Page 12 of Gold Rush
I jolt, looking to the right as one of the alphas from before steps closer. She’s slighter than me, an inch or two taller too, with lean muscle cording up her arms. She and her pack were nice this morning, but I could tell that there was no pull from any of them. They were going to be my option if I only needed a place to ride it out. I’m bisexual — the gender of the alphas never mattered anyway, and her pack was pleasant enough that I didn’t feel like I’d be in danger staying with them.
The alpha keeps her distance from me, a soft frown pulling her features down. “It’s probably going to be difficult to find a pack this short notice, but I wanted to give you this.” She holds out a card, and I lean forward, taking it from her. Her voice softens. “It’s a heat help center, if they… let you out of this place.” The alpha looks around. “You might consider it.”
“Thank you.” I pull the card to my chest, a small lifeboat as the commotion in the lobby gets louder.
“This place lacks what youneed.” The female alpha takes a half step closer, her gaze serious enough that it makes me focus. She has so much power in her mere presence, it makes me want to listen, tostop, and heel. “But you don’thaveto pack up, regardless of what anyone here says. There are plenty of omegas who wait to bond until later in their life, no one speaks aboutthem. They want to focus on the ones who ‘find their dream scent match’ at eighteen.” Her head tilts. “Take care of yourself, please — and go with your instincts, they exist for a reason.”
I open my mouth to… I don’t know. Thank her again? Confirm that I won’t justsettle, when the man below us slaps his hands onto the desk.
“I’mnotleaving until I see her.”
I look down just as he tips back, his head lifting, his tanned skin washed out under the harsh lighting, his chest heaving as he breathes in. I grab onto the glass railing to keep myself upright as a Black man walks through the front doors, his gait long and gaze furious as he brandishes a piece of paper.
I know them.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Theo isfurious.”
Seth snags the paper from Bennett and pushes it across the desk. “File it and let me see her.”
The card in my hand flutters to the floor as I forget all about the alpha next to me, turning sharply and running toward the stairs, taking them two at a time. The security guard at the bottom gives me a wide-eyed look, but doesn’t get a chance to stop me as I run directly toward the reception desk.
Seth looks up sharply, and all the tension in his shoulders sag as he pushes away and meets me halfway. His hands rise, hesitating before he touches me, his voice soft. “This is going to sound insane.”
I stare up at him, my heart pounding, the feeling from last night hitting all over again as we look at each other. “I don’t think it will.”
He nods, his lips parting before he steps closer. “I don’t even know your name.”
My resolve crumbles as I feel his fingers tighten on my shoulders, so right, like they’ve touched me a thousand times before. “I’m June.”
“June.”
The way he says my name is so quiet, a mere whisper as his eyes flicker over my face.
I can feel eyes on us and glance to the side, catching the gaze of his alpha — Bennett — and I step back, pulling into myself as I realize how it must look. He’sbonded, they’retogether—
Seth steps forward, then follows my eyes. After a moment, he looks back at me, like he’s taking me in, or afraid I’m not real. “Where have you been staying? Is there somewhere we can talk?”
I open my mouth, startled by the questions, when Bennett walks over. My brain feels sluggish because he’s soundeniablyalpha. Even in the open lobby, I feel overwhelmed by the heady citrus scent rolling off of him, mixing with the smell of fudge coming from Seth. I feel a flush creep up my cheeks as Bennett’s eyes look me over, his mouth pulled into a soft smile.
“Hello again.”
“Hi,” I breathe the word, glancing away only to get caught in Seth’s gaze. I fumble, tugging at my sweater, realizing it’s all they’ve ever seen me in.God, they both must think I’m a disaster.“I’ve been staying here.” Clearing my throat, I look between them. “I can’t go anywhere else. But maybe we can go upstairs to one of the meeting rooms.”
Seth nods rapidly, stepping closer and sliding a hand over mine. His touch makes me release my sweater, his smile encouraging. “Let’s do that. Let’s go talk, June.”
“Okay.” I suck in a breath and move to turn, seeing the startled representative that’s been dragging me around all morning halfway down the stairs. Just as I open my mouth to explain, I feel a warm hand against mine, palm to palm. Seth’s fingers intertwine with mine.
I look up at him, slightly startled, but his smile is easy. “Lead the way.”
I tug him up the stairs beside me, brushing past the representative and taking the room Iknowis empty. It’s the same one I just left, and still smells vaguely of oil and cigarettes, but Seth doesn’t blink, and neither does Bennett as I take a seat, reaching across the table for the abandoned paperwork and shoving it toward them. “The center keeps asking people to fill this out, I think it’s so —”
Seth takes one look at it and then sits down in the chair next to me, scooting it closer. “I’m going to be honest, I don’t give afuckabout paperwork.”
“Seth,” Bennett mutters his name, but it’s almost laughing as he takes the seat behind him, angling it out, not even glancing at the form.
Seth grabs my hand again, squeezing it. “Are you okay? You didn’t look okay last night.” His warm eyes rove over me again and I feel bare as he lingers on my sweater and leggings.
My lip wobbles as I whisper. “Uh…”Why is this so hard? Why do I want to burst into tears because he actually took a minute to notice?
