“The blessing and curse of genius, eh?”
“Quite. So you were asking about the projections…”
Right when I finish planning out the night, a male voice cuts across the room.
“Mor ‘the Bulldog’ Hunter, fancy seeing you here.” There’s a musical ring to the deep voice, and a confidence that borders on command.
The beast’s hackles go up, and approaching with confident strides is the only thing that could possibly get the beast’s attention off of Jamie. In three pieces of Italian heirloom wool, with oiled back hair sporting a streak of orange and an intentionally timed five-o’clock shadow, iscompetition.
“Tobias, you asshole,” I say, stepping over to shake the other alpha’s hand and clap him on the shoulder. “You said you weren’t coming.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me.”
“Fine, fine.” The concession is calculated, planned, perfectly synthesized charisma. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“And why is that?” I already know the answer.
“You like surprises.”
I hate Tobias. With a passion. On the street, he likes to play like he can make any female alpha his bitch. In the sheets, he’s got a wicked humiliation kink and wants desperately to be topped. It’s insufferable.
It’s exactly what I need right now.
#
JAMIE
My whole body goes stiff with the smell. Bergamot, black pepper, and tobacco. Another alpha. One not taking suppressants.
I don’t need to see anything but the sheer bulk of him to find him in the crowd. Others would focus on his pointed ears,the orange streak in his hair, his bright amber eyes. But I already know he’s an alpha, so what I’m seeing instead is the expensive cut of his suit, the Rolex on his wrist, shoes I recognize from the window of a shop that only sells customs.
He’s Morgan’s perfect match in every way.
The omega in me aches.
But no… it’s not the omega. The omega is wary, alert, and wants to move to a position that puts Morgan between me and this new threat, this unknown alpha.
It’s my human heart that aches.
Because I know what the light in Morgan’s eye means, the way she clasps his shoulder, the sharp attention that follows his every move.
Her voice rings out as clearly through the room as it always does. Tobias is his name.
I can’t doubt it as they go get drinks together, banter bouncing off each other with all the skill and ferocity of an Olympic tennis match.
It’s certain when I see the hunger in Morgan’s eyes as she takes the other alpha in.
Thismust be what it looks like when Morgan is attracted to someone. And she never looks like that atme.
#
MORGAN
I’m in the back of a limo that reeks of cheap air freshener, the city lights a blur beyond the tinted windows.
Tobias cracks a bottle of red that he thinks will impress me. It’s overpriced, tasteless swill from an artless vineyard and a shit year.
