Vonn nods, but his packmate has a one-track mind; he presses like a dog with a bone, “Got it. But what about the Alpha who sired Asher? Is he in the picture? Do you share custody? How does all that work?”
This so-called date is becoming more interrogation than romance, and the urge to run fills every part of my body. I squirm in my seat, my earlier lust completely forgotten. Mustering all my omega fire, I stare him down, hoping he’ll see my frustration.
Ever so slowly, I say, “I have already answered that. It’s time to stop talking about it now.” My voice is strong and firm. For a moment, Julius’s nose scrunches cutely, and I think he might let it go, but of course, that’s not him.
Instead of heeding my warning, the man blusters on. “So you don’t have a pack? What happened to Asher’s father? As someone who’s going to be part of your lives, I feel like we’re entitled to know the whole story.”
Entitled?Entitled!The word alone makes my skin prickle. My fingers rub the cool metal chain around my neck until I find the heart pendant, allowing the smooth texture to soothe thegrowing discomfort. Although my inner omega wants to give these Alphas anything they want, I’m stronger. And I don’t need to relive my trauma for anyone’s benefit. Especially someone I barely know, scent-matches or not.
The second he stops talking, a loud thump bangs under the table, quickly followed by a grunt from Julius. And before he has the chance to push me for an answer yet again, Vonn steps in.
“Dude, shut up. This is literally our first date,” he hisses at his pack brother, and while I appreciate the assist, it’s too little too late. Julius’s jaw locks, and his eyes glint with curiosity. He won’t let this go. No, the Alpha won’t be satisfied until all my history and dirty secrets are bared to the light. And I’m not ready to face my past…
Time to go.
“Thank you so much for lunch. I’ve got to be heading out.” Gracefully, I quickly slide off the picnic bench, getting to my feet. My eyes dart around, assessing the crowd for the fastest escape route.
“I thought you were free until parent pickup? That’s another hour from now. Maybe we could take a walk in the park?” Vonn’s hazel eyes beg me to reconsider, but the entire encounter has me frazzled. My muscles tense, ready to make a quick getaway. I may not be done with these Alphas whose scents speak to my very soul, but a retreat to gather myself is in order.
His hazelnut scent intensifies, wrapping me in a cloud of lust, making my pulse quicken. Slick pools between my legs, shocking me to my very core. It’s been so long since I’ve had any kind of physical contact. Yearning fills me, but then a cramp low in my belly nearly takes my breath away. I’m not ready for any of this.
“Sorry! I must’ve told you the wrong time. It’s time to run. But I’ll see you at the next mentor session.” My feet carry me forward, and I toss a quick wave over my shoulder. The sound of my heart thunders in my ears, and I’m already weaving aroundthe crowd. Panting, I push my way through the people waiting in line and make a break for it.
Fast. Move faster…
Chapter Twenty-One
Julius
Me
You’re quick. I’ll give you that. Maybe I should call you little bunny instead of firebrand since you keep rabbiting off.
Score: Julius- 0 Nixie-1
Iwatch my phone silently, waiting for her answer. She disappeared into the throngs of people way too quickly, making it impossible to follow. Vonn and I have been kicking ourselves since. The only thing keeping me sane is knowing that I’ll see her at the mentor session tomorrow.
I wait and wait for an answer, but it never comes, and I seethe.
Oh, firebrand, you’re going to be in so much trouble when I finally get my hands on you.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Vonn
“She’s not here,” Julius whispers to me through gritted teeth. My eyes scan the stadium searching for our tiny, flame-haired omega. But he’s right. Sniffing the air like a bloodhound, I probe for even the faintest hint of raspberries and poppies, only to come up empty.
Worry builds inside me, and I wonder if perhaps Asher won’t be here either. Our little omega is skittish, and there’s no doubt in my mind that all of Julius’s questioning freaked her out. His tenacity is part of what makes him such a great friend and Captain, but right now, I could kill him for it.
Dammit, Julius.
Fortunately, the team comes skating out onto the ice, and Asher is one of the first among them. They’re wearing new jerseys and looking like a team. I can tell that they all have fresh pads, skates, and helmets as well.Freaking sneaky genius.
“Did you do that?” I ask, nodding to the boys. He just shrugs his shoulders.
“Of course. If I see that kid nearly eat ice because of shitty skates one more time…” He trails off, but I know just what hemeans. Asher has all our protective instincts, wanting to provide for him. At their core, Alphas are meant to protect and care for their omegas and children. Seeing our omega’s progeny in anything but the best would have continued to chafe at us. I chuckle and shake my head, but it calms my frustration at my pack brother, reminding me of how truly good Julius can be. Hard and to the point sometimes, but always leading with his heart.
It almost makes me feel bad that I haven’t told him my suspicions about Nixie’s profession. After our date yesterday, all I could think about was the name Alex and that necklace Nixie kept playing with. Both images kept swirling around my head until suddenly I remembered seeing them on ScorchedOmega’s live feed. The pretty silver heart and the obscene douchebag who insisted she scream his name as she came.
