Let’s just hope the night doesn’t end with Bram and me at each other’s throats. Because first and foremost, I need to talk to my scent match. Who comes happily walking down the stairs with a huge smile on her face when she sees me.
Well, that’s a relief.
“Max, thanks for coming. Food should be here soon.”
I can’t sit through Chinese and act like nothing is on my mind for the next few hours.
“Can we talk for a sec?”
“Sure,” she says with a smile, grabbing my hand and tugging me to what appears to be a mudroom before shutting the door.
I’m even more shocked when she wraps her arms around me and squeezes tightly before taking a deep inhale of my scent. I do the same with her, and it calms me down easily.
“Should I start?” she says.
I’m a chickenshit because I nod my head.
“I liked you before I found out you were my scent match. I’m sorry for not telling you when I found out. In retrospect, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out so complicated.”
“Hey, I don’t blame you for that,” I tell her, and she smiles.
“But like I was saying, there were already feelings there, complicated ones, but I always liked you, Max. I’m not upset in the slightest you’re my scent match. I know you and Bram have a confusing history, but I am really hoping that everyone can learn to get along and we can be a pack. You and Bram don’t need to be romantically involved in any way, but I’m hoping that you two can learn to be friends.”
“I’m hoping for the same thing. Finding out you are my scent match is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I want to spend more time with you and get to know you better. I want to be in your pack no matter what it takes.”
“You did a good job taking care of me during my heat.”
“I did?”
She laughs and nods her head. “It was literally sprung on you that day. Yes, Max. You’re a good Alpha; you’re an Alpha I want. I know things won’t be smooth sailing, but all I ask is that everyone tries.”
“I can do that.”
“Good, we’re all just figuring this out as we go.”
I kiss the top of her head, and she melts into me. Being hers is worth whatever hell Bram, her father, or the world wants to throw at me.
This is my chance to be important to somebody. Well, somebody outside of my mother, which makes me wince and pull back.
“My mom wants to meet you. Well, officially. She remembers you from the games last year.”
She grins. “Your mom is awesome. I can’t wait to meet her as your Omega.”
As my Omega.
I kiss the top of her head and hold her tightly, knowing I probably won’t get her to myself like this again this evening. I try to fight down the festering jealousy that she lives in Bram’s house. Even though I was invited over, I’m not sure how welcome I’ll feel.
“Let’s go eat and spend time with each other when we’re not all naked and barely functioning,” she says, and I follow her out to the living room.
Because the truth is, I’d follow Sloane anywhere.
The night was going fine.
Well, as fine as things can go when the house smells like another Alpha and I’m trying to keep the peace.
Yet I find myself getting more irritated as the evening goes on.
It’s not that Bram is hostile, it’s almost that he’s smug.
