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Except, the longer I focus on it, the more I’m able to determine that it’s two separate Greenbriar scents. One is tinged with youth and the other is…

The other one is impossibly familiar. It has something special about it—just a hint of springtime lilacs and a touch of spiced cloves.

I would know that scent anywhere, even if it’s been a decade since the last time I was close to it.

But, again, it’s impossible. My Mate is long gone.

There’s no way in hell she’s been here in Whiterose territory this whole time.

Chapter 3

Alina

“Now press your tongue to the roof of your mouth—”

“Wha…?” Noah blinks up at me in confusion.

I try not to laugh at his expression, knowing he’s in pain. It’s just a brain freeze, but still. The primal creature within me roars whenever my child is uncomfortable. As far as I’m concerned, nobody else in the world exists right now.

“Like this,” I tell him, demonstrating with my own mouth.

Noah follows my example and, just for good measure, I place my warm palm against his forehead.

“Mmf,” he says, lips clamped shut, but frowning deeply enough to tell me the pain isn’t subsiding.

“Press a little harder.”

A few seconds pass, and then Noah sighs in relief. Still, when I peel my hand off his forehead, he wrinkles his nose at me.

“Your hand is really sweaty, Mom.”

I snort. “You’re welcome, by the way. I just saved your life.”

“Except you can’t die from a brain freeze.” Then, because nine-year-olds aren’t very good at learning their lessons, he immediately reaches for the rest of his strawberry milkshake.

I let out a long-suffering sigh, and turn away from him, only to find Caitlyn hovering just a few feet away, wringing her hands and staring at me like she’s just seen the Grim Reaper.

Zahra is still at the bar, and I’m pretty sure she’s trying to communicate something to me with her eyes, but I’m too feverish and antsy to decode the wordless message. I turn my attention back to the trembling waitress in front of me.

“What’s wrong, Cait?”

Her eyes grow even bigger as she steps toward me. “I—I’m t-too nervous. M-m-my hands are sh-shaking. Two Alphas, Alina…”

I fight the urge to sigh again. Poor thing. It’s not her fault she’s an Omega. And even though the last thing I want to do is serve Henry and this mysterious visiting diplomat, it’s best I take care of it instead of forcing Caitlyn to endure a nervous breakdown.

I’m off in ten minutes, anyway. Just one last task and I can head home. Zahra is right. I need to shift tonight.

“Don’t worry about it, honey,” I tell Caitlyn. “Why don’t you go bring some refills to table five?”

She looks like she’s about to melt from relief, but she manages to remain steady on her two feet.

My head spins a little as another wave of sickening dizziness races through me. I swallow hard, smoothing down the front of my apron, and head back to the bar. Henry will want black coffee, so I grab the pot that just finished brewing and two clean mugs just in case the visitor needs an afternoon caffeine boost, too.

“Alina, wait,” Zahra hisses.

I pause, halfway around the corner of the bar on my way toward table one at the front of the restaurant.

My friend’s eyes are as wide as saucers. She almost looks like Caitlyn, which is weird, because not a whole lot can spook Zahra. But whatever it is needs to wait, because even if I’m not a member of the Whiterose pack, it’s not in my best interest to keep the Alpha waiting for much longer.