Chapter 3
MAEVE
“Morning,” I say, entering the building and greeting Alvin with a pet on the head. “How is—”
“Bean’s fine,” Piper assures me from the front desk. “No sneezing at all. Much better. You weren’t worried about it all night, were you?”
I feign innocence. “Of course not.”
Okay, maybe I was worried a little.
Piper was kind enough to text me last night that Bean had stopped sneezing completely late yesterday afternoon, and while it settled me a bit, what ifs still swirled in my head all night.
“Good, because he did have a speck of dried wet food on his nose,” Piper says. “That was the culprit, likely. But we’re going to keep him isolated for one more day, just to be sure.”
“Okay,” I sigh. Alvin nuzzles into my hand, and I lean my head and press my face right into his back. I inhale his cat scent and sigh.
“I see we’re back to huffing cats,” Piper chuckles.
“They smell wonderful, and you damn well know it,” I murmur into Alvin’s fur, my voice muffled.
There are two types of people in the world: the ones that know cats smell good, and the others that are just nose blind.
It’s not my fault that cats naturally smell like clean laundry and sunshine.
Unless we just rescued them from a dumpster, I thoroughly enjoy burying my face in a ball of fur.
“You and your brother are alike in that way,” Piper says, amused. “He does the same thing to Snow.”
“Exactly!” I say, wiping cat hair off my face. “Besides, you know how many videos I’ve seen of people talking about how good their cats smell to them? It’s not just me.”
“I’m not saying you’re wrong,” Piper continues. “You’re just quirky. It’s endearing.”
I shrug. I’ll take quirky over other words Piper could use for me, if she truly wanted.
Weirdo. Crazy. Annoying.
All descriptions I’ve heard before, but thankfully, never from Blair, Piper, or anyone else at Furs and Purrs.
No one here has ever referred to me as Avery’s obnoxious little Omega sister, either.
Moving to Luna County was the best decision I’ve ever made.
I didn’t fall in love with cats until I offered to volunteer here, but it’s changed the trajectory of my life.
I thought I was happy working at the thrift store, living paycheck to paycheck, and only shamefully asking my brother for money when my situation was dire.
But now, I have purpose.
There is always more to learn about cats, always more to understand about animals in general.
I have drive now.
And that drive is to save every cat I possibly can, huffing them along the way.
“Did I miss anything exciting this morning?” I ask Piper. Alvin nuzzles my hand once, and I give him gentle pats at the base of his tail until he hops off the top of the desk.
“Oh, we have the new vet. He introduced himself to us this morning, but you should go say hello when you have a second.”
I lean on the counter, resting my chin on my hands. “What’s he like? Is he nice?”
“Logan? He’s great. He comes from an emergency animal hospital. We’re lucky to have him.”
I hum in agreement, ready to talk Piper’s ear off some more, when I scent it.
At first, I think there’s a cake left out somewhere. The scent of vanilla is strong, but not too sweet. It’s warm and mixed with a richer, heavier note.
Bourbon, my mind supplies. Bourbon.
Just like the too-expensive glass of fancy alcohol I had on my twenty-first birthday. I don’t know how much my brother paid for it, but I sipped that glass all night, savoring the rich, decadent taste.
I haven’t had a glass of that drink since, convinced I’d already had the best of the best.
Trying any other brand would be a disappointment.
But this?
This is even better than the liquor I tasted that night.
This is warmth and longing, so potent and delicious that my body trembles in response.
“Uh…Maeve?” Piper asks, while saliva fills my mouth like I’m a damn vampire.
“Huh?” I snap out of my stupor, but not before inhaling that Alpha aroma one more time.
Mine, a primal part of me snarls. My Alpha.
Uh oh.
Alvin cocks his head at me, tail swishing back in forth in anticipation while he perches on the front counter.
Even the cat is onto me.
“Everything okay?” Piper questions, cocking an eyebrow. “You disappeared for a second.”
“Yup.” I pop the “p” a little too loudly.
Piper isn’t oblivious. She asked if I was okay to be polite, instead of calling me out on what she just saw.
I had a physical reaction to an Alpha scent, and said Alpha isn’t even in the same building as me.
Go to him, my inner Omega says. Go to him now. There’s no reason not to.
No! Cats come first.
Alvin nudges his cheek against my palm, and I gently run my thumb under his chin.
“I have scent-blocking gummies in my purse if you need them,” Piper adds, her eyes understanding. “Or some strong minty gum you can chew on if there’s a scent that’s too strong for you.”
“I’ll take both,” I squeak. “Is it really that obvious?”
She lets out a long breath. “Oh, yeah,” she mutters. “It’s that obvious, Maeve.”
“It’s not my fault he smells good!” I whisper frantically, and Piper chuckles.
“No, it’s not, but it’s pretty funny.” Her eyes glimmer with delight as she hands me the pack of gum and container of scent-blocking gummies. I huff and devour the gummy, then tear open the stick of gum and allow the peppermint to erase the torture of warm bourbon and vanilla invading my senses.
“Thanks,” I mutter, embarrassed at my reaction to the scent.
“Just go say hello during lunch,” Piper adds. “Once you become used to his scent, you’ll be fine.” She eyes me carefully. “Do you feel like it’s something more?”
I shake my head.
I would know if it were a scent match…right?
It would hit me like a freight train, or so I’ve been told.
“I don’t think so,” I admit, slightly shamefully. Piper and Blair are both aware of how much I want to find my matches, which is the exact opposite of how they felt before their packs.
I want a pack, but sometimes I worry that some of the less perfect parts of me won’t be accepted.
Sure, Ivan is patient and understanding, but for how long? How often can someone put up with my panicking until it becomes too much?
“What does he smell like to you?” Piper asks curiously as I chomp on the gum. “I don’t scent much from him.”
“Yeah, but you also have three different Alphas,” I scoff. “Of course you’re not going to notice.”
“Humor me, then.”
“Well, before the gum…” my voice trails off while I pet Alvin, “he smelled like…opportunity.”
My eyes widen at the realization, and Piper mirrors my expression.
The Alpha I haven’t even met smells like the prospect of a future?
That’s way too symbolic and complicated for my liking.
“Wow,” Piper says. “Good for you, Maeve.”
“What does that mean?”
She shrugs and feigns ignorance. “Nothing. It’s just fun to play matchmaker for my boyfriend’s sister.”
“Hey.” I point a finger at her. “You’re not telling Avery anything.”
“Who is playing matchmaker?” Mari enters from the back of the reception area, smiling widely at me. “Hey, kiddo. Are you feeling any better today?”
I smile back. Mari and I can be thick as thieves when we want to. She has all the silly gossip, and I’m happy to lend an ear and chat with her. There are always stories for her to tell me about when she was younger, and she constantly bakes and brings in the best brownies I’ve ever had.
But Piper replies to her before I can, swiveling in her chair to face the older Omega. “Just discussing the new vet,” she says.
Mari’s eyes widen. “Oh, Doctor Logan! Have you met him yet, Maeve? Oh, I forgot, he prefers to just go by Logan. He is so handsome and sweet.” She lowers her voice to a loud whisper. “And I hear he’s single, too.”
Suddenly, I’m not a fan of Mari’s gossip. “I’m going to clean the litter boxes,” I stammer, dropping my purse behind the counter and petting Alvin one last time. I head to the cat playroom, ignoring Mari and Piper’s calls, and hurry past the kittens that swipe at my pant legs.
Piper has already cleaned the litter boxes, though. That’s part of the opening shift’s duties.
I just wanted to get away from the inevitable discussion of my love life that would follow.
Even with the peppermint gum, that bourbon and vanilla scent still haunts me. I want it bottled into a cologne and sprayed all over me, my pillows, and any nest I make for the rest of my life.
Moving past the row of kennels, I find the quarantine area in the back room where little Bean is kept. He’s sleeping peacefully in a pet bed, his cream back rising and falling with each deep, slow breath he takes.
“Sweet boy,” I murmur, guilt eating at me. If I hadn’t panicked, maybe he wouldn’t have to be in here resting alone.
The faintest scent of apples and caramel swirl around the back room, and my heart warms at the thought that Ivan was here earlier, checking on Bean.
Ivan.
I plan to go over on my lunch break to introduce myself to Logan, and luckily, Ivan is working today, too.
Seeing two delicious smelling Alphas at once? My inner Omega is beyond excited.
So excited, in fact, that a warning cramp flutters in my lower stomach.
I freeze.
I’ve been taking my suppressants on time—I’m not perfect about it, but I take them within a couple days of any missed dose. Another Heat isn’t due for a while, but I recognize that warning sign.
The sign of my inner Omega saying hey, remember me? My womb is empty; could use something to stuff it with.
I shake my head and snap my gum.
Now is not the time to worry about that.
There are social media accounts to update, inventory to organize, and claws to be trimmed.
But before I can do that, Piper appears, smiling softly.
“Hey. You want to take the front desk for a bit?” she asks. “It feels like I’m always up there while you’re back here doing the grunt work.”
“I don’t mind,” I tell her. “It keeps me busy.”
“There is no way you’re excited about chores. Go take the front for a bit; I’ll handle it all back here.”
“You sure?”