I guess it’s now or never. Slowly, I remove the mask, before smoothing down my now-messy hair that’s tumbling down my back.
Hale does a double-take, blinking hard like he’s checking whether he’s still awake. “It’s you.”
“Wait!” Ezra looks between us, mouth agape. “You know each other?”
Hale’s gaze doesn’t leave mine, full of questions and concerns. “We’ve met.”
Ezra smirks. “I guess I’m not the only one with explaining to do.”
“Should you really be here?” Hale asks me. “What about your pack?”
“Her pack?” Ezra’s cockiness disappears as his jaw hardens. “She doesn’t have a pack.”
Both alphas look at me.
“I don’t know where to start,” I run a hand down my face.
“I knew something wasn’t right yesterday.” Hale blows out his cheeks then releases a loud exhale. “I shouldn’t have left you.”
“It’s not what you think. They’re…” Although I wanted to keep my true courting status a secret, my heat is creeping up on me, and they won’t help if they don’t know the truth. “They’re not my pack. Well, people think they are, but it’s not real. It’s all just for show.”
“Why would you need to pretend to have a pack?” A crease forms between Hale’s eyes, not at all detracting from how hot he is. “And why were you being photographed with them?”
Ezra tilts his head. “Photographed?”
“I shouldn’t have come here.” I spin, reaching for the door handle. “This was a stupid idea.”
“Hey.” Hale grabs my wrist. “You don’t have to go. We’ll stop with the questions, okay? You can tell us when you’re ready.”
This is another reason why I wish I were a beta. Being an omega comes with too much baggage, primarily my physical urges, which are at odds with who I am. How can I be a strong, independent woman when I melt at the brush of an alpha’s finger along my pulse point?
“Stay.” Hale looks at me pleadingly. “Please.”
“Do you want to sit down?” When Ezra gestures to their massive red sofa, my mind instantly begins to calculate whether there’s enough room for the three of us and what positions would be best, like some sex-crazed maniac. “Have a drink?”
“My heats are usually quick and intense.” I ignore his offer. “Before it fully hits, we need to get things in order.” This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve used heat buddies before. Usually, I’d get everyone to sign a contract, but in this situation, a verbal agreement will have to suffice. “I’m on birth control.” I go through my mental checklist. “No STIs. No pack. No strings. No anal.” Well, at least not straight away. “And my safe word is pineapple.”
Hale splutters. Is that a flush rising up his neck?
“I think you’ve covered everything pretty thoroughly.” Ezra nods. “You know, I’ve never seen an omega so controlled in early heat.”
Controlled? I’m starting to feel like a frog being boiled alive again, but I’m glad I’m hiding it well.
“And you definitely want this?” Hale grips the back of his neck, looking uncertain. “A stranger helping you through heat?”
“Well, Ezra isn’t exactly a stranger.” My nipples pebble, recalling our past rendezvous. “Right now, you’re all I’ve got. Unless you know any other alphas who could help me?”
My patience has limits.
“No!” Hale shows me his palms. “I’m happy to help you through this. It’s just…” He looks at his feet. “Usually, I’d get to know an omega before we… you know.”
“It’s too late for that.” I tap my foot. “Should we go somewhere more comfortable?”
“I’m sorry that we don’t have a nest.” Hale drags a hand over his short, dark brown hair that’s slightly longer on top. “We didn’t think we’d need one. We can go to my room, if you’d like? I got out extra blankets and pillows to make it extra cozy.”
I nod curtly, like a soldier heading into battle. “That’ll do.”
I follow him into the hallway with Ezra, where a cacophony of smells overpower my senses. They all mix together, making it hard to pick apart individual elements, but there’s a familiarity to it that I can’t quite pinpoint. All I know is that I want to bottle it up and bathe in it.
