Page 24 of Trick or Heat

“Where is Elsie?”

At my abrupt change of tone, his eyes flash with something resembling adoration. I can’t let myself dwell on that or a whine will force its way up my throat.

“In the room,” he says, gesturing over his shoulder. I quickly walk past him, ignoring his mouthwatering scent as I inhale it up close and personal. It’s incredible, sensational, but if I let myself get wrapped up in it, I will let my omega down.

I will not let her down.

My pace quickens as I walk down the hall, not bothering to see if the alpha is following me.

I start to hear Elsie’s sobs the closer I get to the bedroom. They pierce the heart inside my chest and twist until there’s nothing but a broken organ. I have tunnel vision as I enter, going straight for her on the bed.

When her eyes meet mine, they widen and her arms reach out for me. I don’t waste another second as I pull her into me, whatever alpha that was there helping her stepping back so I can slide into the bed next to her.

“Holy shit,” one of the alphas whispers, but I don’t say anything as I take in the state of Elsie’s makeshift nest.

Elsie has only known one nest her whole life, and that is the one she had at her parents’ house. This apartment doesn’t allow for them—as there isn’t enough room—so here she is, lying on her bed that’s rimmed with walls of body pillows trying to emulate the appearance of a nest, but I know it must be making her uncomfortable. This is no way for her to have her first heat.

I curse. I should have helped her prepare more.

She uncontrollably sobs into my shoulder, saying words that run together so I can’t understand a single word she’s saying. I hold her as close as I possibly can, and her candy apple scent softens, its burned edges turning sweet once more with every second my skin touches hers.

Her sobs start to subside, and I heave a sigh of relief as I caress her shoulder.

Now that I have her in my arms, I can finally take in the other two alphas that are in the room. The one standing awkwardly with his hands fanned out to his sides is tall—taller than any person I’ve ever seen—and his shoulders are so big that if he wasn’t shirtless, I would think they were padded. His brown hair is short, barely touching his ears, and his green eyes are soft as they look to me for guidance. The other alpha, the one sitting on the other side of Elsie, has the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. His skin is dark and smooth, and his eyes rake over me like I’m a welcomed guest rather than someone bursting their bubble with an omega in heat.

Their scents circle me, mingling with Elsie’s, and even though I should be excited for this revelation, my muscles clench with irritation.

Fuck, more scent matches.

My eyes flash as I look to the brunette. “You’re the one who smells like bourbon.”

His brows rise. “I… well yeah, but what do you mean?”

“I scented you at the party the other night. I thought… well, I didn’t know…” I pause, flattening my lips. I knew there was something unusual about the way his scent affected me, but after leaving that night, I convinced myself that I was just drunk instead. Seeing things that weren’t there.

His eyes flash with recognition. “Holy shit… you two were the omegas I saw dancing together.” Then he looks to the floor. “Did she smell me? Is that why she…”

He trails off, leaving me confused. “What do you mean?”

The alpha that let me in, the one with the amazing nutmeg scent, enters the room. “We’re her scent matches,” he tells me. “He’s saying maybe he accidentally triggered her heat.”

Time stops. Everything outside of these four walls ceases to exist as that information sinks in.

Elsie and I… have the same scent matches? That can’t be right.

“Her spike did start on the dance floor, right after I scented you…” I say, turning back to the bulging hulk of an alpha.

“Brodie,” he tells me. “My name is Brodie.”

I nod, then turn to the other two.

“I’m DJ,” the one on the other side of the bed says. “And that’s Raivat.”

I shake my head, too much information happening at once. I can’t believe this, that Elsie’s scent-matched alphas are our alphas.

Our alphas. I am both excited and stressed by the prospect, by how the universe always seems to be one step ahead of us.

“I don’t want to make any decisions right now,” I tell them.