“I’m the person who is going to break your jaw, then call the cops on you for assaulting an omega, if you don’t get out of here.” Again, he doesn’t raise his voice. The calm certainty that he has everything under control makes my omega purr inside me.
The alpha sputters, and Beau cracks his knuckles.
“Fine. Whatever. He’s a cocktease, anyway. You won’t get anything from an omega like him.”
I’m up off of the bench, ready to go claw his eyes out for being so disgusting to poor Archer, but Beau holds an arm out to block my path. The alpha retreats down the sidewalk, hurrying away without looking back.
Once he’s gone, Beau turns to give me an apologetic look. “Sorry, I got a little caveman there. I know you could’ve handled it, but…”He groans, his nostrils flaring. “God, you smell so good, and it’s messing with my mind.”
My heart skips a beat. I was only able to wash off some of the scent neutralizer in the bathroom sink because that shit is stubborn. He won’t be able to scent me unless he’s pressed close.
“It’s not me.”
Beau frowns in confusion, and a moment later there’s a flash of hurt in his eyes. “It’s okay. I get it. You don’t need to lie. I understand if you’ve changed your mind. It doesn’t matter that you’re my scent match if you’re not interested in me.”
“Fuck, no, that’s not what I meant. You’re smelling chocolate-covered strawberries, right?”
He nods, swallowing hard as if he can almost taste it on his tongue, like I can.
“That’s not me.”
It takes Beau a second to register what I’ve said, clearly bracing himself for more lies. His focus slides over to the omega on the bench, who is currently grimacing as he clutches his stomach.
“No way.” His voice is a whisper, raspy and tight. Beau meets my gaze again, eyes wide. “Is he…he’s your scent match, too?”
I nod, as astounded by this turn of events as he sounds. “Judging by the slick pooling in my panties from being close to him, yeah. He most definitely is.”
“Does that mean…” Beau’s question dies as his breath hitches when the omega next to me gives him a weak wave.
“Sorry to interrupt your date.” Archer sounds embarrassed, but the velvety tone of his voice makes my stomach flutter. There’s something sensual about him without him trying at all. Or maybe that’s just the fact that he’s my scent match and my omega is begging me to go rub myself all over him.
It doesn’t hurt that he’s handsome. In a completely different way than Beau, but equally appealing. A slightly boyish face balanced by a hint of dark scruff, his pale cheeks flushed pink and his pretty brown eyes shining in the low light. Slender, with tapered hips, and long, elegant fingers. Masculine and lithe in the quintessential male omega way, but with a slight awkwardness in how he arranges his limbs and holds himself that goes beyond his current discomfort.
Beau and I shake our heads at his apology, moving toward him in unison. We can figure out what this serendipitous appearance of our scent match means for the two of us once we’re sure Archer is alright.
“Please don’t be. I’m just glad you’re okay,” I say, smiling gently as I sit back down and refrain from drawing this stranger against me. When Archer tenses a little at Beau’s proximity, I place a hand on his arm. “It’s okay. Beau is a total gentleman. A true, decent alpha.”
Archer nods, swallowing hard as he looks up at the very large alpha towering over us. “Oh.” He releases a shaky exhale. “Hi Beau, I’m Archer. Sorry again about stealing your date away for a minute.”
“No, it’s fine, I…” Beau struggles to say something, which I understand because there’s a flare of Archer’s perfume when the alpha speaks.
Arousal thrums within me, and if Beau is also his scent match, surely he’s feeling the same. Though I didn’t think to ask him if he’s attracted to men. Maybe that furrow on his brow is because he’s freaking out, not because he’s restraining his alpha’s rising lust.
“I’m Ruby,” I say, breaking the tense silence as best I can.
“Hi Ruby.” There’s another surge of perfume from the omega beside me, and this time Beau lets out a soft groan.
“Shit, I’m so, so sorry.” Archer scrubs a hand across his face. “I’m not normally this… smelly. Or uh, sweaty. I think maybe I’m coming down with something.”
“You smell perfect,” Beau replies, a flush rising high on his cheeks when Archer releases a sigh. The alpha clears his throat, flustered.
Okay, no, he’s definitely attracted to men.
I’m captivated by the exchange between the two of them, but when Archer groans and clutches his stomach, it snaps me back into my rational mind. I reach out and touch his forehead, and gasp at how hot he is. “You’re burning up.”
“Yeah, I, uh, I got sick during dinner, and thought I was doing a little better, but now I keep getting these awful cramps and I’m really overheated.”
Beau and I exchange a shocked look, understanding hitting us at once. There’s something that would match all his symptoms, especially if we’re his scent matches.
