Even after Pack Merriwether sent him away, Chloë insisted on staying in touch. When their parents tried to cut off communication, she simply used her eerily advanced technology skills to circumvent their efforts. They finally just gave up. Though Callum barely knew his younger siblings at all, Chloë held a special place in his heart.
It was just like her to use her own mating to benefit him. He knew she loved her alphas, but she could’ve had her pick. He and Chloë had both inherited their mother’s supermodel looks, and Callum knew their parents had coaxed his sister onto dates with every coveted pack of alpha males in the country.
When she made it clear she preferred women, he was happy for her, though he didn’t see the appeal. Callum had always been more partial to men or nonbinary alphas and betas and had never been attracted to another omega of any gender. He adored women, but didn’t desire them. It’d annoyed his parents to no end, despite the fact that few people outside their rich, stuffy circles cared about that kind of shit anymore.
So, when Callum spotted Bianca Bonnycastle at that fundraiser, he hadn’t immediately recognized what he was feeling. He just knew he had to talk to her, to get closer to her. He told himself it was because, based on the gossip he’d gleaned, he thought they might be kindred spirits. And he’d been right.
But that wasn’t the only reason he was drawn to her. In fact, when Callum caught her strangely intoxicating oleander and apple scent, there had been a very non-platonic stirring in his cock. And when she let him lead her to the bar, the thrill of touching her had only intensified the unfamiliar appeal. It’d been hard not to get lost in her startling gray eyes, especially when he’d surprised a laugh out of her, and they’d softened from cool titanium to a color more like ocean waves during a storm.
Based on the way her incredibly attractive bodyguards watched her, Callum knew he wasn’t the only one captivated by the forbidding beauty. There was obviously no truth to the mean-spirited rumors that she couldn’t find a pack. How could anyone resist her? The problem had to be that she just hadn’t found any alphas worth her time.
Which was why Callum needed to get his shit together and accept that her friendship would have to be enough for him. He couldn’t compete with an alpha, especially not that tall, dark, drink of water pack leader who made him want to kneel and bare his neck every time they made eye contact. Or that suave bastard with eyes full of dark promises who’d almost made him cream his slacks on the dance floor. And, despite Bianca’s chilly persona, he thought even she couldn’t help but find that giant himbo attractive. Callum couldn’t blame her for any of that. He certainly wouldn’t kick them out of bed.
He just wished someone wanted him that way. Especially Bianca Bonnycastle.
Honestly, Callum was surprised she’d agreed to see him again. After all, she’d left him on read for days then ditched him for the uppity omega crowd. Of course, he knew how coveted invitations to those brunches were, but he was also sure Bianca’s position was secure enough that she could miss it if she wanted to. And shehadwanted to, until she’d had a few days to think about what a loser he was.
He knew the omegas at that brunch would be delighted to tell her any sordid stories they might’ve heard about him, complete with extra embellishments to make his exploits more scandalous than they were. Which is why he had been downright shocked when she’d texted to renew their plans for the afternoon.
Callum smoothed down his shirt, trying to look casual as he strolled the cobblestone paths of Smyrna City’s upscale “shopping village.” It was really a glorified outdoor mall, but the clientele who could afford to shop the row of boutiques and specialty shops would never patronize anything so common as a mall. This place was a perfectly manicured masterpiece of elegance and excess. There was even valet parking.
Callum didn’t have much to spend, given his attempts to—gag—save money. If he was going to stick around in Smyrna City for a while, he couldn’t expect his parents to dole out the same allowance they gave him for staying away. He’d need to decide if he wanted to put down real roots here and, if he did, he’d have to find something to do with himself. Preferably something that paid.
Like a job. Eew.
Callum was pondering his sorrows, when the object of his thoughts appeared, her biggest bodyguard trailing behind her. The walkways weren’t crowded, but the awnings and archways of the shopping village were adorned with huge arrangements of spring flowers thatmade it difficult for someone as large as Daniel to navigate. Callum chuckled to himself as he watched the big alpha stoop to avoid the hanging lobelia, only to knock loose several clusters of hyacinths.
Callum made his way toward Bianca. She hadn’t noticed him nor the struggles of her enormous bodyguard, who was quickly falling behind. She had her gaze locked on a shop window, where a pair of iridescent pumps shimmered in the sunlight. Callum adjusted his trajectory so that they’d meet at the shop that had caught her eye.
As he approached, hand half-raised in greeting, Bianca abruptly stopped short. A man had stepped into her path, emerging suddenly from another shop, and nearly colliding with her. Callum couldn’t see the man’s face, but he could see Bianca’s clearly.
Her expression went from surprised to annoyed to absolutely horrified in a matter of seconds. The man reached out as though to steady her, saying something at the same time, and Bianca jerked back as if she’d been burned. The man dropped his hand, stepping toward the wide-eyed omega, who looked like she might be sick. Callum quickened his stride.
“What a happy accident! I hoped I might run into you while I was in town, since I can’t exactly call and ask you out for coffee,” the man was saying as Callum approached. “Looks like it was meant to be. What do you say, Binks?”
Everything about Bianca’s body language screamed discomfort. Callum bristled, her distress setting him on edge. Whoever this guy was, he needed to get the fuck away from Bianca immediately. Callum saw Daniel approaching swiftly, preparing to intervene, but he caught the big alpha’s attention and shook his head, gesturing toward the valet stand. Daniel narrowed his eyes, glancing back at Bianca and the stranger, before giving Callum a curt nod and pulling out his phone. That nod said he’d let Callum handle it for now, but he’d better be quick about it.
“There you are! I’m so sorry I’m late, love!” Callum exclaimed, brushing past the stranger and embracing Bianca, deliberately placing himself between them. Though he was well-built for an omega, Callum was still considerably smaller than most alphas. That didn’t matter one bit when Bianca clung to him tightly, which was all the encouragement he needed. Callum would rip the man apart with his bare hands if he had to. Hepulled back and gave her a warm smile and a conspiratorial wink. “We can still make our reservation if we leave right now. Daniel already called the car.”
Callum glanced dismissively at the stranger, a generically handsome alpha who looked both annoyed and intrigued by the intrusion. His clothes were expensive, but several seasons old, and there was something decidedly shifty in his gaze. Callum liked him less and less.
The alpha looked between the two omegas quizzically as Callum draped an arm around Bianca’s shoulders. Callum smiled apologetically and deftly began to maneuver her away. The stranger scowled, making as if to follow them.
“Callum, this is–,” Bianca began, but Callum cut her off.
“Of course it is! Charmed, I’m sure. So sorry to interrupt, but we really have to go.” Callum gave the alpha another disinterested glance, before turning back to Bianca. “You ready, sweetheart?”
Bianca smiled gratefully, and Callum felt his chest puffing up with pride. A familiar Rolls Royce pulled up to the curb and Daniel moved to open the rear door. The stranger eyed the big bodyguard warily.
“I’ll see you around Bianca,” he said, reaching out for her once more.
Callum tucked Bianca against his side, taking the stranger’s outstretched hand and shaking it firmly. “It was so nice meeting you, but I’m afraid we can’t stay and chat. Enjoy your visit and get back home safe now!”
Callum didn’t give the man a chance to respond. He guided Bianca into the backseat, wiping his hand on his pants to rid it of the strange alpha’s sweaty touch. It was a relief to catch Daniel’s comforting candy scent as he shut them safely inside the car. The stranger watched them pull away, his face set in a frown.
Eventually, Bianca sat up, disentangling herself from Callum’s arms. She seemed calmer but also colder, and he wanted to find the words that would help her to relax. She spoke before he could, however, her gaze fixed on some distant point outside the window.
“That served me right. If I hadn’t flaked on you in the first place, we probably never would’ve run into–,” she began, before breaking off and swallowing hard. “Thank you for rescuing me, even though I didn’t deserve it. I suppose I owe you an explanation.”
