“Do we have to?” I ask with a groan, pulling a laugh from the other omega.
“I feel like it’s kind of important.”
I make a face, and Prescott jumps to his feet. “Do you need another latte?”
I shake my head, waving for him to sit back down. “No. I think I’ve hit my caffeine limit for the day.”
“If you’re not ready to talk about it, then maybe Prescott is.” Knight turns his gaze on the beta, who freezes in his seat before his eyes seek out mine.
“You’re really not going to let this go, are you?”
He snorts. “Absolutely not. Why would I let it go? Why would you want me to?”
“Because some of us don’t want scent matches, Knight.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Until Prescott—which, by the way, only happened last night—I haven’t dated since I was a teenager. I haven’t wanted to.”
He nods slowly. “Will you tell me why?”
I like that he makes it a question. I’m not sure I have a choice but to share it with him—especially since there’s a chance his alphas are also my scent matches.
“I will, but first I need to ask you a question.” He gestures for me to ask, and I take a deep breath. “Are Ven and Mack your scent matches?”
He nods. “They are.”
“Then the chances of them not being mine and Prescott’s are low, but if they are, I don’t want to know.” I hold up my hand when he opens his mouth to speak. “Let me get through this story before you say anything. This isn’t going to be easy for me—especially since I just went through it with Pres last night.”
I suck in a deep breath before telling him the story of my childhood, my first love, losing my parents, then Christian. I tell him about Gideon and how Widows Peak came to be.
I tell him everything.
I swipe at my cheeks to clear away the remaining tears as I finally meet his gaze. “Dating or mating with anyone feels like a betrayal to the alpha I chose for myself. We weren’t scent matches, but I loved him with all my heart. Accepting the idea of being with Prescott is easier because he’s a beta. He can’t takeChristian’s place—not that he would want to. Even with you, it’s easier because you’re an omega.
“Once again, you can’t take his place, but your alphas? They might not want to take his place, but it would feel as if they were. I can’t do that. I can’t replace him. I don’t want to forget him or what he meant to me. What he still means to me. I’ve never dealt with his murder and just how much it fucked me up. I just…I can’t. Not now, and maybe not ever.”
“I’m sorry, Luna.” Knight leans forward to take my hand, pausing before touching me and looking to me for permission. As soon as I nod, he takes my hand in his and squeezes it. “If you’d told us this was why you didn’t want to take the case, we would’ve left town immediately. Knowing we’re scent matches makes that a little harder now, but I’d understand if you don’t want to take the case.”
I laugh, but there’s no humor in the sound. “It’s too late now, Knight, but I appreciate it. I might not want a scent match, but I have one, and there’s no way I’m going to leave your sister in his control any longer than I have to. I was already pretty sure I was going to take the case, because the idea of him having an omega in his clutches? I don’t like it. Not at all. Now, I definitely can’t.”
“I’d like to get to know you and Prescott—both together and separately. My alphas will be around—they won’t leave me, and I don’t want them to. I’m hoping, at the very least, you’ll give me a chance. If they’re your scent matches—and we’ll continue on the assumption that they aren’t—then they’ll be there when or if you’re ever ready. Or if they’re not your matches, then maybe you’ll get to know them and find you like them. Either way, none of us will pressure you into anything. I promise you that.”
I nod, my eyes finding Prescott. He’s watching Knight with interest, and I know my beta wants to get to know his scent match.
Should I feel threatened by this? Because I don’t.
I know the heart can love more than one person.
Plus, having scented Knight, not only do I want to get to know him, but I want to drag the two of them into my bed together.
That’ll have to wait, though, because while my body is definitely on board with that idea, my head isn’t.
“I can’t speak for Prescott, as he’s his own person, but I’m willing to take this slowly.” I bite my lip as a smile lights up Knight’s face. “But your alphas have to remain on blockers indefinitely.”
“That’s not a problem. Sure, it’ll suck to not be able to smell them all the time, but my heat isn’t for a while. That’s the only time it’ll become a problem.”
“Hopefully by then, we’ll have worked something out.”
Knight’s still grinning as he turns to Prescott. “And you?”
“Oh, we’re definitely going to spend some time getting to know one another. But I need to be clear about something. Luna may not be my scent match, but I love her. If you ever ask me to choose, I won’t leave her.”
