*Cameron*

We go silent again as we both just stand there awkwardly. The sizzling sound caught my attention and I quickly check the food. Even though he accepted my apology just now, it was still weird knowing what he had done for me. I mean, we still...he saw me bare...and all.

The heat in my face came back full force of the embarrassment.

"Um, Cam...are you alright?" The tightness in his voice caught my attention.

I realized just as I turn back around to see him stiff and not looking at me that I was releasing a little bit of my pheromones unconsciously. I flinch and quickly pull them back in. "Shit sorry." I quickly say, turning off the stove as the food was done and backing away.

"It's fine, really." He mumbles starting on our omelets. "You don't have to feel embarrassed you know. You were drugged, it wasn't your fault."

I stand there like an idiot as he starts cooking. The fact he knew that is what I was feeling made me stare at him. Were we really close enough for him to decipher my feelings through my pheromones? It couldn't have been because we got a little closer intimately on that night, could it? That made me frown since not even some of my previous boyfriends could distinguish what I was feeling when my pheromones released unless it was me being horny or my heat. It was the only time they were interested in them.

"I can't help it." I say finally, not knowing what else to say.

"I know." He clears his throat, an action I'm beginning to associate with him feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Leaving the kitchen area I head back on the other side of the counter letting him finish his cooking. Pulling out the stool that was there, I sit down contemplating whether to voice out my opinion or not. Would he even go for it? If he doesn't, what was I going to do?

He gathers two plates and sets our food on them placing them between us. Neither one of us starts eating as we each stare at our steaming hot food. Hating the awkwardness, I grab my fork and start to dig in.

"I've been thinking..." He starts out making me look at him to see him staring at me with furrowed brows.

I swallow my bite and wait for him to go on.

"With this threat of someone out there raping Omegas, and what's happened to you at the club that maybe I should tag along with you when you need to...you know. Not that you can't take care of yourself but just to make sure nothing like this ever happens again-"

"Okay." I interrupt, stopping his sudden rambling.

He stares at me in shock. "Wait, really? You'll be okay with that?" He sounded dumbfounded making me bite back the smile that wanted to grow on my face.

Getting nervous I knew this was my chance to say it now that he brought the situation up himself. "Actually, I had a different idea in mind. If you're willing to hear me out."

He stands up straighter, the frown still in place as he nods. "Sure, I'm open to ideas if its to keep you safe." He takes a bite of his food.

Warmth fills my chest at his words. Ripping the band aid on this would be better because drawing it out will only make me rethink and second guess myself. "I was thinking that maybe you could be the one to help me when my heat comes."

There I said it.

Not only will it solve my dilemma for work, but it could help me get rid of this attraction I was developing for him too. But the silence was too long and maybe I've overstepped the boundaries. Suddenly feeling stupid I start to stand up.

"Never mind, forget I suggested it. We can just do it your way-"

"Why me?"

The softness in his tone caused me to stop my rambling and stare at him. His face was expressionless again, giving me a hard time to read what he was really thinking. But the gentleness in his eyes is what caused me to keep going.

"Because you're the only one I could trust to do this." My own voice was soft, and I've never felt so vulnerable as I did in this moment.

Even after the horrible breakup I had with my last boyfriend, Bret, and the way he had constantly made me feel wasn't as vulnerable as this conversation was right now. Sia tilts his head, eyes boring into mine making me feel a bit skittish.

"I thought you hated me." he asks softly.

I take a calming deep breath. "I never hated you. I just didn't trust you." I mumble, not looking at him but staring at my half eaten food.

'And you trust me now?" Quickly glancing up at him he seemed skeptical as an eyebrow raises at me.

"More than I did before yes."

He looks away becoming in thought as he mulls over my offer. "It could complicate things."

"If we both put boundaries and rules I don't think it'll all be that complicated."

"What about Tristan?"

"What about Tristan?" I repeat with a frown. "He doesn't need to know. In fact, it would be better if he didn't know."

"So, you what? Want to keep this a secret?" He frowns deeper and I could tell I was starting to lose him on this.

"That would be best, wouldn't it?" I couldn't help squirming a little, becoming even more uncomfortable and really thinking that maybe this was a bad idea after all.

He was silent for a moment, just staring at me. Looking away from his piercing gaze I quickly think of what else could be an option for me. I guess having him tag along to find potential hookups wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

"I think..." He starts out slowly, looking a bit pensive now.

My heart hammers against my chest waiting for him to finish what he wanted to say. Until this moment I didn't realize how much I actually needed him to say yes to my crazy and unorthodox request. But it would be killing two birds with one stone.

He carefully watches my expression as he continues, "We should both think more about this before we commit to anything."

And there goes my gut, plummeting down to my feet. An unexpected twist shoots pain through my heart and I didn't understand why this statement was causing such a huge disappointment within me. Yes, I needed him to agree, but it wasn't like I wanted him to agree.

Did I?

But quickly after the disappointment, came the crushing weight of humiliation of being rejected once again. This was twice now he rejected my offer, albeit the first time I was not myself, but any Alpha would have succumbed to my heat, or any Omega's heat honestly. But I was completely fully aware now. We both were and he still rejected me.

The burning heat rushes to my cheeks and neck and I couldn't look him in the eyes any longer. The onslaught of the unwanted burn of tears obscures my vision.

"Oh. Okay, sure." My voice was a bit high as I push away from the counter.

"Cam-" He starts but I quickly cut him off.

"I'm going to go. I need to get my car-" I start to head to the front door.

"I brought it here-" He starts to rush around the island reaching for me, but I was already opening the door, not looking back.

"On second thought I'll just walk." I cut him off again, needing to get the hell out of here because being in his presence any longer was just going to make me lose my shit.

"Cam-" He tries again, sounding a bit desperate but I didn't care because I had put myself out there and to him of all people.

I was such an idiot.

An idiot that looked even more pathetic in his eyes. And a huge part of me wished I should have never asked him in the place.