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I open and close my mouth, shocked that he remembered such details. “They probably hate me.”
“I started the curve with the person below you. It just happened to be the first time someone had ever aced my final. And I apologize for not recognizing you immediately. Something’s different.” Ezra scoots his seat, drinking in my side profile. I know he wants to get a better look at me, but he doesn’t want to pressure me either.
This is a moment that I know to give in to his silent question. I’ve trained for this. Reading an alpha has been ingrained into me.
I turn slightly and push my hair away from my shoulder, showing off the black mini dress that was at the bottom of my backpack. It was one of the few things Emma gave me after her Fall Ball at home. I had never worn it until today, but it was only because I didn’t want to put on something dirty.
And now I feel like the sexiest woman in the world with the way Ezra trails his eyes from mine and down my neck and to my cleavage, working his way to my bare thighs, peeking out from the hiked-up hem.
I squirm a bit under his attention, crossing and uncrossing my legs. He flares his nostrils, catching the cherry-vanilla scent emanating from me. Without my suppressant lotion, he’ll be able to read my body as if I’m an open book before him. He looks ready to read every single one of my pages with his fingers, his mouth, his...
“Dominic and Jonah better join us for brunch.” Adrian’s sultry voice shocks my mind back into the present.
I quickly grab my orange juice and sip it slowly, the tangy coolness of the juice helping to smother out the heat burning across every molecule of my body. I never expected to have such a reaction toward an alpha, and it’s as if my very nature knows that he will be mine and I’ll be his.
Ezra. I repeat his name in my mind, pushing away the thoughts of last semester and my life before this moment. It doesn’t matter now. What matters is what happens from this second on.
“I’m here. Joe is pulling into the drive now. You know he had an eight and ten AM lecture. He thought it best not to cancel.” Dominic enters the posh dining room, splatters of dried clay peppering his dark complexion like a smattering of stars.
He only wears a T-shirt and jeans, far more casual than I saw him last night. It’s a bit strange yet comforting, knowing that he can relax. Adrian remains in a suit, but he is sexy in a sophisticated way. Having the four of them in front of me, no longer shocked or arguing, helps ease my worry.
But then the door slams.
I straighten my back and clutch my fork, bracing myself for Professor Hart to enter the dining room. It can’t be easy for him either, considering I’ve been in his class for weeks now. It’s far more intimate, with only thirty students compared to the hundreds of the larger lecture halls. Not many take World Literature, but it’s what Mom chose. There is no rhyme or reason to my schedule apart from ticking boxes for a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a focus on general studies despite my desire to work on my skills. It could be worse, though. My mom could’ve denied me enrolling at all. She could’ve also chosen an omega program for those who can’t procreate and teach at Omega Prep. She did threaten it.
At least I don’t have to think about that anymore.
“We’re in the dining room, Jonah. Please join us immediately. Scarlett has been waiting long enough for our pack meeting.” Adrian slides into the seat at the head of the table, declaring himself as Pack Hart’s leader. I kind of assumed as much, but now he looks more authoritative.
“My apologies for being late. I wanted to stop by the garden and pick these up.” Professor Hart sets a tissue-wrapped bouquet of fresh flowers in front of me. “I hope you like chrysanthemums. They are quite beautiful this time of year.”
I gawk at the bouquet in shock, Professor Hart’s gesture surprising me.
“I wish I could take back my reaction yesterday, but I can’t, so I will do my best to do better moving forward, Scarlett,” he adds, taking a seat next to Dominic across from us.
I scoop up the bouquet and bring it to my nose, inhaling a breath of the herby, earthy fragrance with a hint of musk, unconventional and unlike the sweeter scents of flowers you usually find in a bouquet. “Thank you, Professor Hart. I love them. I also wanted to apologize on behalf of my pack for the way this situation played out.”
Leo rests his hand on my shoulder. “First, don’t call him Professor Hart. The titles have to go. You’re our soon-to-be wife. Second, it’s not your duty to apologize to Jonah. You couldn’t have known.”
I twist my lips. “I still feel as if I need to. I know that I’m not the omega you had desired—”
“Nonsense. You’re perfect. I won’t allow you to talk any less of yourself.” Adrian rests his hands on the tabletop, his height commanding attention. “We’re happy regardless. We have wanted this for a long time. I have great respect for how you’re handling everything. I can only imagine what a shock it is.”
“Speak for yourself.” Leo scoots closer and drapes his arm over my shoulders. “I look good.”
Dominic groans and rests his elbows on the table. “Don’t be conceited. It’s unbecoming of you, Leo.”
A smirk plays on my lips, listening to their banter. “It’s okay. He’s right...but about all of you.” I should just spit it out. The last thing I want is for my alphas to think for even a second that I don’t find them attractive. They’re hot, smell so good, and have been so welcoming.
“See,” Leo says, his smile lighting his face. Leaning in, he kisses my temple, the small gesture of affection warming my insides.
“I guess we’ll see if her thoughts remain the same once she’s comfortable.” Ezra remains expressionless, guarded. “She’s been trained to agree to a fault.”
I open my mouth to argue but stop myself. He’s not wrong. My hesitation comes from my desperation. I need them to accept me. If Mom was unhappy with her pairing with my dads, then she disguised it well. I know that time helps the bond. It gives me hope.
“That’s enough. We have more important things to discuss than first impressions and attraction. We need to bring order to this chaos, or I’m going to lose my shit on the next disrespectful beta in my afternoon class.” Jonah flicks his attention to me for a second. It reminds me of when the beta started harassing me in class.
“You’re absolutely right.” Adrian scoops some fruit and yogurt from the buffet-style breakfast the kitchen staff set up upon my arrival. He surprises me by sliding it closer and offering me a bite. “We need to agree on a schedule and decide on how to proceed with Scarlett’s education.”
