The thought trickles in, my hindbrain fighting against my better senses and winning. I inhale deeply, smelling her perfume, her skin,her. It takes all my effort to simply tuck the blanket closer, cupping the back of her neck gently, keeping her stable so I can make sure she gets as much rest as she needs.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
JUNE
The bed ismuchfirmerthan I remember.
I shift sleepily, inhaling the smell of breakfast mixed with overpowering mint. My eyes flutter open, taking in the long, lean torso of themanunder me. The same one that talked me down from panicking last night. There’s a drool spot on his shirt where my cheek is, and I jerk, feeling his hand tighten on my shoulder, keeping me from flying off the couch.
We’re both covered by not one, buttwoblankets.
He blinks owlishly up at me behind askew glasses. “Morning.”
I flush, sitting up a little slower and both the blankets fall onto the floor. Reorienting myself, I rub my face, clearing the crusty pieces from my eyes, the skin slightly swollen from crying last night. A whiff of chocolate comes off one of the blankets, and I turn toward it, closing my eyes as my heart flutters.
Seth was in here.
“Come on.” Arin sits up, long limbs hanging as he gives me a small smile. “Let’s see what Bennett made for breakfast.”
I stagger upright, wanting to give him the space to stand too, but all it does is immediately remind me of howtallhe is. The sheer height of him makes me feel like an ugly duckling,scrambling to keep up as he walks out of the office with me hot on his heels.
Arin steps into the kitchen and I peek around him. Bennett moves back and forth between two sections of countertop, mixing ingredients for pancakes. Seth leans against one side, stealing a kiss every time Bennett walks by.
The beta perks up immediately, his smile widening as he looks between Arin and I.
“I couldn’t figure out why your room was empty… then I came downstairs.” Seth shoots Arin a look. “I told you to stop sleeping on that couch with only that decorative blanket. It’s not warm enough.”
Arin coughs, glancing to the side as he runs a hand over his mussed hair. “I’m… going to get out of these clothes. I’ve had them on since yesterday morning.” As he turns, his eyes catch on me, lingering. “I’ll be back for breakfast. Eat something, Juniper.”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out as he slips past.
Seth pushes off the counter, walking toward me. I flush as I glance up at him, barely having to move my eyes to do it since we’re so even-matched. He touches my jaw, a line appearing between his brows. “Are you okay? Your eyes are puffy.”
Rubbing them self-consciously, my heart tugs uncomfortably. The fact he evennoticedmakes my mind spin, my throat feeling suddenly tight as I inhale shakily.
His frown deepens, and then he wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest, smelling of oranges and chocolate. Just as I have the thought, he laughs softly and mutters directly into my ear. “You smell like mint tea, like Arin coated you in his scent overnight.”
From behind us, Bennett clears his throat. “How many pancakes do you want June?”
Anxiety skitters over my skin as I pull away from Seth. That’s hisbonded.Why would Bennett want to see Seth hanging all over me? Why would any of them want to smell someone else on my skin?Not even Seth’s brief touch on my arm can curb the panic. Backing up, I ease toward the door, unable to meet Bennett’s eyes.
“I’ll be right back.”
I don’t wait for a response, instead I dart out of the room, afraid they’ll stop me, afraid of what will come out of my mouth if I let myself stay. I make it to the guest room before I suck in a ragged breath, going straight to the bathroom and turning the shower to scalding. Something about being told I smell like Arin —an unfamiliar alpha— my brain unhelpfully adds — means I can’t get out of my clothes quick enough, shedding them just to jump under the burning water.
My skin is pink and red, raw from scrubbing it with the scent-cancelling products, by the time the water turns cold. I want to claw my own skin off as I stumble out of the shower and tug on a sweater and my other pair of leggings. My rounded stomach is bloated, and the leggings cut into it as I push my fists against my eyes.
Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.
Last night was the most rest I’ve gotten in aweek.
This is all too much — too fast — I shouldn’t be here — I shouldn’t be in this situation. I should be at home in my shitty little apartment writing my silly books and be grateful I’ve had the small success in my pathetic little life Ihave—
I refuse to look at myself in the mirror as I leave the room again.
The adult thing to do is to thank them for taking me in, but part ways. I can find an omega-only hotel that’s willing to let me stay — even if it means taking out some cash from my savings account. If nothing else, I can contact the designation center andask about the pack with the female alpha. I never should have dropped the card for the heat service.
I take the steps slowly, steeling myself. It will be simple — look at them, say that I’m thankful, and then go back upstairs and pack. I’ll leave everything Seth bought for me, I never should have accepted any of it in the first place.
