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“He’s had a rough day.” I open the fridge and hide behind the door while I figure out how to explain Elliott’s unfortunate series of events. “Do you want something to drink?”

Noel doesn’t respect the sanctity of a fridge door shield, and wedges beside me to grab a Diet Coke. “Thanks.” He pops the tab. Bubbles fizz. He takes a sip. “Rough day, how?”

“I don’t know the whole story, but he followed my scent to the beach and met my roommate instead. I think they might be scent matches.”

Noel whistles.

“Yeah.” I agree with whatever that whistle means. Probably something along the lines of Damn, sucks to be you. “And my roommate is…”

“A dick?”

I nod. “Elliott took the rejection well, and wanted to stay. But seeing as you’re conveniently here, it might be nice for him to speak to someone who isn’t me.”

He stares at me for a long second, inspecting me.”

“Okay, Allistair. You got any snacks?”

“My name is Alden.” I open the first drawer of the pantry we added when we remodeled our tiny kitchen.

“I know.” Plastic crinkles as he sifts through the drawer.

I lean against the counter opposite. I think misnaming me on purpose means he’s starting to trust me. Hopefully. If Elliott is going to be my mate one day, I need to be friends with his friends.

He nods seriously and shoots a text. Maybe there’s an alpha after all.

My skin itches with the need to be next to Elliott. What if he wakes and thinks I left him like Tyler did? What if he needs me? What if someone breaks in through the closed window without me hearing?

“Do you mind if I go back in?”

Noel plunks on the couch, kicks off his flip-flops, and picks up the remote. “Take your time. We don’t have AC at home.”

My omega is still there where I left him, except he’s rolled toward my side of the bed, like even in sleep, he’s soothed by my scent. I crawl in behind him, and something broken inside me heals when Elliott burrows against my chest without waking.

I’ve never had sex like that before, where two puzzle pieces fit perfectly together. Now I understand why people call sex making love. But something is still missing. Just like with Elliott and his nest, I wish Tyler were here with us.

An insane thought rises to the surface. What if we’re meant to be a pack? What if that’s why Elliott needed Tyler’s scent? What if Tyler and I understand each other so well because we’re meant to be pack mates, and we’ve been too oblivious to realize it? What if there’s a way to share Elliott with Tyler?

I discard the idea immediately. That would require Tyler to admit he’s attracted to Elliott beyond his excuse of evolutionary compatibility. But he’s never budged about the mutual attraction between us. No. The real outcome will be Tyler shrinking himself, slowly carving himself out of my life like he did with Niall.

And just like with Niall, I’ll break Elliott’s heart when I’m forced to choose between them. Then it’ll just be me and Tyler, eighty-fucking-years-old, sitting in rocking chairs on the porch like Mrs. Bollard next door. Mateless.

14 ELLIOTT

“I’ll just give you two a moment,” Alden says, hovering by the doorway like he really doesn’t want to go.

Noel stares at him.

“Right. Okay. Call and I’ll come.” He cringes.

“Yeah, you will,” Noel says.

Alden palms his forehead and leaves.

Once the door closes behind him, I swat Noel on the arm. “Be nice.”

“Babe, this is nice. You should have seen me when I came in here. I thought he had you in a freezer.”

A small cramp twinges, and I wince. The slick that dews between my legs is immediately whisked away by the boxer briefs Alden helped me put on after our third round of sex.