Page 63 of Scheme
I stumbled back, rushing down the hall, slipping on my flats and quietly letting myself out the front door. Whatever was unfolding in the courtyard, I wanted no part of it.
It was a bright sunny day—which was rude because I wanted a dark grey sky to reflect my mood—and I wrapped my arms around my body to ward off the wind chill as I crossed the road to the beach.
I quickly shot Violet a message letting her know where I’d gone, knowing she’d grab my bag, and then hopefully, we could be back on the train to London this afternoon. This whole trip had been a disastrous idea, and I don’t know what Kit had been thinking by suggesting I come along. I don’t know whatI’dbeen thinking by agreeing. Whatever it was, it went beyond my general inability to say no to people, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to examine it too closely.
I picked up my pace, heading for the pier to put as much distance between myself and the house as possible, my impractical smooth-soled flats slipping on the pebbles. It was a shame about the company and general circumstances because IlovedBrighton, and I didn’t get to visit as much as I’d like to. The last time I’d planned a weekend here, Michelle had caught the flu and needed help with the kids. And the time before that, Asher had got in a fight with Dad, and I’d gone to take him out for the day for some space.
Of course, the one time I’d taken time for me it had fallen apart.
Then again, this trip hadn’t really been for me, had it?
“Margot!”
I paused, scrunching my eyes shut at the sound of Kit’s voice, his footsteps crunching over the stones as he jogged to catch up to me. Before he even got to me, I could sense the waves of aggression that were still riding him from the confrontation he’d just had, and that, more than anything, kept my feet firmly planted in place.
Strangely, it wasn’t out of fear. With any other alpha, I’d have almost certainly been afraid, but not with Kit.
Never with Kit. With him, all I felt was the urge to soothe, to provide the kind of comfort that omegas were born to provide.
That was a problem in and of itself.
“Margot, are you okay? You’re cold.” Kit was immediately in front of me, whipping off his jacket and draping it over my shoulders, pulling it tight over my front. The needy omega I thought I’d long since buried was blinking awake, feeling battered and bruised by rejection and needing the comforting reassurance of her alpha’s scent and protection.
Except he wasn’tmyalpha.
My subconscious let out a silent whine at the reminder.
“I’m so sorry,” Kit was saying, repeating the words under his breath as he rubbed my shoulders and upper arms, warming me and checking me over all at once. I was checking him right back, scanning for any sign of injury or discomfort. “I should have never agreed to this trip, I don’t know what I was thinking. Iwasn’tthinking. I’ve spent so much time away from home that I guess I assumed everyone and everything was the same, but it’s not. They’re not. That’s no excuse for dragging you into it though.”
“It’s fine,” I said, finding my voice. “I mean, it’s not fine, but it is what it is. They’re just looking out for you. I’m guessing you told them the truth?”
Kit’s hands froze, still resting on my shoulders, his forehead creased in a frown. “The truth?”
“About our charade,” I clarified. “I’m sure now they know the lengths you were willing to go to just to get them off your back, they’ll have learnt their lesson about playing matchmaker.”
I had no idea how to interpret the look on Kit’s face, and I scrunched my hands into fists inside his jacket to stop myself from smoothing the lines between his eyebrows with my thumbs.
“I didn’t… I didn’t say that,” Kit said eventually, clearing his throat.
“Oh.” I paused for a moment. “Did you not think of it?”
His lips twitched, frown smoothing away. “I thought of it. Let’s keep walking. Nico and Violet are collecting our things.”
“Sure, okay. That sounds good,” I replied, still confused. I slid my arms into the enormous sleeves, standing still as Kit buttoned me up and wondering how fluorescent pink my cheeks were from the wind.
Why hadn’t he told them it wasn’t real? Then again, I supposed it wasn’tthatsurprising. He may have been too embarrassed to admit it was all a lie, and we’d be going our separate ways soon anyway. What was a few more days?
“I shouldn’t keep you out here in the cold,” Kit murmured, more to himself than anything. “I’m being selfish.”
“I chose to come out here, remember?” I pointed out, glancing at him. He was being very hard on himself. “And the sun is nice, even if the wind is a little chilly. I have no complaints.”
There was a look of frustration on Kit’s face, though it didn’t seem to be directed at me. “You know, Margot, you can be more… demanding,” he hedged. “You’re very obliging all the time, and I just want you to know that you don’t, you know, have to be,” he finished lamely.
That hadn’t been what I expected him to say.
“I don’t like inconveniencing people,” I replied, surprising myself with my candour before quickly shaking my head, dismissing the self-pitying feelings. “And since our charade continues, courting omegas are traditionally not demanding. Me being so would undermine our act. It’s only after mating marks that omegas grow more assertive with their alphas.”
“Why is that?” Kit tucked my arm into the crook of his elbow, a surprisingly gentlemanly move, before guiding me down the beach at a leisurely pace.
