Vanilla cream. Wild honey. Almond blossom.
It hits me like a physical blow, a punch to the gut that has nothing to do with the chemicals still stinging my skin. My entire body goes taut, every nerve ending suddenly alert. My Alpha roars to life inside me, a possessive, primal force I haven’t felt this strongly in years.
An Omega.
This is an Omega. Right here. In front of me.
The world narrows to her face, to those wide, green eyes, to the scent that’s now wrapping around me like a warm blanket. The pain in my own eyes fades into the background, insignificant compared to the sudden, overwhelming need to...
To what?
Protect her. Claim her. Bury my face in her hair and breathe her in until I can’t tell where she ends and I begin.
I drop my hands, my towel forgotten, my entire being focused on her.
“Who are you?” I ask again, my voice thick with an emotion I can’t name.
She swallows hard, her throat working. “Saramaria,” she says. “Saramaria Cruz.”
The name hits me like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. Cruz? As in Anthony Cruz?
“Anthony’s granddaughter?” I ask.
She nods, her jaw tight. “And you’re trespassing.”
I can’t help but laugh, a harsh, broken sound. “Trespassing? Sweetheart, I’ve been living here for two years. Renting from your grandfather. This is technically my place for the next five years.”
Her expression falters, confusion warring with the anger still burning in her eyes. “What? Seven years? That’s impossible. He never mentioned...”
“Technically, it’s ten years. And maybe he forgot to inform you,” I say, my tone softer now. “He was getting on in years. Or maybe he didn’t think it mattered.”
“It matters,” she insists, her voice trembling slightly. “This is my property. My inheritance.”
The word hangs between us, heavy with implication. Inheritance. So she’s the heir. The one who gets to decide what happens to this place, to the cabins where Boone and I and Rhett have made our homes.
My Alpha instincts surge again, stronger this time. This isn’t just about protecting her anymore. It’s about protecting what’s mine. And right now, this place feels like mine. The cabin, the land, the freedom I’ve found here.
“I think that maybe you should talk to Boone.”
Her eyes narrow. “How do you know him?”
“Boone’s my best friend. He’s the one who introduced me to Anthony,” I say, then curse myself for bringing him into this. For letting her know I’m connected to the one person on this ranch who might have answers about her grandfather’s intentions.
“Boone,” she repeats, and something shifts in her expression. A flicker of pain, quickly masked by anger. “Of course. You’re one of his friends.”
“We’re more than friends,” I say, then immediately regret the choice of words when her eyes flash with something I can’t quite read. “We’re business partners. In a way. He helps manage the cattle, I...”
I trail off, realizing how ridiculous this sounds. I’m standing here in nothing but a towel, trying to explain my living situation to a complete stranger. A woman who happens to be an Omega, whose scent is making it increasingly difficult to think straight.
“Look,” I say, running a hand through my wet hair. “Why don’t we go inside? We can talk about this properly. I can make some coffee, and we can figure out...”
“No,” she cuts me off, taking a step back. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Suit yourself.” I shrug, trying to appear casual despite the turmoil raging inside me. “But you’re the one who showed up unannounced and assaulted me with pepper spray. The least you could do is hear me out.”
She hesitates, her internal conflict visible on her face. She clearly wants to negotiate, to find a logical solution. The Omega in her is wary, uncertain. The woman who just caught me naked in an outdoor shower is... well, I’m not sure what she is, but it’s complicating things.
“Fine,” she says finally, her voice tight. “But you put on some clothes first.”
