Bonds and Blooms (Scent Valley University #1)

Chapter 1 - Faye

ONE

Faye

This is really it.

Scent Valley University.

“Next?” an impatient beta woman calls from behind the orientation desk.

I sling on my big, pink duffle bag, making my shoulders groan in objection.

It was a grueling, ten-hour bus journey to get here.

Gram was happy to give me a ride, but I didn’t want her traveling all the way back alone.

As much as she believes that you’re only as young as you feel, her bad knees and back would argue otherwise.

Not that she’d like being reminded of that…

I shuffle to the desk like a giant turtle, swaying slightly under the weight of my belongings.

Hopefully, I don’t fall because if I do, I won’t be able to get up again.

I don’t have many possessions, but packing everything into one bag was not easy, especially because I insisted on bringing all my little herb jars.

“This is the omega line,” the beta says pointedly, looking me up and down.

“I-I am a-an…” I feel my cheeks heat. “I’m in the r-right l-line.”

Despite what she thinks—and what some magazines claim—omegas get just as sweaty when carrying heavy bags as anyone else.

She arches one perfectly manicured eyebrow suspiciously then types away on her computer. “Name?”

“Faye,” I struggle to swallow, my throat as dry as the Sahara. “Faye Nightingale.”

Her long nails furiously clack away. When she frowns at the screen for a moment, I fear she’s going to say that I’ve got it all wrong, that I need to head on back to Clover Hollow. Maybe I should do myself a favor and turn back now.

“Ah, yes. Here you are.” Relief swims through me as she scans the screen. “You’ve been assigned to Stella House.”

She puts a set of keys into an envelope then slides it across the counter along with a campus map.

She reels off vague directions in a bored tone that goes in one ear and straight out the other.

With the line growing behind me, I don’t dare ask her to repeat herself and risk another filthy look.

Instead, I stagger out of the building, hoping I’ll be able to find my way.

“Hey!” a giant man who is all muscles and no neck approaches. I’m guessing he’s an alpha, judging by his flaring nostrils, sniffing like he’s trying to vacuum up any scent he can find. “I can help with your bag.”

Something about his gaze makes me uneasy. I’m on suppressants and have doused myself in scent blockers, but they’re not flawless, and they must be wearing off after my journey. I need a shower, stat.

“Thanks for the offer. Really, that’s very kind,” I squeak as my eyes dart around, looking for an exit. “But I can manage.”

“Come on, let me help you,” he insists, advancing. “It’s my job to look after little omegas like you.”

“She said she can manage, Kyro,” a firm, feminine voice huffs out from behind me.

I spin to see a stunning redhead crossing her arms over her chest and popping her hip in a sassy ‘don’t mess with me’ way.

She swings her flaming hair over her shoulder and narrows her amber eyes at the alpha, making the smattering of freckles on her nose dance.

The faint smell of cherry pie surrounds her, instantly making me feel at home.

Kyro raises his hands. “I was only being nice!”

Unimpressed, she scoffs, her sweet scent taking on a bitter edge.

“Why’re you hanging around here, anyway?” she snaps. “You’re supposed to be helping orient the new alphas.”

“I’m allowed a break, aren’t I?” Kyro sneers, crossing his meaty arms over his puffed-out chest.

I’ve never seen an omega stand up to an alpha before, so I’m awestruck. Although where I’m from, I didn’t really have the chance to meet any alphas to know how you’re supposed to act in front of them.

“Not today.” She rolls her eyes. “You know better than to be sniffing around here, preying on new students. Or is your pack just that desperate, after being rejected by every other omega on campus?”

“You know nothing about my pack.”

I flinch when Kyro lets out a low growl that makes the hairs on my arms stand on end.

Gram warned me about pack dynamics, and I’ve read enough to know that insulting an alpha’s masculinity is one of the worst things you can do.

I know better than anyone what alphas are capable of and what lengths they’re willing to go to get an omega.

However, unlike me, the girl doesn’t seem fazed. Instead, she stands her ground.

“If you don’t get the fuck away from my omegas, I’ll ask Tyler to put you on a fucking leash.”

A flicker of fear fills his eyes before he scurries away like a dog with his tail caught between his legs.

“Tyler’s his pack leader,” the girl explains.

“Sorry about that.” A genuine smile pulls at her lips.

“I promise, not all alphas at SVU are creeps like him. He’s delu-lu and thinks that every omega is only here to find a mate.

” She holds out her hand. “I’m Sabrina, but everyone calls me Sabs. I’m one of the omega RAs.”

“I’m Faye.” I still feel a little shaken and am already questioning my decision to enroll.

I thought college would be a good way to meet more people—especially from other designations.

But maybe I shouldn’t have come. It would have been easier to stay in my sleepy village, working in the safety of Gram’s teashop.

“What house are you assigned to?” she asks.

“I’m in…” In all the commotion, I’ve already forgotten. I fumble around for the envelope with my keys that says the name on it. “Stella House.”

Her face breaks into a dazzling smile. “That’s my house too!

You’re going to love it.” She talks quickly, like she’s so excited she can’t wait to get the words out.

“Let me show you the way. We can take a cart. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look like you’ll pass out if you have to carry that bag for much longer. ”

I smile meekly, following Sabs to a row of golf carts. “It’s been a long trip.”

“Most people use these to get around in a hurry,” she tells me as she chooses one.

Relief instantly loosens my muscles when I shed my load. After securing my bag, she gets into the driver’s seat then speeds away at full pelt, making me cling onto the seat to avoid being thrown out at the first bend.

Despite the bumpy ride, I’m too captivated to speak as I take in the gorgeous campus. It’s even nicer than the brochures and pictures I saw online.

We follow a tree-lined path, zipping past magnificent, red brick buildings with ivy climbing up their sides.

Each of them has signs for different faculty names, so I’m guessing this is where the classrooms are.

We pass a vast library with a glass front, an intriguing steel structure that Sabs informs me is the engineering building, and a gym which she says has an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Students laze around on the lawns, reading books or socializing underneath trees.

“This is the main street.” Sabs swings a left onto a busy road lined with shops and cafes.

She slows to point out various popular hangouts.

“Bouncing Bunna makes the best coffee. Did you know that ‘bunna’ is what they call coffee in Ethiopia? That’s where they get their beans imported from, and they’re ground fresh daily.

Nora’s Nest Nook has the best nesting supplies and the coziest blankets around.

There’s Sunshine Pharmacy. They have the best scent blockers.

You’ll find everything you need right here.

Obviously, you can still go into town if you need anything else, but most students don’t even leave campus. ”

I can see why. Campus is basically its own city.

“That’s the alpha quad.” Sabs motions toward another road as we fork off to the left. “Each pack has a different house. They used to do co-pack living, but honestly, the fights got out of hand with all those alpha hormones flying around.”

“Are there many fights now?” I nervously play with the stitching on my floral sundress, where I recently mended a small hole.

“Just typical alpha-hole behavior and dick measuring contests,” she snickers. “You know, the usual.”

I want to say that I don’t really know what the usual is when it comes to alphas, but I stay quiet.

“Don’t worry, Faye. You’re safe here,” she side-eyes me, presumably sensing my unease. “SVU takes omega safety seriously. It’s a great place to be. You’ll see.”

I nod. If she says so…

As we continue driving, I look across to see a sparkling, crystal-blue lake. Around its edges are breathtaking houses, right on the sand.

“Wow,” I sigh.

“Amazing, right? We call it Bonded Beach because those houses are strictly for bonded packs. A lot of packs choose to leave campus accommodations after they bond, but some choose to stay while they’re studying because it’s convenient.

They can apply to the dean to live in one of the beach houses.

Although I don’t get why they need a lake view.

I’m sure they spend most of their days in their nests. ”

I can’t imagine what being bonded would be like. What would it feel like to be tied to an alpha, or an entire pack, forever?

“If you keep following the beachfront, you’ll see apartment blocks in the distance.

Those are the beta dorms,” she continues.

“It’s a constant party down there! I know everyone thinks that this place is just full of alphas and omegas because of SVU’s inclusive policies, but that’s not true.

We have some of the best creative art and science programs in the country, so there are plenty of betas too.

You probably already know that, though. Ah!

” Sabs honks, screeching to a halt before we slam into the family of wild geese blocking our path. “Scram!”

Once they’ve finally moved, we carry on. Other carts whizz around us, going in various directions, piled up with suitcases and bags. Sabs also points out a packed bus with the SVU logo trundling past that is on its way to the beta dorms.