Page 5 of Scent of Sanctuary
Not when I’m this close to my heat.
I clear my throat, about to say something when Ambrose cracks a joke about Lyle’s cooking which turns into Lyle chucking a napkin at him, a soft laugh bubbling up despite the ache in my chest.Just tell them, Seraphina.
Somehow the conversation takes a sharp turn to my brother, Callum telling a story I’ve heard before but never tire of. Felix, leaping off a firefighter ladder to grab a window ledge when some rookie started driving the rig away. He saved a little girl that night, her teddy clutched tight in her arms. That just makes the ache hurt worse, a tear slipping down my cheek.
“I still miss him so much.” That sob I’ve been holding back makes an appearance, strong tattooed arms suddenly pulling me into a warm embrace. Ambrose runs his fingers through my hair, his hand settling at the back of my neck as he cradles me against his chest.
“We do too, Fi,” he mumbles into my hair.
I try not to like it too much, try not to melt into him but it’s nearly impossible when his other hand settles on my hip, fingers starting to trace little circles there. Heat pools low in my belly, and I shift, trying to ignore the slick gathering in my panties. If I’m not careful, they’ll smell it. Needing a distraction, I shift the conversation again. “No one has told me anything about the station. I heard there was a new guy?” Working as the fire department’s dispatcher was a stroke of luck procured by my brother, a gift that keeps on giving after I confined myself to this house.
It's one of the only other connections to the outside world that I have even if it means I’m fielding emergencies calls on the daily.
Lyle leans back against the couch, threading his fingers behind his head. “Yeah, Nate. Thinks he’s the shit.” He launches into a rant, his voice sharp with annoyance. Nate’s cocky, reckless, always trying to one-up everyone. I listen, smiling as Lyle’s hands wave, his beard twitching with every scowl. He hates this guy, and it’s kind of adorable because to me, he’s always this big teddy bear.
I’ve seen him annoyed, even angry a few times and it’s not pretty but every time I manage to catch his gaze, he softens just the tiniest bit.
Heat surges through me as Ambrose tightens his grip on the back of my neck, slick coating my panties, a whine sitting at the back of my throat.Fuck.I sit up, maybe a little too fast, but if they catch my scent, I don’t know what will happen. The last time someone did…
I refuse to think about that as I wriggle out of Ambrose’s lap, mumbling about cake. My legs feel shaky as I dart to the kitchen, grabbing the strawberry slice and Callum’s chocolate one. There’s candles in the bag, a goofy looking two and a nine, the same age my brother would have been if he was still alive. We still celebrate his birthday every year as well which was just a few months ago but it never gets any easier.
Composing myself, I run back to the living room, tearing off the plastic dome and setting the candles into the top. It would be complete if I lit them but fire has terrified me ever since it took my brother from me—ironic that I still work for the department. They take it in stride as they do everything, all of us launching into an idiotic rendition of Happy Birthday that hides my sadness and the confession I’ve been holding back all night.
Just as the song ends, I catch a whiff of their scents, a heady mixture that has me trembling for them, my Omega fighting to take control. More slick gathers in my panties, the briefest edge of my scent peeking through which has me scrambling to my feet.
They all look up, concern flashing across their faces. Lyle starts to rise, but I throw out a hand, shaking my head. “No,” I choke out. “Just… give me a minute.”
I bolt to the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind me, and I grab the descenter from the counter, spraying it over myself in frantic bursts. Lavender clouds around me, covering my wild berry scent like a second skin. I sag against the sink, tears pricking my eyes as the nightmare from a few years ago tries to take hold. My rational mind tries to tell me that the Alphas in my living room would never do anything to hurt me but my body is warring with everything Iknowand it’s killing me.
“Just tell them, Fi,” I whisper to myself, catching my panicked look in the mirror. “Just tell them that they no longer need to take care of you. That it’s okay to start a family.”
Another tear rolls down my cheek and I slap it away, forcing myself to be strong.
“Just tell them that it’s okay to leave you.”
Ambrose
Itwistaroundonthe couch, staring at the bathroom door, confusion knitting my brows. Seraphina just bolted in there but I have no idea what the fuck just happened. I swing my gaze back to the guys, sitting up straighter. “What the fuck was that all about? And why does it smell like berries?”
My chest churns, a deep, gnawing need for her clawing at me. It’s not just want, not just the usual pull. It’s like she’s mine, ours, in a way that’s bigger than words. My nostrils flare, soaking up more of that wild scent, a scent that’s wholly Omega. I lock eyes with Callum, who’s slumped across from me on the floor, his face tortured, gray eyes dark with information he’s clearly been holding back from us. “Spill,” I demand, leaning forward. “What’s going on?”
Callum exhales, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. “We all know the lavender isn’t her scent. You just caught her real scent, Ambrose. Wild berries. Reminds you of summer? Yeah, that’s her. I think she’s terrified we’re gonna pounce.”
I blink, my lip ring catching between my teeth as I process his words. Lyle shifts beside me, groaning low as he adjusts himself in his jeans, the bulge between his thighs a little more than obvious. “Fix that,” Callum mutters, gesturing at Lyle’s lap with a tired nod.
Lyle’s eyes widen, his voice strained with the same need I’m trying to calm at the moment. “You knew? How could you survive not touching her all the goddamn time? Or holding her? Kissing her? Fuck.” He shifts himself in his jeans again before sitting forward like that’s going to hide the monster between his thighs. Our scents are starting to overtake the descenter, Callum reaching across the coffee table to throw us one of the many bottles Seraphina keeps around the room.
Now that I know she’s ours, the last thing I want to do is spray myself in chemicals, but I also don’t want to scare the shit out of her.
Callum lets out a heavy sigh as he watches us, only relaxing when our scents seem to disappear again. “I knew her growing up. Caught her scent a few times back then. She wasn’t ready for us then, and she definitely isn’t now. I think the evening might be done. I refuse to spook her when we’re the only connection she truly has to the outside world.”
I chew harder on my lip ring, glaring at the bathroom door. It makes sense that Callum would know her real scent since he and Felix were friends first. Lyle and I didn't come around until after Seraphina had already tucked herself away inside.
The first time Felix explained the rules to come into his apartment, I thought he was joking. And then, I saw Seraphina and told myself I would do absolutely anything she needed me to.
We didn't come over often; Felix meeting us at the bar or a restaurant but in the last few months before he died, we spent much of our time at the house. Seraphina naturally gravitated toward us, even as skittish as she was until those sweet smiles and adorable giggles were because of us.
My hands itch to yank it open, to pull her close and erase that fear. But Callum’s right. She’s fragile, teetering on an edge we can’t see. I’ve never wanted more to know what the fuck happened to put that fear in her eyes, though.Whoput it there? Because I’m going to track him down and rip out his throat.
