Alric and I have been friends for a long time, and have the same driven personality and business mindset. Both of us are uncompromising when we want something in this life, but this is where he needs to remember we have an unpredictable omega on our hands who’s ready to bolt.
“If she were just your scent match, then you could handle the situation all you want, but we’re about to be a pack, threaten this and it affects all of us,” I remind him.
“I have no plans on ruining anything,” Alric says flatly. “I’m simply not willing to flip off fate so soon.”
“Nor are we, but trying to show her that we can be a supportive pack by ignoring her wishes sets everyone up for failure,” I tell him.
“And considering she dumped you on Friday,” Hunter remarks, “I’d say try a different approach.”
Alric scoffs at the reminder, and I hide my smile.
“Can I have some alone time with her tonight?” I ask. “I have an idea.”
Hunter shrugs. “Yeah, I got some quality time with her this morning.”
“Yes,” Alric says flatly with an unreadable expression. “We all heard.”
Hunter only smirks at that.
Alric continues, “I have dinner planned, but we can eat early and you can do whatever you wish. We should have more time as a pack starting tomorrow. She knows us all as individuals. Let’s see if we can change her mind as a unit.”
Perfect.
I close my laptop, giving up on any semblance of working today. “We also don’t know her real name, so let’s start with that.”
“I think it’s Madeline,” Alric says thoughtfully. “You both met her on the Knotty app, right? I met her at an art gallery opening. I had run into an old friend earlier in the night and asked her who Madeline was before introducing myself, so she didn’t have the option of giving me a fake name. I suppose it’s possible that Madeline gave them a false name, too, but that seems unlikely.”
Madeline. A beautiful name for a beautiful omega and that does make sense. So Emilie shifts to Madi, and it suits her.
“She will tell us when she is ready,” Hunter muses. “Do we think the universe is playing a massive joke on us?”
It sure seems like it.
Iknock on the library door before entering. She’s curled up in a plush loveseat by the window, her head leaning into the velvet, reading. The sky is a gloomy gray behind her but here, it’s warm and inviting. The room is bathed in golden light from the antique lamps that gives her an ethereal glow.
If I were a photographer like her, I would snap a pic of this moment.
This has always been my favorite part of the house. Most of the books are in Greek and quite a few are incredibly rare. The three of us come here every year, so I have my own shelf with novels I’ve brought from home. Books I’ve been meaning to read but only find the time for on vacation.
Only after I step into the library do I regret coming in here. My omega’s deliciously sweet scent and the smell of books is such an intoxicating combination. I try to not make it obvious that it is affecting me so deeply. It’s the blissful aroma of my own personal paradise. If only I could find a way to bottle this, I might survive a future stainedwith her absence.
She looks up with a small smile. “Hey.”
Is she thinking about last night, too? I can almost still taste her on my tongue. “Hi. May I join you?”
I had meant in the library, but I’m elated when she nods and uncurls her legs to make room for me. It’s odd that she is somehow both a stranger to me, yet someone I’ve dated and adored for so long.
Her scent grows stronger with each step I take towards her. When I sit down next to her, my chest puffs with pride as she instantly sinks against me, her nose pressed into my bicep. Now that she’s with me, everything feels right in the world. I let her take her deep breaths, not wanting to disturb whatever omega instinct she’s having right now. When she looks up, her eyes are wide.
“I really want to bite you right now.” One of my eyebrows shoots up, but she quickly explains, “Not a bonding bite, but my teeth are hurting and I have this really intense urge to bite you. Like when little puppies play fight for fun. It’s a ridiculous, overwhelming need, but your arm is so strong and chomp-able.’’ She looks at my bicep as if it’s her favorite delicacy.
I laugh. “You can take a nibble if you want, little omega, just don’t break the skin or I’ll be biting back.’’ To ensure she knows that I’m joking, I wink at her.
She purses her lips together as if trying to deny whatever is calling her to this urge, but she gives in, lifting up the sleeve of my shirt. She slowly, adorably, presses her lips to my bicep before gingerly biting down.
It’s not painful, and she’s nowhere close to breaking the skin, but the way her eyes roll back in her head as if I’ve given her the orgasm of her life will forever be cemented as one of my favorite memories of her. She closes her eyes, sinking into the sensation that her omega side needs right now. I hope itleaves a mark or a bruise so I can be insufferable about it to the guys.
Has she bitten anyone else? I don’t think so. If this were a fantasy novel, I would be the chosen one.
