I watched from a safe distance as Theo pulled off his shirt and jumped into the ocean. Every year he tried to convince me to jump in with him, but I always came up with the same lame excuse about not being in the mood. At least this time I had a real excuse. 

My mark was killing me.

Theo was lucky. Like most Alphas and Betas, he could get beaten to a pulp and, within a few hours, would be as good as new. I, on the other hand, would be sore for at least three days. A small smile played on my lips as his shaggy brown hair bobbed out of the water and he took a fresh gulp of air. It always made me nervous seeing him go under.

The sun had already tanned his skin. He looked three shades darker since we arrived a few days ago. His muscles rippled against the ocean current, and he looked completely in his element. Theo tried to wave hello, but a large wave overtook him, and he face planted hard into the ocean. This time, a laugh escaped my lips instead of a worried sigh.

"Wow, what a goon," I heard a familiar voice from behind me joke.

I turned my head back too quickly and winced.

Andy looked down at me with a sympathetic smile.

He knew. Of course he did. Anyone a mile away could smell me. Smell that I was freshly marked. Surprisingly, my situation didn't make the local papers, which was a relief, knowing it bought me some time before I had to inevitably tell my parents, but I couldn't help wondering if he had anything to do with it.

"Hey," Andy said after realizing he was staring too long at my neck. "Mind if we join you two?"

Andy pointed to his crew, and I shook my head, trying to pretend the wince earlier was just a one-off thing.

"No, not at all." I patted the sand beside me.

"Good," Kathy stated from behind her twin. "Because we were going to, whether you wanted us to or not." 

I grinned up at her and the rest of the crew. Happy to see how relaxed they were about the whole thing. Kathy didn't stay much longer to chat. She pulled off her shirt and ran toward the water. Jared caught up to her and held her hand as they jumped into the ocean. Andy and April soon followed, except for Eve, who sat beside me. She wore a pair of jean shorts and a white bikini that was visible under her crocheted top, which was mostly holes. Her long black hair had been put up in a high ponytail, making her collar completely visible.

Looking at it was like a slap in the face.

She said nothing at first, watching me stare at her neck, and then just placed her head on my shoulder. The sudden contact made me gasp, but within seconds I had completely relaxed.

"How do you feel?" She asked with her gaze fixed on the ocean.

"Scared," I admitted.

"Why?" She smiled, and I furrowed my brows. "You never have to be scared again."

My eyes widened.

"I didn't want it to be like this." I continued to confess.

"We are Omegas," Eve let out a deep sigh as if those words were weights on her chest. "Since when do we ever get what we really want?"

I opened my mouth to respond. I didn't necessarily agree with her. I was scared of what my parents and Alfie would think once they found out what happened, and what the rest of my life was going to look like. But I wasn't scared to be with Asher. Before I could clarify how I felt, she jumped up and pulled off her crochet top.

"Sorry, I'm not very good with heavy stuff," She said, reaching her hand out towards me. I could see there was a glaze over her eyes, as if she was trying to hold in tears. "Come on, let's go swimming."

I pressed my lips into a firm line and looked at her collar, carved with daisies and petals. Every Omega had a story. Whatever hers was, she clearly learned to fight the fears that held her back. I looked back up at her eyes and shook my head. "I'm sorry, I can't."

"It's okay if I go, right?" She tilted her head, as if debating whether to sit beside me again.

I gestured with a wave of my hand that I'd be fine, and before she bounded off to join her friends, she bent down and kissed me on the cheek.

I watched the pack play and splash with only a mild interest. The waves just made me nauseous, and I spent the rest of the afternoon watching the clouds roll through, feeling my skin burn.