We’ve stopped walking, and we’re standing in the middle of the road. A car toots behind us, but I can’t look away.
“You would?”
“I would.”
“But not Katsu or Fox?”
“No, not them.”
That warm liquid distinction settles a fragile part that was shaking inside of me.
“Okay, then, yes.”
He puts a hand on my lower back and guides me to the side of the road.
We get to Main Street, and I expect him to pull away, but he doesn’t. He stays so close we’re almost touching with my hand wrapped in his.
He might be ignoring all the eyes and whispers, but I can’t help but notice. I feel like I’m the goldfish in a glass bowl, swimming in circles while the town inspects every little flick of my tail.
“Ignore them. They will whisper and giggle and say how they were right all along, and then they will get bored and find someone else to be fascinated with.”
“How many years do you think that will take?”
We both laugh and that dispels a whole lot of my unease.
It doesn’t take long to get to the bookstore, and when we enter, Sofia is scowling fiercely at the massive alpha that keeps getting paired with Asher.
Zaire. He’s huge and very aggressive. The anger rolling off him has Sebastian moving protectively between us, a low rumble in his chest.
“Just one book. Please,” he growls.
Sofia slides him the book. She doesn’t smile, just watches him with barely contained hostility.
He pays for it and turns, spotting us.
“You stood up my little sister,” Sebastian snaps. Zaire’s scent lashes out, strong and unpleasant; I gag and back up.
The alpha tries to get past, but Sebastian puts a hand out and steps into his path.
“She waited for you.”
“She told me not to come,” Zaire says again in that deep growl. His temper spikes, and that deep scent that is overpowering and potent turns cold. He calms himself and closes his eyes before opening them and pulling his scent in. “Ask her.”
“Sebastian, let him go,” I murmur.
Sebastian looks at me, and his anger slips; he allows me to pull him to the side, and we watch the massive alpha disappear.
I turn to Sofia, only to find her already on the phone.
“Did you forget to mention that you told Zaire not to come?”
“Let’s go find Gale. I am not getting involved in this,” I say to Sebastian, then pause, remembering he’s Asher and Sofia’s older brother. Maybe he’s obligated to get involved.
“Nope, I know what you are thinking, and this is an omega problem. I have done my brotherly duty. The alpha got growls, my obligation ends there.”
I snort. “Chicken.”
“Damn straight, do you know how loud Mum is going to start shouting when she finds out that Asher told Zaire not to come?”
