Thankfully, before I did something quite stupid like make a break for the Reeves pack, Warrick let out a low bark and turned to head deeper into the forest. Cora nudged me, and with a senseof real freedom I released my worries and followed along. There were many scents as we ran, and one with a lingering caramel sweetness caught my attention over and over.
At first it freaked me out, as I’d trained my entire adult life to avoid shifters, but once I wrapped my head around being in pack lands, it felt soothing to be amongst our kind.
Warrick initially set quite a brutal pace, and I enjoyed stretching my legs, despite not being the strongest shifter. When he finally slowed down and let us just frolic and play, I was almost consumed by my happiness. Cora pounced on me and I rolled, my white pelt picking up sticks and rocks from the undergrowth.
From what I knew, omegas were always white wolves, the only shifters with a pure white pelt. The white teamed with my eyes always reminded me of the Arctic. It was fitting because I loved winter, even though I wouldn’t want to live in constant snow.
After we’d been out for about an hour, we took a breather near a picturesque creek, beside a section where water trickled over rocks. Our wolves drank and then we rested near the bank with Cora pressed against my right flank, and Warrick on her other side.
It was the sort of contentment I’d never known was possible.
Her warmth against me, and the thudding of their hearts beating with my wolf’s, felt like family and home. Even if it wasn’t quite right, because it wasnot quite my family.
My eyes closed as a cool breeze drifted through my fur, and with it, the sweet scent I’d been chasing all morning grew strong enough for me to make out the strong, individual notes of caramel and cinnamon.
It seeped into my essence and wrapped around me, and my wolf was suddenly alert, springing up to take off after that enticing scent.
Warrick leapt in front of me, growls ripping from his chest.
I wasn’t experienced enough to understand an alpha command in wolf form, but instinct told me that he wasn’t attacking… he was warning me not to chase the scent.
A much louder growl echoed around us, vibrating with menacing intensity, and Warrick turned to face the threat. I flinched at the dominance of this new shifter as it stalked toward us, flashes of a tan pelt visible when the beast emerged between the trees.
His scent grew stronger and tugged at my wolf in the same way Hunter’s had yesterday.
Another scent match!A scent match who was stalking toward me with singular intent. His beast was larger than Warrick’s as he stepped out of the shadows, his tan pelt streaked with gold in the sunlight. His eyes were a dark blue, piercing and locked on me as if I were the prey and he was most definitely the predator.
Warrick remained in his protective stance, and I almost shifted back until I realized I’d be naked in front of my scent match. Which was franklya terriblefucking idea.
Leaving my wolf in control was also a worry, since she was already pissed about another alpha standing between us and our mate. She released a few low growls at Warrick, and only pure respect for what he’d done kept her from attacking.
Dominance poured from the tan wolf, and Warrick backed up a step until I felt the whoosh of his energy as he shifted back to his human form. “Kellan Jackson,” he snarled. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I kept my gaze straight on so as not to catch a glimpse of Warrick’s bare ass and balls hanging between his legs. It wasn’t really difficult when my wolf was firmly locked on the most predatory predator in the forest. Kellan Jackson, apparently.
There was another whoosh of energy and the giant tanned beast was replaced by a giant… uh, tanned man. Lifting my head to keep his face and defined chest in focus, I noted that Kellan was a golden boy through and through.
His skin was a glorious caramel-gold shade, his hair blond, short, and tousled around his forehead, and the dark blue of his eyes leaned toward violet in their intensity. Kellan’s piercing gaze was locked on my wolf, but he didn’t move closer, allowing a respectful distance to remain between us.
He was beautiful.
Not in the hard masculine lines of Hunter, but in a square jaw, straight nose, perfect white teeth, all-American hero way. Everything about him screamed handsome and virile. Of course the goddess would bless me with a pack of gorgeous alpha males.
No way she’d make it easy not to fall into all their overt masculinity.
“She’s my scent match,” Kellan said softly, and despite his threatening rumbles from before, his tone was filled with awe. “Hunter told us last night, but… fuck, it’s so much stronger than he described. That first punch in the gut when her scent hits…”
He crouched down until we were eye level, and so far I’d managed not to sneak a peek any lower than his broad shoulders and nicely muscled arms. The self-control that took almost did me in. “You smell like chocolate and honey, omega. And your wolf is such a pretty girl. You’re both the sweetest, most delicious treat I’ve ever experienced.”
Hunter was all growl, and this alpha was all heart. He wore it on his face as he stared at me, and I wished I could shift back to speak with him. “Let’s head to the cars,” Warrick suggested. “Allow Emmeline to get dressed so she’s more comfortable chatting to you. She’s not used to pack life. This is her first run with other wolves.”
I swore a flicker of hurt flashed across Kellan’s face, but he schooled himself quickly. “I didn’t mean to make her uncomfortable, it’s just impossible to ignore the draw of a scent mate. I’ll meet you back at the parking lot.”
He shifted back to his wolf in the fastest, most seamless change from man to beast I’d ever seen. Kellan might not be the entitled alpha of the Reeves pack, but he would have been one in another pack. He was stronger than Warrick, and I was starting to see that my chances of surviving all four alphas in my scent match were slim tonot a fucking chance.
Chapter
Eight
