As Felix convinced Zayden to man up, Jude tore off his shirt and rubbed it around his sweaty face before handing it to Zayden. “I want her to have my scent. It might help her.Please.”
Zayden growled.“Fine.”
“YES!”
If Jude had a tail, it’d be wagging.
Chapter6
Strawberry shortcake. It was all Zayden could smell and all he could think about. In this moment, he felt as if he were standing in the middle of a strawberry field in summer, the sun warming his face, his feet curled into the freshly watered soil.
Juliana never smelled like this.
Do you have to remind me?
The strawberry field faded away, and with it came the scent of spoil and scorch. Her scent was burning.
Zayden’s fists tightened. He had been trying to go into her room for the past ten minutes, but he didn’t know how to knock on the door, or step inside, or even worse, how to take care of her. It had been a long time since Zayden took care of anyone, even himself.
What if I hurt her or make her cry?
We can’t. We won’t.
His ears twitched. Other scents in the room were burning. A faint, earthy aroma and a spiced chili and tequila scent thatwould make his alpha growl on a typical day, but nothing about this day or those scents were typical.
The voice belonging to the spiced chili and tequila scent held excitement. “I can’t believe this! You, fated totheObsidian Alphas! This is like—”
“A nightmare,” another voice cut in. “Haven’t you heard the rumors circulating about them? I know we’re fans, but this has changed everything. There’s a difference between going to their concert and having my little sister fated to them. She deserves better.”
Better?
Those rumors, his mistakes… How could Zayden burden his mate with everything he did and has been shamed for publicly?
Her sister was right. Jude wanted a happily ever after, but this wasn’t a fairytale. Their band was on the verge of splitting up, and their pack was on the brink of a legal divorce, an official process necessary to complete when an alpha pack decides no longer to stay in a legitimate pack. They promised each other they would try for a year, and that year mark was coming up in two months. The universe was putting an omega in the middle of their mess for amusement, not for happiness.
Sorry, Jude, but she does deserve better, and we aren’t it.
Why not?
You know why.
Zayden’s hand flexed, and the same pressure pain weighed down between his eyes and on the bridge of his nose. He went to rub his face but forgot he was holding on to Jude’s sweatshirt. The optimistic bastard was the only one who was excited for this moment. He had a shit-eating grin, and if Zayden hadn’t stopped him, he’d probably already be in with their omega begging her to bite him and seal the bond. Zayden wished he had his younger packmate’s hope. Only 23, and yet Jude held more optimism for their future than Zayden, the lead alpha, did.
Hope.
She was right there. Their fated mate.
Alphas and omegas found each other through scent, but this was different. This wasn’t just compatibility or the possibility of a forever. This isit. The real deal. The universe had selected each of them purposefully and specifically for each other, and their bodies, souls, and instincts knew.
She’s right there.
And her scent is still burning.
Zayden squeezed Jude’s sweatshirt.
Maybe, just maybe, there was enough time for Zayden to fix this. She was meant for them, after all. They just needed to be ready to accept her.
Zayden raised his hand, ready to knock, but it flung open, and a tall, blond chick with a blue streak in her hair slammed into him. She hardly stumbled, quickly collecting herself. When her eyes registered on him, they hardened like two sharp knives ready to cut him open and sell every part of him on the black market.
