His laughter is dry and forced. “Yeah. The therapist offered to write a waiver so she could have a pet, something small. Like I was saying before. She needs more interaction, not just with animals, but people. And we both trust Sarah…and you. Even if it wasn’t your job, she knows you wouldn’t let her get hurt. Let’s face it, you’re huge…and I’m sorry when we get weird around you…after everything else…” His voice trails off and my own laugh is shaky in reply, wondering what he would say about Spence if he thinks I’m big. Of course, I don’t know if Lily could be around any alphas or what would trigger her, because I’m probably not as big as any of the pack that attacked her.
My breath wheezes out in a startled laugh. Maybe I’m just not pretty enough to be a problem, despite what Sarah calls me. There’s no point in speculating anyway; I’m not a registered mental health professional and I haven’t lived through what she did—I’m hardly in a place to offer anything more than emotional support. I shrug off my maudlin thoughts and notice Adam staring at me. “Sorry, I was lost in my mind. Sarah calls me Pretty Boy. You know how she likes to give people nicknames? I was just thinking I’m not attractive enough to be threatening.”
His laugh is more genuine this time. “Yeah, no…when Lily and I first got together, we were Thing One and Thing Two…she told me it was either that or Gemini for both of us since we reminded her of the creepy twins from The Shining.” My eyes scan the omega beside me and I nod, clearly seeing where my mate is coming from. Adam and Lily are close to the same height, both fair-skinned with pale blond hair, and waifish in appearance. Though her eyes are an almost shocking blue to his deep green. My breath comes out in a loud snort at imagining them meetingmy mate for the first time because I can picture how that would go.
Speak of the devil…Just as we’re approaching the door to Dorm F, it slams open and Sarah comes barreling down the steps. “Be right back! They’re here! Can you go grab my phone? I dropped it in the mad scramble…meet me in the visitor center!” And just like that, she’s gone, short legs pumping fast to get to the front of campus. Adam lets out a loud burst of laughter behind me, still staring in the direction my omega disappeared.
“Who’s here again?” His chuckle tapers off as I hurry towards the building. Pack Miller has been planning a surprise visit this weekend because they missed Sarah, but their flight should have just landed. How did they manage to get here so fast?
An uncomfortable sensation churns in my stomach as I wave my food at Adam. “I better go catch up before she climbs anybody. I wasn’t expecting them for a couple more hours…but don’t worry, if they’re early, we made plans with Lily first…or she can come outside so Shaggy can get some fresh air. These guys aren’t going to mind either way, even if they have to wait all day.”
Chapter 89
Ican’t believe they actually came to see me. I’ve missed them so damned much. You could have knocked me over with a feather when my phone rang and the front desk told me that I had a visitor from the pack that’s courting me. How did they keep this a secret? Did they tell Greg? Now, I’m scrambling to pull clothes out of the closet that are cute but don’t look like I’m trying too hard. Shaggy thumps at me repeatedly as I scramble around the living room, trying to find my shoes. I swear to fuck that I left them out here last night after the gym. I clearly remember dragging my ass through the door, kicking my shoes off by the couch—
Greg put them up again, didn’t he?
Shit.
There they are, under the coffee table. I flop onto the floor beside my irritated bun and quickly lace up before scooping himinto my arms and depositing him back into his run, locking the gate. The guys will understand that it’s gonna take a few minutes since they didn’t give me any warning, but I still want to see them as soon as I can. I bolt out of the room and head for the stairs, too worked up to wait for the elevator. My feet don’t even hit the steps outside when I see my beta and yell in his direction so he knows where I’m going. I didn’t even bring my phone with me so I ask him to grab that too and meet me in the visiting area.
I’m out of breath by the time I get there, but it’s Paul’s fault for cooking for me, and Sam, but he’s not here, so I can’t blame him. My feet skid to a halt as I slide my ID across the desk, bouncing on my toes while I wait to be directed to the proper room. Did they all come? I know it can be hard to get off work, but I hope so. Spence is effortless to be around, Paul is caring and makes me feel safe and cozy, and Al…ok, well, he’s kind of a dick, but I enjoy a good verbal spar, and those last couple of days after my heat, he seemed softer. I know he was hurting, but I think he understands better what’s going on.
The receptionist smiles kindly at me, despite the fact that I want to drag her across the desk and demand directions. She probably thinks it’s cute how excited I am…maybe it is. All I know is that I feel feral for getting alpha cuddles. She hands me a plastic key card with the number three on it and points down the hall. I barely have the presence of mind to let her know that Greg should be along in a few minutes and ask her to point him in the right direction before I’m sprinting down the hall, desperate to see my guys. My fingers fumble with the knob, forgetting that the card opens it from the inside; this side is always unlocked. I fling open the door and am instantly hit with a familiar and once coveted scent.
Fuck.
John’s here. Not my alphas. I stopped trying to get in touch with him after a week of no answers. I thought he ghosted me,but the smile he sends my way is huge, and he grows even smugger when Greg doesn’t follow me through the door. “Oh, Bunny, I’ve missed you. Work has been so busy that I didn’t even get a chance to call you back. Can you forgive me?” His eyes are alight with excitement, and it makes my hackles rise. He’s never this happy to see me. “You’re awfully sweaty, love. Did you rush all the way over to see me? I’m so lucky to have such an…active scent match.”
Please keep the compliments coming.
I can hardly contain myself.
My thoughts are sarcastic, but unfortunately nothing I can say out loud. We haven’t spent a lot of time together, but I’ve never seen him use sarcasm, and I’m not sure if he would understand it anyway.
“Come here, Darling, I’ve missed you.” His arms open, waiting for me to walk across the room and step into them, but his brows drop and a frown replaces the smug smile when I hesitate before moving closer.
“You…um…you haven’t been answering my messages. I…well, I need to talk to you. You remember I had to leave campus for break so they could work on the dorms…well…things didn’t go as planned.” He nods along like nothing’s wrong, while I’m waiting for an alpha outburst at the fact that I had to have my heat with three near strangers. Strangers that I want to keep for myself. “My heat…it started early.”
He stiffens for a moment before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me against his chest. “I’m so sorry. I thought you said that it wasn’t due for a bit. It’s terrible that you had to go through that all alone. Where was your…beta…during all this? I don’t suppose he was much use.” He chuckles and my hackles raise. I’m not sure if he finds the idea of me having my heat alone amusing, or if it’s the idea that Greg couldn’t help, but part of me wants to lash out. Unfortunately, another part of me is pressedagainst his chest and his scent is like a fucking drug, making me feel languid and floaty.
I barely feel myself answering. “No…No, Greg was there, he was super helpful. Though the alphas did a lot too. He’ll be here in a minute; he was dropping breakfast off in our room when I got the call. I…I didn’t realize it was you.”
If I thought he had gone tense before, it has nothing on his rigid posture now, his arms squeezing too tight for comfort. I force my hands up, trying to push away from his chest, where a low rumbling growl is starting to build.
His voice sounds like it’s being pushed out through gritted teeth. “You let other alphas help you through your heat, omega?” So much for endearments. “After telling me it probably wouldn’t happen over the break. Did you intentionally deceive me, or are you just that bad at tracking your cycles?” Back the fucking train up. What the hell? Nope.
I shove hard against him, breaking his hold on me, my hands sliding over his chest and pushing his jacket back. I’m hit with a sweet scent; it’s rich and decadent, with a hint of dragon fruit. My body instantly recoils at why our alpha, our scent match, smells like another omega. I take a deeper breath, realizing the scent is all over him and under his jacket. Like he sprayed a layer of de-scenter over himself, but it couldn’t touch what was deeply embedded in his clothes or skin.
My feet stumble back, almost knocking into the polite little coffee table they have in the visiting room as I scramble to put space between us. My inner omega screams at the feeling of betrayal; our scent match was with another omega. I try to remind her that we just spent our heat with three other alphas, but omegas usually have multiple alphas. Other than the incredibly rare situations like Lily and Adam where they’ve bonded each other, omegas don’t share.
John looks angry when I meet his eyes, but he’s not the only one. I’m fucking pissed. Who the hell has he been with and how fucking dare he? His shoulders relax, and now he just looks petulant. “Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. Heats are…all-consuming after all.” The way he says it sets my teeth on edge. There’s a hint of a slimy smile on his lips. “In fact, that’s why we couldn’t have you over during your break. Amber’s heat was that week too, and I know she wouldn’t have wanted you in the house for it.” His smile is vicious now as he watches me carefully, waiting for my reaction.
My mind whirls and spins…maybe Amber is a relative? No, I refuse to be a puppet for some cheating jackass. “So…how long were you planning on stringing me along before I found out you already had an omega?” My voice is quieter than I would like. I want to rant and rail against this asshole, but all the air seems to be trapped in my lungs. My scent match…isn’t mine, was never mine.
He steps towards me, his hand reaching out like he wants to touch me but I pull away. “Well, she’s been with my pack for about five years now. Bitten and bonded. But she’s not our match, mine or any of theirs. It was a business arrangement, you understand. Her family had finances that we needed for our company and we agreed that it was…mutually beneficial for everyone to have her join our pack. We can keep her in the lifestyle she is accustomed to, and she brings in business contacts and resources from her parents. It’s hardly a love match on either side.”
His voice has taken on a tone that says I’m overreacting. I’ve heard it so many times at my parents’ house, and it makes me want to scream. I bite my tongue to keep from crying in frustration. “So…what, I was a side piece? Did she know about me or was I just for you?”
