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We’re scent-sympathetic.

I think I knew that before, but it’s undeniable with the phantom scents of the men I loathe in my nose. Here are three more alphas who claw at my instincts, carving furrows in my soul like they were made to be there. Too bad I’ve got years of history proving that compatibility like this doesn’t mean shit.

It’s just for the heat.

Except, maybe not, because Connor doesn’t even want to scent mark me. No way he helps me through and without their pack lead, I can’t guarantee Nate or Dez will, either.

Another whine slips past my throat, barely contained as I lay wilted in Connor’s arms, letting his coldness swallow me whole. Even when he sits with me in his lap, I focus on my fingertips. The ache in my muscles as my body braces for him to walk awayor tell me I’m being too needy. Too much of the wrong thing. Never enough of the right.

The omega rejected by her mates over and over again.

Connor presses his cheek against my head, surrounding me as best he can. “I’m sorry, Daphne. It’s been a long time since I’ve been with an omega, and I forgot how sensitive things can be for you in heat. I just don’t want you to think that having the others means having me too.”

“You wouldn’t scent mark me. That implies you aren’t interested.”

He clutches me tighter, choosing his words carefully. “It’s not that simple. I have…history that makes it hard for me to be intimate with omegas, but I didn’t mean to deny you.”

There are deep fissures in this man. Scars someone else left behind. It steals some of the pain away, but I have my own wounds to heal. There may not be enough of me to deal with his.

Conner folds me closer until he can brush a kiss over my frazzled mess of curls, heart racing against my cheek. “Do you still want my scent?”

“Are you actually interested in helping me through my heat?”

“Yes. I would very much like to help you with my pack.” His voice is lower, a peek of desire creeping in to blow away the lingering panic. The shame of my past. He nuzzles my forehead, not quite a scent mark but close. So close that my pulse trips, body leaning toward his in quiet desperation.

He waits, patient while I try to find even the hint of a lie. There’s nothing but the pleasant chill of his scent and the warmth of his skin. It’s terrifying to tilt my chin and offer my neck, but I do. “Then I’d like a scent mark.”

I get the quickest flash of a grin before Connor ducks his head. He spends a long time on my cheeks and neck, even drowning my hair until I’m coated in the three of them.

Pack.

No. Not pack.Just alphas.

“The most heavenly omega I’ve ever smelled,” he whispers.

I lean in, preening. “Connor?”

His nose trails along my neck absently, like he can’t stop smelling us. “Hmm?”

“Talk about another omega again and I’ll carve your fucking eyes out.”

His body stills, arms tightening around me before he laughs so hard I bounce in his lap. The jiggling makes me laugh too and suddenly, we’re a mess on the floor. Dez and Nate watch with something like awe in their eyes. I never want them to stop looking at me that way.

When Connor settles, he presses the gentlest kiss against my temple. “Don’t worry, Daphne. There’s no one but you.”

I don’t know how to accept that, so I don’t, smiling thinly.

Nate finally swipes his card and the second the receipt is in his hand, the cashier bolts for the back room. I have the worst urge to follow her. Show that beta exactly what it means to go after an omega’s men.

Jesus, the fog is settling in. I’m all impulse and desire, less rational thought.

When the bags are packed, Dez’s grin flashes in my periphery, stealing my attention. “Such a protective omega.”

“It’s common courtesy to keep your eyes to yourself,” I say primly.

“We like it.” The way Connor says it has me squirming in his lap. At this rate, they’re going to have to fumigate the whole fucking store to get my scent out.

Dez purrs, dropping to his haunches to nip the other side of my neck and my skin warms in proximity to two very compatible alphas. I reach for his shirt, needing to touch, but he grabs my wrists. “Patience, gorgeous.”