CHAPTER TWELVE
“W hat the fuck, Arch?!” The words are out of my mouth as soon as I spot Archie among the pack that I’m supposed to meet. I may have brushed it off as a simple coincidence, if Brennan hadn’t just told me they planned on meeting me outside —and they’re the only ones standing here.
“CJ, I can explain,” Archie says slowly, holding his hands up as he approaches me, the rest of the pack having the good sense to stay back. I can’t even look at the rest of them right now. Archie is bad enough with his gorgeous face and blue polo.
I back up, running into Brennan’s chest. “Are you okay, Miss Cady? Do you know them?”
“I work with the beta,” I say quietly.
“Are they a threat?” Despite the anger I feel towards Archie right now, I can’t say that I find them to be dangerous.
Next to Archie is a tall, golden-tanned man with dark brown hair and deep green eyes, standing at least at 6’5”. Based on the protective hand that’s placed on the beta’s shoulder, I’d assume this alpha is his alpha, Matteo.
His green button down brings out his eyes, and his gray slacks are obviously tailored, not to mention the way his sleeves are rolled up is giving serious arm porn.
To Archie’s right is a man the same height as him, about 6’1”. He has auburn hair that is pushed back but parted down the middle, the longest strands hitting at his eyebrows. His black square framed glasses make him look distinguished, while his hazel eyes shine with warmth. His light purple dress shirt is a bold choice to be sure, but it works for him.
On the beta's other side, is a man so jacked I’m surprised he’s not tipping over from his muscle mass. He’s a little taller than the redhead, with brown hair in a buzz cut, and honey brown eyes that look at me with a guardedness my omega wants to wipe away. Black tribal style tattoos run up his arms, disappearing under his shirt sleeves. His black t-shirt and dark green cargo pants scream ex-military, something I didn’t realize I was attracted to until now.
Lastly, on Mattie’s other side, is the tallest of them all. Hair so blonde it almost looks bleached, his blue eyes nearly piercing through my soul. Colorful tattoos climb up both his arms, the half rolled up sleeves of his flannel covering the top part of his arms. There’s a tattoo with three roses covering the right half of his neck. Black gauges pierce his ears, and while he’s leaner than the two bigger alphas, it’s obvious he’s built. I might be intimidated if I saw him on the street, but his smile is pure joy as he takes me in, one that I find myself returning briefly before shaking my head, focusing my attention back on Archie.
Despite feeling like I walked into some sort of set-up, I don’t feel like I’m in any kind of danger. I sigh. “I don’t think so.”
Archie moves closer, his hands still raised as his pack looks apprehensive behind him. “Look, I know this looks bad—” “Looks bad ?” I let out a bitter laugh. “How the fuck did this even happen Arch? You don’t look nearly as shocked to see me as I am to see you standing here. What, did you…did you rig the scent cards or something? Do you have an in with the OMS?”
“No, Cady…” He shakes his head. “I have a confession.”
My eyes narrow as I cross my arms. “Speak, then.”
He takes another step before his nostrils flare and his eyes widen. “Shit, Cady, did you stop your medication? You smell—”
“After you make your confession, you’re going to tell me how you know about that.” I hiss, jamming a finger into his chest and knowing there's only one medication he could be talking about. I had decided to not take my TruBond pill last night, just so I could avoid another confrontation like the one with pack dickhead.
He has the decency to look sheepish. “Do you remember the pocket square you found? The one that smelled like bourbon and caramel?”
“Yes…?” It comes out sounding like a question, though I suddenly have a feeling I know where this is going.
“That was Mattie’s. I may have…snuck it into the office and planted it by your desk.”
Well now I feel like a right idiot. That was an alpha’s smell?
Oh. Fuck .
That was his alpha’s smell.
I’ve never reacted like that to a scent before. But why did he do that?
“Tell me,” I choke out, Brennan still standing silently behind me.
Archie’s pack is still standing silently behind him, like they’re too afraid to move. Like if they do, it might spook me and send me running.
“It was about two months ago. It was the day you ran into me…” he trails off. I remember that day. I had been carrying a huge stack of papers to help the fashion development department with something and ran straight into him, sending the papers flying everywhere.
“I remember.” My voice comes out a whisper as I stare at the beta I’ve been half in love with for so long.
“When I got home, your scent from when you ran into me…it was all over me. The guys…they went nuts. It was obvious you guys were at least a scent sympathetic match. That’s when I stopped feeling so guilty about the major crush I had on you.” He gives a wry smile. “But then, the next day when I was going to talk to you…”
A small gasp leaves me, and my hand flies up to cover my mouth. That was when I started the TruBond medication. I had a few days of overlap between the end of my scent blockers and the start of the TruBond, which were really scary.
“I smelled bonded,” I swallow, closing my eyes.
“You smelled bonded.” He nods. “I had heard you talk about Reggie, but thought he was a friend or some asshole you were dating. Then you showed up smelling different, and I realized we were too late. You were happy. You obviously weren’t looking for a pack if you bonded with a single alpha.”
I can’t stop the snort that leaves me, and he gives me a knowing grin.
“Will you tell me…how you found out? About me?”
“Only if you join us for lunch inside.” He says, wincing slightly like he knows he’s pushing it. I’m half tempted to tell him to shove it, but then I remember he said that delicious smell belonged to Mattie…
My lips purse as I contemplate it.
“How about this,” he says quickly, “scent us. If we aren’t the best damn thing you’ve smelled in your life, we’ll walk away now and you won’t ever have to see us again.” I shoot him a look. “Okay, fine, you’ll still have to see me, but none of these losers.” He points his thumb behind him, and I giggle at the sounds of protests that leave his pack.
“Fine.” I nod once I get my giggling under control. Archie grins and backs up until he’s under his alpha’s arm, and Brennan rumbles behind me.
“Are you sure about this, Miss Cady?”
Swallowing, I nod. “I am.”
“I’m right here if you need me, but I’ll keep my distance unless there’s a threat.”
Right. Got it.
Slowly, I take small steps towards the pack in front of me. By the time I’m three feet away, I scent them
Archie’s ocean breeze scent comforts me like always, but then, I’m taken over by slick gushing into my panties as my perfume fills the air.
That delectable bourbon and caramel scent that makes my mouth water.
Coffee and hazelnut, like slow sex on a lazy morning.
Campfire and toasted marshmallow, safety and comfort.
Peppermint and chocolate, electric and refreshing.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine.
If my omega is Popeye the Sailor, these alphas scents are the can of spinach she needed to break down all of my carefully constructed walls with a fucking sledgehammer.
All the alphas stiffen as an omega whine climbs up my throat. I’m no longer in charge here. My omega sees what she wants and she wants them n ow.
I’m vaguely aware of them whispering frantically among themselves, and someone shifting uncomfortably behind me, but my eyes stay on them. Why aren’t they coming to me? They’re mine .
It's like my body been hijacked, my omega taking the steering wheel of my physiological responses and thoughts. I'm vaguely aware that there was a reason I was firmly against a pack, but I can't find it in myself to care.
Another whine leaves my throat, and the tall, blonde, tattooed one takes a few steps forward, and before I know it, I’m launching myself into his arms, My arms wrap around his neck as my legs wrap around his waist, and my nose tucks into his neck.
This alpha is peppermint and chocolate, the taste melting on my tongue as I groan into the skin of throat, and a purr rumbles beneath me.
Mine. My fucking mate—
What the hell am I doing? I don’t want a pack. But this…this is my scent match. Obviously. And Archie .
“Oh, fuck,” I gasp, pulling away from him, and trying to scramble away, but he doesn’t put me down. “Scent match. True fucking scent match. I can’t believe this. I just mauled you, I’m so sorry—”
“Don’t apologize, Tink,” the alpha holding me rumbles.
“Tink?” I raise a brow, and that blinding smile is back as he shrugs.
“Tiny, blonde, making all my wishes come true.”
“I’m fairly certain Tinkerbell never granted wishes.”
He frowns. “Shit. That’s a genie, isn’t it?”
This massive, tattooed alpha is actually pretty cute. Without thinking, I brush my cheek against his, scent marking him. “Though Tinkerbell was a fairy, maybe she made bargains like the fae do— Oh shit. Sorry.” I apologize as soon as I realize I’ve basically just bathed him in my scent.
The alpha only looks at me with a dopey smile, blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, Tink, feel free to lather me in your scent any time you want—”
A throat clears behind us, reminding me that we’re not alone, and I quickly scramble from the blonde’s arms, leaving him pouting. Looking sheepishly at the rest of the pack, I notice that I’m immediately drawn to each of them.
“Damn, Mattie, you were right about the scent match thing.” Archie mutters.
Well, that’s something we’ll definitely have to address later. My omega decides that she’s kind of pissed at our beta for obviously keeping such a big secret from us.
“Before I lose all sense of self-respect and climb each of you like a tree in a restaurant parking lot, would you mind each telling me your names?”
“Since you already did climb me like a tree,” the blonde one smirks as he takes my hand, “I get to go first. I’m Oliver, but everyone but Titus and Mattie calls me Ollie.”
“Hi Ollie,” I smile as he kisses the back of my hand like a proper gentleman. “I’m Cady, but a tall, hot, tatted guy calls me Tink.”
Ollie only winks before pressing one last kiss to my hand and taking a step back.
“Hello, Cady, my name is Simon…” The auburn haired alpha falters for a moment as his nostrils flare and his cheeks flush. “I’m so sorry, your scent just hit me. As I was saying, my name is Simon, and it’s an absolute pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Simon,” I say truthfully. He seems a little shy and awkward, but it just makes me itch to bring him out of his shell.
I take the hand he’s reached out and shake it, and he gives me a kind smile before backing away. Mattie approaches me, taking my hand much like Ollie did, but he flips it and presses a kiss to my palm, sending tingles all the way down to my toes.
“It is a joy to finally meet you, tesoro mio . Archie told us of your beauty, but my imagination did not do it justice.” There is a slight italian accent in his voice, and damn, if that didn’t make me perfume all over again. “I am Matteo De Lucca, head alpha of the De Lucca Pack. I am sure that Archie has referred to me as Mattie as he and Oliver like to do.”
“He may have,” I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Then there’s only one alpha, and he’s still staring at me, that guarded expression in his eyes. “I’m Titus,” he says in a gruff voice. It’s obvious he’s been through something in his past to make him cautious, and my omega is itching to get him to trust her.
I smile softly. “Hi Titus, I’m Cady. I look forward to getting to know you.”
His face seems to soften for a moment. “Me too.”
With that, my pack surrounds me— wait. My pack?
Nuh uh. Not yet.
I’ve never wanted a pack. If this were any other pack that I’d been scent matched to, I would have run for the hills already. The least I can do is hear him out, though.
Part of me knows, even if I don't want to admit it quite yet, that if there's any chance at all of me finding a pack that I could be happy with...this is them.
With that, pack De Lucca leads me into the restaurant, Brennan trailing behind us. I steal a glance and catch his smirk, causing me to send him my own death glare.
The hostess leads us to a round table with six chairs, and we all settle in, pulling napkins on our laps as Brennan stations himself at a nearby wall. Archie on my left, and Ollie on my right, I turn towards the beta. “Okay, Arch,” I pick up my dinner knife and point it at him. “Talk.”