Page 46 of Her Knotty Alphas

Before he can answer, we hear the front door open and shut, and in the next moment, Enzo is popping his head into the kitchen. "Reinita," he purrs, striding over and pressing a kiss to my cheek. "What a pleasant surprise. I was wondering whose car was in the driveway."

I'm a little confused by Enzo. He says it's a pleasant surprise, but he hasn't tried to see me since Saturday. The scent match should be riding him just as hard as it's riding me. "That's me." I smile weakly, sipping some more coffee.

"Austin, these smell wonderful." Enzo moves from my side to grab a muffin. "I must find the recipe for cinnamon rolls thatmy grandmother used to make. I've tried to replicate them, but they're always too dry." The sight of these three men in the kitchen, eating muffins and talking together, seems so…domestic. I kind of love it.

"I'll take a look at it," Austin nods at Enzo, and walks around the counter like he might sit next to me.

"There's one thing I can't figure out," I take a bite of muffin, closing my eyes at the creamy goodness, "we have a hacker, a baker, and a professor. How do you guys end up in a place likethis?"

Before anyone can answer, the sound of the front door opening and closing again has everyone freezing.

Noah's brows furrow. "Is that…?"

A familiar voice leeches all comfort out of my body, making my spine go straight. "What the hell is that delicious smell—" Charlie. Fucking Charlie stops in the doorway when his eyes catch on me. All the air escapes my lungs as my hands release my coffee to the counter with a small clatter.

What…what is Charlie doing here?

It suddenly makes sense. He paid for this house. But why would he do that unless…he's one of my scent matches.

Just like Doctor Mejia said.

And I can't fucking breathe.

There may be multiple people calling my name. There may be a hand running down my arm. I don't hear or feel any of it, though. It's like I'm underwater, everything is muted except my heartbeat pounding in my ears. All I can do is lean over the counter, grab two muffins in my arms, put my head down, and rush past Charlie out of the house.

His scent almost sends me to my knees.

Coconut and sandalwood, just like I remember but so muchmore.

Refreshing.

Comforting.

Home.

His scent was that faint whiff of what I couldn't place earlier, and having all their scents surrounding me is almost enough to send me running back into the kitchen, straight into their arms.

Almost.

They knew Charlie was one of my scent matches and they hid it from me. How can I trustanyof them?

They were trying to trick me. They knew if I had any inkling that Charlie was a part of their group, that I'd run. So they kept it from me.

Fighting a sense of betrayal, I rush to my car, putting my muffins in the cupholder as the tears start to flow. Already I can feel my headache creeping back in. Dammit. I should have stolen a shirt or something.

I don't trust myself to make it all the way home, so I gun it the three minutes it takes to get to Cady's house.

My only hope is they aren't fucking like rabbits when I get there.

Chapter 20

Hannah

Charlie.

Charlie, the one who betrayed me so deeply I fled from my home to get away from him, is a true scent match. This pack can't work. I cannotbe his omega. Not when I know exactly how badly it hurts to have my heart ripped out by him.

My inner-panicking is abruptly cut off by the front door to the De Lucca residence opening. I'm standing pitifully on the front porch, tears rolling down my cheeks while I shove half a muffin into my mouth. It's Archie who answers the door, his wavy hair pushed back and sweatpants slung low on his hips.

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