28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
I arrive at the library a few minutes early and spot Adrian before he sees me. He’s standing just outside the main doors, bathed in the soft afternoon light filtering through the tall trees.
His brown hair is slightly tousled, like he’s run his fingers through it while thinking, and his wire-rimmed glasses sit perfectly on his nose.
He wears a crisp white button-up shirt, a cozy gray cardigan hanging open over it, and those cream colored slacks that make his legs look long and lean.
A worn leather satchel rests against his hip, and he’s absently turning a mechanical pencil between his fingers while he waits.
My stomach does a small, fluttery flip. I really like him.
More than like him, if I’m honest with myself.
He’s so attractive in that unaware kind of way…
a handsomeness that sneaks up on you because it’s wrapped in kindness and intelligence rather than flash.
The thought makes my cheeks flush as I walk toward him.
Adrian looks up the moment I get close, green eyes lightening behind his glasses. He straightens a little, clearly unsure how to greet me. His hands hover awkwardly at his sides for half a second.
I take the lead without overthinking it. I step into his space, stretch onto my toes, rest my hands lightly on his shoulders, and press a soft kiss to his cheek.
He relaxes instantly. His hands find my waist, gentle and sure, as he pulls me into a hug.
I breathe in his scent, the familiar rain on stone and paper and ink, cool and crisp. I resist the urge to scent mark him.
No one seems to be watching us, and I’m relieved after all the stares from earlier this morning with Alex.
Adrian pulls back first, though his hands linger for a second on my waist like he’s reluctant to let go. His green eyes are achingly stunning behind his glasses when he asks, “Do you want to grab a hot drink before we settle in?”
I nod happily, still feeling the comfort of his hug. “Yes, please. I need a caffeine top up after breakfast. I feel extra sleepy today and I just want to curl up somewhere.”
Adrian smiles, a flash of white alpha teeth, and reaches past me to open the heavy library door, holding it so I can walk through first. The cool air-conditioned hush of the building wraps around us as we step inside.
Instead of heading straight for the to-go counter, he glances toward the café area tucked into the corner of the main floor. “We could study in the café for a bit,” he suggests. “Instead of grabbing drinks to-go and sitting at the desks. The couches are more comfortable.”
I like that idea more than I expect. “That sounds perfect.”
He leads me over to a plush couch in the corner, its deep cushions and armrests look like they were made for long study sessions. He sets his bag down on the low table in front of it, then turns to me with that same careful politeness. “What would you like? I’ll get it for you.”
The simple offer makes something warm bloom in my chest. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and tell him, “A London fog, extra sweet, with oat milk, please.”
Adrian’s smile softens even more, like he’s filing the order away for future reference, and he nods. “I’ll be right back.”
It’s such a small thing, but it makes me feel taken care of in such a considerate way that I’m not used to.
I watch him walk toward the counter, rolling up his sleeves and showing the lean strength in his forearms, and I can’t stop the smile that curves my lips.
I set up my laptop and notes on the low table.
The café is quiet this time on a Sunday, only a few other students scattered around with headphones on.
Plugging in my charger, I open the document for the paper that’s due in a few days, and try to focus.
I’m still painfully behind on my work, and this weekend hasn’t helped.
My fingers hover over the keys, but my mind keeps drifting back to the way Adrian looked standing outside the library, dressed up nicely, patiently waiting for me.
When he returns a few minutes later, he balances two cups in his hands. He starts to lower himself into the chair across from me, careful and polite as always.
I feel a sudden rush of shyness, but before I can think too hard about it, I say, “Would you… want to sit next to me on the couch instead?”
Adrian pauses mid-motion. His green eyes meet mine for a beat, something flickering behind them.
“I didn’t want to presume,” he says, voice a little lower than usual. But he straightens and moves to the couch, easing in beside me. The cushions dip under his weight, bringing us close enough that our thighs press together from knee to hip.
The contact sends a low spark through me.
It’s just a leg, just fabric and the firm press of him.
But I can’t stop noticing how solid he feels, the heat radiating through his slacks, the way the muscles of his thigh shift slightly when he gets comfortable.
My pulse picks up, erratic and insistent, and I have to remind myself to breathe normally.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and manage a small smile. “You’re probably hungover too,” I say, voice a little breathier than I mean for it to be. “You deserve the couch just as much as I do.”
Adrian’s mouth curves in that almost shy way of his. He doesn’t move away and neither do I.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Adrian reaches into his bag and pulls out the exact Research Methods textbook that I need for my paper.
A flush winds its way through me at the memory of the last time I saw it, falling, being picked up again by the alpha sitting pressed up next to me.
“I think this was the one you were reaching for. I have my own copy anyway.”
“Thank you.” I take it from him, a grin lighting up my face. It’s such a thoughtful gesture, and one I am in desperate need of.
We fall into a comfortable relative silence after that. I go back to my document and try to start typing, the words for the paper coming tentatively at first. Adrian opens one of his notebooks, mechanical pencil tapping lightly against the page.
The café hums around us, but all I can focus on is the insistent press of his leg against mine.
Every tiny shift sends another ripple of warmth through me.
His rain on stone and paper and ink scent mixes with my own strawberry peach one in the small space between us, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from leaning into him any further.
It’s just a leg.
But it feels like so much more.
Adrian’s phone rings after a while, the vibration cutting through the hum of the café. I glance up just in time to see him pull it from his pocket.
Chase’s low voice drifts faintly from the speaker when Adrian answers, something about picking up supplies on the way home. Adrian listens for only a moment, murmurs a quick promise, and hangs up almost apologetically.
“Sorry about that,” he says, sliding the phone away.
“It’s fine,” I tell him, and I mean it. The interruption feels small compared to the constant press of his leg against mine. Neither of us has moved away. Every tiny shift sends another delicate spark through me, and I’m embarrassingly aware of how much I like the simple contact.
We study for another hour or so in that comfortable silence. At some point Adrian slips away to the counter and returns with a small paper bag and two fresh drinks. He sets a steaming chocolate croissant between us without making a fuss, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
I tear off a piece and the buttery flakes melt on my tongue, but I can’t stop noticing the way our knees brush whenever one of us shifts to turn a page.
Eventually a third yawn escapes me, wide and unstoppable. Adrian notices immediately. He closes his notebook with a click and turns toward me, green eyes gentle behind his glasses.
“You should head home and get an early night before classes tomorrow,” he says. “I don’t want you burning out.”
His voice is so caring, so full of concern, that the tension humming between our pressed together legs somehow feels even more vibrant.
I agree with a small nod, but I can’t bring myself to move. My laptop stays open on the table in front of me, the screen slowly dimming, while the heat of Adrian’s leg pressed against mine keeps me anchored in place.
The memory of how safely I slept in Jamie’s arms last night comes to me unbidden, how his golden amber scent and the solid beat of his heart had chased every restless thought away.
The memory makes something tender and frightening bloom in my chest. I wonder, suddenly and vividly, if it would feel the same with Adrian…
quiet and steady and safe in a different way.
Or with Chase, all gruff protectiveness and hidden gentleness that makes my pulse race even when he is trying so hard to hold back.
Or with Alex, who makes me feel seen and wanted all at once.
The realization settles over me like sunlight breaking through clouds after days of rain.
I want this. Not just one of them. I want all of them.
The thought should terrify me more than it does.
I’ve spent so long convincing myself that I didn’t want a pack, that I could never be happy belonging to anyone, that biology would only ever take away my freedom.
But sitting here with Adrian’s peaceful presence beside me, his leg warm against mine and his bergamot and ink scent wrapping around me, I can’t lie to myself anymore.
I want them. I want their scents tangled together in the air I breathe.
I want Alex’s calm leadership and Jamie’s playful warmth and Chase’s fierce protectiveness and Adrian’s gentle intelligence.
I want the safety and the chaos and the way they make me feel like I could still be myself even while belonging to them.
My heart is racing so hard I can feel it in my throat when I turn toward Adrian. “Can I have your phone for a second?”
He hands it over without hesitation, unlocking it with a quick swipe of his thumb before giving it to me.
His fingers brush mine, and the brief contact feels electric.
I open his contacts and add my number, choosing a blue morpho butterfly emoji to sit beside my name.
When I hand the phone back, our eyes meet and hold.
Adrian glances down at the new contact and lets out a surprised laugh. “You just made it a lot easier for me to avoid the awkward ‘can I have your number’ moment. Thank you.”
The hope in his voice makes my stomach flip. I bite my lip and say, “You can share it with the full pack, if you want.”
His green eyes widen behind his glasses, alight with sudden, unmistakable hope. He searches my face like he’s afraid he might have misheard me.
I take a shaky breath. “Do you know what Alex asked me when he dropped me off earlier?”
Adrian nods slowly, hope clear and bright in his expression now.
I lean in closer, close enough that my lips brush the shell of his ear. His breath catches. My voice comes out barely above a whisper.
“I’m willing to give you all a shot.”
When I pull back, the biggest grin I have ever seen lights up Adrian’s face. He’s practically bouncing in his seat, green eyes twinkling behind his glasses and cheeks flushed with pure, uncontained joy.
We pack up our things in a happy, slightly dazed silence. Notebooks slide into bags, laptop cords are coiled, empty coffee cups are gathered.
Adrian holds the door for me again as we step outside into the late afternoon light, and the campus air feels cooler and sharper against my warm skin.
At the edge of the path I stop and turn to him. I step close, wrap my arms around his waist, and hug him goodbye. “Text me,” I murmur against his shoulder.
“I will,” he promises, voice soft and happy.
I walk away first, turning the corner of the building before I let myself stop. I lean back against the cool stone wall and press a hand to my racing heart, trying to catch my breath. The decision I just made feels enormous and terrifying and completely right all at once.
Then I hear it — Adrian’s excited voice from just around the corner. “Alex?” he says, already on the phone, the word bright with barely contained glee.
I peek back around the edge of the building just long enough to see him walking away, phone pressed to his ear, shoulders practically vibrating with happiness. I duck back quickly, pressing my lips together to hold in the smile that wants to break free.
My heart is still racing, but it feels so good. So right.
I’m glad I said yes to Adrian. He’s the one who makes me feel safe enough to be brave.
And now I realize I’m about to find out what it truly means to be courted by a pack.