Chapter 14 - Kady
FOURTEEN
Kady
Being locked in the back of my friend’s professor’s truck after he gave me an incredible orgasm on college property is definitely not how I’d planned on spending my morning.
But apparently, the universe has been out to get me since the cursed wedding invitation arrived.
What’s this to add to the long list of disasters?
The space is cramped, so I have to adjust my position a few times.
I bring my knees up to my chest, but a shovel digs into my back.
Ugh. At least the smell of Ezra’s mud-flecked gardening apron isn’t so bad.
Despite Ezra temporarily tamping down my urges, being trapped with little ventilation and his scent is making me want to rock against a spade handle to alleviate the building longing in my core.
I wrestle my phone from my purse and try calling Delilah. Her face briefly skitters onto the screen, but then it vanishes. Goddammit. Patchy signal.
My heart hammers. What if Ezra is a serial killer or something?
No, he can’t be. Being a professor makes him much less likely to be an axe murderer, right?
Still, going to his apartment is better than any alternative.
If anyone found out about this and discovered I wasn’t with my “pack,” the ruse would be up.
I can hear Ezra speaking, but I can’t make out the words.
When we hurtle over a few speed bumps, throwing me around, I angrily thump on the pane between us, though I don’t dare to shout out in case anyone hears.
Does he not know how to turn around corners without jerking the wheel?
I wince, trying to concentrate on his terrible driving instead of the stabbing longing bubbling within my core.
Ezra might have been right about my using a heat patch too late. My heats usually come on hard and fast, and it’s clear this one won’t be the exception. There’s no use in fighting it.
I fumble around in the darkness to take my mind off the tingles between my thighs, then close in on something that feels like a mask?
“We’ve left campus.” Ezra calls out. I’ve watched documentaries about killers like Ted Bundy. It’s always the hot ones to look out for. “I’m pulling over.”
I straighten my legs when the car comes to an abrupt stop. Light slips in as the trunk opens, sunlight streaming around the edges of Ezra’s silhouette. He offers his hand, but I bat it away.
“Has anyone told you that you’re pretty terrible at accepting help?”
“I can get out of a truck just fine, thank you very much.” I scowl at him. “Besides, we’re basically strangers.”
“We don’t feel like strangers to me.” He licks his lips to prove his point.
“Why do you have a mask in the back of your truck?” I demand, rubbing the kink in my neck from being curled up.
“This one?” He holds up a beekeeper’s mask. “I used to keep bees. Obviously.”
“Oh, right.” Well, at least he’s not a serial killer. As far as I know. “That makes sense.”
“Are you going to get in?” He opens the passenger door. “Or would you prefer to stay back there?”
I snatch the beekeeper’s mask from him. It’s the perfect disguise.
His lips twitch. “Do you really think that makes you more inconspicuous?”
“I’m not taking any chances!” I plunk my ass down then slam the car door behind me.
I struggle to sit still as we drive down the winding road into Forestville in silence, recalling what he did just did to me with his tongue. We continue through the town square before coming to a stop outside on a quiet backstreet next to an Italian restaurant.
“Here we are.” He turns out the engine.
“A restaurant?”
“We live above Marco’s. They make the best pizzas,” he says. “Have you been here before?”
I shake my head, having to hold the bottom of the huge mask to stop it from toppling off.
“You’re missing out.”
The only thing I’m missing out on right now is a giant knot, I think.
“Lead the way,” I command.
“Aren’t you going to take the mask off?”
“And risk someone seeing us?” I tsk. “Not until we’re inside.”
Who knows whether there are still reporters in the area looking for me? Being photographed with another alpha—a professor, no less—on the day that my courtship is going to be gracing the front pages would be a complete scandal.
“Sorry, it’s still a bit of a mess.” Ezra looks sheepish as he lets us into the building. “We’re trying to make it feel like home.”
“How many of you are in your pack?” I ask as we climb the stairs.
“Four. There’s—”
Before he finishes his sentence, a door at the top of the stairs flies open, an alpha filling the doorway. Holy hell. It’s him.
Tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, I almost turn back.
What is the gorgeous guy from the photoshoot doing here?
I thought I’d imagined the chemistry between us when we met, but seeing him again makes me stumble as my knees go weak.
If his striking looks aren’t enough, his and Ezra’s scent make an irresistible combination.
While Ezra’s smell is wild, like an untamed garden, his packmate smells like stability and a fresh walk in an ancient forest.
The guy steps out of the way for me to pass. “Come in.”
“Victoria, this is Hale Valen. He’s our pack leader.” Ezra ushers me inside before informing Hale, “She insisted on wearing the mask as a disguise.”
“I guess that’s one way to be discreet.” A bemused smile spreads over Hale’s handsome face. “Ezra said you’re a student at SVU?” His voice is much softer as he speaks to me.
“Technically, she’s not one of my students,” Ezra tells him. “And, in my defense, I didn’t know she was a student when we met at the bar—”
“The bar?” Hale’s striking green eyes expand. “You’re the omega who punched an alpha?”
I can’t help grinning underneath the mask. “I guess I am.”
He appears impressed. “Look, I don’t know what Ezra promised you, but we can try to help you, however you need.” He buries his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry I haven’t had more time to get the place more comfortable.”
I survey the room through the mesh. It’s the complete opposite of the house I grew up in, where the furniture was art pieces and built for aesthetics over comfort. While there are still a few boxes piled up in the hall, it has a cozy feel with bookcases and large, worn sofas.
“You’re inside now.” Ezra taps on the mask. “You can take it off.”
I guess it’s now or never. Slowly, I remove the mask, before smoothing down my now-messy hair that’s tumbling down my back.
Hale does a double-take, blinking hard like he’s checking whether he’s still awake. “It’s you.”
“Wait!” Ezra looks between us, mouth agape. “You know each other?”
Hale’s gaze doesn’t leave mine, full of questions and concerns. “We’ve met.”
Ezra smirks. “I guess I’m not the only one with explaining to do.”
“Should you really be here?” Hale asks me. “What about your pack?”
“Her pack?” Ezra’s cockiness disappears as his jaw hardens. “She doesn’t have a pack.”
Both alphas look at me.
“I don’t know where to start,” I run a hand down my face.
“I knew something wasn’t right yesterday.” Hale blows out his cheeks then releases a loud exhale. “I shouldn’t have left you.”
“It’s not what you think. They’re…” Although I wanted to keep my true courting status a secret, my heat is creeping up on me, and they won’t help if they don’t know the truth. “They’re not my pack. Well, people think they are, but it’s not real. It’s all just for show.”
“Why would you need to pretend to have a pack?” A crease forms between Hale’s eyes, not at all detracting from how hot he is. “And why were you being photographed with them?”
Ezra tilts his head. “Photographed?”
“I shouldn’t have come here.” I spin, reaching for the door handle. “This was a stupid idea.”
“Hey.” Hale grabs my wrist. “You don’t have to go. We’ll stop with the questions, okay? You can tell us when you’re ready.”
This is another reason why I wish I were a beta. Being an omega comes with too much baggage, primarily my physical urges, which are at odds with who I am. How can I be a strong, independent woman when I melt at the brush of an alpha’s finger along my pulse point?
“Stay.” Hale looks at me pleadingly. “Please.”
“Do you want to sit down?” When Ezra gestures to their massive red sofa, my mind instantly begins to calculate whether there’s enough room for the three of us and what positions would be best, like some sex-crazed maniac. “Have a drink?”
“My heats are usually quick and intense.” I ignore his offer.
“Before it fully hits, we need to get things in order.” This isn’t my first rodeo.
I’ve used heat buddies before. Usually, I’d get everyone to sign a contract, but in this situation, a verbal agreement will have to suffice.
“I’m on birth control.” I go through my mental checklist. “No STIs. No pack. No strings. No anal.” Well, at least not straight away. “And my safe word is pineapple.”
Hale splutters. Is that a flush rising up his neck?
“I think you’ve covered everything pretty thoroughly.” Ezra nods. “You know, I’ve never seen an omega so controlled in early heat.”
Controlled? I’m starting to feel like a frog being boiled alive again, but I’m glad I’m hiding it well.
“And you definitely want this?” Hale grips the back of his neck, looking uncertain. “A stranger helping you through heat?”
“Well, Ezra isn’t exactly a stranger.” My nipples pebble, recalling our past rendezvous. “Right now, you’re all I’ve got. Unless you know any other alphas who could help me?”
My patience has limits.
“No!” Hale shows me his palms. “I’m happy to help you through this. It’s just…” He looks at his feet. “Usually, I’d get to know an omega before we… you know.”
“It’s too late for that.” I tap my foot. “Should we go somewhere more comfortable?”
“I’m sorry that we don’t have a nest.” Hale drags a hand over his short, dark brown hair that’s slightly longer on top. “We didn’t think we’d need one. We can go to my room, if you’d like? I got out extra blankets and pillows to make it extra cozy.”