Page 77 of The Rogues

I nod. “She’s my scent match.”

“Well, yeah, duh, but I mean you like her. Not just that she’s your scent match. You like things about her; her personality, who she is.”

We come upon her door and I turn to face her. “Yes. Everything I learn about her seems to solidify that more and more.” I pause. “Did something happen at the club?”

Florence sighs. “There was a run-in with someone that Josie doesn’t like. She tried to give me cocaine.”

My stomach drops as a growl accidentally crawls up my throat. “What?”

She laughs. “Relax. Josie told her off. Besides, I wouldn’t have taken it. You should know me better than that.”

“Well, yeah, but you’re an adult now so I didn’t know if you’d want to experiment,” I snap. “Just don’t get involved with that shit. It’s the worst kind of poison.”

“Huh. She used the word poison too,” Flo muses.

Once my red vision clears, her words from a moment ago finally process. “Josie helped you?”

“It was really cool, actually. Josie tore into that girl.” She smiles. “She sounded just like you.”

Something about that information leaves me glowing. My heart swells, wishing I could see Josie in her rage when she discovered what was happening. I knew she was protective of Cleo, trying to help her in the same way, but knowing that she did that for my sister does something else to me entirely.

“I’m glad you have someone that’s just as fiercely loyal as you.”

She takes the keycard from my hand and slides it into the door. When she’s halfway in, she turns to me with a ribbing grin. “Go tell her how you feel, Cy. She won’t know unless you do.”

The walk back to my room feels like miles. I ponder if I should text Josie, ask to see her. I’m the only one who hasn’t texted her directly, worried that I’ll come on too strong, that she’ll be reminded of her best friend’s distaste for me and run the other way.

But my alpha is becoming too difficult to tamp down, his desire for her a well that has overflowed.

When I turn the corner, my steps slow to a stop. Delicious carbonation fills the air with an intoxicating bite woven in the notes. I look up and meet my scent match’s eyes—green pools of emerald that shine bright in this dimmed hotel hallway.

“Hi,” she says.

I can’t contain the smile that takes over my face. “Hey. I thought you went to bed.”

“I was going to, but… I wanted to talk to you first. Is that okay?”

“Of course, Josie. I always want to talk to you.” I gesture toward the door and guide her inside.

The guys are still lounging in the living room when we walk in, their drunken conversation meeting our ears. When they see us, they all holler in excitement.

“Bubbles!” Malaki exclaims like he always does when he sees her, his arms around Jamie. “Our beta is tired, so excuse me for missing out on the party, but I should get him to bed.”

Josie’s smile is sincere. “Take good care of him, Alpha.”

His cheeks blush. “Yes, ma’am.”

They disappear into their room, and then it’s just Remi. He looks at me intuitively, his stare piercing right through me.

“I’m going to head to bed too,” he announces before coming over to Josie’s side. “Goodnight, Omega.”

He leans down to kiss her, the touch tender. When she pulls back, her face is flushed, and she is breathing deeper than before. Her eyelashes flutter as she composes herself long enough to whisper, “Goodnight, Alpha.”

I catch my friend’s eye as he walks past me. He winks, and I choke on a cough as he finally goes into his room.

That little shit.

When Josie and I are alone once more, the energy crackles.