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nineteen
I’ve heard Meg tell Declan off twice. Witnessed the way she makes our moody, short-tempered pack alpha pause and reassess his reactions. Now, just when I think I should have bought a leash to keep Theo from tackling her…
She tackles him.
I’m beginning to think she might look perfect in everything. The baggy sweats and oversized T-shirt do nothing to detract from her sweet, sloping nose. Those wide blue eyes with their dark blonde lashes. The cinnamon freckles sprinkled over the apples of her cheeks. Her rosebud lips.
And her skin. As smooth and clear as honey.
I feel like I can exhale for the first time in hours as her scent twines around me. It isn’t heat perfume; in some ways, it’s better. I can still think, but I feel euphoric from our proximity.
I want to drop to my knees and worship her. Wrap her in my arms to keep her safe. Lock our bodies together so no one can ever hurt or upset her again.
As Theo lowers her feet to the ground—very carefully, to his credit—and turns the omega to face me, her glowing smile shrinks. Hesitation rolls over her features, like an eclipse swallowing the sun. She blinks, looking stricken as she stares at my face.
For one horrible moment, I worry I’ve done something to frighten her. Then her perfume explodes.
I choke on a growl. Ronan snarls viciously. And Theo groans like he just came in his pants. Judging from the way he doubles over—and my own aching erection—it’s a distinct possibility.
Meg blinks up at me, biting her plump lower lip with a row of even white teeth. “I can’t seem to stop that around you all. I’m so sorry.”
For perfuming?
As if I’m not elated by it. As if she has any control over her biology.
I know I don’t. Especially at the moment.
Or maybe she expects me to be upset about the incident today, the way she misled us. I am—but not for the reasons she must suspect. I’m more upset that our team has to discriminate against unbonded omegas, even though we truly do so with their safety in mind.
It’s also concerning that she felt desperate enough to lie and put herself in danger in the first place. After examining the portfolio she provided and re-checking all of her character references, I’m fairly certain Megera isn’t reckless or dishonest. Her situation must be dire.
Before I can ask why she’s apologizing, she snaps her posture up and exhales harshly. Brazening it out, even though her voice shakes slightly. “Anyway, thank you for taking care of me today.”
“Of course. I?—”
There are no words. Nothing to say except, I didn’t think you existed. Or, I finally found you; which seem both melodramatic and obvious, respectively.
But her smile only grows the longer I hesitate. As kind as it is beautiful. “I wondered which scent was you during the interview. Bourbon and ginger and spice. It’s...”
Her pupils dilate while she leans closer. Allowing herself to drift for only a couple of seconds before she snaps upright again and blurts, “I like it.”
I can see her pulling herself back from her instincts. Like a puppy on a leash—she initially follows her senses before some tether yanks her away.
It’s disconcerting. Concerning. Confusing.
All of those are appropriate, logical reactions. But I also feel insanely, irrationally protective.
A purr roars to life in my chest, as natural as breathing. I should be surprised it springs up so easily; purrs are normally reserved for intimate relationships, and I’ve barely touched this omega.
I don’t care. Meg responds to the vibrating sound automatically, swaying on her feet. “Oh,” she murmurs, sounding dazed. “Is that a?—”
Before the question can properly horrify me, more perfume fills the open air around us. A warm flush glows over her cheeks. She bites her lip again, peeking up at me through her lashes.
“Sorry. Again. No one’s ever purred for me before.”
An embarrassed wince flits over her features. She leans forward, as if she doesn’t want to be overheard. “That’s what this is, right?”
A sharp twinge of pain pinches my lungs as I step closer. “Yes, sweetheart. No one’s ever done this for you?”
