as I stare at him, my hands shaking as I clench them into fists. “All you’ve done is bully me since I’ve been here or scurry away with your tail tucked between your legs when I’m in the same room. Go on, run away.”
His jaw flexes as he raises his head. “I’m not fucking running in my own home. You must have thought you won the goddamn lottery when Seth came to the designation center —”
“Theo —” Bennett snaps, starting to rise.
“Fuckyou,” I snarl the word, putting my entire chest behind it as I spit from anger, stepping forward. “I’m not some fucking nineteen year old omega you can get off on bullying. I’m aperson— I have —hadfree will until aweekago, something you’dneverunderstand.” The silence in the kitchen is deafening as I stalk forward, pointing at Theo. “I went to college, I have a life, acareer. This entire thing has derailed my future, and you don’t get to give me shit for taking theonlysafe optionI had.”
He locks eyes with me, heat and fire burning me as he mutters sarcastically, “So fucking dramatic.”
My lip curls. “Shut the fuck up. You don’t get to tell me I’m dramatic and overreacting when you’ve lived your entire life the wayyou’veplanned it. This is the worst nightmare I’ve ever had — did you know the center told me that hotels have the right to refuse me? Airports can turn me away?”
At his silence, I barrel forward, too enraged not to keep speaking. “I can’t get out of bed without feeling my entire body rebel against me. I feel like I can’t even take care of myself anymore. Do you know howembarrassingthat is? I’ve spent my entire life taking care of myself. Do you evenknowwhat it feels like to suddenly feel wrong and like you’re missing a part of yourself? I just have this constant fuckingachein me, awant, a claw in mychest—” I choke on the words, the room blurring as my eyes fill with tears.
Theo stares. “You don’t have to stay here if it’s so bad.”
Seth yelps from the table. “What?”
“You heard me.” He’s talking to Seth, but his eyes never waver from mine. “Clearly this isn’t the place for you if you’re so miserable.” He shoves the pan off the stove, crossing his arms.
The plan I formed falls apart in my hands. “The center told me I would be putting myself in danger.”
Theo shrugs, but the motion is jolted, uncomfortable. His words say one thing, but his body language says another. Hisshoulders are tight, his lips pressed together as he leans away from me. “So?”
“Theo.” Arin’s voice is barely a whisper, a warning.
“I can’t walk around perfuming and drawing every alpha in the city to myself.” I stare at Theo —he can’t be this stupid. Everyone has seen the stories of young omegas out at night at the wrong time, about alphas who think their power means they can do whatever they want.
My blood runs cold. “I’ll end up trapped in the center again, stripped of my choice.”
His expression doesn’t waver, but something in his eyes looks as unstable as I feel. “Take suppressants.” He sounds angry, but also, somehow, pleading. “Get on a flight. Gohome. Go to one of those under the table heat hotels, spend the nights with a hired alpha or toys. Satisfy yourself, because let me make one thing clear.” He slams his hands down on the counter, making everyone flinch. “You arenotwelcome in this pack.”
“Jesus, Theo —” Seth stands and Theo whips his head to the side.
“No, she should know.” Theo snarls, looking back at me. “I don’twantyou. You might be trying to worm your way into everyone else’s bed, but I’m a part of this pack too, and I’mrejectingyou.”
Pain — white hot, angry and electric — radiates through my chest, like my body is trying to rip itself apart at the words. I take a step back, putting a hand over my heart, whining at the physical pain the words cause.
“We aren’t trapping you here. You want to leave? The door isn’t bolted, and I sure as fuck won’t stop you.” He stalks around the counter and nears me and I stare up at him, my lower lip trembling as he scoffs. “If you’re going to be emotional about all of this, do it somewhere else. I’m tired of hearing it.”
“You’re an asshole.” I whisper the words, my voice wobbling.
“Born and raised, princess.” He doesn’t even look at me. “Go find someone else to —”
“Quiet.” The weight of Arin’s bark silences Theo mid-sentence. It settles on the kitchen, heavy as the taller alpha stalks toward Theo. I can’t move, can’t breathe.
Theo doesn’t let him reach us. He storms out of the room, shoving past me as Bennett stands up. His shoulders are tight, his jaw tense as he stares angrily at Arin’s profile. “Go.” He strides forward, and then takes my arm, pulling me away from the doorway, his voice softening. “Come sit, June. I’ll make you a plate.”
