I continued walking. Footsteps came up behind me. It was Deke.
“They said you’re invited. For real.”
“It’s okay. I’m busy anyway.” I kept going.
It was for the best. A shifter party would mean they would all find out I couldn’t fly. That was something I wanted to keep private.
Back in my office, I sat for a few minutes, eyes closed, letting my mind forget what had just happened.
I heard footfalls and my eyelids snapped open. Keir stood in the doorway.
“You didn’t have to do that.” My voice sounded louder than I’d intended.
“It’s my job to remind my people we are a team. That’s how we work.”
“But you heard it all, didn’t you?”
“I heard enough.”
I leaned forward and put my elbows on my desk. I leaned my head into my hands.
“It’s my fault. I’m not friendly enough or something. I work too fast.”
Keir came in and shut the door, sitting before me. “It is very wrong of you to think that.”
“I need to handle it myself.”
“Yes. But I need to take the reins, too.”
“It just makes them think I’m your favorite or something. Which makes it worse.”
“I’m being careful about that.”
I rubbed at my face. “I know. You shouldn’t have this on your plate with everything else.”
“It’s my job. Besides, youaremy favorite.”
I looked up at him, my mouth dropping open. “You can’t say that.”
“It’s the truth. They’ll have to get used to it. You’re one of the first who’s come through here who speaks my language fluently and challenges my mind. I’ve missed that. When I was younger—still in school—that was such a great feeling. You’ve brought that back to me just when the job felt like it was becoming too routine. You inspire me.”
“I do?”
Keir nodded slowly. “Remember that. My team is good. They get things done. But not like you. You’re rare. Different. It’s a good thing. Remember that.”
His pep talk helped. My body relaxed. I knew he did these talks for everyone, but this felt more personal. Special. He said I was inspiring. Rare. I’d been different my whole life. Working with Keir had given me purpose these last weeks. Maybe I didn’t quite fit in with the team, but I fit with him.
When he left the room, his wonderful alpha scent lingered. I breathed it all the way into the depths of my being. Comforted. Enamored. Feeling things I could never confess to him.
It was wonderful. If I could be around Keir for the rest of my life, even if only in the workplace, I’d be happy.
Whenever Keir leanedin close I smelled him, more than just alpha Christmas spice, but special, intense. My body would go all warm and liquid.
One day, I pulled back.
“What is it?”
“Your scent.”
