Page 22 of Shades of Scars

Scarlett

It’s eight o’clock at night by the time the alphas drop me off at my apartment. It takes considerable effort and negotiation skills to convince them I want to go back home instead of their fancy penthouse. Kate has called me no less than ten times over the last two hours since I never returned back home at the time I’d said I’d be back, and she’s no doubt on the verge of filing a missing persons report.

Still, somehow, I manage to stand on the sidewalk for another ten minutes arguing with Caito about his lack of boundaries when it comes to unnecessarily expensive gifts.

“No. I’m not accepting this.” I would’ve crossed my arms over my chest if it hadn’t been for the fact that one of my arms is now in a sling. Instead, I shoot for a defiant glare that’ll hopefully make him see reason.

Of course, I’m never that lucky. Alphas can’t be tamed. They do whatever the fuck the want without permission or consequences.

Caito, the bastard, is able to cross his massive arms over his expansive chest. “If you want to get to and from places, and we aren’t around, I need you to have this. Come on,mo chroí.It’ll put my mind at ease.” He urges me, his plump lips twisting intoa pout that makes me fucking weak in the knees. Bloody fucking hell. I’m turning into a simpering fool.

“I can take Ubers if I need rides.” I roll my eyes, already knowing how big of a problem he has with that, too. “Plus, my roommate has a car.”

“As if being in a car with a complete stranger, who can take you against your will if they want to, is supposed to make me feel better. And I don’t know your roommate, therefore, I don’t trust her, either.” Dammit. I hate when men are being reasonable, albeit paranoid as hell.

“Look, I don’t even leave my apartment enough to warrant owning a car. It’s why I haven’t bought one myself since moving here. It’s a waste of money.”

“Caito! Stop antagonizing our omega! It’s getting cold out here, and she doesn’t have a proper coat on.” Wren barks from their SUV across the street from my apartment building. Caito and I still stand beside the Mercedes he’d rescued me with earlier, which is apparently a gift for me that I can’t possibly dream of accepting.

I’d managed to get my pink sweatshirt back on with a little help before securing my arm back in the sling before they dropped me off, but Wren’s right. I’m starting to freeze my tits off out here.

“Fine,mo chroí.I will allow you this one thing.” He steps up close to me then, his nearness making my brain short circuit and my breath catch in my throat. My heart hammers an erratic beat in my chest when he presses the front of his body against me.

His head lowers until his nose skims the bare skin of my neck above the fabric of my sweatshirt. I feel him inhale deeply, and a sound rumbles from his chest in approval. I definitely don’t think about the way my nipples tighten from the noise. “I will put an end to the bastard that put this mark on your skin,mo chroí.”The ominous tone of his voice sends shivers racing downmy spine in response, but the threat just makes me arch into him more like a horny hussy.Get a fucking grip, Scarlett. “The only alphas my omega is going to smell like belong to my pack.”

His nose brushes up the column of my throat until he reaches my jaw line. I swallow down the whine threatening to unleash from my throat at the first hint of his lips against my skin, so damn close to my mouth when he draws closer. The fingers of my free hand fist into the fabric of the tight, dark, hunter green Henley he wears, as if I need it to ground myself at this moment.

His rich scent–winter evergreen and dark chocolate–washes over me, taking up all available space in my lungs. There isn’t a single inhale of air I take that’s free of his scent while I suck in breath after breath. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

“I’m going to kiss you now,mo chroí.”It isn’t a question. And I’m a fool because I don’t stop him when his lips finally brush against mine. I can’t stop the groan that slips free from me the moment our mouths meet. It’s an explosion of feeling, and finally tasting him on my tongue is nearly my undoing. I know what we’re doing is incredibly dangerous, but I just can’t help myself. This alpha clearly has never been denied in his entire life.

The kiss ends all too soon, and then he steps back, leaving me feeling cold and empty without his presence invading my space. When I look into his hungry glittering eyes, I nearly throw all caution to the wind and throw myself at him. I want him so damn bad it hurts.

Thankfully, he’s the one that shows restraint. He extends a hand out and brushes calloused fingers over my cheek in reverence. “We will see each other again soon. Remember our vows,mo chroí.”And then he’s moving away from me, stalking across the street to where the others still wait for him.

It takes all of my will power to turn my back on them and walk away. It’s so much worse than that night atRaven,whenI’d left the two of them behind. Now that I’ve scented them all, I crave them like nothing I’ve ever craved in my entire life.

Too damn tempting.

So damndangerous.

* * *

The next morning, Kate’s watching me while I attempt to stuff all of the fruit from the edible arrangements into all eight of our Tupperware containers to save and put in the fridge. I know exactly what it feels like to go hungry, and I’m not about to waste good fruit. The least I can do is save most of it, then try to eat the rest before it goes bad.

I’m about to eat so much pineapple that I’m going to start to smell like one.

I turn to my room mate with a giant chunk of the stuff speared on a Kabob stick, and she starts eyeballing the bouquets of flowers next. “We’re just going to have to toss those in a few days when they start to die.” I shrug and go back to chewing on my sweet, tangy treat. The chocolate covered strawberries are next on my list.

“Please tell me that you’re done ignoring their existence and they’re going to stop stuffing our tiny ass apartment full of favors of their appreciation and devotion.” She hedges as I come to join her on the couch. She turns to stare at me like she’s never seen me before when I settle back in the cushion on the opposite end from her.

Ignoring her shocked expression, I continue to munch on the chunk of pineapple. “I don’t know. They’re very… persistent.”

She snorts. “Understatement of the year, Scarlett. Are you going to tell me what happened?” She gestures to the sling, and I know she’s probably thinking the worst.

“I made the mistake of leaving the house without a suppressant. Two asshole alphas caught my scent and decided to fuck around and find out.” I really don’t want to talk about it, but I figure if I’m going to be more open to alphas that are basically complete strangers to me, I can definitely extend that courtesy to the omega who’s been my roommate for nearly a year.

Her eyes widen and she leans forward. “Shit, are you okay? Is it broken?” She eyes my arm, and I shake my head.

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