“Let me make it easier for you.” I stand up, prepared to leave the room. “I’ll go.”
“No, wait.” In seconds, he’s on his feet, grabbing my wrist to stop me. “Look, I’m sorry I’m not making sense. I’m an SVU professor. I shouldn’t even be around you, but your scent.” He looks at me like he wants to devour me. I swallow hard, all I can focus on is how his two fingers are resting on my pulse point. “God, it makes it hard to stay away from you.”
My heartbeat quickens. “Then don’t.”
He drops his hold. “I’m not like the rest of my pack. They can give an omega what they need, but me?” He looks out the window. “Feelings, commitment… That’s not me. I don’t do serious.”
“And you think I don’t know how that feels? The thought of spending the weekend with your pack was terrifying.” It’s easier to be honest when he’s not making eye contact. “I never wanted a scent match, a pack, nor a bond. But I just had to see whether,” I take a deep breath, “there was any truth in Hale’s theory.Usually, I don’t take risks, but it feels like my whole world has turned upside down since we met.”
He steps closer, gently cupping my cheek, his callused fingers delicately stroking my skin.
“I guess we’ve both got a lot to learn still.” I hear what sounds like a tinge of sadness in his whisper.
He’s a walking contradiction. A hot, passionate frenzy one minute, then icy cold and standoffish the next. I’m considering nuzzling into his warm palm when the moment is shattered by the other alphas joining us. Ezra jerks his arm away, leaving me even more confused than before.
“So, Kady, we were all talking about how we want to get to know you better over the weekend,” Hale says. “How would you feel about going on a date? With each of us?”
“Dates?” My throat seizes up. “Like we’re courting?”
“Not courting. Just dates. No strings attached.” Hale replies. “We thought it’d be nice for you to have quality one-on-one time with each of us. Ezra, would you like?—”
“It’s okay.” Ezra shrugs dismissively, making my heart sink. “I won’t take up any more of your time, Kady.”
Hale frowns but doesn’t pressure him before returning his attention to me. Behind him, Riven bobs on the balls of his feet while Calder buries his hands in his pocket, trying his best to look aloof, but I note how he’s watching my reaction closely out of the corner of his eye.
I think back to my conversation with Sabs and Delilah. The main reason I’m here is to get to know them, right? “Okay. Why not?”
“Great.” A grin splits Hale’s face. “Because we’re kinda short on time, Riven was hoping to take you out tonight, then you can spend the day with me tomorrow, and the evening with Calder. And Ezra, if you change your mind.”
“I don’t date students,” Ezra remarks flatly.
I try to ignore the sting of rejection at his blunt tone.
“Kady is not just a regular student,” Hale disagrees.
“Ezra’s made his position clear,” I tell Hale. He’s obviously struggling with this whole scent match thing as much as I am. I’m not going to beg him to spend time with me when he doesn’t want to. “Where are we going tonight, Riven?”
“It’s a surprise.” Riven rubs his hands together. “We can get going soon?”
“What should I wear?”
“Something warm.” He smiles. Unlike Ezra, at least Riven is consistent in his emotions and always appears happy to be around me. “I have a coat you can borrow, if you need one.”
“I’m sure Kady has plenty of clothes, judging by the size of her suitcase,” Calder mutters.
I ignore him, focusing on the excited look on Riven’s face, which almost makes me forget about Ezra’s rejection. “How about I get ready and meet you downstairs in ten?”
So what if Ezra doesn’t want to spend any time with me? I’m determined to not let that ruin my other dates. Getting to know them is the whole reason I’m here, right?
TWENTY-EIGHT
Riven
I wait at the bottom of the stairs, my heart stuttering against my ribs. I can’t stay still, anxiety pulsing through my every synapse. Even my packmates’ support does little to quell my nerves. This is my first date. My first date with the most perfect girl I’ve ever met. And I’m about to take her to a muddy field with nothing but the sky to look at.
I swallow hard, seeing Kady glide down the stairs toward me. She moves with the gracefulness of a swan, her slender limbs moving like she’s floating. She holds a pair of boots in her hand, her over-sized jacket half-zipped up, revealing a navy turtleneck and leggings underneath.
“Do you have a hat?” I notice her pointy ears peeking out from behind her light blonde hair. “You may get cold.”
