Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Kiara
At first, I don’t realize what’s happening.
I’m so excited to be introducing Crew to Mason, to show off the omega I love.
All it takes is Mason’s growled “mine” for it to hit me square in the chest, my stomach instantly dropping.
The one thing I’ve been dreading most in the world is happening right before my eyes.
Mason is Crew’s scent-matched alpha.
They’ve been fated by the universe to be together, and it feels like another great cosmic joke at my expense.
Mason gets to know Crew’s scent before me.
As much as I’d love to say I stay strong, I can already feel myself crumbling as tears fill my eyes.
“Oh,” I squeak as I step away from them, eyes drifting between them and confirming what I already know is happening.
All I can think about is getting the hell out of here as I take another step toward Ruby, feeling like my heart is being ripped out of my chest.
“Little K!”
My head whips around to find Alexander and Davis hurrying down the steps, both grinning as their eyes zero in on me.
As happy as I am to see them, I know this is just going to get worse. If Mason is Crew’s scent match, then the two of them probably are too.
Davis’s smile falls from his face as his eyes narrow on me, worry filling his features. “What’s wrong, Kiara?”
I can’t answer him—the words stuck in my throat as I wait for the inevitable to happen—for them to scent Crew and realize what he is to them.
When I don’t answer him, Davis runs a hand through his chin-length dirty blond hair before hurrying over to me.
He pulls me to him, hugging me close and scent-marking me as he bends down to rub his bearded cheek against mine.
Then, he tilts my head back with a finger on my chin, his dark blue eyes searching mine.
He’s so much bigger than I am, even if he’s smaller than Mason and Alexander. As a beta, his build is closer to Crew’s than his alpha mates.
Yes, mates. They’ve never hidden what they are to one another. Best friends and lovers since we were teens.
“What did Mason do this time?”
I shake my head, leaning over so I can see around him as Alexander approaches us more cautiously, his eyes flicking from me to Mason. “Mason? What did you do to upset my kitten?”
I wince at the use of the nickname he’s used for me since we were teens. The one that I both love and despise, because at one point I thought it meant he was interested in being more than friends with me. Since then, he’s proven otherwise, but I still crave to hear it on his lips.
Sucking in a deep breath, I allow myself a moment to take him in.
The frosted tips he sports in his brown hair are new, the lighter brown looking good on his perfectly styled hair.
His beard is thicker than it was the last time I saw him, but it looks damn good on him.
He’s also sporting a new bar in his eyebrow, a ring in lip, and at least two new piercings in his ears.
How does that make him even hotter?
It’s not fair that all three of them look as good as they do—especially since I know any chance I have with them is being washed down the drain.
Mason’s alpha still seems to be in control as he lets out a warning growl, causing both Alexander and Davis to still.
I bite my bottom lip, watching them as I wait for them to scent Crew, confirming what I already knew—they’re his scent matches too.
The change is instantaneous.
Alexander’s brown eyes widen as he steps toward Crew, his shoulders bunching as his growl joins Mason’s. I can only imagine their scents thickening since I’m not their scent match.
I’m no one’s scent match.
My eyes fall shut when Davis’s arms fall away from me, not wanting to see him leave me too.
I can’t believe this is happening right now.
“Mine,” Alexander hisses, and the first tears spill over my cheeks.
“No. Fuck,” Davis murmurs before his hands find my cheeks, attempting to wipe away the tears I can no longer hold back. “Don’t cry, little K.”
Blinking my eyes open, my eyes meet his. There’s a pained look on his face as he stares down at me before they flicker toward Crew and his alphas.
“It’s fine,” I tell him, taking a step back. “I’m happy for the four of you. You all deserve to have a scent-matched pack.”
Stepping out of his hold is harder than I’d like to admit. Of the four of them, he’s the only one who managed to shake off his instincts enough to check on me. While that means something to me, I know it’s nothing against the need to be with your scent match.
It’s hard to believe that just fifteen minutes ago, I was excited to be home in Champagne Falls. Happy to show Crew the town I fell in love with after I was forced to leave him.
The town we planned to make our home.
Now, all I can do is wish we’d never come here.
What a difference just a few minutes can make.
How quickly my world can fall apart.
“Kiara…” Davis trails off, his eyes meeting mine for a moment before darting away again, and I shake my head.
“That’s Crew. You’ve heard all about him. He’s the best omega, so of course he’s meant to be yours.” I force a smile as I step back.
Ruby’s hand closes around my wrist, yanking me back to her as her pack rounds the truck, arms stacked with boxes.
They quickly pick up on the tension in the air as Adrian’s eyes find Ruby. “Uhh… What’s going on?”
“Crew is scent-matched to Mason’s pack,” I tell them cheerfully as two sets of arms surround me—Ruby’s and Allison’s warmth washing over me as I relax back into their hold. “Isn’t it great?”
For a moment, no one speaks, and all I want to do is run away.
“Well, ummm…” Tyson stutters out. “Congrats?”
As he takes a step forward, Alexander and Mason let out matching growls, and the beta freezes.
Christopher, having had enough of the bullshit, sets his boxes down before placing his fingers in his mouth and lets out a sharp whistle that has everyone’s heads snapping toward him.
“Good. Now that I have your attention, knock it the fuck off. Yes, you’ve found your scent-matched omega, but you will stop growling at my pack mate right now. ”
I can feel the power behind his alpha bark even if it isn’t aimed at me, but it seems to do its job as Mason and Alexander shake their heads, the tension leaving their bodies.
“Can we get out of here?” I turn my head to face Ruby as I ask my question, and I hate the pity I see in her eyes. “I need to get out of here.”
It’s not Ruby who answers but Allison. “I’m sure we can make that happen, Kiara, but are you sure that’s what you want?”
Of course, it’s not what I want. What I want is to go back to thirty minutes ago when Crew was mine, but since that’s not an option, leaving is the only other option.
“Yes.”
Allison nods, stepping away from me and drawing everyone’s attention back to us.
I flinch against the sudden onslaught of attention, making me even more sure that fleeing is my only option.