Chapter 10
Zira
For the rest of the week, I spend every day at Barnes’s house with him and his pack, growing quickly addicted to their company. The weekend comes and goes far too quickly, visiting Mom and teaching little girlypops to flip and tumble before I spent it cooking, playing more games that Alek loses, and quickly realizing that these men aren’t the rich snobs who throw their money around without a care in the world that I might have briefly thought they were. It didn’t even take a week for me to see it clearly.
Though the house they live in is beautiful and spacious, it’s nothing like the house Alek showed me that, apparently, belongs to Silver and her pack. Where her house looks more contemporary and minimalistic, the guy’s house is full of life and comfort. They’ve made the space their own, and I love seeing all the ways they’ve added their own characters to each room.
I’ve also seen how hard they work over the week, Barnes and Laz spending a great deal of time on the phone or at their computers when they’re not entertaining me, while Alek spends a great chunk of his time on his tablet working on the newest project he’s working on; a beautiful home for a pack with two omegas. The twins are just as busy with their phone conferences, building an empire with tech stores all the way in Japan. It’s evident that the money they have has been well earned, invested, and spent modestly. What massive chunks they do spend is often done for charity or helpless omegas whose insurance wouldn’t cover her mom’s surgeries and aftercare.
And that’s not even the best part. Where money would change even the best people, these guys are the most down to earth, humble, and full of life men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Their vibrancy for life and living is as infectious as their smiles, and I’ve found myself growing more and more obsessively addicted to each and every one. With their different personalities that mesh so well as a group, it’s hard not to acknowledge that I could see myself falling for them all with very little effort.
I’m lost to my daydreams, thinking about the past week and the men that have started occupying every one of my thoughts, when I’m suddenly assaulted by the harsh stench of burning rubber and spilled gasoline. Damn it. I almost made it to lunch without an uncomfortable visit.
Pasting a smile on, I lift my head from the documents on my desk and greet the biology professor before he reaches my desk. “Professor Johnson. How are you? I hope your first week went well.”
Hunter flashes a smile, seemingly pleased that I spotted him this time, and he leans against my desk a little too close of my liking, forcing me to subtly sit back in my seat. “It’s been enlightening, to say the least. You were right. I think I’m going to love it here.”
I nod, feeling awkward and uncomfortable around the man, having built very little tolerance for him despite the number of times he visited my desk last week. Some might say it was excessive. It’s me. I would say it was excessive. And the man somehow always times it perfectly enough that Barnes always misses his visit, though he did catch the lingering scent of the strange alpha on the Friday just gone.
“I’m glad to hear it,” I respond politely, wrapping my hands around my bare knee, instantly regretting the move when Hunter’s eyes fall to where my flowy skirt has ridden up a fraction. Clearing my throat and drawing his attention away, those sharp eyes coming back to mine, I ask, “Is there anything I can do for you today? I don’t think the book I’ve ordered for you will be in until the end of the week, but I’m happy to email you when it’s arrived.”
“Oh, no, that’s fine. I was just hoping for a chat with someone familiar,” he assures, waving his hand as though to dismiss my attempt to discuss the book he’s checked on three times the past week.
Plastering on a faux sympathetic look on my face, still feeling all kinds of weird vibes from the man, I ask, “Is there anything particular you wanted to talk about? I’m about to head to lunch, so I can’t stay long.”
“No matter. I’ll join you. I forgot to pack a bag this morning,” he laughs, rolling his eyes as though he thinks himself ditzy, the smile he tries to play off as charming coming across as smarmy and icky instead.
If I didn’t want to have him near me before, I certainly don’t now, especially when his eyes drop back to my knees when I stand. I need an excuse, and I need one fast, before I’m forced to have lunch with the man I’d rather be friendly to from a distance. A far, far distance.
Thinking on my feet, I smile apologetically and blurt, “I’m sorry. I’m having dinner with…my alpha.”
I’m absolutely kicking myself when the words slip free, because I wasn't having lunch with anyone but myself. I was going to go to Gabby’s to read for an hour while I ate, knowing Barnes is busy grading his students' artwork between classes today. I can’t very well do that without company now, can I?
There’s no way I’m inviting Hunter to join me, so I do the next best thing. I lie through my teeth and pray that one of the guys will come to my rescue.
“Your—uh, your pack?” Hunter questions, the smile vanishing from his face so quickly that it sends a chill through my body. A mask falls over his face, turning his expression intense and a little worrying, and I have to actively fight to keep the friendly smile on my face when all I really want to do is beeline it straight out of the room and far away from this man. “I wasn’t aware you had a pack. You smell like an unbonded omega, so I assumed you were available.”
Oh my fucking god.
My eyes widen a fraction at the blunt and inappropriate comment, knowing he’s been scenting me when he’s been near, and I choke on the forced giggle that I offer to cover up the fact that I’ve gone from wildly uncomfortable to excruciatingly intolerable to the man’s presence. Picking up my purse and slinging it over my shoulder, I reach for my cell and wiggle it, forcing the words from my voice box to say, “We’re not bonded yet. We’re still in the courting stage, but they’re very much my pack and I’m happily their omega. In fact, you’ll have to excuse me for a moment. I just need to check my alpha hasn’t forgotten he’s meeting me for lunch. Sometimes he’s so busy with work and such that time runs away from him.”
Without waiting for an answer, I unlock my phone and press the first name that appears in my contacts. I’m dialing Alek not a second later, pressing my cell to my ear and offering a flash of a smile to appease the man now watching me like a hawk.
Prickles of unease stab at my nerves, and I damn near sigh with relief when Alek answers, “Little lady, to what do I owe this very fine honor? Are you already missing my spectacular personality?”
The words are flowing from me before I can think of what I’m saying, the need to get away from Hunter driving them from my lips. “Hey, baby. I’m on my way to you now. Are we still meeting at Gabby’s?”
Silence answers me for a long moment before Alek’s voice trickles into my ear. “Baby? Hell, I love it, but that’s bold for you, little lady. I don’t recall making plans to meet at Gabby’s today, though.”
I force a laugh, begging Alek to catch on without me blatantly telling him I need his help, praying for a damned miracle as I say, “You forgot, huh? Nose stuck in the blueprints? That’s okay, babe. I can eat lunch alone.”
I’m met with silence once more, and I pull a goofy face at Hunter, playing the part. He doesn’t smile back, simply stares with that same intensity that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
“Okay, what’s going on? Did the twins put you up to this?” Alek asks, suspicion in his voice now. It would be funny if I didn’t desperately need him to pick up what I’m putting down.
“That’s okay. I know how busy you are,” I respond.
“What? That… doesn’t make sense. Zira, are you okay? Did you call the right number?” Alek questions, sounding genuinely confused. “I hope that’s not the case, because I don’t want to know who the hell you’re calling baby if it’s not me or one of my packmates.”
I actually melt, and a real smile blooms across my face at that, even though it’s absolutely not the time or place. Instead, I lightly chuckle before I say, “I can just meet you at Gabby’s, it’s fine.”
I’m sure I’m confusing him more, but when he pauses this time, I begin walking to the exit, Hunter falling in step with me. I could actually sob like the biggest baby when Alek finally says, “Zira, is someone there with you listening?”
“Yeah,” I laugh, fixing a grin in place. “Yeah, that’s okay. I’ll wait for you here.”
“Do you need me to come save you, little lady?” he asks, his tone serious now, and I could kiss the man the second I see him. Hell, I just might, because he’s caught on. He’s actually caught on.
“Mhm. That works for me, baby. I’ll wait just outside the library for you,” I breathe, thanking whatever deity is looking down at me for sending me Alek, moreso when I look over at Hunter and catch the flicker of fury cross his face before he wipes it away just as quickly as it appeared.
“I’ll be five minutes. Keep your phone on you, babe. I’m coming for you,” Alek promises, and I could sag into a puddle of relief right where I stand.
“Sounds good. See you soon. Yeah, bye, baby,” I say into the phone before pulling it away and offering Hunter another apologetic smile that feels as false as Mr. Pinkton from my apartment building’s teeth. “He’s five minutes away. Don’t feel like you have to wait with me. You’re missing out on your break.”
Hunter’s jaw clenches before he takes a deep breath and his entire demeanor changes once more. Back is the try hard, nerdy charmer, and he flashes a bright, white-toothed grin and shrugs his shoulders, tucking his hands into his pockets as he continues to walk with me. “I don’t mind waiting. A woman, especially an omega, shouldn’t be left alone.”
It’s not so much the words he uses that makes me shiver, but it’s the way he says them. If I look too deep into it, it’s almost like he’s speaking from experience when he says it, and if my freshly awoken dislike for the man hadn’t started growing before, it’s fully bloomed now.
So, in absolute silence, having no desire to strike up more conversation with the man that officially gives me the heebie-jeebies, we walk towards the door to the library and towards the blissful outdoors. Hunter doesn’t strike up more conversation, and I do my best to keep a respectable distance between us both as we walk, wanting to stay well enough away without tipping him off that I’m actively trying to get away from him and his cloying scent that’s started giving me a headache.
Just as I exit through the doors, the bright daylight sun beaming down on me in an instant, I decide to make this situation less uncomfortably awkward and ask, “So, how are you settling into your classes?”
Hunter frowns before his face smoothes out once more, and he shoots me that smarmy smile again. I’m sure it would charm someone else, what with his dimpled chin, mussed hair, and meticulously primped clothing, but it does nothing for me. Less than nothing, in fact. I’m sure if one of the guys were to check, they’d smell the stress in my scent.
“I’ve settled rather quickly. The students are quick studies, and our coworkers have all been very helpful and welcoming,” he answers, trying to sound timid and adorably awkward.
Those sharp eyes give him away, though, and I look away as I reply. “This school has some of the friendliest people to work with.”
“The friendliest,” he agrees, and I can feel his stare burning a hole in my head.
Alek, where are you?
“Have you worked here long?” he wonders, hands tucked back in his pockets. Where that motion would have me internally melting if it were Barnes, I find myself reacting oppositely to Hunter. Tucking his hands away from sight makes me nervous, and I scratch the back of my neck before answering, “Oh, a few months now.”
Hunter hums and nods. “And your pack? Did you belong to them before North Five?”
‘Belong?’ What the fuck does he think I am? A prized pony?
Just as I open my mouth to answer, I hear the most perfect sound in all of planet Earth. “Little lady.”
My head snaps up and I see Alek rushing over, his long legs eating the distance between us. He’s dressed smartly today, likely having come straight from his office, his body encased in a gray shirt he has rolled to his elbows and black slacks that hug his thick thighs in ways that has my mouth watering. With his hair in a man bun today, a few strands of pale blond falling around his face, he looks like a Viking prodigy stepped into the modern world. He’s beautiful, breathtakingly so, and a genuine, honest smile breaks out over my face at the mere sight of him
“Hi, baby,” I breathe, the term of endearment slipping free without me needing to force it.
Alek breaks out into a bright grin, and I can’t be sure if he’s playing the part I need him to play or if he’s genuinely happy about the little nickname, but it doesn’t matter because he’s here. He’s right here, coming to my rescue, and I could kiss every inch of his stupidly gorgeous face for it.
It takes very little time for him to reach my side, and I’m wrapped in his arms and tugged to his body in a matter of seconds, my hands coming up just in time to prevent me crashing face-first into his chest.
“There’s my gorgeous little omega. Are you ready to eat?” he purrs, not the chest rattling kind, but no less pussy-flutter-inducing. Godsdamned.
Shivering against him, I flash a cheeky smile, forgetting we have company before flirtatiously teasing, “I don’t know, are you?”
Alek’s grin turns dangerously sexy as he leans in and loudly quips, “Depends on what’s on the menu.”
A hot flush floods my system at the suggestive way the words roll off his tongue, and I just know I’m beaming all shades of pink and red as I blush from head to toe, swallowing hard as I try to cap my leaking perfume. Thankfully, we’re outside, the fresh air around us stealing most of it, but the cheeky gleam in Alek’s eyes tells me without words that he can smell it.
Fucking hell.
A throat clearing startles me, and I flinch against Alek before remembering the man I was trying to get away from. Plastering the fake veneer of friendliness, I blurt, “I’m so sorry. Alek, this is Hunter. He started a week ago as the new biology professor. Hunter, this is my alpha, Alek Gage.”
I feel Alek’s hands tighten around my waist at my words, and a low, slow starting rumble bubbles in his chest as he leans in to press a kiss to the top of my head before pulling back and clearing his throat of the purr I was enjoying. “Hunter. Nice to meet you. Thank you for keeping my little lady company while she waited for me. I can take her off your hands now.”
I catch the biology professor’s jaw clench as he nods, trying and failing to paste a smile on his face as his sharp eyes dart down to where Alek is touching me. “Of course. It’s no trouble at all. I’ll leave you to your lunch date. Miss Favero, I’ll see you again.”
His words almost sound like a threat, but I offer him a polite smile before watching him bow his head and leave without once looking back, his shoulders tense and rigid. As soon as he rounds the corner, I turn into Alek and shove my face into his chest. “Oh, thank the gods they sent me you.”
Alek doesn’t laugh, his hand releasing my waist to rub up and down my back before he cups the back of my neck, rubbing his thumb over the skin behind my ear. “So, who’s the creepy dork?”
Pausing with my face still buried between Alek’s pectorals, uncaring that it’s forward or weird or whatever the hell else it could be while I absorb the comfort he’s offering, I frown with a bemused smile. It almost sounds like there’s a sprinkle of… jealousy in his words?
Pulling my head back, I peer up at the mountain of a man and explain, “Hunter Gary Johnson the third. Or second. I can’t remember. He appeared last week, and I’ve suffered several visits from him over the week. Today he asked me to lunch, and I’d rather dive headfirst into a pool of sharks than spend more time with him than necessary. The guy gives me seriously bad vibes.”
“Same here, little lady,” Alek agrees, nodding as he looks in the direction Hunter disappeared to before peering back down at me with a serious expression, the jealousy lingering for a moment as he says, “But I’ve got you, so you don’t need to worry.”
“My savior,” I sigh, a relieved smile pulling at my lips.
Alek smiles back before tugging me gently into a long hug that soothes my frayed nerves and rids my body of the lingering stress Hunter inflicted with his presence alone. As my body relaxes against him, a steady purr bubble from his chest, vibrating against my cheek, and the remaining edgy emotions I’ve been left with disappear into the ether.
“There she is. Sweet and sugary, just like I like you,” Alek rumbles, his voice deeper with my head pressed against his beefy chest. “Feel better?”
“Much. Thank you for coming so quickly,” I huff a laugh, reluctantly pulling away and stepping back from the tree of an alpha.
“No need to thank me. I’m just glad I was at the office today and not on site, or else it would have taken longer to get to you,” he teases, at ease now that I am.
Flashing him a smile, I mutter, “Well, I appreciate it all the same. I’m sorry for pulling you away from work, though. You don’t have to stay and actually have lunch with me.”
“And miss spending one-on-one time with my omega? Now what kind of alpha would that make me?” he jokes, winking and drawing out a loud laugh from me. Damn, that feels good. It’s like the nervousness and uncomfortable awkwardness washes away with every word he speaks, and I can’t help but tease him back. “Then how about you treat me to a croissant from Gabby’s? I expect my alpha to keep his omega happy with all the carbs I can eat.”
Flashing me a promising grin, Alek reaches for my hand and links our fingers together as he says, “What the little lady wants, the little lady gets. Let’s go feed you and you can tell me all about McCreeperson and why you needed me to come save you.”
“I’m good with that,” I agree, squeezing my hand around his and allowing him to lead me to the diner feeling much lighter than I left the library feeling.