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Drake stepped into my personal space, and I thought for a moment Hiro was going to step in.
Instead, he stared at Drake for a beat before his eyes closed. When he opened them again, he stepped in between us. His voice was a bit deeper as he leaned in and said something to Drake who just let out a small laugh and stepped away.
The others were watching on, curious but wary, and I wasn’t sure if they would have helped or not.
With him between us, I was flooded with Hiro’s scent again, but this time it was strange. The underlying campfire scent was still there, but the s’mores was an afterthought, replaced by smoke and embers.
It threw me off enough I hadn’t realized he was speaking to me now.
“Are you all right?”
When I didn’t answer, he stooped down, giving me a hard stare until I relaxed. He nodded once at the visible change as if that was answer enough.
This wasn’t Hiro…
His movements were choppier than Hiro’s. Where Hiro seemed to close in on himself, keep himself invisible, this version of him stood tall, meeting my eyes without hesitation. He reminded me of an alpha but I knew that wasn’t the case. Hiro was a beta and no matter what was wrong with our minds, physical designations didn’t change.
He was taller than me, but this was honestly the first time I noticed.
“It’s alright. I’m Roman, we haven’t met. Are you the new girl?”
“Harlow,” I finally answered as I tried to make sense of what was happening. He nodded before stepping even farther away.
The elevator seemed to take forever but finally opened and everyone spilled out.
When I didn’t follow, Roman stepped back in and gently put a hand on my elbow to guide me off before Nurse Drew could get onto me. The fact she said nothing during all that was weird.
It was strange, but I felt safe with him. Something about the way he stared at everyone in challenge, yet looked at me like I was something precious to be protected, was strange but reassuring.
Did he realize we were scent matches, too? Did I even smell good to him?
The noise of the cafeteria was loud and spilled into the drab hallway before we’d even pushed open the old wooden doors.
Thankfully, the room behind was a bit cleaner than the hall leading to it. A gleaming metal buffet line was on one wall, the kitchen behind it. The room itself was lined in rectangular tables and wooden chairs. I heard the words ‘new girl’ thrown out several times, but I focused on Roman who still hadn’t stopped touching me as he led me toward the trays.
I felt like I was back in high school again. This whole thing felt oddly juvenile, but I couldn’t complain when my stomach rumbled loudly.
Roman released me as he handed over a tray, and I hated to admit that I missed his touch. Now I felt exposed and vulnerable. But with Layne behind me and him in front, it kept the panic and vulnerability at a manageable level.
I shouldn’t trust them, I didn’t even know them, but sticking with them felt like the smartest plan.
Somehow, I forced myself to follow behind Roman, his stern look enough to get me to pile my tray high before we hit the drink line.
When we finished, he led me through the crowd. I felt hands and gazes brushing against me as I walked and kept my eyes on my shoes. Until someone grabbed my arm, nearly spilling my food.
“Hey, nice ass. Want a new seat?” he asked as he pushed himself away from the table and grabbed at his already bulging jeans.
Bile rose in my throat, but before I could say anything, someone was pulling me forward. Roman was pissed, but it was Layne who lost it. She launched herself around me and literally jumped on the table, kicked his tray to the floor, then crouched down and gave him a look that could freeze a volcano.
“No. She doesn’t want to get anything that you have crawling in those dirty jeans of yours, Steven. You’d think you’d give up after your last public humiliation but it seems you’re a masochist,” she said.
When she stood, I thought she’d jump down, instead she cocked her foot back and kicked him square in the face. A sickly crunch had my stomach turning.
Crew pulled her off the table and back to ours where Roman forced me to sit down.
Laughter and screams filled the cafeteria in the aftermath. I glanced back once to see a pool of blood falling on the table and an orderly rushing over to deal with Steven.
They quickly got him up and out of the room, but other than a knowing glare from Nurse Drew, no one approached us.
