“It’s a lot. That’s all I’m saying — it has to be.” Arin’s eyes search my face. “Whether young or old — that’s a lot of pressure for a person to suddenly have on them, especially with no support and in an unfamiliar place.” He frowns, his thumb touching under my eye. “When did you last sleep a full night?”
I pause, feeling like I can’t lie to him. Something in the back of my brain won’tletme. “Before I got to London, over a week ago.”
His eyes flash, anger, sadness, disappointment, then he readjusts us, pulling me closer without a struggle. Arin snatches a thin decorative blanket off the back of the couch and settles it over both of us, pressing me against his chest as his purr grows louder, almost like it’s being forced out.
“Close your eyes.”
I peek up at up, inhaling the minty scent, my nose burning as I nod and sink into him, resting my head against his thrumming chest and heart. Unspoken words hang in the air:is this okay? Are you comfortable? Will you rest?
I let them all fade as I wrap an arm around his torso, my eyes drifting shut as I murmur, “Thank you.”
His hand rests on my back over the blanket, his tone even. “Don’t make me command you to sleep.”
Unbidden, a little smile tugs on my lips — wouldn’t be the first time.
The hum of his purr surrounds me, the warmth radiating from him getting trapped by the blanket, creating the perfect cocoon to sink myself into. My mind goes quiet, blissfully silent as sleep sweeps in before anything can interrupt it.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ARIN
The omega isin my arms.
I smelled her the second I walked into the house, but nothing prepared me for how muchmoreshe is. My expectations were set by Bennett’s periodical updates — first it was that Seth made a knee-jerk decision, then it was thatBennetthad gone along with it, and finally it was that Theo was acting out — which is to be expected.
The text is seared into my brain.
Bennett
Seth ran into the beta we were trapped in the elevator with. She isn’t a beta. She’s at the house with us because the designation center was mistreating her. You should come home.
I’d tried to wrap my head around cutting my work short to come home to a stranger, but somehow now that I’m here, I’m not upset by it.
How could I be?
She —Juniper— is in my arms, practically lying on top of me, her soft body melting against my own. And she’s all curves,pliant and thick, her weight resting against the side of my body, warming me from the inside out. I’ve never had a difficult time making my designation work for me — strength helps when I’m keeping my body fit, power keeps eyes on me while working, scents and heightened senses clue me in when deals might sour, and the few times I’ve had to purr to curb Theo’s tangled thoughts all came naturally. It didn’t take any effort for the rumble to fill my chest, to wrap my arms around her and let her sink into me, to findsafety.
I just hadn’t expected it to beherin the doorway. I’ve grown so used to Theo seeking me out the moment I return home after traveling, trying to channel his anxious alpha energy intosomething. He fights his designation, but I’ve spent my life making it work for me.
When she’d stumbled in, the sweet smell of her perfume acrid with stress, soured and frantic — IknewI could help. It was unthinkable not to.
Bennett didn’t have to verbalize that she doesn’t have anyone. It’s clear. He never would have brought someone back to the townhouse if there wasn’t a reason, and now with her pressed against me, Iknowwhy he made the call without mine or Theo’s input.
How could someone see you and not want to give you the world?
I lift my hand, stroking her hair. It’s red in the dim light, reflecting the lamp I didn’t turn off, casting shadows on her round features, full lips, and little button nose. She’sbeautiful, and in sleep, her perfume smells like honeyed tea, wrapping around me, near intoxicating as it drips down the back of my throat, soothing me as much as my own scent seems to have soothed her for the time being.
Never in my life have I smelled a perfume so distinctlyhome. I learned all about scent matches after emerging as an alpha, butno one told me that it was an instinctual ‘when you know, you know’ sensation. Other people have appealed to me through the years, but never like this, never to the point where my fingers want to dig into her skin, to hold her against me and never let her out of my sight for the rest of my paltry life.
Mine.
I sink back into the couch, wrapping both arms around her tightly. It’s chaste, compared to my raging hindbrain. It’s never had this reaction to any of the casual partners I’ve taken through the years. None of them were ever omegas though, and it adds a layer of…more. My limbs feel heavy as I make sure she can’t move in the night without me knowing.
Most omegas I’ve met have already been bonded to the packs I help purchase property. They’re quiet, shy, like her, but smaller, shorter, thinner. Her thick thighs press into mine and I close my eyes, breathing in deeply, willing my body to behave as she breathes out softly against my chest, humming in her sleep as she adjusts, pressing more of her body into mine.
Maybe I can just let her rest for an hour or so, then put her to bed and figure out the next steps with the entire pack in the morning. I already know what Seth and Bennett will say — but I’m not going to disregard Theo’s discomfort, that would be a misuse of my power.
Her hair is so soft.
