She still wasn’t back. Last night, I slept in her room, surrounded by her scent.
This morning, I felt like death after diving into another bottle or two, last night until I passed out.
I’m in the kitchen, trying to stomach the smell of fried eggs, when I hear the door open.
Moving the pan off the heat, I rush over to the front door.
My heart pounds in my chest, dread and excitement pulsing inside me. “You’re back.”
Then I see her. My eyes land on her face. It’s smeared with makeup, and her hair is a mess.
Murderous rage hits me in the gut. “What did they do to you?” The growl inside my chest is feral. I’m over to her in three strides, grabbing her arms. “I’m going to fucking kill them for hurting you.”
“What?” Addie’s voice cracks, brows pulled together. “Hurt me? No.” She shakes her head. “No one hurt me.”
“Then why are you crying? Where the hell have you been for three fucking days, Addie? I’ve been worried sick.”
The smell hits me hard, making my stomach recoil. Slick, cum, cupcakes, and two distinct Alpha scents. She smells like sex.
My head spins, and my chest feels like someone is stepping on it.
I let go of her and step back, lips parted, unsure of what to say or what to do. When my eyes land on the two bite marks on her neck, my heart shatters into a million pieces.
“You’re mated,” I whisper, still unsure if I should believe my eyes.
Her hands reach up and touch her marks. “I–I’m–Yeah,” she whispers.
“What the fuck, Addie?” I want to scream, but it comes out more hurt than angry.
“I didn’t plan it, okay?” she says defensively. “I was at the gala, hiding from that horrible pack, when I stumbled into two guys. They’re... they’re my scent matches, okay? It triggered my heat, and they took me back to their hotel room. It wasn’t planned. I didn’t mean for it to happen.” She shakes her head, wiping at her eyes. “You know what? Nevermind. I don’t have to defend myself to you. This ismylife, Damien. You don’t have any right to judge me for what I do.”
She takes off upstairs, leaving me standing there, battle wounds inside my heart, bleeding out onto the floor.
I’ve fucked up, I waited too long. And now I’ve lost her.
I cared too much about everyone else in my life, about what the world would think, and I let it be my downfall. Because of it, I lost my Omega. My scent match.
Fuck hockey. Fuck everything. I’d give it all up for her.
After standing in place for a long, long time, my feet start to work. I drag myself up to my room. Locking the door behind me, I crawl into bed and bury my face into the pillow. Her pillow. It’s a new one. I swap them out when they lose their scent.
Inhaling deeply, I let out a low, pained groan.
I need her. Not want.Need. Like the air in my lungs, the blood in my veins. I need her.
She’s my scent match, too. What gives those fuckers the right to come in, snatch up my Omega, and claim her as their own?
Fuck that. Fuck them. I’m not going down, not without a fight. Addie is my Omega, and I’m going to make sure she fucking knows it.
Chapter 11
Carson
When I wake up and roll over to wrap my arms around my Omega, it’s not her warm body that my arm makes contact with.
“What the hell?” Reid grunts, pushing me off.
Blinking my eyes open, I frown. Sitting up, I look down and find the bed empty.
