“You don’t have to, you know. I’m not going to bite you unless you ask.”
I put down the book I was reading, balancing it on my knee, and looked up at her.
“I’m not sure what you want me to say here.”
“Oh my god,” she growled, throwing her hands up. “How about we start with the fact that we’re scent-matches?”
“We are,” I confirmed, hoping that saying it out loud might give me more insight. It did not.
“Then why hide from us?” she demanded.
“How about we talk about the fact that you’re packed up now with two of my players and our new physical therapist.”
She let out a small chuckle as she dropped into the seat beside me, not bothering to put distance between us anymore.
Her scent washed over me, warm and vibrant, with a slight floral note and coconut to round it out. That scent made it damn hard to focus, and I was already flailing here.
I hate feeling out of control. I dislike it even more that she affected me the way she did.
“I didn’t take you for a coward.”
I nearly choked at her words.
“A coward?” I demanded.
She crossed her arms, raising a dark eyebrow. Her black-painted lips were pressed tight together, but no less enticing. She wasn’t going to back down.
“Yes. You’re barely acknowledging that we’re pack. You’re avoiding us all.”
“Little bat?” Kota’s voice rang out.
Little bat.Honestly, the nickname was fitting. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face this time.
“That nickname is reserved for pack, Coach,” she bit out. “And you don’t seem to want to be part of this.”
Shame burned in my chest. She had no idea how wrong she was. I did want this.
“It’s complicated.”
“Is it?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. God she was infuriating. This back and forth was turning me on as much as it made me want to scream.
Kota finally walked closer, giving us each a look. I thought at first that he and I were going to have problems. Hell, I still think we would if I said a single bad word about this omega.
I’d blame it on their scent-match status, but he didn’t even know she was his at the time. It was all his own righteous indignation.
I couldn’t really blame him, either. I’d fumbled that entire encounter. I’d pushed buttons, disrespected her, and tried to push her out.
I was an ass.
“Hello, Mori,” I greeted, nodding once. He let out a laugh and flopped onto the seat.
“I think you can just call me Kota now. We’re about to be family.” My alpha perked up in my chest. I could feel how badly he wanted this and I’d let myself keep us divided for a long time. He was practically thrashing at me from the inside, but it had to be my decision, too.
Did I want a life with them?
With her?
My eyes shifted to Roxie who was laughing at something Kota said as he sprawled across the nearby couch. She dropped down next to him and I watched as he pulled her close.
