Page 24 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

“Don’t act so surprised, baby. I have always been enamored with you. Even if I admired you from a distance. Your strong heart. Your kind soul. And now you’re here, smelling like everything our pack always wanted, but never thought we’d have. Do us the honor of letting us court you, sweet girl.”

The flush on her face deepened into a beautiful rose color that made my alpha roar with approval. She blinked up at me, a flicker of apprehension clouding her pretty eyes.

“Will Ty mind?” she asked, the question so quiet I almost didn’t hear it.

Oh, if she only understood half of it. That I’ve had to hold Ty back for days. He was worse than me or Shane, desperate to cuddle with Mia in her bed. A slow smile slid along my lips as I leaned in, dragging my nose along the sensitive line of her jaw.

Her throat worked with a swallow, making my smile wider.

“No,” I breathed against her skin, counting thirty-seven individual goosebumps. “Ty wants this. Wants you as much Shane and I do. Does it bother you? Some omegas don’t want to share their alphas.”

“You’re not my al⁠—”

I cut her off, my hand moving from her waist to wrap possessively around her nape, my fingers tangling in her riot of curls. Her breasts shook with ragged breaths. She perfumed. I closed my eyes, trying to regain control.

Sinful, torturous temptress.

I forced her gaze to meet mine.

“Oh, baby. But we are,” I said, my dominance bleeding into each word. “We are your alphas. Ty is your beta. We are your pack, Mi. We belong to you. Unless you reject the scent match. Unless you can look me in the eye and tell me you feel nothing.”

A maple leaf landed in her curls, the brilliant red bright against her dark strands. I brushed it away, admiring how her lips parted with a hitched breath.

“I feel it,” she mumbled, holding my gaze despite the unsureness flickering in her irises. “I like it… I’m just nervous.”

“We all are. But we’ll figure it out together. You were made for us, baby girl. And we were made for you.”

Then I saw it. The moment she shed a piece of her armor, melting further into my hold. I cradled her head against my bare chest, hoping she understood my devotion in the steady thrum of my heart.

“Ok. Tonight. It’s a date,” she whispered, and my lips fell to the crown of her head in a silent prayer.

NINE

MIA

The scent of parchment lulled me as I shelved a stack of new releases in the back of the store. It had been a long first day. The owner, Mrs. Jones, had been nothing but kind as she walked me through the store. She was an aging beta woman who acted more like a grandmother than a boss.

I didn’t mind it.

It was odd to be back in the real world. Since getting my degree, I hadn’t done much outside of preparing for my move back to Maple Falls and my new job. While my long-term goal wasn’t to work in a bookstore, it’d do for now.

I really wanted to write my own books. I crammed four years of writing classes into three to jump-start my career. Unfortunately, not a creative cell worked. I opened my laptop daily, continuing to stare at a blank Word document, half-expecting a novel to appear if I glared hard enough.

The cursor blinked at me as if it were judging me with each pulse.

When my shift ended, I collapsed into my car. I drove through the winding back roads, the trees a blur of russets and reds and purples in twilight. My heart fluttered as my nails scratched at the frayed leather on my steering wheel.

It had been a long time since I’d gone on a date, and I’d never been on an official courting one. With school, I didn’t have time to notice alphas or worry about dating.

The only noise in the packhouse was the sound of the wooden floors as I maneuvered up the stairs. Jason told me he’d pick me up for our date at seven and to dress warmly.

Hot water washed over my face as I sighed into the spray, working the last remnants of conditioner out of my hair. After blowing out my curls, I slipped into a pair of fleece-lined leggings and a thick, forest-green wool sweater dress.

I grabbed my scarf, fidgeting with it while I stared at the reflection in the mirror. Something between excitement and worry twisted in my gut. But my omega, she was on cloud nine, vibrating with anticipation.

All she wanted was to drown in the delicious scent of our alpha.

A quiet knock rapped on the door. I gasped, clutching my chest.