And Wilder, Vargas, and Penn blew my idea of what an alpha male was right out of the water and into outer space.
Still, they were the exception to the rule. They were rare and unique. Most men were like Rumor’s rejected mates.
I sighed and tried not to look their way. My gaze roamed over there several times anyway, but the more they did, the thicker my resolve became.
“I’ve already got sandwich plans for those two loaves,” Rumor said, standing next to me.
“You always have sandwich plans.”
“That’s true. Oh…” She drew out the last word and her eyes bugged a bit. She looked at me and then beyond me.
“What?” I asked, whispering since I had no idea what was going on.
“They’re coming over. And there are three of them.”
My turn to get all bug-eyed. “Let’s go before they get here.”
Rumor snorted. “It’s too late.”
“Hello, Lily.”
Fuuuck. I knew that voice even though I’d only spoken to the male once. He’d bought nearly all our products, asking if I’d made them myself.
I turned around as my heart thrummed a mile a minute. They smelled so good. I was glad I went with the slick-wicking panties today. “Hi.”
“If you’ve got everything picked up, can we speak to you privately, please?”
My heart sank. I dreaded this moment. It was too soon. I’d only begun to get to know myself.
“Um, sure.” My wolf spoke the words, I was certain. She wanted to do a whole lot more than talk to them, and my scent proved the point. If I could sense it, they probably could too. I walked around the last table and off to the other side of our truck. “Talk.”
Benji, the tallest one, stepped forward a bit. “We’ve already introduced ourselves. All three of us are a pack. We haven’t come up with a name yet, but we are. We…we think you are our omega.”
Yep, it was happening.
My ears began to ring. Droplets of sweat popped from my hairline and on the back of my neck. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
Roan nodded. “We would like to ask your permission to court you.”
“Court me? What does that even mean?”
“It means, we spend time together. Get to know each other. Dating. Everything in courting is your decision.” Harlan’s deep voice made my core tighten and my tummy flip-flop. All of them did. Goddess, I was in trouble.
I wanted to say yes. I did. Having a pack and a family called to me.
But what didn’t call to me? The loss of control over my life. The lack of choice. Everything that I’d become, stripped away.
Not a chance in hell.
“My decision?” I asked.
“Yes.” Benji nodded. “We, of course, would love for you to say yes. To let your pack court you, but we would respect any choice you made.”
I doubted that. Seriously.
“Then my answer is no.” Saying the words physically hurt me. My chest tightened into knots that I was sure would never unravel. “I reject your proposal. I won’t be anyone’s omega. I won’t ever allow myself to be treated like shit again. By anyone. No one will ever own me.”
How dare they.
