Page 2 of Scent of Sanctuary
“Sweetheart, I love you, but if you make me eat brussels sprouts or whatever that green stuff was, I’m never coming over for my birthday again.”
More giggles spill out, further loosening the knot in my chest. “Okay. What about the mango chutney salmon that—”
“Seraphina, don’t you dare.”
I laugh harder, wiping my nose with my free hand. “I know, I know. I still think it’s weird you don’t like mango.” I pause, listening to those deep chuckles, my body warming at the thought of us sharing more than a conversation. “Is it really okay for you guys to come over? You were here two nights ago. What about… you know. Dates?”
“Seraphina,” he says, voice dropping an octave, a sudden serious edge to my name.
Tears sting my eyes at the sudden change in his tone. “No. Don’t say my name like that.”
He lets out a heavy sigh, no doubt remembering countless conversations where I tell them they need to be finding a family and they tell me they’re not leaving. “Sweetheart, none of us have Omegas. I quite like our dinners. Saves us from choking down whatever Lyle calls food. We’ll be there at seven. If you need anything, I’ve got my cell on me.”
I mumble a goodbye, choking on a mild sob, hoping he didn’t hear it. I don’t have very much time to get dinner startedandspray down my apartment again so my scent disappears. It’s been years since that night just before my heat but I can’t shake it. The thought that my scent will ruin all of the peace I’ve built. It’s better to be safe. Erase my scent, hide it behind the lavender, and pray these men never truly smell me so the happiness doesn’t fade away.
Because that’s what happened when an Alphadidcatch my natural scent. Rushed at me. Held me down… I still remember his wild eyes and that snarl reverberating around the room. I narrowly got away but since then, I’ve never let anyone know what my scent is. It’s too dangerous.
I’m not sure I could stomach it if one of them attacked me by accident. I’m too in love with them to be able to recover from that. Bolstering up a little confidence, I start toward my nest, grabbing one of the descenter sprays to get to work. I’ll have to order new pillows and blankets, these ones thoroughly ruined with whatever is in there but that’s a tomorrow problem.
Tonight is all about Callum.
And Lyle.
And Ambrose.
And trying yet again not to fall in love with Alphas I can’t have.
I’m selfish for keeping them close, but goddess, I can’t let them go. They’re all I’ve got left.
Callum
Ipushthroughthefront door of our place, the familiar creak of the hinges greeting me as I step inside. Lyle looks up from where he’s sprawled across Ambrose’s lap on the couch, one long leg dangling over the armrest, his book tipped lazily against his chest. The two are inseparable most days, Lyle’s quiet calm weaving into Ambrose’s wild chaos like they were built for it. Ambrose’s arm rests loose around Lyle’s shoulders, tattoos peeking out from his rolled-up sleeves. I wasn’t even sure Ambrose would be here, not with that grocery list Seraphina needs. Chocolate almonds, some decent meat, anything to fill that sad excuse for a fridge we saw last time. A few containers of fruit, little sandwiches she probably slapped together. She’s eating, sure, but thriving? Not even close. Not like she used to.
Lyle shifts, tilting his head my way. “What’s up, boss?”
I shake my head, kicking my boots off by the door. They land in a messy pile next to Ambrose’s sneakers. “No idea,” I mutter, crossing to the fridge. I yank it open, grab a water bottle, and twist the cap off with a little more force than I need to. The cold plastic bites my palm as I lean back against the counter. “Something’s off with Fi. Won’t know what until we get over there.”
Ambrose nudges Lyle off his lap with a playful shove, planting a quick kiss on his cheek before standing. Lyle stumbles upright, grinning despite the red creeping up his neck. Ambrose stretches, all lean muscle and restless energy, then fixes me with a look. “Any guesses?”
I take a swig of water, the chill sliding down my throat but it does nothing to calm my nerves. “No. But I’m starting to hate it more when she’s left alone. She sounded disappointed someone didn’t swing by with ice cream last night.” My gaze slips over to Lyle, pinning him with a glare.
Lyle’s eyes widen, his grin fading fast. “Is that what she told you?” He drags a hand down his face as he approaches the kitchen counter before stuffing his hands into his pockets. “She told me not to come. Said she was tired. I thought it was weird, but I wasn’t gonna push. Her heat’s coming up soon so I just thought it was her needing more rest or something.”
I frown, setting the bottle down with a soft thud. “Did you go over there?” I know these men well enough that we always read into what Seraphina says. Even though her brother asked us to take care of her, we would have done that anyway. At least I would have and these two would have followed. She’s precious in a way I can’t explain and every time she hurts, it hurts me a little too.
Lyle plops onto one of the barstools, managing a tight smile. “Yeah, stood outside her place for a bit. No lights on. She sounded off when I called, kinda shaky but again her heat’s coming up in a few weeks.”
There’s that uncertainty in his voice, that waver he gets when he’s second-guessing himself. Ambrose’s face tightens, concern etching lines around his mouth. He paces a step, then stops, hands on his hips. I lean harder against the counter, the edge digging into my back. Something’s wrong. She was crying before she picked up my call earlier, I’m sure of it now. That hitch in her breath, the way she rushed to cover it.
The worst part is that her heat is due by the end of the month and the three of us are on edge. She’s always managed to get her doctor to agree to sedation, refusing to spend it with anyone else. She’ll build a little nest in the guest bedroom and we’ll check on her, make sure that she’s getting all the right fluids and then we’re there when she wakes up. I fucking hate it. Fucking hate watching her go under, watching her wake up confused and groggy, watching that sad smile on her face as she tells us it’s okay.
Lyle and Ambrose latched onto her quick, like she was theirs from the jump. Me? I’ve been in love with her for years, long before Felix was gone. Back when she’d laugh at his dumb jokes, her wild berry scent filling their old house. I never acted on my desires because she was Felix's younger sister. She was off-limits. Some part of me told myself that it was just my innate need to protect her and not attraction.
And then when I finally mustered up the courage to say something, we lost Felix and Seraphina was terrified of the world.
It’s not even about the scent match—not really. That lavender she drowns her place in, it’s not hers, not the real her. But I can’t imagine a life without Seraphina anyway. None of us can.
“You think she’s okay?” Ambrose mumbles, plopping down beside Lyle. There’s a tick to his jaw, a wild glint in his eyes that tells me he’s going to call dibs on Seraphina when we get there. He deserves it, though, after a particularly stressful week at the station.
