“Archer, have you ever gone into heat before?” I keep my voice even, trying not to freak out this poor, sweet, beautiful omega.
He doesn’t look much younger than me, mid-20s at the youngest, which means it’s unlikely this is his first heat, but notimpossible. There are really strong suppressants available that can keep you from going into heat indefinitely, as long as you take them regularly.
Archer’s eyes bug out. “W-what?”
“I’m not trying to be rude, sweetheart,” I soothe, taking his hand in mine. His skin is soft, and the touch helps tamp down my omega’s agitation that he’s in distress. “I’ve dealt with heats enough to know the start of one when I see it.”
“T-that’s not… I’ve never had one, no, but I’m on suppressants, I…” His face takes on an ashen pallor. “Fuck, I took them right before I came here because I forgot this morning. And then I threw up.” His eyes search mine, frantic. “But there’s no way! Missing one dose isn’t enough to…I’ve missed them before and I was fine.”
“It could be enough if you’re around a scent match.” Beau sits down next to Archer, keeping his movements careful and slow, and not touching him. “And I think we’re both your scent matches.”
Archer sucks in a shocked breath, his body instinctively leaning towards Beau’s because he must be close enough to smell the alpha now. There’s an absurd pang of jealousy in me because I haven’t smelled him yet. There’s next to no chance that Beau isn’t also my scent match. Us checking was a technicality, and the scent-matched omega going into heat between us all but confirms what we already knew.
But the odds of all of us being here tonight, of meetinganotherscent match by happenstance, are mind-boggling. Fateful.
“This is unreal,” Archer murmurs, voice going dreamy as he looks between us with blown pupils. “I can’t believe…”
I smile at the two men beside me, chest squeezing with affection and excitement. “Guess Valentine’s Day isn’t a total crock of shit after all.”
chapter 9
. . .
ARCHER
This isthe weirdest night of my life.
Weird and impossible.
Did I actually pass out in the bathroom, hit my head, and am now in a concussed fever dream?
I’d pinch myself, but my skin feels so sensitive and tight and strange that I can’t bear the thought of even that brief self-imposed pain.
You hear stories of people stumbling upon their scent match in all kinds of wacky scenarios, but never two at once. And definitely not two who are out on their own blind date.
In those stories, there’s always this magical connection, where they have an instant ease and comfort around their scent match. They know implicitly what to say, how to act, and crash together in a storm of amorous wonder.
Meanwhile, I’m sitting here with sweat dripping down my spine, confused as hell, fighting not to make a complete fool of myself.
How fucking embarrassing, going into heat and not even realizing it. Admitting to the stylish, stunning omega beside me, I’ve never had a heat. Confessing my inexperience to theburly lumberjack of an alpha currently watching me with deep concern furrowing his brow.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t assume you don’t have a pack,” Ruby says when I don’t reply to her amused quip about Valentine’s Day.
Beau tenses beside me. “Do you have a pack?” His words are cautious but strained.
“No, I don’t!” I clear my throat, neck heating at my forceful declaration.
Beau’s posture relaxes and Ruby giggles. “Thank fuck, that makes this a lot less complicated.”
“Yeah…” Not that I’m entirely sure what she means by “this”. Us being scent matches? Me going into heat?
Another cramp hits me, and I double over. Beau releases a concerned hum, his hand flying to my back, blissfully heavy and warm. A second later he removes it, and it takes all my wherewithal not to whine.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to touch you. I’m just concerned.” The alpha’s body language is coiled and tense, as if his mind is telling him there’s some kind of threat but he can’t find a way to fight it.
“It’s okay. I don’t mind.”
And that’s when it hits me. I don’t mind that this alpha is touching me. And not in a, “yeah I’m a little uncomfortable and nervous, but I’m sure he’s a nice guy kind of way”. I’m not worried about him at all.
