Page 39 of Her Knotty Alphas

It's quiet, and then the door creaks slightly like someone's leaning against it from the other side. "The other scent match?" she asks in a breathy voice, making my cock twitch. Damn, if this is effect she's having on me through a damn door—

"It would appear that way," I say as lightly as I can. "Can…can I come in? I brought snacks."

The door opens a crack, and I'm met with the greenest eye I've ever seen peeking out at me. Her pupils blow wide as she looks at me, and then the door opens enough for me to see the flare of her nostrils.

I know I'm mirroring her movements, because damn, smelling the remnants of her scent on Enzo's hand had absolutely nothingon the real thing. Luckily for me, though, I already had an idea of what I was walking into.

My alpha is still howling at me though. Peaches and warm brown sugar smell like fucking home.

Mine.

Mine.

Mate.

Her soft, plush, pink lips open slightly in surprise, and I can't help but notice how fucking gorgeous she is, even with her half-pink hair piled on top of her head, her freckles on full display due to her lack of makeup. A big t-shirt hangs off one shoulder, and the peek of bare skin has my mouth watering. Black leggings cling to her curves, and I want to run my hands over them.

She's perfect.

A small gasp leaves her, and in the next instance, she's slamming the door in my face.

"I'm sorry!" Her voice is panicked. "I just…I need a minute. Last time this happened, I ran."

A small chuckle leaves me. "That's alright, princess. Take your time." Less than a minute later she cracks the door open again, her cheeks flushed a beautiful pink.

"Can…can I…?" She takes a step forward, and I don't stop her as puts her nose to my chest, inhaling deeply. Her body visibly relaxes at the scent. "You smell…" she sighs, nuzzling into my chest in a way that makes my alpha pride soar, "you smell like autumn. And home."

"I feel the same way," I can't stop the purr that rumbles in my chest, "I'd put my arms around you, but they're kind of full."

Her eyes light up as she backs up, looking at the goodies I brought over and snatching the ice cream from my grasp. "Strawberry cheesecake ice cream! How did you know?"

"I have my ways," I grin, not telling her that I may have been scrubbing security footage from the grocery store down the street I know she frequents to find out her favorite snacks.

"The same way you knew where I live?" She asks, brow furrowed in an adorable way. "Or did Enzo tell you?"

I could lie, and tell her that he gave me the address. But…she's going to have to get to know the real me at some point. "I'm a hacker. I looked you up."

Instead of anger, like I half expected, she…blushes. "I forgot you work for Titus. I don't know whether I should be scared or impressed."

A smirk tilts at my lips. "I feel like it's good to be a little bit of both."

But then she's biting her lip. "You…you looked into me?" There's worry lining her brow, and I can tell she's wondering if the OMS records are public. They aren't of course, but that didn't stop me.

Is she worried that I know how many packs in this city are too stupid to know the best thing they've ever seen when she's staring them in the face?

"Of course I did, princess. It killed me that I wasn't able to meet you when everyone else did."

"I…what did you find?" Trepidation lines her voice, and that won't do at all. Does she think we won't want her when we find the trail of idiots behind her?

I give her a feral grin. "I feel like there's a fun game we could play to find out the answer to that question." She fuckingperfumes.

Okay, mission accomplished, now reel it back, Noah.

Guess she's not put off by my profession after all.

She realizes the change in her scent, because then she's stammering, trying to change the subject. "Do you want to come in? I mean, it's a studio, so it's also my nest, but I'm not invitingyouintomy nest. Yet. Today. Enzo didn't get invited either." She shakes her head, an adorable look of frustration crossing her features. "What I mean is—"

My alpha bristles at the thought of my mate being confined to one room, while the rest of us are all moved into the giant-ass mansion Charlie bought. She deserves to have more space.

---