Every word flipping through my brain rattles my mind and all I really want to do is crawl into that bed and let my scent match hold me for the rest of the night.
I could walk right in and come clean and tell him. But what if he isn’t happy that I’m his match or what if it doesn’t work out and I can’t stay here, knowing his scent match left would break him even further.
Is it even a question of going back to Chicago anymore? My scent match is here, Greer and Lain are here, and if Birdie and Graham locking themselves in the other hotel room is any sign, there’s a good chance my sister is staying here too.
I sit on the toilet and cradle my head in my hands. My chest hurts, and my breathing is a little uncomfortable. Oh, fuck, am I having a heart attack?
It feels like a giant is sitting on my chest and a level of panic I can’t explain is wrapping itself around my throat.
“Maisie?” Callum says from outside the door and I don’t answer. I can’t even open my mouth.
The Alpha opens the door and immediately rushes to me, crouching in front of me. “Breathe, baby, breathe,” he says, touching my forehead before rubbing my back. “One deep inhale. Good. Exhale. Look at me.”
I do as he says, staring into his brown eyes that remind me of the turning of the leaves for autumn with speckles of gold and other shades of brown.
“There you go. You’re okay. We’re okay.”
I nod, trying to regulate my system, which just seems impossible. I’m shaking and still trying to get my breathing back on track.
“I’ve got you,” he says easily, scooping me up in his arms and carrying me to the bed.
My scent match, who doesn’t even know we’re basically soul mates, holds me all night, and it’s only through his comfort that I’m actually able to get any sleep.
This is all such a complicated mess.
The next morning I’m woken up to Birdie knocking on the door to get back in the room. I curse, and peel myself out of Callum’s arms, which feels so wrong.
I glare at her as I open the door and she gives me a watery smile. Her hair is a mess, and she’s wearing her clothes from last night. But that’s not the main thing I notice. It’s her fucking perfume, completely on display.
“Did you stop taking your deodorizers?” I hiss at her.
She doesn’t answer with words, just shrugs her shoulders at me. Birdie glances at where Callum looks to be naked on the bed and gives me a thumbs up as she goes to the bathroom.
I sit back on the bed and try to not rip my hair out. Is that why her and Graham ran away with each other last night, because she isn’t using deodorizers?
Callum must have woken up when Birdie came in. He taps my thigh gingerly, and I take a deep breath, which probably isn’t the best choice, because all I can scent is him.
“You feeling okay?” he asks in a sleepy voice.
“Yeah. Birdie’s here.”
Callum clears his throat. “We should probably hit the road soon, anyway.”
I give him a quick nod, unable to meet his eyes because all I can think about is having him undressed and on top of me again. His scent is thick, embedded in the sheets, and now I’m aboutto sit in an enclosed space for the next however many hours just scenting him.
“We’ll meet you at the car,” he says, attempting a smile that just looks all wrong.
He doesn’t even put his clothes on, just grabs them and heads out the door. As soon as he’s gone, I burst into the bathroom. Birdie screams in the shower and curses under her breath.
“You scared the shit out of me. Why does everyone keep trying to give me a heart attack when I’m in the shower?” she groans.
“Yeah, well, what the fuck was that last night?”
“Uh, last night was a lot of things. I didn’t mean to put you in that position, honestly,” Birdie says.
“Why aren’t you wearing deodorizers and what do you mean?”
“I forgot, okay? Can I use some of your topical stuff now?” she asks and I make a noise of agreement. Her perfuming the whole car ride back does not seem like a good option.
