If I’d never come here, would I ever have known? My life could have gone on the same as it always has, unaltered by fate.
Where does this leave us now?
I’ve never known anyone tonotwant a scent match.
This should have happened to Harper, she’s been dreaming of this since she was a little girl. She doesn’t even use scent blockers. She wants to find her fated mates, the perfect pack that will take care of her and love her forever. She deserves it, just like I deserve the life I’ve always wanted. The cruelty of it all—for me to get everything she’s ever wanted, while I’m desperate to reject it, hide from it, forget it ever happened.
The floor is still sopping wet. Half the items from my purse are still strewn about from when I was looking for my wallet. The pill case with my scent blockers is gone, lost in the waves. I guess they’re nothing to me now anyway.
I stand on shaking legs, pain grips my head, and make my way to the shower, throwing my wet clothing on the floor. Cold water runs down my body, extinguishing the heat trapped under my skin. The bathroom is stocked and I scrub at my skin with the neutralizing gel. I’d been on scent blockers for so long, I had forgotten how sweet my scent was as it fades away, leaving behind a clean and unremarkably bland scent.
When my starving stomach demands I eat something, I leave the shower.
All of Alric’s stuff is still in the room, but my suitcase has been placed on the foot of the bed. I unzip it and let out a humorless laugh at the reminder that it’s mostly bathing suits that cover very little skin.
Useless suitcase.
I change into Hunter’s favorite workout set and put on the only jacket that I brought for the plane ride, a white fleece jacket with red maple leaves on the sides.
This pack deserves so much more. They deserve better than me. Finding a scent match is an incredible thing. It’s rare and precious.
A literal fated mate.
They deserve an omega who’s excited to be connected to them forever. They deserved a scent match orgy under the stars and for Alric to pop the most expensive champagne this side of France. But I can’t give them something I don’t have to offer. I just need to get through the next twenty-four hours.
I step into the kitchen. Whatever Alric is cooking, the garlic and the roasted aroma makes my mouth water. “Can I help with anything?”
They all turn in my direction. I shrink under their intense gazes. I really did like them, and maybe could’ve loved them in a different life.
Alric simply turns his back to me and grumbles a refusal.
Hunter follows Alric’s direction and becomes very focused on putting the silverware on the table, shame still clinging to him.
“Would you like some wine?” Zachary uncorks a bottle that’s probably worth more than my rent.
“That’s okay,” I say.
It’s not true. I’d love a glass of wine, and that’s a vintage I’ve always wanted to try, but it feels wrong to enjoy anything here. This twisted need within me to punish myself for hurting these men grows and grows. I know that I’m devastating this pack, but I have nowhere to go.
I broke off what Alric and I had on Friday. Zachary now knows I was never going to see him again, and Hunter probably picked up on the fact that after this trip, I had no plans on seeing him either.
So yeah, it feels wrong taking anything. If I wasn’t so hungry, I’d decline the meal, too.
The worst part is how good they smell. I could now find each of them in a crowded room by their scent alone. It calls to me. Like every cell in my body is reaching out to them. My omega side is livid that they haven’t touched or fucked me.
I pull out a chair and sit at the beautiful driftwood dining room table, gulping down a glass of water. My whole body is aching and warm. My face is heated and I discreetly dab at my forehead with my napkin when no one is looking at me. The sooner I can go to sleep, the better.
My mind and body are battling inside of me, demanding different desires, and tearing me apart.
“Due to the storm, we’ll be on our own until it passes.”Alric tilts his head in my direction. “Typically, the house is fully staffed. Euclid, Yiannis, and Nikolai went back to the main island for some last-minute items and the storm has kept them there. I don’t know when they’ll be back and they have the boat that will take us back to Santorini for the airport.”
My shoulders slump, but he continues. “My jet is scheduled to return this weekend and that’s when we’ll be leaving. I understand you have a flight booked. I don’t know if it will be possible, but I’ll make every effort to try to get you there if the weather clears tomorrow, but the latest weather report has the storm lasting until later in the week. It may be almost summer here, but there has never been a storm like this so late in the year on record. The three of us have work to do, but you’re welcome to use any part of the house. If you need anything, just ask.”
Zachary plates his dinner in the kitchen. “There’s a media room, library, and indoor pool.”
Hunter jumps in and adds, “We understand this is a unique situation, but we do want you to feel as comfortable as possible.”
“That’s very kind. Thank you,” I say, trying to sound genuine.
