What more does this girl want?
“Maeve, come on,” a sweet voice says behind me. “I think that answer is fine.”
And there she is, my scent match, Blair, coming to stand beside me. Her scent isn’t as strong as before, but it still takes sheer force of will to not pull her to me and wrap my arm around her waist.
I drink in the sight of her up close.
She’s perfect.
Her skin is sun-kissed and radiant, and her heart-shaped face is accentuated by full lips and startling piercing hazel eyes.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
Mine, my inner Alpha growls.All mine.
The best part about this?
She’ll be the match for my brother, Rowan. We share practically the same scent and DNA.
She was made for us.
Which means she was made for Travis, too. I know he’s already suspected they’re a match.
This is the best fucking news of my lifetime.
“Hey,” she says politely. “Sorry about earlier. You want to see the cats?”
I stare at her a beat too long.
Does she notice our match? Is she struggling as much as I am right now?
Nothing in her face betrays her, but that display earlier shows that she suspects something.
The polite smile she wears is enough to make me clear my throat and swallow. “Yeah. Sure,” I murmur.
Great job, idiot.
Instead of asking her out or having a basic conversation about what just occurred, I’m taking a tour of a cat rescue with my scent match, who is acting like nothing is wrong.
Maybe she doesn’t sense it?
Or maybe she’s just ignoring it.
Which one is worse?
“Oh, look at you!” a cheerful voice calls from the playroom, and an older woman with grey hair comes into view, dressed in a yellow sweater with cats stitched onto it. “Who is this?” She eyes me with excitement while Blair huffs.
“Mari,” Blair mutters, a warning.
But Mari doesn’t heed it. “You have the best woman in here helping you find a cat,” she says, while Blair turns bright red. “She owns the rescue, you know.”
“I’ve heard,” I murmur, and extend out a hand to Mari. “I’m Ryland.”
“Ryland,” Mari repeats, smiling fondly at me. “How nice to meet you. I’m Mari, and that’s Blair, our cat expert. You’re in good hands, sweetie.”
I can tell this isn’t the first time that Mari has been excited to see an Alpha with Blair.
