Flint blinked. “Okay. For a second I thought I was hearing things, but I guessnot.”
I decided to test my luck. “Do you… What do you think about that?” I askedcarefully.
“About what? About her calling medaddy?”
Inodded.
Flint stared at the wall, his face scrunched up in thought. “I don’t know. I think…” His eyes met mine. “I likedit?”
My heart fluttered. Did I really hear thatcorrectly?
“You do?” Iasked.
His face set as he nodded. “Yes, I do. I’m sure ofit.”
Suddenly Flint strode closer to me so we were barely inches apart. He gazed down at me, his eyes blazing with a new passion. His scent overwhelmed me - it was musky and masculine, like pine sap on a cold winter night. It made me shudder. My wolf whined beneath the surface - it wanted more of him.Iwanted more ofhim.
My breath came out shakily. Flint put a hand firmly on my shoulder. His touch was intense and fiery. My skin prickled. The front of my pantstightened.
Flint swallowed before he spoke again. His voice came out rough and husky. “You’re close to your heat, aren’t you?” heasked.
“I am,” Iadmitted.
That was the whole reason I’d left Scarlet Ridge - to escape Gunner’s control over my next heat. And it was happeningnow. My omega pheromones must have been overwhelming to poorFlint.
“I can go out for the night,” I said, hanging my head in shame. “Or I can go buy pheromone blockers so that you don’t have to smellit.”
“What?” he growled. “What makes you think Idon’twant to smellit?”
“Isn’t it distracting?” I asked, still unable to meet his eyes now. “I don’t want to tempt you. After all, you don’t want an omega likeme.”
A primal growl ripped out of Flint’s throat, more wolf than human. It was so intense that my eyes shot up to meet his. They blazed like a roaringfire.
“An omega like you? What does that mean?” he growled. “You’re kind, smart, nurturing and - excuse my language - fucking hot ashell.”
My jawdropped.
Flint’s alpha aura flared as he put his other hand on my shoulder so that he was holding me so that I squarely facing him. My omega wolf reacted instantly; it wanted me to press against him, rub on him,anythingto get physically closer to him. But the logical part of me was still in shock. I couldn’t believe Flint had just said that tome.
“Charlie,” he growled. “Listen what I’m about to tell you.Okay?”
I nodded. “I’mlistening.”
“I don’t want to pressure you into mating with me,” Flint said. “But the smell of you… your omega aura… everything about you iscallingto me. It’s making my wolf go crazy. Like the gods themselves are telling me thatyou’rethe one Ineed.”
“But - why me?” I gasped. “I have a pup already,and- “
“Stop,” he growled. “I don’t want to hear the rest. Stop putting yourself down. And don’t talk about Casey like she’s unwanted around here. I love her, Charlie.” His gaze softened. “I really do. And I love you,too.”
For a moment I stopped breathing. Flint’s words sunk in. I threw myself into his arms and he instantly wrapped them around me, holding me close. His body radiated warmth and strength; I never felt so safe as I did then. His scent intensified and mingled with my own, creating an olfactory symphony of two shifters inlove.
Flint’s nose nuzzled into my hair, deeply inhaling my scent. “So I guess this means you feel the same way?” heasked.
“Yes,” I said with a breathless laugh. “At first I thought the feeling would go away, but it never did. It only gotstronger…”
Flint chuckled, his breath ruffling my hair. “Good. I’m glad we’re on the same wavelength. Just like an alpha and omega shouldbe.”
I bit my lip and gazed up at him. His eyes reflected the same primal hunger as mine currently had - I felt the urge to mate crawling up my body like a sensuous snake. I knew Flint felt the same way, judging by the strength of his musky scent and the firm way he gripped myshoulders.
