Page 88 of Written in Scent

The words land like a slap. Heat rises in my cheeks, part embarrassment and part defensiveness. “She’s not just a cat, you know that. She’s Noodle... or Mittens. She chose me. And I’m not helpless, Chase. I can take care of myself.”

His laugh is short and bitter. “You are an unbonded omega living in a dorm. You’re not supposed to take care of yourself like this. Not anymore. Not when you have a pack that would do anything to keep you safe.”

I cross my arms, standing my ground even though my heart is pounding. “I didn’t ask for a pack to monitor my windows. I came here to study. To have my own life. Noodle has been part of that life since the first week. I’m not going to lock her out or lock myself in just because you think I can’t handle a cracked window.”

Chase runs a hand over his face, the movement tight with frustration.

His voice drops even lower, the intensity of it making the hairs on my arms rise. “This isn’t about handling things. This is about not being stupid with your safety. You’re choosing to keep risking yourself every single night. I can’t stand by and watch that.”

The room feels too small. The tension crackles between us, sharp and unresolved. I want to argue more. I want to tell him that my independence matters too. But the look in his eyes is so raw, so fiercely protective, that the words stick in my throat.

Chase exhales with defeat and picks up his bag. “I’ll check on her again tomorrow. Make sure she stays hydrated and finishes the antibiotics.” He pauses at the door, hand on the knob, and looks back at me. His voice is quieter now, almost pained. “We have a date tomorrow night. I was really looking forward to it. But right now I need you to think about what I said. Because if you keep leaving that window open, I am going to lose my mind worrying about you.”

He slips out before I can answer, closing the door softly behind him.

I sink down onto the edge of the bed beside Noodle, heart still racing. The argument hangs in the air like smoke. Tomorrow’s date suddenly feels both closer and farther away than ever.

I reach out and stroke Noodle’s fur, whispering to her. “Your favorite alpha is mad at me. But I still want to go on that date with him tomorrow.”

She gives a tiny, sleepy purr, and I let out a shaky breath, wondering how everything can feel so right and so complicated all at once.

Chase is already kneeling beside my bed when I slip back into the room after checking the hallway one last time. Sophie hovers nearby, following his instructions with wide eyed focus. She holds the small bag of fluids level while he adjusts the drip rate, his big hands moving with surprising gentleness.

Noodle looks so much better since yesterday. Her eyes are brighter, her breathing steadier, and she even lifts her head to give my fingers a weak but determined bump when I reach for her. The medicine and fluids have worked fast. Relief floods through me so strongly that my knees feel a little shaky.

Chase sits back on his heels and gives her one last careful stroke along her side. “She’s stable,” he says, voice low. “The fever has stayed down. Keep her warm, make sure she finishes the antibiotics, and she’ll be fine in a couple of days. Just rest and quiet for now.”

Sophie lets out a relieved breath. “You’re a lifesaver, Chase. Seriously.”

He nods once, already packing his kit with the same calm efficiency he arrived with. Then he looks up at me, dark eyes unwavering but softer around the edges. “I still want to take you out tonight. If you’re up for it. The shelter closes at seven, but I thought… maybe you would like to see where I spend most of my time.”

I hesitate only for a second. Noodle is already curling back into her blanket, looking sleepy and content. “I would like that,” I say, shyly. “A lot.”

Chase stands, slinging the black bag over his shoulder. “Meet me out front in ten. Wear whatever feels comfortable.”

He slips out the side door the same way he came in, leaving the room feeling strangely quieter without his massive presence.

The second the door clicks shut, Sophie spins toward me with wide eyes and a dramatic hand pressed to her chest. “Oh my god, Elodie. Did you see the way he just took charge? That man is so hot when he’s in vet mode. The calm voice, the gentle hands, the way he knew exactly what Noodle needed. I was standing there like a useless potato and he made it look effortless. You are so lucky. Like, stupidly lucky. I cannot believe you get all four of them, but especially that one. He is basically a walking cinnamon roll with a side of growly protectiveness.”

I laugh as I pull off my lecture clothes and step into my favorite jeans and a velvety sweater. “He is pretty great,” I admit, cheeks flushed. “Even when he’s lecturing me about open windows.”

Sophie flops back on her bed with a happy sigh. “Go have fun. And tell me every detail later. Especially if he takes that leather jacket off.”

I grab my bag, still smiling from her gushing, and head downstairs. Chase is waiting in the small side lot, leaning against a black motorcycle that looks powerful and sleek under the late afternoon light. A second helmet rests on the seat next to him.

My stomach flips. This is my first time ever on a bike.

He holds the helmet out to me, his expression serious. “It should fit.”

I take it and slide it on. The fit is snug and secure. Chase leans in to fasten the strap under my chin, his fingers brushing my throat.

My breath catches at how close he is. The black leather jacket stretches across his broad shoulders, the material worn thin in places from years of use. He looks incredibly hot like this, next to the bike with that solemn intensity.

He slides his own helmet on and swings his leg over before starting the engine. The deep rumble vibrates through me as I climb on behind him. I wrap my arms around his waist, pressing close. The leather is hot from the sun and smells faintly of him, pine forest and clean musk.

Before he pulls away, Chase turns his head slightly. “I chose the bike instead of the truck because I don’t want to treat you like fragile glass, Elodie. I know I came on too strong last night about the window. I was worried about Mittens and I couldn’t control my protective instincts well enough. I’m sorry for how intense I got. I’m working on it. I just… need you to know that.”

The apology lands vulnerable and sincere. I squeeze my arms around him a little tighter in answer.