But more than my own uneasiness, I worried for Noro. Why was his fear-scent staining the cell? And why wasn’t he there anymore? My heart lurched as my brain thought of about a million different ways he could be hurt.
I ran faster.
With Neil stupidly plodding along behind me, I raced up the stairs while trying to keep quiet at the same time. Blaze’s scent trail was mingled with Noro’s, unfortunately, which made me think they were together, wherever they were.
Please let Noro be safe…
My baby kicked hard at the thought, nearly making me stumble. I held my belly in my hands with a soft groan.
Was it just me, or did it feel even bigger than before?
I only had a moment to think about that when Neil crashed into me. I growled and kicked him a little, just to get him off me. Even though he was better this way, he was still a lumbering idiot who I didn’t want in my personal space.
But he was acting strange, lifting his snout high in the air and sniffing frantically. He kept trying to walk past me. I bit his tail gently to keep him from walking ahead.
“What are you doing?” I muttered.
A moment later, a strong and familiar scent hit me. My jaw dropped, and Neil was free to go. He skipped up the stairs and sat at a closed door ahead with a whine, then pawed at it like he desperately wanted to go in.
Why do I recognize that scent?
It was musky and heady, not unpleasant but not something I felt as strongly about as Neil obviously did. Even beyond the shut door, I could tell the scent was intense. I realized the source must be inside.
I wanted to walk past it because we didn’t have time to get sidetracked, but something made me hesitate.
Where the hell do I know that from?I thought, getting irritated that I couldn’t remember.
Neil--still operating as a mindless wolf--started crying and whining.
“Stop that!” I snapped, swatting him on the snout, but it didn’t deter him. “What could possibly be so interesting that you--”
I choked on my words as the knowledge clicked into place.
I knew that scent because I’d experienced it once, too--and never smelled it since.
It was the distinct heat scent of an omega.
“That’s not possible,” I muttered. “This has to be some kind of trick. Neil, cut it out!”
But Neil’s wolf was possessed by the scent, his instincts telling him that heneededto get closer.
I scowled. If he didn’t shut up, he was going to get us caught.
I command you to stop reacting to that scent,I ordered through the mind link.
Neil stopped, but he was stiff and tense, like he was just barely under control. I huffed in relief and shouldered him aside to get closer to the door.
If I was in human form, I definitely would have felt a blush spread across my face because of the obscene noises coming from the other side. People were obviously being… intimate.
“What the hell?” I mumbled.
A desperate cry came from the other side. “Fuck me harder, please!”
I froze. I knew that voice.
I couldn’t contain myself any longer. With a mental apology to whoever was having sex inside, I shifted to human form and pushed against the door with my shoulder. Thankfully it was only half-heartedly wedged shut, like locking the door was an afterthought. A chair clattered to the floor as I pushed through.
The scene I was met with made my jaw drop, but I at least had the mental capacity to order Neil to stay where he was--otherwise he might have gotten ripped to shreds by a very angry alpha gryphon guard.
