14. Piper
CHAPTER 14
Piper
W orking at the Bonnes Odeurs is actually pretty damn nice.
I was afraid all the scents in this perfumery would be overwhelming, but since I never actually completed the mate bonding ritual with my Alphas, all these competing smells don’t really bother me.
Having distinctive perfumes is very popular with Betas, even though they don’t have them innately like Alphas and Omegas do. It’s hot to get your own custom-made scent, so business is hopping here.
However, I’m only in my third day of work when fucking problems arise.
I look up and see three hulking men opening the door of the perfume shop.
Oh, shit.
They’re here. I can smell the strong, dark steel and unyielding wood of Rook, crisp, sharp mountain air of Erain, and something warm and rich of Teddy. Some damn butterscotch or something.
I’m very happy I’ve taken my suppressants every morning. It keeps me from having to obey Rook’s Alpha bark as he immediately snaps my name at my poor Beta manager and demands to know where I am.
Those assholes must have tracked me down here.
Well, thank God I’m not sad enough to be planning celibacy and I’ve got my ex-boyfriend/situationship Mario waiting outside in a truck for when my shift is over. Because I need to get out of here right now.
I slowly edge to the exit, hoping the different smells mask my own for a few moments until I can escape.
I catch a glimpse of Rook, Erain, and Teddy, and notice with a petty pleasure that they’re looking rather the worse for wear.
Good
I grab a bottle of particularly noxious perfume called Springtime Cabbage and make a break for it.
I was hoping for stealth and speed, but unfortunately I only get one of those. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rook jerk his head around and spot me.
“Piper!” he called out. “Wait, Piper!”
But I don’t wait. I sprint as hard as I can for the back exit.
And they chase.
But they aren’t being careful. They’re blundering through the shop, sending perfume bottles smashing to the ground, shattering one after the other.
“Piper!” Teddy howls. “Please, wait!”
“Piper!” Erain calls, his voice sounding like a fucking skeleton rattle.
What the fuck is wrong with them now?
I hear a terrific crash behind me but I don’t look back.
Well, if I know one thing about my boss Mrs. Godric, she’s going to get every dollar they broke and more and good for her. It’s not like they can’t afford it.
Dribbling the perfume behind me out the door, I sprint outside and throw myself into Mario’s busted-up truck.
He’s got the mirror down and meticulously straightening each one of the gelled dark spikes on his head.
“Give me that cigarette and get us the fuck out of here,” I ordered. “We’ve got to get out of town now.”
There was only one place I knew of that might keep me safe from Alphas and we’d have to drive fast to get there.