Page 6 of Puck Your Neighbor

He then sticks the joint between his lips as he goes back to the box and digs through it, using his phone as a light. "No problem, we can do this old school. Plus, you don't have to feel obligated to give me your number right now."

After a moment of digging through it, he pulls out a pen and comes back over. "Can I see your arm for a second?"

A purr wants to rise in my throat at the thought of him touching me, and I force it down. Not only does my purr sound weird to me, but he doesn't need to know I'm an Omega, at least not until I know how I want him to know.

The door squeaks in the night as it opens again.

"Leo, man, you good?"

Mr. Porsche sticks his head out of the door as we both turn to look at him. My heart beats faster.If three Alphas moved in upstairs together, that means they're more than likely a pack, which means I could be compatible with all of them.There is a chance I wouldn't be. That can happen, but it's rarer than winning the lottery. Most packs will share an Omega. That's just how it's always been. More of them than there are of us.

Leo motions with his hand. "Come here and meet our neighbor."

He shoves the door open more and walks over, his eyes landing on the joint in Leo's hand. "Mav is going to kick your ass for smoking the week of a game." As he says it, he reaches over and snatches the joint from Leo to take a pull from it. The scent of cedarwood and something subtly sweet, like warm honey, wafts from him as he exhales a cloud of smoke.

Leo laughs, a deep, throaty sound. "I'm sure he'll want some, too. It's not like we can get in trouble for it. It's legal and not on the performance-enhancing drug list."

He then turns back to me. "Anya, this is Jenson Marks. One of my pack members. Our leader, Maverick, is upstairs with our friends, who are on our hockey team with us."

I wave hello, trying to ignore the way my pulse quickens at the sight of another Alpha. Jenson is just as striking as Leo, with the same broad shoulders and confident aura.

Jenson waves back as he pulls the joint from his lip and offers it to me. Mine is out, and I wouldn't mind more. Our fingers brush as I take it from him, and a jolt, like static electricity, zings up my arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. I try to hide my surprise, taking a long drag from the joint to steady my nerves.

The aromatic scent of cedar comes from them both, but something else underlines Jenson's scent that's different from Leo's. I distract myself with the joint to keep my Omega from impulsively inviting them into my place. They would no doubt make my heat come early if things got intimate, and if they were to find out we were scent-matched, who knows what would happen.

I have enough logic left in my brain to know that isn't a good idea. Who would want a mute Omega? One of them may know ASL, but I doubt the other two do. There's a reason I like being alone; there's no heartbreak because no one can abandon me when they decide that I'm not worth the effort to learn how to communicate easier.

Besides, I'm mute because someone thought I wasn't good enough to have around when I was normal.

Leo hums as he holds up the pen again. "He distracted us, but I still want to give you my number, at least. Can I see your arm?"

Will his touch shock me like Jenson did?I hold out my arm to him, and he gently pushes the sleeve of my sweater up my forearm, his fingers brushing against my skin. A shiver runs through me, and I suppress a gasp. He doesn't seem to notice my reaction as he lowers the pen to my skin. There's no shock at his touch this time, but the warmth from his fingers radiates through me like an inferno. It takes everything inside me not to snatch my arm back before he's done, or pull him closer and do something stupid.

"There, done. Add that to your phone when you get a chance, and then you can text whenever you need to tell us we're being too loud."

In the dim light from the street lamp that overlooks the parking lot, I make out the dark numbers on my arm. I glance back at him and sign, "Thank you."

I pass the joint to him and turn my body to swing my legs over my balcony and drop into it. My muscles protest with a satisfying ache as I land lightly on the concrete. I pick up my discarded joint and toss it into my coffee can that I keep out here for this reason. Turning to them, I give a nod and say, "Good night. Nice to meet you."

Leo grins as Jenson glances between us.

"Good to meet you, too, Anya. Have a good night. We'll head up and make the asses shut up."

I nod again as I step into my place, close and lock the sliding door behind me, and then shut the blinds as well. My heart hasn't stopped racing, and my inner Omega whines and begs for me to open the door and ask them to come in. It would be so simple, and for once in my life, I would be satisfied because my Alphas—the people I thought I would never meet being a hermit artist—are living right above me.

How is it possible that they moved in right above me? It's the equivalent of asking the universe for a partner, and it drops them through the roof since I'll never be one to try the dating scene. Not after what happened. I would rather become a nun than ever risk letting anyone in.

But these are our mates. They won't be like them.

Shaking my head, I walk back to my room and nest as the upstairs becomes quiet. I flop into my fluffy goodness and give over to the floating tingles that want to take over my body. I lift my arm and stare at the dark marks of his phone number. Them being scent-matched with me is a problem for the future sober me to decide on.

Chapter 4

My phone vibrates, signaling my alarm, and I groan as I reach over to turn it off. Drinking and smoking weed last night wasn't my smartest move. I didn't fall asleep until around two, and it's only five now. Morning practices are tough, but necessary. We need all the practice we can get before our first game of the season against the Vipers.

It wasn't the party that kept me awake, though. Most of our teammates left after we turned the music down. The few who were too drunk to drive are asleep on the living room floor near Maverick's bed. What's been on my mind is the woman we met last night. I only talked to her for a few minutes, but I keep seeing her violet eyes.

I couldn't detect any pheromones from her, which probably means she's a beta. I don't have a problem with betas. I've been with a few, but they can't take a knot, so the sex was never fully satisfying.

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