Calla started to hum, soothing him. He wrapped his arm around the animal and pulled him close, burying his face in its fur.
“It’s just you and me now,” he said, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, it was night-time. Calla was gone and he was starving. He made his way to the cooking station in search of food.
“Oh, you’re finally awake,” his mother said as he walked in. “Are you hungry? Urim made all your favourite dishes.”
Adew’s eyes dropped on all the dishes on the counter. The omega had clearly been hard at work all afternoon while he slept. Adew felt bad that he went out of his way to please him.
“You didn’t have to,” Adew said turning to the omega. “I’m not yours to take care of.”
“Adew,” his mother said. “You don’t have to be mean.”
Shit. This was a disaster. He knew it would be difficult for him to come back home because of the omega, but Urim was making it harder than it should be. Adew felt like an asshole for reminding him that they were no longer together. But he couldn’t give him false hope. There was no future for them.
“Urim, I…” he began, but Urim lifted his hand, interrupting him.
“Please, let’s eat. I’m happy that you’re finally home. I don’t want to fight,” he said, pulling out a chair at the counter. His father walked in, Calla in tow. The alpha looked dishevelled with leaves in his hair as if he’d been rolling around on the ground. A huge smile graced his lips.
“You left me to go play with dad,” Adew commented as they got closer. Calla brushed against him. “He must have missed you.”
“I missed him too,” he said. “But he wore me out. He has so much energy.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t exercise him the way I used to,” Adew said with a grimace. He felt everyone’s eyes on him and moved to sit down next to Urim. They ate in silence and when they were done, Urim walked out of the cooking station, leaving him with his parents.
His mom audibly sighed after a few seconds.
“What?” Adew asked, even though he knew what was coming.
“Have you met another omega?” his father asked. Adew turned to him in surprise. His dad laughed. “He has.”
What?
“No. That has nothing to do with me and Urim. Things ended before I met…”
“There’s someone else?” his mother asked, horrified. “Adew, you didn’t. How could you do that to Urim? He’s been by your side for a long time.”
“I know. That’s why this is hard for both of us. We’ve been together for too long, but I’m not what he needs. He just hasn’t realized it yet.”
His parents stared at him. Adew tried not to fidget.
“I’m sorry it took me this long to realize Urim is not what I need. I know you love him. This is not just about me and him. Our families are involved. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t have to. We’re not good for each other.”
“And the other omega…”
Shit. He should have known they would ask about Nylune. His heart ached all over again. He couldn’t believe it was over just like that. “It didn’t work out,” Adew forced a smile. He got to his feet to pack up the dishes.
“No, I’ll do that,” his mother said, but he waved her off.
“I’ll do it,” he said.
“Adew?” She reached for him, but his dad stopped her.
“He’s fine,” he said, guiding her out of the room. “He knows what he’s doing.”
He wished that was true. Adew didn’t know what to do with himself now. And to think he’d sworn off omegas. Now, he couldn’t imagine his life without Nylune.
“I’m not what he needs,” Adew told himself turning to the dishes. He scrubbed the cooking station from top to bottom. He didn’t have to, but it gave him something to do and kept him from thinking. Lars came an hour later with his stuff. He looked at him awkwardly as if he had something to say.
Adew itched to ask him about Nylune, but he kept his mouth shut. The omega needed an alpha who could heal him, and he wasn’t that alpha. Although it hurt, it was the truth. He needed to move on.