Chapter 6
FANG
I’ve learned today that I’m not a good person.
I always knew I was a bit…different. A little too loud, a little too much of a smart-ass, and maybe a bit too intense for people.
Which is fine. It’s really fucking fine.
I’m great at what I do. I get to teach music and bring out the hidden talents in people.
I love it, and I thought maybe that would balance out the other less than desirable parts of myself.
But today?
Today, Maeve Brooks walked into the room and almost shattered me.
Someone who wasn’t even supposed to be in my class—I enrolled her as a favor for Avery, who told me his sister was going through a hard time and my instruction could be helpful for her.
He had trusted me with his younger Omega sister, and I was more than willing to allow her to attend.
Avery is a good man. A genuinely good person—the type that someone would be happy to do a favor for.
But what Avery failed to tell me—and how the fuck could he have known—was that his sister might as well be my scent match.
I had hoped, had prayed that the sweet scent had been from anyone else but her.
But it was all Maeve.
Maeve, with her faded purple hair, dark lipstick, and worn leather jacket.
Like she was made specifically for me, like the universe had crafted an Omega drawn purely from my fantasies.
I didn’t look at her for the duration of the class, except for at the end, when my selfish inner Alpha just had to introduce himself to her.
What a mistake that was.
She was even more stunning up close—sweet, with a smile so breathtaking I would have it tattooed on my body.
I could write a song about that smile, that scent.
I run a hand through my hair, scowling at my desk, furious at Avery.
It’s not even his fault, but there’s no one else I can blame for this.
I want her.
My Alpha, previously content burying himself in music and forgetting about all potential scent matches, has suddenly reared its ugly head.
I thought those primal, feral instincts had died down—but apparently, they were just waiting for her.
“Fuck this,” I exhale, staring blankly at the quiz that I have prepared for the next class.
I hope she doesn’t show up for office hours.
My inner Alpha hopes she does.
“Hey.” There’s a familiar voice, and I look up from my desk to see Avery, who leans against the door, smiling. “You have a minute?”
I hope he can’t see the guilt that’s all over my face, but I’ve never been good at hiding my expressions.
I doubt I can start now.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“How did she do?” Avery asks hopefully from the doorway. “I know it’s the first class and all, but how did she seem?”
Like I’m halfway in love with her, and I’m going to drop her from my class because she’s a liability.
“Fine, from what I could tell,” I mumble. “It’s not like I observe every student the first day.”
“I really appreciate you taking her last minute,” Avery adds, standing at my desk and completely oblivious to my tone. “I know I already said it, but she really needs this.”
“Uh-huh.”
If Avery knew all the thoughts I was having about his sister, I would need to go to a hospital after the well-deserved ass-kicking he would give me.
He doesn’t seem to get the hint today. Usually, I’m happy to talk his ear off, but he doesn’t notice my lack of conversation.
“It’s the least I can do for her,” he says quietly. “She’s a good person.”
I know I shouldn’t ask, but because my inner Alpha has decided that he’s found his Omega, I can’t stop myself.
“What’s going on with her?”
Tell me everything you can about her.
As much as I shouldn’t, I want every scrap of detail that Avery can give me about his sister.
I ache for it.
Avery shakes his head, his gaze distant. “She gets stuck in her head sometimes,” he murmurs. “She has a big heart and cares deeply about pets and people. It can be a little much for her occasionally, especially since she works at a cat rescue.”
I’m not surprised at that description. When Maeve looked at me, there were a million thoughts behind those stunning eyes.
I wanted to decipher every one of them.
I nod. “I know the feeling,” I admit.
“I know you do. You’ve said before that music got you through some pretty hard times, and that’s why you wanted to teach it to others, right?”
“Yeah.”
I’ve always been an open book with Avery, since he’s easy to talk to.
Which makes these feelings I have about his sister even worse.
And she’s a cat person on top of it? Her eyes widening and her scent spiking with joy as she complimented my cat tattoo?
I’m screwed.
Utterly, completely fucked, and my friend and colleague is completely unaware of my dilemma.
He’s grinning, relief on his face now that he assumes his sister is in good hands.
I should kick her out of the class.
Shove her into piano class—except I’m the piano teacher, too!
Fuck.
“She didn’t want to take photography with you?” I ask carefully.
He grimaces. “No. Why would she want to take a class taught by her brother?”
I huff a weak laugh. “Fair enough.”
“Anyway,” he says. “How are things with you? Any luck with that Omega you saw the other week?”
I raise an eyebrow. “The other month?”
That date had been a complete disaster. It was the one that made me realize that maybe I just wasn’t meant to have an Omega.
And that was fine. It was really fucking fine, because I have good friends, a career I love, and a full life.
But now…
“Oh, I guess it was the other month,” Avery murmurs. “Sorry. My brain has been a little bit scattered since…um…”
“Since you found your Omega,” I clarify, grinning. “It’s nice to see you so happy, man. Enjoy it.”
What’s not nice is that his sister has made my inner Alpha more excited than he’s been in forever.
“Thanks. Your time is coming, Fang, I just know it.”
My stomach sours.
I think my time is here already, in the form of a purple-haired temptation.