“Can I have your jacket?” she asked in a soft voice. “It’s silly, I know, but I’m feeling itchy being away from Bear, and having one of your scents close could, you know, help…”
My scent? She wanted my scent?
Fuck, yes!
Unable to contain my smile, I put her bag down and whipped off my zipper hoodie so fast that it snapped in the air. I handed it over to her with a shit-eating grin, all too content to know she’d be wrapped up in something that smelled like me. I felt a little ridiculous, but clearly, I was one alpha who was totally smitten with his omega.
“Here you go!” I declared excitedly.
A smile spread across her face as she gingerly took it and put it on. It was a new request, but one I would happily fulfill any time she asked. I needed Flora to understand that, if it made her comfortable, or happy in the slightest, no matter how strange or seemingly random the request, I would do it for her in a heartbeat.
Once I had her bag slung over my shoulder again, we resumed walking. She looked freaking adorable, bundled up in my jacket, which dwarfed her and hung down past her butt.
She typed on her phone as we walked, seemingly much more relaxed now that she was wearing it. And didn’t that justmake me float on cloud nine. We were halfway to the library when her steps faltered.
“Honeybee?” I asked, pausing. “Flora?” She was staring intently at her phone, but she wasn’t answering me, just standing there, frozen. Instead of waiting for her to reply, I plucked it out of her hands.
Unknown Number:
How dare you taint yourself! I saw that bond mark! You’re mine, not theirs.
My stomach dropped, my pulse rushing as the words landed. I shot a look at Flora, who was still staring into the middle distance, her hand on her neck. That fucker was spying on us even now. God, and he’d seen Bear’s mark. This was getting out of hand, and I still had no clue who this asshole was. None of us did.
“Flora, baby”—I put my hand on her shoulder gently, getting her attention—“you’re safe right now, okay? I’m right here. He’s not going to touch you.”
“He was watching, Chase. He was somewhere in the classroom or just outside it. I… I… Chase, he saw the mark and said?—”
“I know what he said, honeybee. But we’re not going to let anything happen to you. You can count on us. The three of us are here to keep you safe.”
She shoved herself into my arms, burying her face in my chest. I held her, hating how charred her scent was now. All I could do was stroke her hair as I searched around us, keeping my eyes peeled for anyone I recognized from the classroom, specifically anyone who looked suspicious.
I swear, whoever you are, we’re going to find you, and you’re going to regret making our omega so upset.
Her stomach growling made me pause.
“Come on,” I said, changing direction.
“Aren’t we going to the library?” she asked, her voice small.
I shook my head. “Nope, we're going to the diner. I'm sure Bear will meet us there. Your stomach keeps rumbling loud enough for the entire campus to hear. We can help you study while feeding you.”
An adorable blush covered Flora’s face as she nodded shyly.
There was a diner on the edge of campus that I had become well acquainted with over the three years. No sooner had our butts hit the red vinyl seats of the booth than Bear was sliding into the seat next to Flora.
“Hi.” She beamed, wrapping her arms around him. It made me so ridiculously fucking happy to see her embracing Bear without a care in the world about what anyone else thought.
“Hello, little omega,” he greeted. “Did someone need feeding?”
Flora nodded. “And we are not telling Spencer that I am about to eat a pile of fried food.”
“Too late,” Spencer smirked from behind her.
Her face fell. “You creeper!”
He shrugged, sliding into the booth next to me. “I know where my pack is at all times.”
Spencer’s phone started buzzing, and he frowned at it. “Unknown number,” he muttered, picking it up.
