It’s more potent than it’s ever been.
No longer blended and hidden by other Alpha and Omega scents, I’m finally close enough to inhale just pure Travis.
I gasp, my eyes widening with the realization.
Wood. Smoke.
A cozy fireplace years from now, casting a glow in the room while the rain pours outside over the ocean. Earthy moss greeting me when I lie under the stars, a smile on my face.
Travis realizes it as the same time I do, and we stare dumbly at each other, just like I did with Rowan.
Just as I had secretly hoped, Travis is my scent match, as well.
Travis and his pack are my scent matches.
“Well, that solves that,” he says lowly. He makes no move toward me, but his jaw clenches and he stands still, as if trying to hold himself back.
Ash, apparently, has found this all extremely moving. No longer in loaf form, he is perched at the top of the cat tree, sitting up and watching me with his head cocked, his yellow eyes bright with interest.
“I have to go,” I whisper. “It’s late.”
Travis stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Don’t you want to talk about this?”
I shake my head. “I really don’t.”
Talking about this will only make it worse.
His expression is unreadable except for the flicker of hurt that crosses his features, but he nods slowly. “Right. Do you know the way out?”
“Hey. You’re leaving?” Ryland asks softly, and I spin to see the brothers in the doorway behind me, looking distraught. “It’s late out, and we have a spare room if you need it.”
Every moment I stay here is a knife in my chest.
They are being extremely kind and patient, but I…just…can’t.
Not when I still dream about being in that hospital.
Not when Justin’s mother says it’s my fault her son is gone.
I can’t move on.
“I’ll drive,” I say. “It’s fine.”
“It’s raining,” Rowan says. “And it’s three in the morning.”
I start to panic.
I don’t want to be around them, not on the anniversary of everything happening.
I need to process this elsewhere, regardless of what my inner Omega demands.
Travis notices my struggle. “If she wants to leave, she can leave,” he says calmly to Rowan. Then, he turns back to me. “Just let me know when you get home, okay?”
His face is still expressionless, his tone neutral, but I can tell he doesn’t want me to go.
Just as I can sense that he’s hurting almost as much as I am.
I’m not rejecting you,I want to tell him.That’s not what this is.
