I’ve always been an open book with Avery, since he’s easy to talk to.
Which makes these feelings I have about his sister even worse.
And she’s a cat person on top of it? Her eyes widening and her scent spiking with joy as she complimented my cat tattoo?
I’m screwed.
Utterly, completely fucked, and my friend and colleague is completely unaware of my dilemma.
He’s grinning, relief on his face now that he assumes his sister is in good hands.
I should kick her out of the class.
Shove her into piano class—except I’m the piano teacher, too!
Fuck.
“She didn’t want to take photography with you?” I ask carefully.
He grimaces. “No. Why would she want to take a class taught by her brother?”
I huff a weak laugh. “Fair enough.”
“Anyway,” he says. “How are things with you? Any luck with that Omega you saw the other week?”
I raise an eyebrow. “The other month?”
That date had been a complete disaster. It was the one that made me realize that maybe I just wasn’t meant to have an Omega.
And that was fine. It was really fucking fine, because I have good friends, a career I love, and a full life.
But now…
“Oh, I guess it was the other month,” Avery murmurs. “Sorry. My brain has been a little bit scattered since…um…”
“Since you found your Omega,” I clarify, grinning. “It’s nice to see you so happy, man. Enjoy it.”
What’snotnice is that his sister has made my inner Alpha more excited than he’s been in forever.
“Thanks. Your time is coming, Fang, I just know it.”
My stomach sours.
I think my time is here already, in the form of a purple-haired temptation.
7
IVAN
There are onlya few things that can keep me from showing up to work and seeing Maeve.
One of them is a nasty cold virus.
I wouldn’t dare risk getting her sick—and we’re not on that level yet where I can just text her all day, even though I want to.
I appreciated theget well soontext followed by a GIF of two cats hugging, though.
I sent her one back, an image of cat that looks just like Bean, its mouth open in delight and showing off pointed fangs.
