I look at it analytically, going down a mental checklist like a scientist. They smell good—out of this world good. My body seems to react of its own accord when they’re around, like when I had the unexpected heat spike in the greenhouse. Even being in their presence seems to raise my core temperature, and my heat cycles seem to have been all over the place since we met. Yet all of this could also be due to stress, right?
“I think you feel it too.” Hale pulls me from my thoughts. “The connection to us. You’re trying to deny it, but this is stronger than you, Kady. It’s stronger than all of us.”
Could the Valen Pack really be my future?
“Spare me the lecture about scent matches being destiny.” Despite my emotions going crazy, I cling to my rational logic. “Nothing is stronger than our free will. I’ve given other peoplecontrol of my life for far too long. I’m not about to let fate or amazing-smelling alphas dictate the rest of my life.”
“You think we smell amazing, huh?” Calder leans back in his chair, looking even smugger than usual.
“When your head is done inflating, you should listen to what I’m saying,” I clench my fists, itching to smack the smirk off his face. “If you’re looking for an omega to skip into the sunset with, that’s not me. I come with baggage. I have dreams. Big dreams! I don’t need a pack to step in and try to save me all the time. I’ve worked too hard for too long to have some scent match come along, strip away my freedom, and ruin everything.”
“We don’t want to change you, Kady.” Hale rubs his jaw. “We don’t want you to be anyone other than who you are. All we’re asking is for a chance. No pressure. No bonding. Just a chance to get to know each other better. After that, if you still feel like we’re not a match, we’ll walk away.”
“What?” Riven’s eyes bulge. “We’ll walk away?”
Hale nods. “If that’s what Kady wants.”
“And what if we all agree that we are definitely,” I wince, “a scent match?”
I’m still clinging to the slim possibility that we’re not, despite all the signs. It would be so much easier if we’d got it wrong…
“Then we’ll deal with that together,” Hale speaks calmly, as if this is the most simple, straightforward topic in the world. “As a pack.”
“So hypothetically, if I were to agree to this, where would we start?” I set my hands on my hips, regarding him. “A date?”
“How about a weekend away?” Hale suggests. “We were planning on going to visit my parents.”
I gape at him. “You want me to meet your parents?”
“Not if you don’t want to.” Hale laughs. “We have our own place there. It’ll be quick since we have to be back at SVU for Ezra’s classes on Monday. But after everything that happenedwith the Blandon Pack, maybe a change of scenery would do you good.”
“I have reading to do for my classes.” I think of excuses. “And I probably should write an article forTheValley Voice.”
“Bring your books. And I’m sure your editor can make an exception for you.” Calder winks at me.
Is going away with them a bad idea? They—well, most of them—believe I’m their scent match. Despite a few flaws, they seem to be genuinely good guys. But what if it doesn’t end well? Ezra and Calder could probably handle it, but there’s an innocence to Riven, and Hale is so kind-hearted. Would it be easier to stop this now before it goes any further? And even if we are scent matches, I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to bond with anyone. Is that something they’d be okay with? Many alphas wouldn’t be.
“Fine.” Despite all my reservations, I still find myself nodding. “I guess one weekend away from the library won’t hurt.”
“Great!” Hale’s bright smile makes the faint freckles on his nose dance. “We can leave later today.”
“But I do have one condition.” I hold up my index finger.
“What’s that?” Riven asks.
“Larry comes with us.”
“I’m good with that.” Calder reaches over to pet Larry’s head. He’s still sleeping among their cushions.
“We love Larry,” Hale adds. “And we can take him to Dr. Otto, the local vet, while we’re there.”
I guess if our trip benefits Larry’s health, it would be remiss not to go.
“I need to go back to Stella House to pack,” I say, looking down at my sleeping bundle of joy. “Would you mind if?—”
“Larry can stay with us.” Hale reads my mind.
“I can give you a ride,” Calder offers.
