I stop, frozen in the middle of the sidewalk when a masculine shout breaks through the night air. Turning around slowly, a pang runs through me when I see Orion standing twenty feet away.
He’s not wearing a coat either, just a white henley that makes his dark skin look even darker. Broad shoulders lead down to a tapered waist and full hips, hugged by fitted jeans. He’s always been big, but he’s filled out even more since high school.
Some omega instinct draws me toward him, but I root my feet to the ground.
“He still loves you.” Orion takes a cautious step forward, approaching me like he would a frightened animal. “He’s not the only one.”
I shake my head, unwilling to believe his words.Love?That isn’t how you treat someone you love.
“Snowflake, please.” The old nickname hits me hard. We didn’t always hate each other. He started calling me that in fifth grade. We had just learned that no two snowflakes were the same and our teacher showed us these close up photos of complex, beautiful ones. Orion was such a sweet boy back then, he told me I was as pretty and unique as a snowflake, and the nickname stuck.
Orion is in front of me now, a step away from pressing his body to mine. The cold air does nothing to erase the warmth radiating from his large frame. The wind picks up, sending a hit of his scent right at me. It’s so intoxicating I nearly stumble.
“Please. Let’s at least go somewhere warm, you’re going to freeze to death out here wearing that.” His eyes dipdown to my cleavage and there’s no mistaking the desire there.
Something inside me preens at his attention, wanting more of it.No, bad omega.We want less of this alpha, not more. My scent doesn’t seem to agree, breaking past the blockers and neutralizers and all the things I do to keep it controlled.
Orion lifts his arm tentatively, then places a callused palm on my shoulder. “Let me get you inside and warm while we talk. If you still hate us after, we’ll walk away and leave you alone.”
Pain crosses his features when he says that last part, mirroring the ache inside me that wants to revolt against never seeing them again. One taste of their scents, and I’m an addict. Shit, this is bad.
I nod wordlessly, and allow him to wrap his arm around me. He guides us to another bar, this one much smaller than the club where we left the others.
Smells assault my senses, all of them off, and a whine escapes before I can stop it. What is wrong with me? I usually have so much more control than this. I’ve never reacted to alphas this way. I know we’re scent matches, but it shouldn’t be this disarming, this consuming. Right?
Orion’s hold tightens, and I bury my face into his shoulder, inhaling his scent to escape the others.
Tart cherry and smooth vanilla swirl together in a way that instantly comforts me. There’s an undertone of something nutty, but I can’t tell quite what it is. Orion's breath hitches as I press further into him, chasing more of the scent. It reminds me of Christmases past. Baking with my mother, a stepstool pulled up to the kitchen counter so Icould reach. Making treats for my friends at school. White chocolate bark. With cherries and pistachios. My mom made it every year.
I made it for Orion once. Long before high school.
My skin feels tight, like something is underneath just itching to get out. Heat fills my core, slick pooling between my thighs. Something’s wrong. It feels like… like a heat spike? That can’t be right. I’m on suppressants. I took them tonight, didn’t I? But I can’t remember. I was in such a hurry to get out quietly. I think I took them.
Maybe I’m sick?
Deep down, I know that isn’t it. Orion is my scent match. So are Vann and Tanner. I didn’t get close enough to the other member of their pack to scent him, but I’d bet he is, too. My body definitely responded to him. The four of them together were overwhelmingly attractive. They would look so good tangled together, limbs thrown over each other, lips touching, skin slick with sweat.
Fuck, I need to stop this.
Rather than leading us to a table to talk, Orion guides us to the dancefloor, careful to situate us near the edge and not in the mass of grinding bodies. I’m honestly grateful. As much as I hate myself for it, I don’t want to let go of him right now. This way, I can still scent him, and I don’t have to look at him while he tries to explain. If I look, I know I’ll see the longing in his eyes and cave. So I spin around, pressing my back to his chest. His hands land on my hips possessively, but not forcefully. Just a solid presence to let me know he’s here. It settles something in me, an ache that’s been building ever since the other club.
“Is this okay?” His breath tickles my ear as he leans in to ask the question. Words escape me, so I just nod.
The song is slow and steady, and he moves with a relaxed sway that has me wanting to melt, but I try to keep a hold on myself.
Orion takes a deep breath. “Tanner has always loved you. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but he’s a complicated man. He’s had… issues… at home for as long as I can remember. It isn’t my story to tell, but when he pushed you away, I know it tore him apart. None of us knew how to handle our feelings toward you, and Tanner’s instinct was to lash out. He was scared. And we were young. Tanner was always going to be our pack lead—we always deferred to him. But we fucked up. We went along with his bullying to fit in, when we should have stood up to him and protected you.” Orion’s lips brush the pulse point at my neck. “Ishould have protected you.”
I don’t want to cry, but tears well in my eyes, hot and angry. The hurt I’ve buried deep bubbles over, and I can’t hold it off. What could we have been if they hadn’t… if… I swallow and close my eyes, allowing the silent tears to slip down my cheeks.
The song changes to a faster, heavier beat, and my body pushes back against Orion’s instinctively, rolling against him with the bass. For just a moment, I want to believe what he’s told me and pretend that none of it happened. That we’re just two perfect scent matches out having a good time. Me, and my first crush. No history. No hurt. Just two athletes having fun and blowing off steam. Could it be that easy? Maybe just for tonight?
His length hardens, pushing against my ass. “Ignore that. I can’t help it when you’re pressed against me like this.” He lets out a mirthless chuckle. “Actually, I can’t help it even when I just look at you.”
Could that be true? I want it to be.
Orion sweeps my hair over my shoulder, exposing one side of my neck. “Like Tanner said, we grew up. Went to college. Met Rhodes and… Well, Rhodes was a beta in a collegiate sport. He also wasn’t exactly partying it up or hooking up with people, either. He’s quiet. It made him an easy target for bullying and trash talk. We knew he was pack when we met him, and couldn’t stand to see the way he was being treated. It wasn’t lost on us that we did the exact same thing to you. It forced us to take a hard look at ourselves.” Orion spins me around, keeping me close with one hand as he uses the other to gently tilt my chin, forcing me to look at him. The look in his eyes nearly levels me.
“You’re ours, Raven,” he says, soft and earnest. “But more importantly, we’re yours. Please let us show you we care, that we want you. That we’ve changed.” His gaze drops from my eyes to my wet cheeks. “Oh, snowflake.” He tenderly wipes the tears with his thumbs.
