“Auryn?” I call her name, but she won’t look at me. She stares at the bed, at the floor. Her arms shiver, and I note the goosebumps there.
“Omegas are supposed to be nice,” she murmurs, and the look on her face is what does me in.
I reach out without thinking and settle my hand on her arm, and she jumps.
“Hey.” She flashes her gaze up at me and stills.
“It’s not a bad smell,” I say, chewing my lip. “It’s just…”
My fingers move along her arm carefully, feeling her skin. She feels cold, and I realize the thermostat in here is set to fucking sixty-eight degrees, like the rest of our rooms. Well, save for Olly. He doesn’t run hot like we do.
Alphas are like fucking furnaces because we’re built for our omegas. We’re built for nesting. Betas aren’t hot. Their body temps are closer to a lukewarm bath than a furnace.
Omegas seek warmth because they’re built differently. Smaller, blood flows differently. They’re always cold, which is why it isn’t odd to see one in a sweater in the middle of summer. They crave the warmth only we, their alphas, can provide.
“Different,” I say, my voice strangely soft. The desire to purr is overwhelming, so I don’t fight it.
She wrinkles her nose, looking up at me.
“What?” I ask, a smirk grazing my lips. She hasn’t pushed me off of her. My fingers still trace lazy lines along her skin, and one glance shows the goosebumps have faded.
“You don’t smell terrible, either,” she says, a faint laugh in her voice.
“Oh yeah? What do I smell like?” I grin. “Sexy alpha meat?”
She rolls her eyes. “Burnt cherries.” She licks her lips as I raise an eyebrow.
“Burnt fruit? What the fuck?”
She laughs, and the sound settles something inside of me.
“I told you it’s not a bad smell,” she says, and I realize she’s closer to me. My hand moves up her arm to her shoulder. I squeeze it lightly. Her gaze holds mine. “It’s…sweet, but smokey. Tart but fiery. I don’t hate it.”
I laugh. “Oh, you don’t hate it, huh?”
She giggles.
“Guess I should take that as a compliment, but—” I lean down just a fraction, capturing her gaze. Her eyes look alight, curious. “I didn’t think it was possible for you to not hate me.”
“I may not hate you,” she says softly. “But the jury is still out on whether or not I like you.”
And just like that, Auryn puts me in my place, and I can’t help but grin. The scent of cinnamon invades my senses.
“Mm, well, you're perfuming again, so I think it’s safe to say you like me just a little bit.”
Her cheeks flush, and she almost looks mad. My hand slides down to her waist, and she doesn’t push me away. Instead, a soft whimper escapes her throat.
“And you’re whimpering when I touch you, so—”
“I am not,” she whispers, but her gaze stays fixated on me, and I can see her pupils dilate.
I know I should leave her alone if she’s bracing for a heat wave.
But the alpha in me is enticed, and I don’twantto leave her alone. I want to be here for her. To help her.
That’s all I’ve wanted since we found her, but she seems to prefer everyone but me.
Even a beta.
