“Except love and passion,” I whisper as I bury my nails into my palms, taking a breath and releasing it as I prepare to fight for this thing I don’t just want. I need it.
I’ve tested Sinclair Parrish’s patience for long enough. I see it in the flicker of humiliation in his eyes and the tightening of his jaw before he steps toward me. I step back as Sinclair reaches for me when several things happen at once.
A strong, tanned hand reaches around me, grabs Sinclair’s wrist, and wrenches to the right. Hard.Crack.
I wince.
Wild forest and maple syrup.
The most delicious scent washes over me as a velvety soft voice vibrates with menace. “Touch her, and I will break every bone in your body.” The, freezing Sinclair in place.
No one in the room moves—just me, and only to swivel my head to the side.
A black t-shirt clings to muscled shoulders as cold, golden eyes flare with heat the moment my gaze lands on him. Shock has a hold of my tongue, and it won’t let go. I don’t know who this man is; I’ve never seen him before, but his scent calls out to me so loudly that he must be mine.
Scent match.
Out of the corner of my eye, Sinclair backs up, cradling his broken wrist. But Sinclair no longer exists to me anymore. From the moment this alpha appeared silently beside me, his scent has never stopped screaming at me.
I have two scent matches. Having one is rare. Buttwo? I’m the luckiest girl in the world.
I stop breathing, watching as my scent match raises his hand. His fingers halt an inch from my cheek. His thumb caresses my bottom lip, and I let out a soft moan I can’t quite suppress.
“Did he hurt you?” he asks, softening his voice for me.
Shaking my head, I whisper, “I’m June. I’d tell you all my other names, but I have so many you might regret breaking that other guy’s wrist for me.”
One corner of his mouth turns up in a surprisingly sweet, crooked smile. “I know them. I’m Archer.” He stares at me as if he doesn’t believe I’m real. “Torin warned me to watch out for stilettos.”
I let out a laugh. “He told you about me?”
They must be pack mates.
Archer nods, lowering his arm so reluctantly that it’s obvious he’s forcing himself to. “But he couldn’t find you again. None of us could.”
I wish he would touch me again, more than just his thumb on my mouth. But maybe he shouldn’t. Maybe it’s a good thing he hasn’t when my body is softening in ways that don’t care we have a roomful of people watching.
With a silent scream, I pull my gaze from Archer as reality intrudes.
And reality, in this case, is Archer tucking me behind him as Ms. Arkwright approaches with a security guard.
Ms. Arkwright demands, voice shrill. “Who do you think you are to force yourself in here like this? You weren’t invited to this ceremony.”
Everyone is staring. My mom is probably in the back of the room, dying of shame while telling everyone who will listen that she only has one daughter now.
A familiar, beautiful amber and cinnamon scent tickles my nose, and I grin, delighted when Torin appears. “Hey.”
“Hey, beautiful. I told you I’d find you.” Torin dips his head to steal a soft kiss that I definitely shouldn’t be leaning into like this. “Got those stilettos?”
“Ready to use as a weapon if needed,” I say.
He grins down at me and then steps forward to join Archer.
“Weare Pack Wells, and Juniper Edith Alicia Mabel Harrington is our omega,” Torin says.
I’m too stunned by the pack name to remind Torin that I don’t like anyone throwing all five of my names around like that. It’s not just a mouthful. It’s downright embarrassing.
I thought the whispers before were loud. They’re nothing compared to the gasps and exclamations that followthatannouncement.
