The Omega's Choice

Chapter 19: Nox's POV

"Just a few more minutes," I growl at Cyan as he tuts yet again.

"You've been saying that for three hours at every twenty minute milestone," he groans. "She's not going to come."

I want to burn everything down all at once, but I also want to drown in sand, if that's possible.

I don't know what I've become. A stalker most probably?

I watched and waited for the right moment to approach Tamsin last week to ask for moment of her time, even if it meant following her around just to monitor her moods and who she's with at a given time.

I did all this not because I needed to know the kind of relationship she was keeping with my best friend–absolute lies–but because I needed to get her alone to talk.

"And get a whiff of her scent, creepy bastard." Cyan adds.

"Mostly to talk."

"Hm."

I realised that we needed to talk. To...talk about what? Maybe I'll tell her about the curse and she'll understand?

"Are you hoping she'll be our mistress?" Cyan sighs. "Isn't that cruel?"

"I don't want her to be my mistress, i***t. I want us to..."

"Get along like she does with Lior? Jealous much?"

"Shut up, she'll be here any moment."

I can feel him laughing in my head. He's thinking I'm crazy, and to be fair, maybe I am. But I wait for her to come and another hour passes.

She doesn't come.

With my patience exhausted, I decide that if she won't come, then I'll humiliate myself to go to her.

Even if it's just for a second in her presence. The pain goes away when she's close...when I smell her.

Even if that's what I'm able to get today again, then fine.

"That is not a creepy resolve at all," cyan mutters.

"Well what the f**k am I supposed to do? I'm running mad here, in case you didn't notice!" I growl.

"You're only running mad because she decided Lior was the one she'd move on with. You feel threatened."

"Aren't you wise?" I roll my eyes as I push my office door open.

The audacity Tamsin has to refuse me burns through my chest like wildfire.

No one has ever refused me—not as Alpha. Not as a man. Especially not an Omega!

I grit my teeth, fists clenching as I head straight for the Omega quarters. If she won’t come to me, I’ll go to her.

There’s a storm in my blood and I need to see her—talk to her—something. Anything.

I knock five times before the door swings open. And when it swings open, anger flares in my chest.

It's Lior. He's the one to open the door.

He's shirtless, his hair tousled like he rolled out of bed, his expression easy. Too easy.

"What the hell are you doing here?" My voice comes out sharp, my control fraying at the edges.

He doesn't flinch. "Same thing you're here for, I assume."

My jaw tightens instinctively and Cyan growls low, deep in my chest.

I know Lior better than anyone else. He's stubborn to s**t. It's one of the reasons why I had never openly confronted him about Tamsin before.

I wasn't ready for an argument that'll leave me burned out. But today, I was too far gone to even realise I'm picking an argument with him.

"You think I don’t know what you’re doing?" I hiss.

He crosses his arms over his chest, still calm, still collected—but there's a fire in his eyes. "You're angry because for once, you can't control everything. You had the chance, Nox. You had her. And you threw it away."

"I had to." I hate how hollow that sounds. I hate how weak it feels. But it's true. "You know why."

He laughs bitterly. "Yes, I know why. But does she? You let an innocent girl believe she wasn’t good enough. You let her carry that wound like it was hers to bear. And for what? Pride? Fear?"

Behind him, Tamsin appears, her wide eyes shimmering in the dim hallway light. She's dressed in a tank top and pajama bottoms that make her look smaller.

Gods. She's beautiful.

And she looks at me like I'm a stranger.

"I know there was a curse," she says softly, stepping forward. Her voice is raw, her words broken. "You could have just told me that, Nox. Instead, you made me feel like I wasn’t enough."

That hits harder than any punch and Cyan growls inside.

I step toward her. "Tamsin..."

"No!" she yells, chest heaving. She stands between us like a little Lego wall. "I think you’re still trying to own me. But I’m not yours. You made your choice, now stick with it."

She turns to Lior, and something inside me snaps.

"There are other girls," I growl, stepping forward, my eyes fixed on my Beta. "Why her, Lior? Why mine?"

"She was never yours," he bites back. "You rejected her. I’m just... cleaning up the mess you left behind."

Cyan lunges in my mind, furious.

My fist nearly flies, but Tamsin pushes me back, her hands on my chest, and gods, her touch burns.

"Stop it! Both of you!"

I stare down at her. My wolf still snarls, but my hands fall limp at my sides.

There's something radiating off her, like a heat, and it calls out to me...to cyan.

It's her wolf.

A pulse. A presence.

Cyan strains forward, but I shove him down. Not now. Not here.

Lior narrows his eyes, oblivious to the brief encounter. "Just let her go, Nox."

I look at Tamsin. She won’t even meet my eyes now.

So I turn and walk away. But not before glancing over my shoulder at Lior.

"We have a meeting tomorrow. Be early."

*****

My room is cold when I get back. Too cold.

Zara is sitting by the fireplace, draped in silk, and her hair let down in waves. My mother sits beside her, sipping from a glass.

They both look up when I enter. Zara smiles a little and my mother straightens.

"There you are. I was just telling Zara how eager I am to hear the news of an heir."

I exhale harshly. "Now's not the time."

She arches a brow. "Then when is the time, Nox? I raised you alone. I bled for this pack. The least you can do is make your union worthwhile."

Zara stands slowly. "Perhaps we should give him space."

But my mother isn't done. Her eyes narrow. "Don’t forget what we sacrificed. You may be Alpha, but you’re also my son."

She turns to Zara, her expression softening. "I’m counting on you."

Zara bows her head. "Of course."

My mother heads out of the room, leaving Zara and I alone.

"I'm sorry," Zara chokes up. "I'm really trying."

I frown, not exactly understanding why she's crying all of a sudden. I move closer to her and take her in my arms.

The contact feels dead, but I brave it anyway. "Trying? What are you trying for?"

"A baby," she clarifies and I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "I know you're trying to act like you don't what one now to make me feel less pressured, but I swear, I'm trying."

Truth is, I don't want a baby at this point in my life. I'm too conflicted to raise one, so I've been taking some herbs from Silas to help with that.

She's not the problem, it's me.

I run my hands through her hair and press her to my chest. "You'll get it soon, baby. I swear."

Sometimes, lies are the best way to peace of mind. Trust me.

She nods and her crying reduces, but she doesn't pull away from my arms.

Maybe I should start putting more effort in her and permanently stop worrying about Tamsin.

What would life look like?