3. Shiloh
Chapter 3
Shiloh
It’s so stupid how safe I feel in a stranger’s arms right now. How comforting his honeysuckle scent is when I don’t even know him.
What I do know is that he’s kind, he smells good, and fuck does he look good.
He’s not what I would usually search for in an Alpha, definitely out of the age range I would be looking for on dating apps.
His chest is broad, his waist cinched with an expensive-looking belt. He wears his uniform well, but it’s nothing compared to his face. He has dark hair with a very slight curl to it. He definitely has some product in there, with a beard to match. Honestly, he screams sexy authority, and I didn’t know I’d be so into that.
But what’s really attractive about him is his forest green eyes and the way his eyes crinkle ever so slightly when he smiles. Cole smiles with his whole face and maybe I’m an idiot for trusting him or maybe I’m just desperate.
What other choice do I have?
I could have him take me to the hospital and deal with the unbelievable pain of a medical heat relief. He could drop me off at Heat Haven and leave me with another group of strangers. Or I could accept his offer and let his pack take care of me.
I swallow thickly, weighing my options, that aren’t really options.
“Your pack?”
“There are three of us. Mackenzie, he hates being called that, he goes by Mack, is my younger brother. He’s also an Alpha and Jonah is pack lead, my best friend,” he says as I nuzzle closer to his rumbling chest.
The Alphas in my old pack hardly ever purred for me, and dammit if it isn’t soothing me right now. I grab on to his expensive feeling belt and his breath hitches as I rub my nose against his chest.
“What are their scents?” I ask in a breathy tone, nearly mounting the poor pilot right here in this small bathroom.
Cole clears his throat, his hands tightening on my hips.
“Mack smells like peppermint and Jonah like oranges.”
I lick my lips, thinking about them all being in the same room and how we would all smell like some delicious citrusy dessert together.
“What do they look like?” I ask, both of my hands on his belt now as I press my face against his chest.
God, I just know he has the right amount of chest hair. He doesn’t shave or wax like the guys in LA do. No, he’s all man, and he’s proud of it.
He clears his throat. “Mack looks like me, but younger. Jonah is taller, bigger, his hair is a little bit longer than mine.”
“What color?” I ask, my eyes closed, picturing them.
“Dirty blond? I don’t know.”
A deep ache hits me in my stomach; all I want is relief. My hand slides from the captain’s belt as I fist his hard cock from outside of his pants.
The speed of his purr picks up and his one hand slides up my back to cradle the back of my head.
“No. Not yet,” he says.
I whine and shove his chest, his back hitting the bathroom door, making it creak. As soon as I do it, my eyes widen and fear rattles me. Shit, I shouldn’t have done that. He’s already rejected me, now he’s going to rescind his offer.
But when I glance back up at his handsome face, he’s smiling.
“Well. Seems like the meds aren’t going to do much for you. Let’s get you up to the cockpit,” he says with a sigh.
Fuck. He’s mad at me. I shouldn’t have shoved him. I shrink away and his big hands grab each side of my face.
“Honey, I know you’re going fucking through it right now. But I’m going to need you to hold it together so we can get to the front of the plane. My offer is still good, I’ll get you to Heat Haven and my pack will take care of you. I just can’t do that if we don’t get safely to the front of the plane. Has nothing to do with you, got it?”
I inhale his scent, his words laced with delicious honeysuckle soothe me as I take a deep breath.
“Now. I’m going to scent mark you as much as I can so that none of the Alphas get out of hand as soon as we leave here. Are you okay with that?”
Am I okay with that? I grab for his belt again, wanting a very specific kind of scent marking, and he sighs, leaning forward and licking me from my collarbone to the back of my ear. He nuzzles me there, thickening his scent in my hair.
He does the same on the other side and I know my knuckles are white from the way I’m gripping his belt.
Cole promised me that the offer was good, that he would help me. I just need to be a good little Omega and wait.
His hands tangle in my hair as he rubs against me, covering me in his scent in any way he can. Thankfully, he isn’t looking at me, because my smile is probably terrifying as I think about how everyone out there is going to smell him on me.
A claim.
I moan as his hand lightly wraps around my throat as he rubs his cheek against mine.
His hard cock is resting against my front and I love that it’s me doing this to him, that he’s getting off on making me smell like him. It’s possessive and sexy in a way that I’ve been thirsting for.
Cole quenches a hunger I didn’t even know I had.
This. This is how an Alpha makes an Omega feel wanted. It’s like cold water being doused on me when I realize that I’m not his. But maybe at least for the next few days I can be.
“Okay,” he whispers in my ear. “You’re going to hold on to my belt while I walk first down the aisle. You will not let go. You will not stop walking.”
“What if someone touches me?” I ask, rubbing against him even more.
He pulls back, his thumb and forefinger gripping my jaw.
“You’re wearing my scent, and that makes you mine right now. I always protect what’s mine, Shiloh.”
All the scent marking is for naught, because my panties are obscenely drenched with slick, my scent nearly exploding around us.
“Fuck. Let’s just do this,” he says.
He has a hard time, but eventually opens the door and gets us out. I grab his belt like he told me to.
“If anyone gets out of their seat or touches me or the woman behind me you’ll be dealing with airport security as soon as we get off this flight. Everyone is to remain seated, eyes to the front, and hands to themselves,” he says to the passengers as we walk down the aisle.
Who knew I’d find the perfect man in the sky?
He walks briskly, and I keep up. I stare at his wide back and hold my breath the best I can. I don’t want to see their judgmental faces or hungry eyes as Cole leads me to safety.
I have to endure the different scents, but then I just try to remember his honeysuckle sweetness and let the rest fall away.
Before I know it, we’re at the front of the plane moving around a flight attendant. Cole inputs a code making a call, and it takes a moment as the door opens.
He’s fast, switching places with the flight attendant who was inside, and ushers me into the small space and shutting the door. His relief is palpable as the door locks and a throat clears behind us.
“No, Cole. No fucking way,” the older man says. “Do you want Lauren to kill me?”
I swallow thickly, trying to gather all my thoughts. The cockpit is small, a mix of Cole’s scent along with this other Alpha’s. No offense to his Omega, Lauren, but his scent doesn’t hold a candle next to Cole’s.
“We’re not doing an emergency landing. She took her meds. It will be fine,” Cole suggests.
The older man glances at me, giving me a gentle smile. “No offense, sweetheart, but that’s complete fucking bullshit. She’s a moment away from a high fever and begging someone on this plane to fuck her.”
My mouth gapes open and Cole glares at him.
“I said no offense.”
“You can’t just say no offense and then say offensive shit, Brock.”
“Is it offensive if I’m right? You’re going to lose your fucking job over this, Cole,” Brock says, and I bite my lip.
Fuck, I don’t want to be the reason he loses his job.
“Just do the landing, it’s alright,” I say in a soft voice, knowing that for me it won’t be alright.
We’re still on the West Coast. There will be no way for me to get home. I’ll have to go to a facility with a random pack—which I guess isn’t too far off with what Cole and I talked about—or I’ll have to be heat sedated.
“You and I both know I don’t need this job,” Cole says to Brock, and the man glances back at me. “What if it was Lauren?”
“My Omega wouldn’t be on a commercial airplane by her fucking self. Again, no offense.”
Cole takes his seat. The cockpit is small and all the buttons, nozzles, and levers look intimidating.
“I can just hang out right here,” I say, with nowhere to move.
“Shiloh, come here. Ignore him,” Cole says, his seat is moved back to the furthest position, but he can still touch the controls. I wonder if they build these things with Alpha pilots in mind.
I clear my throat, really wanting to sit on his lap, mostly because I feel like I’m about to faint if I don’t sit down. Also, his lap looks especially cozy.
I do my best not to touch anything; I think I’ve caused enough issues on this flight as Cole holds out his hands and puts me on his lap.
For a moment, all I can do is look out of the panoramic window in awe of the clouds and sky and how unreal it is that we figured out how to travel this way.
Then Cole adjusts me on his thighs and I realize how majestically large and perfect the pilot who is driving the plane is.
“Ground rules,” Brock says and I glance over at him. “I have an Omega at home. I’ve gotta explain all this shit too, so keep your scent as far away from me. Two, don’t touch anything… Including the captain’s dick.”
“Brock,” Cole snaps his name and the pilot rolls his eyes.
“Hold her close and pet her hair and shit. Lauren loves that. Mark her up with your scent, too. Did you give her a fever reducer already? What about water?”
I have to rest my head against the crook of Cole’s neck to suppress a smile. His crotchety first officer might not be so bad afterall.
“Suppressants,” I whisper and Brock nods his head.
“Is someone picking you up at the airport? I’m sure we can discuss ground pick up,” Brock says and I swallow and glance up at Cole.
“It’s taken care of,” Cole says.
Brock tilts his head up and laughs, jostling his headset.
“You’re such a fucking dumbass, Cole.”
Cole holds me tighter. “Don’t listen to him,” he says, glaring at his co-worker.
“Okay,” I say, leaning further in against Cole’s chest, absorbing his scent and warmth.
This is so nice. The guys used to cuddle me, but not very often, usually only in heat. They would never have been this affectionate with someone else present. How didn’t I realize for so long that I was a secret? That I was taking whatever scraps of leftovers that they would give me? I did everything an Omega should do to keep her Alphas happy, especially ones with a demanding job.
But they never did what Alphas are supposed to do for their Omegas—well, what they should have done for me. They’re young, my age, but that’s no excuse. I deserved more and a literal stranger is giving me more affection and care than the men I gave two years of my life to ever did.
I’m relieved that I’m free of being an afterthought, but I’m still sad. I’m mourning the two years I can’t get back, and I’m scared that something’s wrong with me.
What if I’m just not a good enough Omega to be bonded to?
“You okay?” Cole whispers against my hair, and I nod, gripping him closer.
It’s quite pathetic the way I’m so drawn to him and comfortable in his arms, but I’m going to let it slide. I’m allowed to feel good. I’m allowed to move on and find something better.
I clutch my fist into his crisp, white button down and hold him tight. I bet he looks so damn good sans his uniform. Alphas are normally larger, can build muscle mass faster, and I think Cole is no exception.
Him and his pack are going to take care of me. It could be because they just want to be involved in a heat, but I shake that thought away. I can’t be used again, but I can’t be sedated either.
“Cole?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?” he says.
I lean up, grazing my teeth against his jaw.
“Can you take the edge off?”
“Here we fucking go,” Brock complains from his seat as I stroke my very handsome captain’s face.