“That is an alpha named Kendric. I believe Marshall and he are friends, though gossip says they are lovers. The woman beside him is Sophie. They are apparently trackers who are taking a handful of people out today to look for this escape,” Cadel says in his slow and measured voice.
“How do you know all this?” I murmur, amused. “You’re turning into a giant gossip.”
Cadel smiles. It’s crooked, but when he does, his eyes brighten up with glimmers of light. “I listen very carefully, Omega. No gossiping.”
I snort, amused by his husky tones.
“I’ve got some more gossip for you. Mordecai and Jarek and going out with Legion. You and I will be going with Sophie and Kendric.”
I jerk my head towards him, startled. “We’re separating?”
Cadel strokes a finger down my chin, and I try to hide my reaction, but I know he sees it. The heat curls in my belly, and my mouth goes dry; all I want to do is lean into him. His dark eyes glimmer brown with ruby sparks. I look down at his lips. What would he taste like? How would it feel to kiss him? I breathe heavier, lost in his spell.
“Yes, we’re separating,” Cadel almost whispers, leaning closer.
“Why?” I whisper in a breath of sound.
“Because I insisted.”
I scowl at him, the spell broken. I can barely think over the buzzing in my head and the way my skin is tingling. “Why?”
“I want to spend time with you,” he murmurs and drags that finger down and across the plumpness of my bottom lip.
If this is seduction, it’s working. If it’s not, I need help.
He lets out a rumble that vibrates through the air.
A flush of warmth sweeps from my chest out to every part of my body. There’s barely any space between us, but it’s too much. He leans even closer, and the whole room fades away. All there is is him and that sound. I tilt my head back, giving him access to my throat. He leans in, my pulse gallops; I can feel the heat of his exhale on my throat. Slick pools between my thighs.
“Alpha,” I whine.
He just reaches out and taps his fingernail on the plate, breaking me out of his spell again. I feel like I’ve run a mile. I’m disoriented and aroused, and I just want to crawl into his lap and nuzzle at the spot where his scent is the strongest, making sure I’m covered in it for everyone to see.
“Eat.”
It’s like a cold shower. I draw back, trying to get my head clear.
“Tell me the reason, the real one,” I say, fighting to hold on to the conversation threads.
“Then you’ll eat?”
I nod.
“You look like you need some space after everything you heard. Like it was almost too much.”
I look down at the plate and slowly reach out and pick up the bread wrapped around the meat, and then I eat it mouthful by mouthful. I do not think about his admission, not even a little bit. Or the fact that he’s right. Not at all.
Kendric comes over and holds out his hand. I look at it and back up at him, refusing to reach out and touch him. He chuckles and retracts his arm. He’s a big alpha with bronzed skin, long black dreadlocks with a single feather in it, and a gentleness about the eyes that I like, despite myself.
“I’m Kendric. This is Sophie, Alex, and Willow. You look like shit, Keres.”
I snap my teeth and give him a look that would make lesser alphas run. I stand up, noting Cadel is staying close.
Alex is an alpha with a deep scowl. I immediately like him. Willow is a huge alpha with no hair; his smile is wide and takes up too much of his face. Sophie is an intimidating omega with big bones, shrewd eyes, and tanned skin. She sizes me up, and I’m not sure what she sees, but I think we’ll get along okay.
“We’re to be your escorts for the day.”
“I don’t need escorts!” I hiss.
