15. Chapter 15 #2
Luci’s patience snapped. “Stop.” He raked a hand through his hair, glaring at both of them—one in the room, one through the speaker.
“Do you even hear yourselves? Nylune, don’t tell me you don’t want a real connection with someone.
And you,” he pointed at Ludiin, “You can’t say you’re done with alphas when you haven’t even tried. This is insane.”
“Maybe to you,” Ludiin said coolly. “But to me, this is the closest thing I’ll ever get to normal.”
“Is this because of Tarymn?”
“No. It has nothing to do with him. I just feel that…”
Luci cut him off with a sharp shake of his head. “You’re not going to hide, Ludiin. I won’t let you. You’re going out there, and you’re going to find yourself an alpha. Or I’ll find you one.”
“Luci…”
“No.” His tone hardened, brooking no argument.
“End of discussion. I’ve been patient with you for years, because I knew you had to work through this on your own.
But listen to me, you’re not the first omega to fall in love and get rejected.
You’re not the only one who’s ever felt clumsy around alphas, who didn’t know what to say or how to act.
We’ve all been there. The difference is, we don’t give up at the first stumble.
We get back up. We try again. And again.
Until it feels less terrifying.” Luci’s voice softened.
“It won’t just happen. You have to go out.
Have a conversation. Share a meal. Go dancing.
Laugh. Have fun. Learn what it’s like to let someone in.
It doesn’t have to be with Baron. It can be with anyone. Just try.”
Ludiin sighed.
“That sounds reasonable,” Nylune chimed in. “Platonic relationships can be deeply fulfilling too. If I didn’t go into heat four times a day, I’d try that. There are alphas who offer that kind of service. I would hire one. Have a conversation. Maybe get a hug or two. I miss that.”
A heavy silence settled over them.
Then Luci looked toward the connector, a weird look on his face. “I hope you get better soon, Nylune.”
“Me too,” Nylune whispered, a note of sadness in his voice that tugged unexpectedly at Ludiin’s chest. “We’ll chat later, Ludiin.” Nylune added, and the connection ended with a small click.
Luci didn’t waste a beat. “Get ready. We’re meeting Baron and his friends at Veal.”
“What? I thought you said it could be any alpha.”
“Have you met an alpha I don’t know about?”
“No…”
“Then it’s Baron. You’ve got thirty minutes.” Luci spun toward the stairs.
Ludiin thrashed his arms in frustration like a cub mid-tantrum. “You’re the worst!” he shouted after him.
“Fifteen minutes. Or you’re going out like that,” Luci shouted back.
Ludiin growled under his breath but still, he stomped down the stairs to go get ready.
Then he collided with something.
No. Someone.
Tarymn.
Ludiin gasped, muttered a quick, “Excuse me,” and tried to sidestep the alpha, heart leaping into his throat. But in his rush, his foot caught on the edge of a step, and he lurched forward, arms flailing.
He didn’t hit the wall.
Ludiin froze, his breath hitching as Tarymn’s hand closed around his arm. His skin burned where Tarymn touched him, the heat curling under his flesh. Tarymn’s grip lingered just a second too long before slipping away, leaving behind a trail of sensation that made Ludiin's heart trip over itself.
Fuck.
He stared at the spot where Tarymn’s hand had been, heart hammering so hard in his chest, each beat stealing the air from his lungs until he felt dizzy.
He risked a glance upward.
They stood too close. Far too close. The narrow stairwell was suddenly too small, thick with silence, Tarymn’s intoxicating scent and something else Ludiin tried so hard to ignore. He felt it in his chest, tightening like a pulled string.
Tarymn didn’t move. Neither did he.
Ludiin’s eyes widened.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Ludiin murmured, awkwardly.
His voice came out thinner than he meant it to.
Of course it did. Ludiin clenched his jaw, willing the flush in his cheeks to fade, trying to steady the nervous flutter in his chest. He forced himself to meet Tarymn’s gaze, pretending he wasn’t dying inside.
“Were you… coming up to see me?”
Tarymn held his gaze a moment too long, the silence stretching until it hummed with tension. “Yes,” he finally said. “I haven’t seen you in two days.”
Ludiin swallowed hard. You could’ve checked on me sooner , he wanted to say, but he didn’t.
“I was working,” Ludiin offered, the words feeling brittle on his tongue.
“And now you’re going out,” Tarymn said. “With Luci.” His golden eyes darkened slightly, something unreadable flickering behind them.
“Yes,” Ludiin frowned.
Did he do something wrong?
“He said you’re going alpha hunting.”
Ludiin froze.
What? Heat rushed to his cheeks. Of course, Luci would say something like that.
“I…it’s not like that…” he stammered, already edging past Tarymn. His shoulder brushed the wall, then blessedly, his feet hit the landing. “I should go get ready,” he mumbled, practically fleeing to his room.
He shut the door behind him, pressed his back against it, and dragged in a shaky breath. His heart thundered in his chest.
What the hell was that?