His head turned to me, the liquid pools of his eyes becoming darker for a moment before he cleared his throat. "Your scent is becoming nearly unbearable."
I paused, before stepping to the side, putting distance between us. I was mortified. Embarrassed that my scent smelled so awful to him when this whole time I thought he smelled so damn good that all I wanted to do was curl up with his clothing and close my eyes in comfort.
He reached out and grabbed my arm before I could move further. "That isn't bad, little omega. Your scent is intoxicating, and without the suppressant, it's growing stronger each day. And I think, well..." he was looking uncomfortable. "I think that soon it will come."
"If you're referring to my heat, I think I have a few weeks, maybe months still," I explained. I'd never had my heat before, but I'd know if it was coming, surely.
"You don't." He stopped next to me in the rain, his gaze intense, and given the subject, I should be squirming. I knew it was our nature, and uncontrollable, but the heat was still part of my body, still made me vulnerable. "I want to know, no..." He shook his head as he tried to correct himself. "I need to know if you'll stay. We don't have anything to offer you, omega. We aren't rich, but we get by. We'll never have all the things that youdeserve, no matter how much I wish we did. But despite that, even knowing I shouldn't and it's unfair, my alpha longs to keep you."
I tilted my head to the side. "And you?"
He swallowed hard. "I am struggling."
His honesty hurt. He didn't want me, not like his alpha did. I looked down. "I'm sorry, alpha."
He pushed my gaze back up. "I am struggling because I want you when I shouldn't. Is it a crime, omega? Is it a crime to have you when I so clearly don't deserve you?"
He looked so sad, broken, when he spoke that I couldn't help but step closer. I let my fingers toy with the wet hem of his flannel shirt, but I dared not look at him when I spoke. "I don't know you, alpha."
"That's my fault."
"I know Leo's favorite color, and Bran's favorite food. I know Leo hates going to town but does it because neither Bran nor you are the greatest with people. Bran isn't a fan of the thunderstorms, but Leo could stand in the rain for hours and be happy."
His hands touched mine where I was toying with his shirt, halting my movements. "I know. It's unfair of me to ask you to stay, but they've already grown attached, and I'd do anything for them. Anything they asked. No vote because I know that if you leave, if you aren't here anymore..." He swallowed hard. "Losing our beta hurt them, but losing you, omega, might shatter them."
"Them," I sighed. I cared about them, I truly did. But at this moment, they weren't my concern. "And what about you? Who worries about how you feel and what you think?"
"I do."
His fingers were so warm where they encased my hand that I was finding it hard to think. "That's unfair."
"I'm the alpha."
"No excuse," I bit my lip. "What is it you want, alpha? I can leave, blame it on my own wants, my own needs, if it helps. They won't hate you for it, won't know you sent me away."
But I'd know, and as much as I wanted him to have a choice, I wanted the choice to be me. I'd hate him for sending me away. Despise him from the depths of my soul for giving me a place I felt at home in, only to tear it away. From giving me people and a family that could be mine, only for me to walk away and hurt them.
He took a deep breath, exhaling it shakily. "I want you to stay."
"Truly?"
"Yes," he huffed, "Truly, omega."
I couldn't help the smile that broke free; I was nearly bouncing on my toes, unable to contain my excitement, until finally, I caved, and bounced up, wrapping my arms around the alpha's neck before I kissed him. His body was stiff against mine at first, but soon his hands wrapped around my back, and his lips, the pillowy soft lips I'd dreamt about, moved against mine. It wasn't a long kiss, the moment interrupted by a catcall whistle from the porch, but it still was everything I wanted, needed, and didn't realize I'd been missing.
Ours, my omega purred.Ours, I agreed.
"Are you two going to stay out in the rain forever?" Leo called from the porch.
"They didn't even realize it was raining with all the making out they were doing," Bran chimed in.
My face heated from embarrassment, but before I could say anything, the alpha only held tighter while he yelled back, "Jealous?"
"Hell yeah!" Leo laughed, before they both turned and went inside.
I turned, ready to go back to the house, but the alpha's hand stopped me on my arm. When I looked back, he looked nervous. "One more thing."
"Yes, alpha?"
