Chapter 2
Olly
“As I was saying…”
I huff out in exasperation, trying to get the attention of the guys. I’ve known most of them, save Emmett, for years, since we all grew up in the same pack, attended the same institute: The Delta Institute. Though I wouldn’t necessarily consider them my friends, I can respect their skillset and their command as teammates, and I like to think they respect me and mine. At least when it comes to being clinical and observing.
“Yeah, yeah, get on with it,”
Emmett says, dismissing me with a wave as Gage takes off for base.
“I’m sure you noticed her scent,”
I say, and just the words elicit groans of desire from Gage and Diego.
“Fuck, was it that good?”
Emmett asks, looking at me.
I shrug. “I can’t really comment on that,”
I say defensively. I know Emmett isn’t trying to be a dick, and by all pack standards, even as a beta I should be affected on some level by the scent of an omega.
But it does nothing for me, not in the way it does for them. I don’t get all primal or hard or feel the need to rut and claim, which is typical for most alphas and betas.
It’s not her, though. I’m like this with everyone. Every omega I’ve ever been in contact with is the same.
I feel nothing. Nothing out of the ordinary like I’m supposed to, and Auryn is no different. Clinically, I know it’s rare to be both a beta and asexual. But I guess I won the scientific lottery or something, because not only am I both of those things, I’m also technically classified as ASD, on the autistic spectrum, which makes it extra difficult for me to fit in, even when I am part of a team like this one.
“But you did smell her?”
Emmett asks. I sigh, knowing I might as well answer him or he’ll just keep pestering me.
“Yes.”
“And was it good?”
he presses.
“It was okay, I guess.”
I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I mean, there are worse smells for sure. Like charred cherries and smoke, which is what Emmett smells like. Diego laughs as Gage sighs, letting out a curse.
“Let the man talk, Em.”
Emmett shrugs, grinning at me. “Just proving that good old doc’s sniffer still works,”
he chuckles. “Even if other things don’t.”
I glare at him. My dick works just fine, asshole. I just don’t run on the same instincts as you. I’m not a fucking neanderthal.
I clear my throat. “As I was saying, omegas have textbook scents, right? Lemongrass, vanilla frosting, apple pie, lilies, all that jazz, right?”
“Fucking apple pie…”
Emmett groans. “I love apple pie.”
I smack him, and he has the audacity to act as if I actually hurt him.
“Sorry, Olly. Continue,”
he says. Emmett is like an overgrown child. I learned firsthand he also listens like one.
“But her scent was…layered.”
“What do you mean ‘layered’?”
Diego asks. “All I smelled was lemongrass.”
“Same,”
Gage says. “Like lemongrass and sunshine.”
I purse my lips. “You didn’t smell cinnamon or peppercorn?”
Diego turns to shoot me a curious look. “No. Did you?”
I nod. “It’s…not common for an omega to smell spicy.”
“Maybe your sniffer is broken,”
Emmett says as we pull into the covered garage at base.
“Doubt it,”
I snap as I get out of the car. “I have that extra sensory ability you lack.”
I don’t mean it to sound rude or mean, but it must come off that way because as soon as I’m out of the car, Emmett’s got me up against the side of it, baring his teeth at me, his hand fisting in my shirt.
“You calling me dumb, Olly?”
he growls. “Think you’re so much better than a fucking alpha?”
My entire body tenses, my heart quickening as the blood rushes through me. I stare at him, my eyebrows furrowing.
What the hell…? I didn’t mean…
“Easy, Em,”
Gage says, pulling him off of me. “You know Olly didn’t mean it like that.”
Emmett’s fist loosens, and his lips move back to normal, hiding his teeth. “Yeah, I guess you’re right,”
he says, letting me go.
It takes a couple of breaths for me not to feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.
“Head on in and get cleaned up. Both of you,”
Gage says, nodding at Diego and Emmett.
They don’t protest or argue. They grunt in response and head for the doors, leaving Gage and me alone.
“Thanks,”
I say shakily.
“You know, for a man who knows a thing or two about alphas, you’d think you would think twice before speaking out of turn.”
“I didn’t mean–”
“I know you didn’t. But how would you feel if Em flashed his ability to bench press in front of you? In front of other alphas?”
I blink. I think I understand what he’s trying to say, but…
“I would think he must be very strong and very dominant.”
Gage smirks. “I’m sure you would.”
There’s a tense pause before he catches my gaze. “So, peppercorn and cinnamon, huh?”
“Yeah.”
I say, looking down at the ground. Maybe they’re right, maybe I’m just not on the same page. Maybe more than my sniffer is broken.
“Do you…like cinnamon and peppercorn?”
he asks calmly.
“Like, in general?”
I shrug. “I put cinnamon in my tea all the time.”
He blinks, and I continue. “It helps with inflammation.”
Gage laughs, throwing his arm around me and leading me into base. “Mhmm. Anything else, Boy Genius?”
I settle my hand at his back because I’ve seen the others do the same. He doesn’t seem to mind, so I take it to mean that it’s an okay interaction.
“She seemed rather dominant for an omega.”
“What do you mean by that?”
he asks curiously as he opens the door for us.
“Well, by all accounts she should have been whining and whimpering in your presence, but instead she was yelling at you.”
“I did chase her through the woods,”
he says as we stop just inside the lobby of the compound.
“Yes, I suppose that would piss off anyone,”
I say, chewing on the thought.
Gage chuckles. “So you noticed she smells like your tea, and she’s got an attitude.”
I guess that sums it up. “Yeah…”
There’s something else there, though I can’t place it yet. I need to get to my lab, write down my observations, and sort through things to really make sense of my data.
“Get some sleep, Olivander,”
Gage says, shoving his hands in his pockets. “That’s an order. I don’t need you all frazzled tomorrow morning because you were up all night theorizing.”
The man knows me too well, but as our team leader, I guess that’s to be expected.
“Yes, sir,”
I say as I take my leave and head back to my quarters, knowing sleep is not going to happen tonight.
Not now that I’ve seen her.
“My name is Auryn.”
The defiance in her voice made my beta feel strange in a way I’ve never felt in the presence of anyone before, and I know that has to mean something.
And I plan to figure it out, come hell or high water.