“I don’t think that’s what I need,” I reply.
Because the fact is, while my life might be far from perfect—I’ve had my fair share of emotional distress over the past few months— I saved myself. I found a job. I got my apartment. Hell, I’m a cat mom now. It’s not saving that I need, it’s something wholly different.
“What is it that you need?”
I lick my lips, staring down at the dirt for a minute, before glancing up at his warm brown eyes.
“I think I just want to be cared for, learn what being a pack is supposed to be like. I don’t need saving, but I want more to this life than what I currently have.”
“Your mom’s pack”—he clears his throat—“Erin’s pack is nothing like what Sterling, Hayes, and I have created. We’re nothing like them.”
I smirk at him. “I’ve already gathered that. You’re all together, right?” I confirm. It seemed pretty obvious from their interactions, but you know what they say about assumptions.
“Yeah, are you okay with that?”
“More than okay with that,” I assure him.
“And with Erin?” he asks.
It’s clear that he’s worried about how I feel about the situation, and something about this Alpha makes me feel safe to tell my truth.
“Is there a part of me that’s annoyed you dated her? Yeah, I can’t deny that, but it’s not a deal breaker. I know you think you didn’t do enough for me after I designated, but you were kind, Nate. None of my mom’s other Alphas would have helped me the way you did in that situation. You made me feel safe and put my mind at ease with what my body was going through. And if we’re continuing this whole honesty thing, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about your scent since that night,” I say, feeling even more heat flood to my cheeks.
Nate takes a step closer to me. Our toes are nearly touching.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I whisper back.
“I kept the gloves from your 911 call and haven’t been able to stop thinking about your scent ever since.”
I swallow thickly, looking up at his face. Embarrassment is clear from his expression. But he’s seen me at my most mortifying moments, so for him to share a secret he didn’t have to makes him even more endearing.
“What did you do with them?” I ask.
“You know what I did, Hailey. I’ve never felt this way about an Omega’s scent before.”
Did this Alpha masturbate to my scent?
“Never?” I question him again. Maybe I’m being greedy about wanting to know how he feels about me.
Courted Omegas are allowed to be greedy, I decide.
He moves a little closer, his hand tentatively gripping my hip.
“I want to do right by you. Start us off on the right foot. You’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever had the privilege of being around, and I just needed you to know that my intentions are pure. This isn’t a way to get back at Erin. I couldn’t care less what she and her pack are up to. I just want to get to know you. I want to court you, and only you.”
I grab his shirt, balling it in my fist, pushing our bodies closer together, aiming for a kiss. But the universe isn’t done mortifying me as the bills of our hats smack together instead of our lips.
Nate laughs it off, turning his backward, and grabbing mine, smoothing my hair back. He tenderly cradles the back of my head and glances down at me for a moment before pressing his lips against mine.
I feel like I melt into a puddle as he kisses me.
We smile as we kiss, and it feels like butterflies are flapping away in my stomach. The only other time I’ve felt like this was when I was sitting on Hayes’ lap.
Nate deepens the kiss, some sort of low moan leaving his lips as he holds me even closer. He makes me feel small against him, his large hands keeping me in place.
This. This is how a fucking Alpha is supposed to make an Omega feel.
