Pax bites down on his lower lip again, rubbing one hand up and down his arm in a soothing motion. It’s something he only does when he’s feeling really anxious. “Apples and honey?” He guesses.
Jude’s mouth hangs open. Any other time I would find the look absolutely hilarious on our grumpy professor. “How did you know that?”
Paxton inclines his head, gesturing to Parkers room. Jude stomps down the hallway, not bothering to ask for permission before he barges into our other cantankerous pack mates room. He looses a ferocious growl, getting right up in Parkers face. “Why the fuck is that scent all over your room, Parker Avery?”
Parker, seemingly much more calm than he was earlier, simply raises a brow and points to the wall vent.
“Don’t let him fool you with the blasé attitude,” I chime in. “When we arrived he was standing on his desk with his nose pressed to the grate huffing it like an asthmatic with their inhaler.”
None of them are amused by my commentary. Our pack lead glances at me, some of the mania receding from his dark eyes. “The scent is coming through the air vent?”
I nod, since Parker has gone back to ignoring us and Paxton is unusually quiet.
Jude sighs, some of the tension leaking from his shoulders. “Okay, so what, we just ignore it until the semester ends and then move? We won’t find another apartment untilthen since they’re all full. But I’m sure at least one pack will bond and then…”
“Woah, woah, wait a damn minute. What do you meanignore it?” I blurt. My heart takes off in my chest, pounding so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if the omega could hear it from next door.
His eyes grow cold, posture stiffening until I’m sure he’ll develop a tension headache. “Exactly what I said, McKenzie. I want nothing to do with any omega, butespeciallynot one that smells likethat.” He spits the word as if the scent is repulsive, and I feel something shatter in my chest.
If this is my scent match, and Jude hates the scent, does that mean we aren’t really pack?
The thought is devastating. So much so that I feel tears gathering in the corners of my eyes before I can blink. “I’m sorry, I need to go.”
Turning around, I flee the room before they can see the tears. This apartment is spacious for being on a college campus, but there’s nowhere I can go to think alone, so I do the only thing I can think of and head to the library, pausing briefly to snag some sunglasses. It’s overcast outside so I might look like a douche wearing them, but it’s better than openly crying in public.
The short walk across the quad gives me time to compose myself and by the time I make it up the wide stone staircase, my eyes are dry and I feel more determined than ever to find out everything I can about our new neighbor.
And if all else fails, I’ll slip a note under the door with my name and number. Because while I may not be the smartest member of my pack, I know one thing for certain.
That omega ismine.
When I open my eyes, I’m relieved to find the heat haze has lifted and I can think and see more clearly than I have the last three days. After I presented at sixteen Mama tried to prepare me for what was to come, telling me heats were magical and full of cuddles, purring, and knots.
For the first time in my life, she was wrong.
My first heat was a long, borderline traumatic experience I’m not eager to repeat anytime soon, but it’s over now and I’m determined to get back to normal as soon as possible. My joints creak and pop as I stretch my aching body.
Class soon, hot bath first.
I locate my phone in the mess of blankets thrown around my nest and huff when I see the battery is dead. I grab the charger and trudge to the bathroom, uncaring that I’m naked as the day I was born. It’s not like anyone is around to see the goods, anyhow.
The water is blissfully hot and there are even some soothing bath salts that Lainey included when she did her supply drop. As soon as my phone powers back on, I’ll have to text her a thank you. And maybe order one of those edible bouquets. But one with chocolate. Obviously. I also need to call my parents and Maisie to let them know I’m alive since I haven’t talked to them in a few days. It’shonestly kind of surprising one of more of them hasn’t shown up and tried to bust my door down yet.
Right on cue, my phone turns on, immediately launching into a flurry of ringing.Mamalights up the screen, and I groan. I’m not mentally or emotionally stable enough for this conversation yet, but I know it’ll be worse if I don’t give her proof of life.
Swiping to answer, I sigh. “Hey, Mama.”
“Hey Mama? HEY MAMA? That’s all I get after my daughter goes missing forfour days?” She screeches. I can hear one of my dads in the back trying to calm her down, but she’s downright irate. “Primrose Evelyn Hale, where the H-E-double-hockey-sticks have you been, young lady?”
Yikes.She full-named me. She only does that when I’ve really stepped in it. Forcing calmness into my voice, I answer honestly. “I went into heat on my first day of classes and have been holed up in my nest alone the last four days.”
Her tone changes instantly. “Oh my sweet Rosie girl, I wish you could have called, but I understand. Are you okay? Did you have everything you needed? I’m sorry I didn’t leave you with heat supplies, but I had hoped you’d be a late bloomer like me and have more time.”
“It was… unpleasant, but I’m alright now. It’s okay, Mama. My friend Lainey brought me a heat care kit with supplies for during and after. I was actually just about to send her a thank you text and order a sweet treat to be delivered to her mom’s house later.”
Mama sighs, relief evident in the sound. I feel bad for not wanting to talk to her because hearing her voice is making me feel a hundred times better already. Tears drip from my eyes, landing silently into the bath water as I drop my head to rest on my knees. My emotions are a mess, which I know is normal after a heat, but knowing that and experiencing it are two different things. “I miss you,” I sniffle.
“Oh, darlin’ I miss you too. We all do.” She’s quiet for amoment. “Do you need us to come visit? Or just I could? I think I should definitely come visit as soon as possible. Henry, will you look up flights to Sunday Harbor for me? And nothing with more than one layover, you know how?—”
