It’s not even his fault, but there’s no one else I can blame for this.
I want her.
My Alpha, previously content burying himself in music and forgetting about all potential scent matches, has suddenly reared its ugly head.
I thought those primal, feral instincts had died down—but apparently, they were just waiting for her.
“Fuck this,” I exhale, staring blankly at the quiz that I have prepared for the next class.
I hope she doesn’t show up for office hours.
My inner Alpha hopes she does.
“Hey.” There’s a familiar voice, and I look up from my desk to see Avery, who leans against the door, smiling. “You have a minute?”
I hope he can’t see the guilt that’s all over my face, but I’ve never been good at hiding my expressions.
I doubt I can start now.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“How did she do?” Avery asks hopefully from the doorway. “I know it’s the first class and all, but how did she seem?”
Like I’m halfway in love with her, and I’m going to drop her from my class because she’s a liability.
“Fine, from what I could tell,” I mumble. “It’s not like I observe every student the first day.”
“I really appreciate you taking her last minute,” Avery adds, standing at my desk and completely oblivious to my tone. “I know I already said it, but she really needs this.”
“Uh-huh.”
If Avery knew all the thoughts I was having about his sister, I wouldneedto go to a hospital after the well-deserved ass-kicking he would give me.
He doesn’t seem to get the hint today. Usually, I’m happy to talk his ear off, but he doesn’t notice my lack of conversation.
“It’s the least I can do for her,” he says quietly. “She’s a good person.”
I know I shouldn’t ask, but because my inner Alpha has decided that he’s found his Omega, I can’t stop myself.
“What’s going on with her?”
Tell me everything you can about her.
As much as I shouldn’t, I want every scrap of detail that Avery can give me about his sister.
I ache for it.
Avery shakes his head, his gaze distant. “She gets stuck in her head sometimes,” he murmurs. “She has a big heart and caresdeeply about pets and people. It can be a little much for her occasionally, especially since she works at a cat rescue.”
I’m not surprised at that description. When Maeve looked at me, there were a million thoughts behind those stunning eyes.
I wanted to decipher every one of them.
I nod. “I know the feeling,” I admit.
“I know you do. You’ve said before that music got you through some pretty hard times, and that’s why you wanted to teach it to others, right?”
“Yeah.”
