He opened the door to the suite and the reason became immediately apparent as a wave of lingonberry and red wine washed over me, the scent sinking down to my bones and drawing a pathetic whine out of me. Just like with Leo.
“Oh my god,” I said breathlessly. “Alve…”
“What am I missing?” Jude asked. “What’s going on?”
I backed up, leaning against Jude’s chest, instead of reaching for Alve the way my instincts wanted me to.
“Scent match,” I whispered, my voice shaking.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything right away,” Alve said softly, as if he was afraid I might bolt. “You weren’t in a state to hear it,and I recognize very little time has passed since then, but you do need a place to stay, and I can easily afford to find somewhere else.”
“Alve,” I hissed. “Is thisyourapartment? Where youlive? You were just going to give it to me?”
“Ah—Yes? You’re my scent match and you need a home. I’ve learned to trust my instincts and move quickly when something feels right, and while I know that can be offputting for those unused to it, it’s served me well. Besides, what sort of alpha would I be if I didn’t provide a solution?”
“This is—” My head swam. “This is so much in one day.”
Jude looped an arm protectively around my waist. “Toomuch in one day.”
“Please,” Alve begged. “I recognize the poor timing of everything, but I really do want to help. At least have a look around. I can give you the keys and leave if that would make you feel more comfortable.”
“This is your home. You shouldn’t have to leave.” My feet were rooted to the spot, but I could appreciate the decor style he had chosen: clean lines, mostly neutrals, but it didn’t feel sharp with the round lighting, plush pillows, and fuzzy blankets around the living room. Dark cabinetry in the kitchen anchored the space and the light countertops and backsplash brightened it up.
Alve very awkwardly showed us around and Jude kept his hand on me. My instincts preened to have Jude being protective of me, and Alve literally offering up his home. My alpha savior paused in front of the last door in the hall. “I feel I should explain this room first.”
“Why? What could possibly be in there?”
He sucked in a sharp breath. “I would like to preface this by saying that today wasn’t the first time I’ve seen you, but I swear on my life I wasn’t stalking you.”
Jude stepped between us. “Talk faster or I’m getting her out of here right now.”
“It’s a nest,” Alve spilled. “Sometimes I would go to Best of Nests and try to imagine what I could build one day for an omega I didn’t have yet. I wanted to be prepared if fate ever blessed me. So, on the occasions I went in and Madison was there, sometimes I would buy the same things. I picked up pretty quickly that she was purchasing for other people most of the time, but every so often, she would go to the till with a single item clutched in her arms and I knew that whatever it was was something perfect, something an omega would love by the way she held it. Trust me, I know how strange it all probably sounds.”
I reached past him and pushed the door open, revealing a near replica of the nest I had at home. It wasn’t arranged the same, but the items matched, the colors—raspberry pink, cream, pale rose, and white—all fit, and Alve had obviously gone out of his way to find more to fit the space: matching curtains, string lights, soft throw rugs the same shade as my favorite pillows.
Stepping out of Jude’s embrace and past Alve, I walked right up to the bed. The room held almost no scent, so at least I knew Alve didn’t spend much time in here. It reminded me a bit of when I shopped for Christmas presents all year long and tucked them into a closet, just waiting to be able to give them away. A nest was a pretty big present, but Alve had been apparently thinking of a hypothetical omega for quite some time.
At least the lack of scent meant he wasn’t secretly in here getting himself off. That happened in some of the thrillers I read, where the desperate alpha would break into the omega’s nest to get her scent and leave his mark of ownership.
“Are you upset?” Alve asked sheepishly, his cheeks blazing pink.
“It’s beautiful, but I don’t know if I can stay here.”
“I could buy you a different apartment,” Alve offered.
“You’re not buying me an apartment,” I said with a laugh.
“Would you prefer a detached house? I’ll buy you anything. I want you to be safe.”
The sincerity in his tone made my chest ache. He gave so freely, but after Tyler, I couldn’t believe it was without strings. “You don’t have to buy me any home. You’re not obligated to take care of me because we’re scent matches.”
“But I want to. I’ve waited my whole life for you.”
“You don’t evenknowme.” I stepped toward him despite the tension radiating from Jude. The fact remained that hewasa scent match, and the knowledge of it pulled me in.
Alve carefully cupped my cheeks and I fought the urge to close my eyes and lean into it. “But Iwant to.”
My phone buzzed a bunch in rapid succession.
