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Walden clapped his hand on the man’s shoulder and pulled a card from his pocket.

“So sorry about that accident, buddy. Call my office and we’ll get a refund or a replacement. Whatever you need.”

Tully kneeled on the ground, her bags surrounding her like a makeshift shield. Another of the plastic bags had broken, this one filled with lingerie, now spread over the ground. A flush roared up my neck and I pulled off my jacket to toss over the intimate clothing.

“Yeah, well, we’re kind of in the middle of an interview.” The other man gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted to say more, but decided against it.

Tully was cornered prey right now, and her pupils ate up her eyes.

“Tully is much too tired, aren’t you?” Walden pressed.

Tully was too busy pulling the spilled belongings into her bags until they bulged.

Fig and honey, sharp and burnt, seared my nostrils and my hands curled into fists at her distress. The scent was luscious and addled my thoughts. Tully staggered to her feet, bowing under the burden of the bags.

“Tully?” I whispered.

Her gaze flickered to Walden and me, and all the color drained from her face. Her wide eyes were so unique, my throat tightened. Crystal blue, almost white. Tully’s arms trembled, and the bags she held crashed onto the footpath again. I dropped to help her, prying them from her trembling fingers.

Walden clicked his tongue. “Tully received some distressing news. I appreciate your kindness at this time.”

“And our discretion, right?” The camera-man shook his head, but his lips tipped up. They wandered back down the alleyway and slipped past Ajax. There were a few more people milling with cameras.

“You’re coming home with us, alright?” Walden picked up Tully’s bags.

“I-what?” The omega’s eyes were wide like saucers now and she paused packing up her things. “Am I hallucinating from hypothermia?” The last bit, she muttered more to herself, and a flare of panic blistered me inside.

The breathy, soft lilt ofmyTully. I ground my fist into my chest, unable to focus on the revelation. My bottom lip wobbled with surprise and wonder. I felt like I was hallucinating, too.

“This is real, honey girl, please let us get you out of the cold.”

She cradled her wrist, red with the lingering weight of carrying all those bags. I could drown in the glassy reflection of her eyes. There were so many things I wanted to say to her, and they bubbled inside me. I wrapped my arm around Tully, concerned she might faint. Her cheeks were white like chalk, and her teeth clattered together.

“Walden…” She faltered, gulped, and I couldn’t understand the shame in her glistening gaze.

Tully shivered so hard I worried she’d catch her tongue between her teeth. Walden whipped his jacket off and draped it over her shoulders. Tully flinched, her pupils dilating as his cool,minty eucalyptus surrounded her. My stomach warmed at the sight, the girl I dreamed about in clothes from my packmate.

“I’m freezing.” Her lips moved as if numb, and I tugged her tighter into my embrace.

Her plump lower lip parted as if words banked on her sluggish tongue. But she said nothing. Silence was a heavy, tense shroud over all of us.

“Do you want us to take you home?” Walden shuffled closer to Tully.

Tully flinched, and her scent soured my nostrils. The clamoring voices from the mouth of the alleyway rose.

“I have nowhere to go.” Even the slightest noise would have drowned out Tully’s words.

“Did you want us to take you to the Omega Center?” Walden hovered a hand at her elbow, and I swallowed a protest.

I didn’t want Tully out of my sight.

His words made Tully tremble harder. “I can’t go there,” she whispered.

I ran my hand down her arm. My scent flared wildly right now, so close to the woman of my dreams. But Walden’s eucalyptus still overshadowed my mild sunscreen and salt with his more powerful alpha scent.

Alpha scent.

Tully would know my secret soon, if she hadn’t put it together already. Omega scents were lush and sweet. Alpha scents were powerful and overbearing. Beta scents were softer, mild.