Far too good for the likes of me.
A familiar pang hit me as we stood there, neither of us quite sure what to do next. It was still a mystery why this omega thought I was a safe option. I was twisted, dark, and disfigured. There was no way a sweet, beautiful omega like her should feel comfortable with me, willing to pretend she was… mine.
Her scent hit me, the sweetest cloud of delicious, pure omega delight.
Rose and honey.
My mouth watered. Omegas tended to smell good, of course, but this one was something else. It was like springtime and distilled happiness. I wanted the scent wrapped around me like a blanket.
So, this was the omega Spencer couldn’t seem to shake from his mind? I was quickly starting to understand why.
I mean sure, maybe she wasn’tactuallymine, but I could sure as fuck play along for a while.
The little omega was wearing only jeans and a university T-shirt. It was too cold for her to be dressed like that. Why hadn’t she brought a sweater or coat or something? A fluffy hat and mittens would be a damn good idea, too.
Mychest burned with the need to correct the problem. Watching my omega feeling cold pained me.
Well, she wasn’tmyomega, but for the next few moments, she would be, and being out here in the freezing cold in a T-shirt wasn’t happening.
“Babe”—my voice rose a bit, ensuring that anyone in our vicinity could hear me using the term of endearment—“here.” I shrugged off my jacket, handing it to her.
Her eyes widened, her brows shooting up. “Oh! You don’t have to—” Her voice was a hushed whisper again.
“I want to, little omega,” I said quietly, the nickname slipping from my lips with ease, leaning in close and taking the opportunity to inhale that sweet, heady scent again, the one I was becoming scarily obsessed with. A bit of my alpha voice sank into those words, hammering my point home. After all, not only was she cold, but there was still the matter of someone following her.
She gaped at me, her pupils dilating as a fresh wave of rose and honey hit the air.
HadIdone that to her?
No, there was no way.
Except, there was no one else around that close. So I could reasonably deduce that her intensifying scent had to be because of me. But I also wasn’t that lucky, and I could easily be reading into it. The wind had probably changed direction or something.
Wishful thinking.
My heart ricocheted around my rib cage as I looked down at her, gently placing my jacket over her shoulders. A deep, primal part of me wanted her covered in my scent, to mark her for the whole world to know she was mine. I quickly shut itdown. I was getting ahead of myself; that wasn’t why I was here. Spencer had noticed the figure following her, and I was working.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I smiled at her, swallowing hard before throwing an arm casually around her shoulder and tucking her into me to keep up the act. The ruse would hopefully help her—at least, that’s what I told myself.
If I were honest with myself, I might have said there was something more. But that was insane.
She didn’t flinch or try to move away. No, this baffling little omega pressed herself closer, gazing up at me with a small yet genuine smile. We started walking, and I let her lead, since I wasn’t supposed to know where she lived, even though Chase had already texted us the address hours ago. As the cold air swirled around us, I felt her shift against me, and she looked up.
“So… what do you do?” she asked in a quiet voice, making small talk.
I chuckled softly; the irony not lost on me. “I’m a security guard.”
Her face lit up, and a surge of warmth spread through me. There was something about her smile that stirred up emotions I was hesitant to confront, especially with my arm already around her. How could a simple gesture evoke such a complex range of feelings? I tried to focus on her hand touching mine, but it was difficult to ignore the emotions making my stomach turn.
“See!” she whispered. “I knew I picked right.”
Flora looked forward, still leaning against me. She was small, but no longer trembling. Even with the possibility ofbeing followed earlier, she pressed on like it was her typical walk home. Unless this omega was one hell of an actress, she genuinely didn't feel any fear in my presence.
How? I was disfigured. Mutilated. Most women—hell, mostpeople—looked the other way when I was in their line of sight. Imagine walking into a crowded room and feeling completely out of place, because that was how I was in every room. Most people didn’t want to see my face; it made them uncomfortable. Occasionally, someone asked, but it was usually out of morbid curiosity and not genuine concern or care.
“This way?” I said softly, moving in the direction I already knew she was going. If I let slip that I knew exactly where she lived and the best way to get there, I was afraid she would turn tail and run off screaming, and I was supposed to keep her safe, keep an eye on her for Spencer. It had nothing to do with enjoying the closeness and not wanting it to end.
