Page 38 of The Librarian and Her Alphas

Damon remains quiet, watching me intensely, which makes me shrink, but I have to stand my ground.

Max is right. I do feel the attraction between us, but I can’t allow myself to think about what that means.

Alphas are dangerous. They’re trying to trap me.

“Max, I understand what you’re saying, but?—”

“Lena,” Gunnar cuts in. “It could be that you didn’t feel the attraction right away. Sometimes that happens. If that’s the case, maybe you should spend more time with us and give it a chance. Give us a chance to bond.”

My heart starts to race with panic.

“No!” I say sharply, barely stopping myself from shouting. I don’t want to make them suspicious, but the panic I feel at the mention of bonding makes me feel physically ill.

I can’t do it.

“We won’t force you to do anything you don’t want,” Damon says in a low voice. The three alphas look at me as if I am their whole world, and now I’m disappointing them.

My heart aches, and it practically hurts right now. Glancing at the clock on the wall near the front door, I jump up when I see the time.

It’s almost eight o’clock, and Annabelle and Paige will be here soon to get the library ready to open at nine.

“I think you should leave now,” I say, backing away from them. “My co-workers will be here any minute, and I don’t want them to see the mess we’ve made.”

“Will we ever see you again?” Damon asks. He’s been quiet, his expression carefully neutral, but I can see the hurt in his eyes. “Can we at least help you get this place cleaned up?”

I shake my head quickly.

“No. I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say, rechecking the time. My panic rises when I see how little time I have left to get the library in order.

Gunnar looks upset that Damon isn’t forcing me to be their omega.

“Lena,” Gunnar starts.

“Please, I need you to leave,” I beg, pointing a shaking hand at the door. “I don’t have much time.”

Max and Gunnar start to protest, but Damon holds up a hand, silencing their objections.

“Enough,” he says sternly, and the other two fall silent. “We will respect Lena and her wishes. If she wants us to leave, then we will.”

He stands, and Max and Gunnar follow suit. The silence is unbearable as they begin to pick up their things, which are scattered haphazardly all over the floor.

Once they’ve dressed, Damon turns to me and nods before walking to the front door and pulling it open.

“Goodbye, Lena,” says Max, hugging me one last time.

“Bye,” I say without looking at him, not wanting to change my mind. The three alphas walk resolutely into the weak sunshine outside, shutting the door behind them.

* * *

The silencein the library after the door has closed is suffocating, made worse by the realization that I now have to clean up.

I look at the mess on the floor, my stomach sinking.

The carpet is strewn with torn books and papers covered in a mixture of our cum and sweat. Somehow, a couple of blankets from the lost and found also made their way into our nest.

Glancing at the clock, I run to the break room to grab a black plastic bag. I work quickly, shoving papers and ruined books into the bag, ensuring nothing is left behind. The storage room also contains some cleaning supplies. After tidying up there, I move swiftly around the library, making sure to eliminate any evidence of my heat and knotting.

Frantically, I spray air freshener throughout the library, hoping to mask the scent until I can open the front door and a few windows.

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