“High intelligence doesn’t give you protection against dickheads catfishing inexperienced omegas,” Hugh said before his voice softened. “It’s not your fault, kid.”
Eric shivered, once again remembering Hugh calling him sweetheart and baby during the heat. He’d loved that so much, but he couldn’t imagine this composed, aloof alpha calling him that outside his heat. Kid was the closest thing he was going to get.
“It is my fault for sending him that photograph when he asked for it,” he said, not looking at Hugh. “In my defense, I did have misgivings about it, and I even asked one of my brothers for advice, but… apparently Liam was too distracted by his own personal drama and didn’t even pay attention to what I was saying when he told me to go ahead.” He sighed, hugging his knees tighter. “But what’s done is done. I can’t change the past.” He smiled bitterly. “Though apparently I can’t change the future, either. Marrying a fortune hunter is the only future I can have it seems.”
“You deserve better,” Hugh said, his voice sounding closer. “You deserve the best match you can get.”
Eric clenched his jaw, screwing his eyes shut. “Don’t come closer to me,” he ground out. Pleaded. He didn’t trust himself.
“I’m sorry,” Hugh said, stepping away. “I forgot about the imprint for a moment.”
Eric felt his face become warm. “I should be the one apologizing for it.”
“I told you it’s okay. You aren’t even the first patient who imprinted on me.”
That should have been a relief.
Instead, Eric felt something ugly and unpleasant churn in his stomach. Of course he wasn’t the first. Of course he wasn’t anything special to Hugh, even in this. Just another patient stupid enough to imprint on his doctor.
“Who were they?” Eric said, trying to sound indifferent.
“An omega who presented very early. She was born to a beta family, and her presentation was very unexpected for them. The girl had never been around alphas and she instinctively imprinted on me when her family brought her to an appointment with me. She was ten.” Hugh’s tone became amused. “You can imagine how awkward it was when the little girl announced to her parents that she was going to marry me.”
Brave girl.
“What happened?” Eric asked.
“Nothing,” Hugh said. “Her imprint was weak, and it faded quickly after I referred her to another doctor. Imprints don’t last. They generally happen to omegas not used to alphas’ presence.”
“I’ve been around alphas,” Eric said awkwardly, still struggling to look at him. “My mother, my eldest brother, and my brothers-in-law. Royce and Haydn too.”
“Your situation is unique.” Hugh’s voice wasn’t coddling or pitying, but matter-of-fact. “You’re in an unfamiliar country with different customs, living with strangers away from your pack, and your psyche is particularly vulnerable after what that asshole did to you. Your instincts are all over the place, seeking reassurance and belonging. Imprinting on an alpha who’s been kind to you is normal in such circumstances.”
Putting your cock in me was more than just kind.
Biting the inside of his cheek, Eric lifted his eyes to Hugh. “But how am I supposed to get rid of it? Because it’s still bad, Hugh. As in, ‘I really want to attach myself to you and never get detached’ kind of bad.”
Hugh’s expression became slightly pinched. “It’s normal, too. That’s why we need to keep some distance from each other until the imprint fades. It’s just instincts, kid. You shouldn’t let your instincts drive your actions. It’s a bad idea, trust me.”
Eric nearly laughed. Rationally, he understood it. But his instincts didn’t listen to his rational thoughts. They craved this man’s closeness. Alpha, everything in him screamed. The right alpha.
Eric shook his head, as if that would shake the inane thought off. Because it was inane. Insane too. This mature, put-together, gorgeous alpha was so out of his league it wasn’t even funny. He knew Hugh wasn’t interested in mating, much less in mating a young, inexperienced omega with a tarnished reputation, and truth be told, Eric wasn’t sure that was what he wanted, either, no matter how much a part of him yearned to close the distance between them. It was just instincts, nothing more. A biological need for a strong alpha he could depend on. It only made things worse that he knew exactly how good those arms would feel around him, how good it would feel to press his face against the hollow of Hugh’s throat and breathe.
“I want you to know that this isn’t my idea,” Hugh said with a tight look around his eyes. “But my boss ordered me to refer you to another doctor, at least until your imprint fades. You have an appointment with Dr. M’Zen tomorrow, not with me.”
Eric felt like he’d been punched.
“Oh,” he said.
“It isn’t my decision,” Hugh said tersely. “I was overruled.”