CHAPTER TEN
DUSTIN
My knuckles rap against the door. Three sharp knocks. "Wake the hell up, Harper."
"Five more minutes," comes the muffled groan from inside.
I pull the key from my pocket, unlock the door, and step inside.
She's buried under the blankets, only her blue bonnet visible against the pillow.
"Get up. Now."
Am I being a super dick? Hell yeah.
The irony isn't lost on me. The woman I've loved since we were kids is sleeping under my roof, and I can barely stand to be in the same room with her.
Not because I don't want her here, because I want her here too much.
But with someone targeting omegas on the campus, we had no choice.
We even cleared out all the wolves so Harper could stay.
If she’s low on sleep, Harper’s tough to rouse.
I pull back the blankets, and my eyes trace her beautiful face. Flannel pajamas drape her body. I know every inch of her naked form. I’m the only alpha in my pack who has touched her in ways they dream about. My hand wraps around her foot, tugging her closer.
I miss touching her. My dick and knot swell at the sensation of her soft skin.
“Hey, my bonnet’s coming off,” she mutters sleepily, pulling the satin bonnet back over her colorful foam rollers.
“Come on, move. Class starts in thirty minutes.”
She props herself up on her elbows, her amber eyes locking with mine. “The door was locked. How did you get in?”
“I have the key, Harper.”
She yanks her foot free from my grip, springs up, and storms toward the ensuite bathroom. "Next time, I’ll make sure there’s a chair wedged under the doorknob."
Harper somehow carries the scent of every alpha in my pack—except me.
"If you do that, I’ll just knock the door down."
She snorts, “You’re so dramatic.”
“Harper, you’re here for your protection. Meet me in the kitchen in fifteen minutes.”
She answers by slamming the door shut.
I wander into the kitchen and whip up a quick breakfast, setting it on the marble countertop.
It’s just Harper and me in the house this morning. The guys are out dealing with business. The top priority is catching the murderer.
Sliding into a chair, my mind drifts back to last night. Outside the diner, I watched the beta hold my omega close.
Then Sawyer said something that alarmed him, and he bolted.
With my dark cap pulled low and hands tucked into my jacket pockets, I trailed him from a distance. He pressed his phone to his ear. “Yes, sir. It went well.” Silence followed.
“I understand.” He slipped the phone back into his pocket. Who was on the other end?
Eventually, he glanced over his shoulder, spotting me. Quickening his pace toward his building, I took three long strides and grabbed him by the collar.
“You like dating omegas who belong to packs?” I demanded, spinning him to face me.
He smelled of honey and lemon. What had Harper seen in this beta? Maybe she thought he smelled as comforting as a warm cup of tea.
“No,” he chirped.
His eyes locked onto mine. “You’re Dustin. I’m a big fan,” he says, his voice trembling.
“What’s your name?” I snapped.
“Rick,” he answered.
“The way you sliced across the field—”
I cut him off, my hand curling around his throat. “Ricky, she’s my fated mate,” I growled.
He raised his hands and gasps out, “I didn’t know.”
I released him and seized his arm. “No alpha or beta lays a finger on my mate,” I roared, snapping his arm.
The snap of bone was satisfying.
He screamed in pain, collapsing to the ground.
“Keep away from my omega.”
“Toast with strawberry jam and butter, yum.” Harper coos, bringing me back from my thoughts.
Before I can tell her it’s not for her, she takes a bite.
So entranced by her, I say nothing as she snatches the spoon from my hand and scoops blueberry oatmeal into her mouth.
Her eyes close and she savors the flavors on her tongue.
“You still make the best breakfast.” She smiles.
Harper used to come to my house early before school so we could eat breakfast in peace. My parents never minded when I sat her in my lap while we ate. Her father didn’t allow it at his home—I respected that.
“Why did you have to ruin us, Harper?” The bitter words leave my lips before I can stop them.
She lets the spoon fall and sets the half-eaten toast down on the saucer.
“Destroyed us?” she asks, sarcasm thick in her voice.
“A trifling omega obsessed with you since ninth grade, bragged to her friends about how my boyfriend helped her through her heat.”
“Harper, why would you believe anything she said?”
Her nostrils flare as she steps firmly between my spread legs. “I didn’t.” She jabs a finger into my broad chest. “But when she pulled your boxers from her purse, I admit, the evidence looked damn convincing.”
My stomach drops and my brows shoot up. She had my boxers?
“I don’t know how she got them. But believe me, Harper, every time she cornered me, tried to kiss me, begged me to fuck her, I pushed her away.”
Tears cling to her lashes. “You never told me she came onto you.”
“I didn’t think it mattered. I didn’t want her. I only wanted you.”
“Dustin, if I hid from you the alphas who flirted with me, wouldn’t you be furious?”
Hell, yeah, I would’ve. “You’re right. I apologize. I should’ve told you.”
She swipes the tears away. “Better get to class.” Harper turns on her heels.
“Why couldn’t you be strong and stand by me? You didn’t have to accuse me of cheating.”
Harper spins around, locking eyes with me. “Here’s exactly what I told that fucking Sarah: You’ve always wanted what was mine. Guess now you’ve got him. I could never be with a dusty ass cheater.”
My heart sinks. What the fuck? She didn’t call me a cheater. But I heard her voice.
She pinches the bridge of her nose with two fingers briefly.
“Yes, I said I guess you got him. I was upset. I came to you to ask if you’d been with her.
But good old Sarah and her friends recorded me and tampered with the recording.
My voice played overhead. ‘He’s a dusty ass cheater.
’ Now you know that’s not what I actually said. ”
Harper turns and walks out the kitchen. “Don’t try and stop me from finding a mate either.”
“I will stop you,” I shout out before stuffing my mouth with oatmeal.
After discarding the dirty dishes, I wrap the toast in paper towel.
I’ve been separated from my woman for almost four years, all because of Sarah’s lies.
I sling my backpack over one shoulder and bolt out the door. The cold wind slaps my face.
Harper’s fur-lined hood shields her from the chill.
“We’re not walking. Get in the truck, Harper.”
She keeps walking. I toss my things into the truck, turn on the heater, then sprint after her.
“Stop moving,” I order.
She keeps going.
I catch up, snatch her backpack from her shoulder, and sling her over me.
“Put me down!” she shouts, kicking.
I fling open the passenger door and drop her onto the warm seat, setting her backpack on the floor.
Pulling back her hood, I spot the headphones.
“You think you’re clever,” I growl.
I yank off the headphones. “Hate me all you want. I’m here to protect you.”
She looks straight ahead, ignoring me. I draw the seatbelt across her body, securing her in.
I lock eyes with her again. “Why can’t I smell your scent?”
“Dustin, please drop it.”
My large hands find her thighs, and even through the denim I feel her body respond. "Tell me."
She sighs. "Scent suppressants.”
My thick brows raise. “You’re purposely hiding your scent from the pack.”
“I’m hiding my scent from all alphas until my appointment at the heat clinic.”
A possessive growl vibrates deep in my chest. “You’re not going to any fucking heat clinic.”
“I don’t want you, Dustin.”
I laugh softly. “You’re talking to me. We can never fight this connection.”
She places her headphones over her ears and closes her eyes. “I will find a mate. He will love me inside and out.”
“I’ve always loved you, little omega. That will never change.”
She can’t hear me, but that’s okay. I’ll work my ass off to get back into my omega’s good graces.