Another Alpha places his hand on her back, too. “We’ll call to check on her.”
A third nods. “We promise.”
She looks at me, then back at her pack, clearly torn. With a heavy sigh, she nods and leans in closer. “We’ll be checking in. If you need anything, Jethro can give you my number. We have an extra room if you need a place to stay.”
I shake my head softly. I’m not going to put a pregnant Omega at risk. Not if Sergio or his men track me here or anywhere else.
I manage a weak smile. “Thank you. I’ll figure something out.”
I’m sure the Safe Haven will have options for me.
They leave, and I’m left with the Alpha and the blonde woman. She has no scent beyond her perfume, so she must be a beta.
The Alpha continues to crouch beside me, still trying to make himself smaller. But with him this close, I’m certain the smoky marshmallow scent is coming off him.
My fingers curl around the edge of the table. My body wants to lean toward the scent, but the wounds on my neck flare as if to warn me.
There’s a pull with it. A part of me wants to crawl into his lap and let him hold me. But there are love bites on his scent glands. That means he has an Omega. We don’t leave marks on our Alphas the way they do on us, but we always know when they’re taken. Either they won’t have a scent at all, or they’ll have signs of bonding.
So why does he smell good to me?
I know enough about bonding to know I shouldn’t feel a pull toward him. Unless he’s in a bonding of convenience. He looks older. Maybe he gave up on finding a compatible Omega and settled for someone who also needed the security of a good alpha. It happens. But if we’re actually compatible, that would complicate things. I don’t want to intrude on someone else’s relationship.
At least I feel safe here. After all those doors I knocked on, maybe the universe meant for me to end up in this place. That doesn’t mean I’m out of danger, though, not as long as Sergio and my father are still alive.
How is this Possible?
Jethro
The small, beaten Omega in front of me trembles. My gaze keeps drifting to her neck, where the angry bite marks make my inner Alpha snarl.
How dare someone mark our Omega.The thought takes me off guard. She smells incredible, like sage and jasmine. Two of my favorite scents, and far too close to how Oli smells to me.
Oli.
The thought of him yanks me back to the moment before I get lost in her scent. I’m already bonded to a scent-matched Omega. Ten years strong with my pack. So how is it possible another one sits right in front of me? Finding one compatible Omega is like winning the lottery.
Finding two?
That’s almost unheard of. Statistically, it’s nearly impossible. And yet, here she is.
There’s only one way to know for sure. The rest of the pack will be here soon for closing and our usual nightly staff dinner. We always make sure everyone eats, whether tips were low or theydon’t feel like cooking. It keeps us close. Makes sure no one goes without. That’s always mattered to me.
I pull my phone from my pocket and set it on the table. “Feel free to call anyone you need. Stay a while, please. Dinner for the pack and staff should be ready soon, and there’s always more than enough. You need food. Water. Rest. If anyone shows up and you don’t feel safe, we’ll keep you protected. I’ll call the police on the landline, but it’ll take them fifteen—”
She shakes her head. “Please no cops. Not yet. They’ll be listening for that kind of thing. They’ve got ears on the scanners. I don’t want them finding me faster.”
My inner Alpha snarls, it wants to tear something apart. Anyone who scared her this badly deserves worse.
“I won’t call them. Not now. But we should report it soon. If I need to go through quieter channels, I will.”
More tears streak down her cheeks as she picks up my phone. “Thank you.”
I rise and head to the front door and flip the lock. The bar was closed today for Ruby’s baby shower, but I’m not risking someone walking in who shouldn’t. Especially not whoever she’s running from. I haven’t seen her around town before, but Willowside’s grown. Ever since Vivienne Valentina’s wedding, more people have moved in. Not everyone comes to Lucky Road.
The pack will come through the kitchen entrance anyway, so locking the front won’t matter. I consider texting the group chat to give them a heads-up. Let them know there’s an Omega here. One that might be scent-matched.
“Jet! Caleb is being mean!” Oli’s voice carries from the kitchen.
