“Kady!” A breathless alpha pushes his way through the crowd to reach her, placing a hand on her shoulder. From the way her expression softens slightly upon his touch, I’m guessing they’re together. “Why don’t you go easy on the questions, huh? Leave some for me.” The guy flashes me his lanyard. “Calder Soren, editor ofThe Valley Voice.”
“Co-editor,” the blonde corrects him. She’s clutching her pen so tightly that her hand shakes. I don’t know what I’ve done to offend her, but the scowl on her face makes it seem like this girl really hates me.
“I think it’s probably time for me to meet Dean Rivers.” I politely make my excuses. “Maybe another time.”
“Here are our details.” Calder hands me a business card. “The Valley Voiceteam would love to hear from you. Everyone’s excited to have a celebrity on campus.”
“Ha,” Kady scoffs. “Not everyone.”
“I really have to go?—”
“Yeah, that’s right, run away,” Kady snaps then adds under her breath, just loud enough for only me to hear, “Just like you did with Delilah.”
I freeze.She knows Delilah?Before I can reply, her ponytail is already swishing in the breeze as she stomps away.
“That chick really doesn’t like you.” Nash watches her disappear, a gleeful smile on his lips while I remain frozen. “It’s a welcome change from girls fainting.”
I tune Nash out, tuckingThe Valley Voicecard into my pocket with fumbling fingers. The cardboard feels like it’s burning a hole through my jeans.Kady knows Delilah. That piece of paper is the first concrete link between us since we last saw each other. While I never intended to do an interview with the college paper, they’re not the only ones who are looking for answers.
Delilah Goodwin—the omega I spent the best weekend of my life with last year—is the real reason why I wanted to return to SVU. Despite leaving her being the right thing to do, it ripped my heart out of my chest. Since then, my career has suffered, and my creativity has drained away, plagued by the memories of her sweet apple scent. Maybe it was madness to return, but I’m a different guy than the one who left her. Now I’m back with a pack, and this is my only chance to find out whether what I felt during those few days with her was even real.
THREE
Delilah
ONE YEAR EARLIER
“This is…” Despite my growing desire to dive upon the gorgeous alpha the moment we step into his hotel suite, I freeze and look down guiltily at my old pair of sneakers that are still muddy from chasing down a goose this morning. “Really nice.”
‘Nice’ doesn’t cut it. When James said that he was staying in a hotel, I expected we’d be heading down to Forestville. When we came to a stop outside a luxury lodge nestled in the mountains that is so exclusive I didn’t know it existed, I had to do a double-take. He isn’t staying in one of the regular rooms either. No, we have the entire penthouse suite with multiple rooms to ourselves. It’s bigger than the whole of Stella House with gorgeous high-ceilings, beams, and a wrap-around terrace that provides an incredible forest view.
“It should have everything you need.” James seems completely at ease in the space, leaning casually against the wall. “The suite has a nest, and if there’s anything else you need, I can ask the staff to grab it for you. You don’t have to want for anything while you’re here, okay?”
Before moving farther inside, I quickly slip off my sneakers before they do any irreparable staining to the expensive carpet. Thankfully, my fear of breaking something temporarily distractsme from dwelling on how much longer it’ll be until I start begging for a knot. I feel like I have a ticking bomb inside me that could explode any second.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me staying?” My socks sink into the plush carpet as I pad around. It feels like I’m walking on a freaking cloud.
He shrugs like it’s nothing before pulling off his hoodie, which tugs at his T-shirt underneath, exposing his inked washboard abs.
Give me strength.
My breath catches in my throat as he comes over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders. “May I?”
I nod wordlessly as he helps me out of my coat. I cringe inwardly, knowing he’s about to see what I’m wearing underneath—an old T-shirt with a picture of a cute cartoon chihuahua reading a book on the front. It’s a little dorky but adorable. But there’s no place for bookworm chihuahuas in a suite that looks befitting of royalty.
James laughs when he sees it. If I’d have known where I’d end up this evening, I wouldn’t have dressed in some of my oldest comfy clothes.
My cheeks heat as I stare at the floor. “I’m a little underdressed for this place…”
Surrounding the roaring brick fireplace, the top half of the walls are covered in rich burgundy wallpaper, the lower half in dark paneling, and oil paintings of rolling landscapes add to the opulence. As I get closer to the fire, I realize that no heat is coming off it. Shit, am I burning up so much that I’m now the same temperature as literal flames?
“It’s not a real fire,” James says, as if he can read my mind. He pokes the embers on the flat screen. “See?”
“Of course.” I laugh nervously. “Silly me.”
I turn away from him, feeling fully outside of my comfort zone as I move around the deep green sofa. Fluffy white blankets are draped over it in such a way that it makes it look like they’ve never been sat on. Although there are a few knick knacks peppered around, in crevices or on shelves in an attempt to add to the coziness, I can’t help feeling like everything has been placed with military-type precision to create a certain ambiance. For what it oozes in style, it lacks in soul.
“It’s too perfect, right?” James surveys the room.
