Page 41 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

I looked up, meeting his eyes. "Unlike people," I agreed.

Dakota appeared in the doorway, his expression tense. "We should go," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I picked up a fresher trace of the scent outside. They might have returned."

My stomach tightened with fear as Gabriel immediately moved to take my suitcase. "Did you see anyone?" he asked Dakota, his voice tense but controlled.

"No," Dakota replied, already moving toward the front door. "But the scent is strongest near the building's back entrance. Recent. Within the last hour."

Gabriel's hand settled on the small of my back, gentle but insistent. "Time to go," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "Is there anything else you absolutely need?"

I shood my head, “No. I have everything I need.” If I didn’t, I could figure it out later.

“Good. Then lets go.” I let them lead me out, but I still had a sinking feeling in my stomach as we left. I just hoped I was stressed and this feeling wasn’t a warning of some kind.

Chapter Seventeen

DakotadrovewhileGabrielsat in the passenger seat, his posture tense as he scanned the streets we passed. I clutched my tote bag with the African violet, watching my apartment building disappear from view. A strange sense of finality settled over me—like I was leaving behind more than just a physical space.

"You okay back there?" Dakota asked, his eyes meeting mine briefly in the rearview mirror.

"Fine," I lied, my voice steadier than I expected. "Just tired."

Gabriel turned slightly in his seat, studying my face with those perceptive blue eyes. "It's normal to feel overwhelmed," he said quietly. "This is a lot to process."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak further. The reality of my situation was sinking in with crushing weight. Someone was watching my apartment, stalking my routine, had attacked my shop. I wasn't safe in my own home, my own business. The independence I'd worked so hard to build was crumbling, replaced by a dependence on these Alphas that made my skin crawl even as I recognized its necessity.

"Stop thinking so loud," Dakota said, his voice gentler than I'd heard before. "We can practically hear your brain overheating."

I let out a startled laugh despite myself. "Sorry. Occupational hazard. I'm used to working things out on my own."

"Well, you're not on your own now," Gabriel said, his tone brooking no argument. "And that's not a bad thing, Vivian. Even the most independent people need support sometimes."

I met his gaze in the rearview mirror, struck by the quiet conviction in his voice. There was no condescension there, no Alpha superiority—just a simple statement of fact. I looked away first, unable to maintain eye contact with the intensity of his gaze.

"I'm just not used to needing help," I admitted softly, watching the city transition to more upscale neighborhoods as we drove. "Especially from Alphas."

"We've noticed," Dakota replied dryly, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone rather than offense.

"May I ask why?" Gabriel inquired, his voice carefully neutral. "Your aversion to Alpha assistance seems... personal."

I tensed, my fingers tightening around the strap of my tote bag. This wasn't a conversation I wanted to have—not here, not now, maybe not ever. My past experiences with Alphas were my own business, buried deep where they couldn't hurt me anymore.

"You don't have to answer that," Gabriel added quickly, sensing my discomfort. "I shouldn't have asked."

I took a deep breath, staring out the window at the passing houses. "It's fine. It's not some dark secret or anything. Just... experiences. Observations." I shrugged, trying to appear more casual than I felt. "When you grow up watching Alphas use their status to control others, you develop a healthy skepticism."

Dakota snorted softly. "Can't argue with that. Some of us are definitely assholes."

Gabriel shot him a look, but didn't contradict him. "Not all of us believe our designation makes us superior," he said instead, his eyes finding mine in the mirror again.

"I know that," I admitted. "Intellectually, at least. But old habits die hard."

The conversation lapsed into silence as Dakota turned onto a winding road that led up into the hills. I watched as the house came into view and eventually the car came to a stop.

"Home sweet home," he muttered, more to himself than to us.

Gabriel exited first, scanning the surroundings with that hypervigilant gaze before opening my door. "Lucas and Theo should be back by now," he informed me, taking my suitcase from the trunk. "Let's get you settled in."

I let him lead me inside and into the house, following him down the hall I had been in this morning, but this time he lead me to a different room. I raised an eyebrow at this, silently asking him a question.

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