He blinked rapidly as tears filled his eyes.
“Give me that and wipe your tears.” Jamue took the cylinder from him.
“Make sure to keep the pressure at the same level,” Mac said, voice wobbly. He was glad Faria’s leisure room was closed in the mornings, or everyone would see him cry his eyes out.
He sniffed, wiping his tears away.
“Tell me what happened. Did Deltta refuse to come to the hospital?”
Mac didn’t understand how Jamue missed him. Deltta wasn’t exactly quiet.
“He came.”
“And?”
“He…he wants to bond with me,” Mac said softly.
Jamue’s mouth fell open.
“I know, right? It’s shocking. I mean look at me. I’m not…”
“You told him that, didn’t you?” Jamue threw his arms up in defeat. Mac reached for the cylinder and made sure the pressure remained the same. Jamue folded his arms over his chest and silently stared at him. “That’s why you ran away from his house that morning. You rejected him.”
“I…”
“Don’t even.” Jamue shook his head. “I can’t believe you. You like him. Why did you reject him?”
“I got scared, okay? Have you ever wanted something for a long time, and when it happens your body freezes, and you can’t think of the right words to say? That’s what happened. He told me exactly what I longed to hear, and then I opened my mouth, but instead of saying yes, I came up with all the reasons why his feelings were not real because I couldn’t believe that an alpha like him wanted me. Me, Jamue. I still can’t believe it. I…”
“Oh Mac,” Jamue pulled him into his arms. “You need to connect with him and tell him what you’ve just told me. I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“I don’t think so. He was so mad at me. I ruined everything.”
A week had gone by since they came back from the capital. Mac tried to convince himself to connect with Deltta, but he felt he was taking advantage of the situation.
“Don’t think like that. If he truly wants you, he’ll understand.” Jamue shook him slightly. Well, tried to.
Mac was bigger than him.
He stepped back, feeling awkward all over again.
“That’s just it. I’m not sure he truly wants me. I’ve wanted an alpha since I had my first heat, but I never believed I would meet one. I made peace with the fact that I might live and die alone. Now that he’s here…I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to believe.”
“Do you think he would lie about wanting you?”
“No, but he claimed me by accident. I think it’s affecting his emotions. An alpha like him wouldn’t want an omega like me,” Mac said, even though it hurt to say it. “Can we please stop talking about this?”
Jamue stared at him for a few minutes before he nodded.
They filled the cylinders and packed them in the delivery bot.
“Did you see this?” Faria said, walking into the war room. “The whole planet is going crazy. I can’t believe it.”
Faria shoved a data reader in Mac’s face, blocking his view.
“Hey. I’m working here.”
Jamue snatched the reader. “What’s got you so rattled?”