Chapter 6
Strawberry shortcake. It was all Zayden could smell and all he could think about. In this moment, he felt as if he were standing in the middle of a strawberry field in summer, the sun warming his face, his feet curled into the freshly watered soil.
Juliana never smelled like this.
Do you have to remind me?
The strawberry field faded away, and with it came the scent of spoil and scorch. Her scent was burning.
Zayden’s fists tightened. He had been trying to go into her room for the past ten minutes, but he didn’t know how to knock on the door, or step inside, or even worse, how to take care of her. It had been a long time since Zayden took care of anyone, even himself.
What if I hurt her or make her cry?
We can’t. We won’t.
His ears twitched. Other scents in the room were burning. A faint, earthy aroma and a spiced chili and tequila scent that would make his alpha growl on a typical day, but nothing about this day or those scents were typical.
The voice belonging to the spiced chili and tequila scent held excitement. “I can’t believe this! You, fated to the Obsidian Alphas! This is like—”
“A nightmare,” another voice cut in. “Haven’t you heard the rumors circulating about them? I know we’re fans, but this has changed everything. There’s a difference between going to their concert and having my little sister fated to them. She deserves better.”
Better?
Those rumors, his mistakes… How could Zayden burden his mate with everything he did and has been shamed for publicly?
Her sister was right. Jude wanted a happily ever after, but this wasn’t a fairytale.
Their band was on the verge of splitting up, and their pack was on the brink of a legal divorce, an official process necessary to complete when an alpha pack decides no longer to stay in a legitimate pack.
They promised each other they would try for a year, and that year mark was coming up in two months.
The universe was putting an omega in the middle of their mess for amusement, not for happiness.
Sorry, Jude, but she does deserve better, and we aren’t it.
Why not?
You know why.
Zayden’s hand flexed, and the same pressure pain weighed down between his eyes and on the bridge of his nose.
He went to rub his face but forgot he was holding on to Jude’s sweatshirt.
The optimistic bastard was the only one who was excited for this moment.
He had a shit-eating grin, and if Zayden hadn’t stopped him, he’d probably already be in with their omega begging her to bite him and seal the bond.
Zayden wished he had his younger packmate’s hope.
Only 23, and yet Jude held more optimism for their future than Zayden, the lead alpha, did.
Hope.
She was right there. Their fated mate.
Alphas and omegas found each other through scent, but this was different. This wasn’t just compatibility or the possibility of a forever. This is it. The real deal. The universe had selected each of them purposefully and specifically for each other, and their bodies, souls, and instincts knew.
She’s right there.
And her scent is still burning.
Zayden squeezed Jude’s sweatshirt.
Maybe, just maybe, there was enough time for Zayden to fix this. She was meant for them, after all. They just needed to be ready to accept her.
Zayden raised his hand, ready to knock, but it flung open, and a tall, blond chick with a blue streak in her hair slammed into him.
She hardly stumbled, quickly collecting herself.
When her eyes registered on him, they hardened like two sharp knives ready to cut him open and sell every part of him on the black market.
She has the earthy, aromatic scent.
“You!” She growled. Like, growled. Did betas normally do that? Was she a beta? Her scent made it all confusing. “Do you have any idea what your manager has done, huh? He shoved my sister into this closet. Do you think an omega in a heat spike needs a closet? NO!”
Zayden flinched.
Woah. That’s one pissed off she-wolf.
No kidding.
She continued her rant, and from behind her, he caught the eyes of an omega whose scent did not belong to his mate.
The spiced chili and tequila was coming from her, with dark hair and a red streak.
She was smirking, enjoying the scene her friend was causing, but then he caught the smallest movement of pink hair.
“Hey, look at me, dammit!”
“Is the girl okay?”
The girl? His alpha barked. You’ve really fucked up now.
His shoulders sagged into a humiliating cower as the sister went berserk.
“The girl? The? GIRL? Unbelievable! Maybe all those rumors from those tabloids are correct! You and your boy band are nothing more than a bunch of barbarians. I’m more than certain now that Sonnet deserves much better than you. ”
“Sonnet?” The corner of his lips twitched.
Sonnet. I like it.
I love it.
A deep purr rumbled in the center of his chest; a primal sound meant to comfort an alphas omega. He wanted to step inside and use it near her. Would the sound calm her enough to make her scent bloom into something sweet like before?
“Shit. It’s true, isn’t it?” The sister’s body retracted, becoming less tense and defensive. “You’re fated mates.”
“I don’t know,” he answered quickly.
“Well, you’re about to. I’m taking my sister to an omega clinic to have her checked out. They can run the matching test there.”
“The matching test?” She shoved past him, barking at some assistants to get some water. Zayden cleared his throat and followed her, ignoring his alpha as he berated him for following the sister instead of his mate. “She wants the test done? I was worried it would be insensitive.”
“She deserves to know for certain.” She snatched a water bottle from their mini travel fridge and whipped around.
Zayden straightened up immediately. “You don’t know my sister.
You don’t understand her. I do. It’s my job to protect her, and knowing without a doubt this is real will put her at ease. She needs certainty. We all do.”
Are we sure she’s not an Alpha?
She might as well be.
He pinched the bridge of his nose before chasing after her. “My pack will meet you at the clinic.”
“What?”
“I need to make sure she’s okay. We all do.”
He watched her closely, the tick of her jaw, the tension and release of her shoulders, and finally, the sharp exhale.
“I’ll tell your manager which clinic we decide on.
Her health will need to be checked before the test is done.
You may have to wait for the results, and I will not pressure her to see any of you. ”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “Deal.”
She looked Zayden up and down, sizing him up, but then he saw it. A flicker of pride. “My sister deserves the best. I hope you can live up to the expectations.”
I like her. His alpha declared as she disappeared into the room with her sister. I’d like to see her in a room with Kai.
I doubt Kai would survive.
It’s good knowing our mate has someone like her in her corner.
I hope we can do the same. I hope Sonnet wants us in her corner forever.