13. Luca #2
She looks over the other cushions and blankets we gathered, nodding in approval before arranging them on her bed along with a bright, lime-green shirt of Adler’s, a navy one of Orin’s, and a soft blue one from me.
“So you’re a fan of bright colors?” I infer.
My mom is an omega, and she’s always preferred pastel shades. She’d lose her mind if she saw the lurid orange jersey that Sabs is now positioning proudly in the center of the bed.
“The brighter the better,” Sabs replies gleefully.
“I love everything that sparkles and glitters; they’ve always felt so magical to me.
I loved unicorns when I was little, so maybe it comes from that?
Although I went off unicorns when I learned that my brother has one tattooed on his junk.
” She shudders. “He ruined them for me forever. The asshole.”
I splutter. “He has a unicorn on his—”
“Apparently.” Sabs screws up her nose. “That sums Laz up. He’s impulsive and doesn’t take life too seriously.
Well, until lately…” She smooths out a blanket, her expression softening.
“He’s actually bonded to Faye, one of my best friends, now.
She’s brought out a more serious side to him.
” She nibbles on her lip, fiddling with a tassel.
“I told Faye not to tell him about me and Adler, but he’ll find out eventually. ”
“How do you think he’ll react?” I point at a floor lamp. “Do you want me to move that?”
“Just a few inches to the right,” she responds then sighs.
“Honestly? I don’t know how he’ll take the news.
When I had a heat spike at my high school graduation, his pack went nuclear on some of the alphas who got a little too close for comfort.
But Laz is the most chilled of my brothers.
Although he, Beckett, and Forest—my other brothers—are protective, my parents…
” She settles down on the mattress, hugging the flamingo for comfort.
“They always hoped I’d find a scent match and be courted properly.
” Her voice cracks, letting me see a more vulnerable side to her. “I’ve let them down.”
I gesture at a spot on the soft blanket next to her. “May I?”
She nods, sniffling.
“I know you don’t know Adler very well yet, but he’s an amazing guy underneath all the ego.
” I scoot up beside her. “I’ve never seen him act the way he does with you with anyone else.
And Adler’s one of the most disciplined people I’ve ever met.
For him to lose control enough to bite you…
it makes me wonder if your connection is extra special. ”
She blinks, swiftly wiping her eyes. “You think we’re scent matches?”
“I think it’s possible.”
“The sex was pretty fucking incredible, and his scent alone made me want to come.” Her eyes round before clapping her hand over her mouth. “Sorry. My friends say I have no filter sometimes.”
“I like that,” I laugh. “With you, we’ll always know where we stand.” The air seems to fizzle with electricity, the smell of her perfume blooming in the air as our eyes meet. “And your scent is—”
“Having an effect on you, too?” She arches a red brow.
I avert my gaze, not wanting to come on too strong. “Yeah.”
She chuckles, putting her palm to her chest, taking me by surprise. “Thank fuck you said that.” She breathes a sigh of relief. “I wasn’t sure if my omega senses had gone crazy since bonding because you smell so good, like taking a walk in the forest.”
“Is that a good thing?” I dare to ask, madly hoping that it is.
“It makes me feel…” She inhales me deeply, a shiver of longing spiraling down my spine to know she’s scenting me. “Safe.”
Cautiously, I reach for her hand. As soon as we touch, mini fireworks explode through my synapses. Until now, my entire life has been an incomplete puzzle, and now the last piece has slotted right into place. Like her hands were made to fit perfectly in mine.
Her eyes widen, looking up at me through her fair eyelashes. “Do you feel that?”
“Yes,” I croak.
“You really think we could be…?” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Scent matches?”
Time seems to slow.
“I don’t think.” There’s no doubt in my mind now after touching her. “I know. You’re my scent match, Sabs. And if you’re mine, then you’re Adler’s and Orin’s too.”
“Wow.” She exhales loudly. “That’s a… lot.”
“Sorry,” I reply, kicking myself for saying exactly what was on my mind. “That was too much. I shouldn’t have said anything. At least not so soon.”
“No, it’s not that.” She squeezes my hand in reassurance. “I just… I’ve never really been good at relationships. Casual fun? Hell yeah. But scent matches? I don’t know where to start with that.”
“How about slowly?” I stroke the back of her hand. “One day at a time?”
Her eyes dart around the room for a second, then she nods. “I think I can do that.”
Suddenly, a loud bang from the next room sounds, like a heavy object was thrown.
Sabs drops her hold on me, the absence of her warmth making my fingers feel like they have been plunged into an ice bath.
As she looks at the wall, her expression transforms from hopeful optimism to something pessimistic, filled with doom.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I follow her gaze. “I know pain when I see it.”
“How is he? Drax?” Her scent turns tart, coating the back of my throat. “When you and he were helping get the nest together, did he say anything to you?”
“He didn’t say much, but he seems to be struggling.”
“It’s my fault.” Her shoulders hunch. “I never wanted to hurt him. I… I just… We couldn’t…”
“You two have a history?”
“Something like that,” she mumbles. “I know that Orin thinks having him around is a good idea, but I don’t want to cause him any more pain. He deserves to be happy.”
They both obviously care about each other. I can’t help wondering why they weren’t courting, but I’m not going to pry and risk making her upset again.
“Drax knows how bonding works.” I playfully bump shoulders with her. “He made the decision to stay. That’s not on you.”
“I suppose.” She snuggles into the flamingo then straightens up, her posture shifting as she changes the subject. “I’m guessing you’re the nice one in the pack. There’s Adler—the cocky jock—and Orin—the brooding boss. What’s your story?”
“What do you want to know? You can ask me anything.”
“You seem an unlikely pack, that’s all,” She twirls a strand of hair around her finger. “How did you meet?”
“We all love hockey.” My smile is strained.
I hope she can’t tell that it’s stretching my cheeks unnaturally.
“The game brought us all together, but Adler is the only one who has the chance to go pro. We grew up in the same town. Orin was our mentor, teaching us all he knew, until he joined the military. When he left the service, we all reconnected.” She hangs on my every word.
“After that, we formed a pack. Orin helped Adler and me train again, then we both got into the SVU Foxes, and Orin got a job here.”