Chapter 6
Cordelia
Panic.
That is the only thing I’m feeling. Sebastian is going into a rut? That means he needs an omega, right? The pain that rips through me is unwelcome, and I shove it back into a box I can’t reach and focus on the important information.
They are here to unmask me?
Oh. My. God.
I struggle to think of anything to say, but I can’t. Fox sets the cat down, but it just follows us until it sees a guy walking the other way, then it races after him. I should find out who he is and let him know his cat has been breaking and entering.
I can’t right now. It’s too much.
“Cordelia, can you run these down to the jetty for me?”
The question is a lifeline, and I seize it.
I turn with a forced smile for Mrs Natters.
She’s the head of safety for Sunshine Cove and does so much for the community.
With wispy salt and pepper blond hair and a thickening waistline, she is still incredibly spry for her advanced years.
She’s respectable and a pillar of the town, and she doesn’t need to know I’m falling apart.
Sebastian is going to need an omega.
I’m an omega.
It will not be me.
“Sure. I can do that.”
“Oh, bless you, child. You are a wonder.”
I take the bag.
Where is he?
“Don’t forget the meeting Friday,” she says as she leaves.
I hiss to myself because I had forgotten it, but it’s just an hour in the morning. It should be fine.
Fox is watching me; his messy brown hair is covering one eye. His gaze is not unkind; it’s just concerned.
“Is this normal?”
I walk towards the dock, and he follows, staying right on my heels.
“Is what normal?”
“Does everyone always ask for your help?”
“Well…” I think about it. “Yes.”
He doesn’t like that.
“Why?”
“Why?” I echo with an amused glance at him. There’s a dog following us, one I don’t recognise. His owner is running down the street, calling his name, but the pup is oblivious to everything except Fox.
“I’m responsible. There’s no one else, and I’m here.
” I say it like it should make all the sense in the world, but it doesn’t.
I go in again, trying to explain because that sounded dumb.
“Look, I have the time, and they need me…” I trail off because I don’t actually know how or why it started; it’s just a thing now. Do they need me? Really?
He’s going to call me on my bullshit, I can feel it
“Come on. Have you been down to the jetty yet?” I say to distract him.
He allows me to change the subject. “I have not.”
“Sofia’s pack mate, Devon Hart, runs a fishing charter out here. He can take you out if you want.”
“I’m happy with you,” Fox says succinctly.
My heart slams into my ribcage, and I stumble, but he just grips my upper arm, holding me up until I’m back on steady ground. I was not expecting him to say that or for it to hit that hard.
“Are you all right?” And the concern in his eyes is so real and compassionate that I want to throw myself at this alpha and just be hugged by him. Why am I reacting so strongly to him?
The wind shifts and his scent, subtle and mild, hits me.
Sage, lemon, and browned butter; my mouth waters.
I’ve been fighting to ignore it, but it is impossible.
It’s warm and makes my mouth water. My stomach clenches, and I have to fight every single cell in my body to stop from plastering myself to him and licking that scent into me.
“Yes, sorry, just tripped,” I mutter and put space between us. What is wrong with me? “So, tell me about this author.”
“Oh, you’re direct. I like that.”
I don’t want to care what he likes, but it’s hard because he’s adorable, and I feel like I could tell him anything. I feel like I want to tell him everything.
Except…who I am.
“Well, it’s the most interesting thing. Apparently, this author knows us or something because she wrote this book, an, ummm, romance book, and it just so happened to be my life with Katsu.
Even the names of the characters are similar.
So when it went semi-viral, we started getting people come up to us,” he pauses, and I catch a flicker of distress that ignites a streak of protectiveness in me that surprises me.
“It was weird and not right. And it just kept going. They found out where we lived and our numbers; they went to our families. These people were everywhere.”
I can’t blink, I can’t look away.
I don’t know them, I’ve never seen them before in my life. Distress tightens my chest, and I wring my fingers before I force myself to stop. I’d never heard of him. I literally made them up in my mind. How is this even happening?
“So, you think this author is using your life to make a living?” I ask carefully. The salty ocean air smacks us head on, and when I look, I see we’re getting close to the jetty, thankfully.
“Yes, and it can’t continue. Katsu is very important; he’s going to take over his father’s gaming empire.”
I blink and force myself to turn away, looking at the beach and grey skies. Is this really happening? The most perfect alphas ever, and they are here to destroy my career. It’s ironic.
“Did the author embarrass you or make you look bad?”
“Not at all. In fact, the books are very well written.”
Oh, lord.
“You’ve read them?” I squeak out.
“Of course. I like to tease Katsu. With the words, and, um…”
He trails off, and suddenly, I make the connection, my face burns.
I feel the sudden intense rush of arousal that is normally reserved only for Sebastian and I almost trip over again.
“Oh!” I clear my throat, keeping my eyes fixed on everything and anything but him.
“So, if you like them, and it seems you do, what’s the problem? ”
“The problem is that people are noticing us, and we can’t go out in public. We’re just asking for a name change or to have the books removed.”
I think of book three, which is almost finished and about to go to the editor. I can’t change their names, and I certainly am not well enough off to cancel the books completely.
“So, you’re going to find this author and ask nicely?” I probe, hoping he gives me a nice answer.
“Or settle a lawsuit on them.”
I freeze, my brain blistering into ice-cold panic. “A lawsuit?” I stutter.
“Yes, a cease and desist. But first, we have to find them, but don’t worry, we will.”
“So, you’re telling me that if you can’t find this author, you can’t-”
“Slap them with an order? No, even our private investigator failed to come up with information. This author is a complete ghost. But we will find them.”
I blow out my cheeks; apparently, there are small mercies left in the world. “Well, that’s just…horrible,” I murmur, but my brain is whirring. It would be a terrible thing to do to them, but if they can’t find me, they can’t stop me.
I walk out onto the jetty and find Mack and Devon standing on Devon’s boat talking.
Devon has been a fixture in my life forever.
He’s virtually like a brother and is Sebastian’s best friend.
Mack grew up in town but went away when his parents died and came back as soon as he was old enough, searching for Sofia. It’s very romantic.
“Devon, Mack.”
They look up and hop off the boat, their smiles getting just a little wary when they see Fox.
“Hey, I’m Fox, and I’m Cordie’s match for the Light Knot Night event.”
He is charming and somewhat innocent. I’m not sure what it is, but as soon as he starts talking, whatever threat people perceive him having vanishes. He really is unlike any alpha I have ever met, and we get a fair few come through Sunshine Cove.
“Nice to meet you, Fox.”
I hand over the bag that Yolanda gave me. Devon’s eyes light up.
“The new flares and life jackets are in,” he purrs happily.
That explains the awkward size of it, and who gets that excited over life jackets, anyway? What is that about? I’ll have to ask Sofia why life jackets rev Devon’s engines.
“Have you got that book for Gwen?” I ask, distractedly. I’m trying really hard not to stare at Fox. He’s making it really hard.
Devon blinks owlishly, and I wonder if he’s ever picked up a book; he’s such an outdoorsy kind of guy.
Mack pulls it out and hands it to me. “You sure you don’t mind running it back?”
“Not at all, I have to go over for the swim lessons.”
I can feel Fox’s eyes staring at the side of my head, but I ignore him until I look down to see what Gwen is anxious to read.
I choke.
“Oh, would you look at that, it’s the new Lynn Marino novel,” Fox says with a curious lack of enthusiasm.
“Did you read this, Mack?” I ask, trying not to die.
“Oh, yeah. Sofia brought me a copy home last night. It was great. Romance, love, the banter. It was the most adorable thing.”
I half turn away, caught between a gag and a choking, hysterical giggle. No, please don’t tell me my book inspired- no, I can’t even think the thought. Kill it, kill it quickly.
Mack trails off, looking at Fox with wide eyes.
“Are you Wolf?”
Fox grumbles.
I snap my head around, staring at Mack, my mouth open wide, shocked. What. The. Hell?
I look back at Fox and try to be objective. I mean, sure, I’ve somehow managed to get his description bang on, but there has to be something different about him.
That’s it. I’ll find the differences and help these alphas understand that they have nothing in common other than surface things with my characters.
“I’m not Wolf. We’re here to find out how the author has gotten our descriptions so accurate, though.”
“What?” Mack almost shouts. “You’re kidding me. Here? In Sunshine Cove?”
“The author lives in this town, yes. We’re here to find them.”
Mack’s eyes get huge. “You want to find the person behind the pen name? What if it’s little old Aubergine Samuel?”
Fox blinks. “Who?”
“She’s ninety-eight years old. It’s not her; she can’t even use a remote. Don’t be ridiculous, Mack,” I snarl at him.
“It could be anyone,” Mack muses. Then his expression turns serious. “What are you going to do to them?”
“Ask them politely to stop.”