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She stands, cradling the cat in her arms and nuzzling her face into its fur.

I have no clue when my mouth fell open, but I snap it shut with an audible click.

What the hell…?

“What are you doing back here?” She whispers, adjusting its huge body in her arms. I squint for a better look at the beast, but it’s honestly unnecessary.

That is one unnaturally large cat. It has to be feral.

Or part mountain lion.

“Was that you I felt slinking around out here?”

I blow out a breath, slightly amused, but mostly irritated. It seems she does have survival instincts.

She just chooses to fucking ignore them, apparently.

The cat is purring so loud I can hear it from where I stand. There’s a stabbing feeling in my chest again, and I realize, with a vague sense of concern, that I’m… jealous of the cat.

I press the palms of my hands into my eye sockets. Holy shit, I’m losing my mind.

She slides down the wall, sitting cross-legged with the animal in her lap. The cat lies there contentedly as she runs her hands over its body in soothing strokes.

I just stand here like an absolute creep, staring at her. I want to hear her speak again. I want to get closer. I want to scent her, because I’m damn sure she’s an Omega.

The wind picks up, almost as though the universe heard my desire. My nostrils flare, but the only smell that registers is the metallic chemical scent of high-end suppressants.

I’m both annoyed and strangely relieved. If I already feel possessive without even scenting her…

She’s an Omega. The suppressants confirm it.

Why military grade, though?

Those are heavy-duty and not healthy for Omegas long-term. Coming off of them eventually will be hell without an Alpha to tend to her. Even then, it won’t be a walk in the park, that’s for sure, especially if she’s been on them for longer than a few years.

Her soft voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

“I know I said you couldn’t come back, but I’m glad you did,” she murmurs to the animal, and it butts its head against her hand, clearly asking for more pets.

She laughs, and my eyelids shut on impulse. I bask in the way the sound fills up something inside of me I didn’t even know was empty.

I could stand here forever, still as a Fatesdamned statue and twice as hard, listening to her soft voice.

The scent of suppressants hits me again. I wrinkle my nose on impulse.

Could her designation be why there’s little information about her?

Omegas are rare. Their families keep them damn near hidden until they can be properly courted and Bonded. Especially rich humans who want to use their daughters as bargaining chips rather than find a pack that will truly love them.

Varenthrall is exactly the kind of asshole who’d hide away his Omega daughter for later use as potential leverage. A man who cultivates relationships with the Severed isn’t the kind of father who’s worried about his child making a love match.

The thought of her with some bullshit human pack sends fire skittering through my veins. Even the mere idea of this girl belonging to another Alpha is enough to make me want to tear out of my skin.

I don’t understand why I’m having such an out-of-character reaction, but I know to trust my instincts.

Everything inside of me is screaming that this girl is mine. There’s no sense in denying it, even to myself.

I need to mark her. Bite her. Claim her.