Page 95 of In Deep

“No, not for a while.”

“Well, never mind,” she says with a smile she obviously hopes will disguise her annoyance. “I just came around to collect some things that I left behind.” She steps up towards the door, pushing against the wood.

I don’t budge. “Excuse me, who are you?” I ask, even though I know. I know exactly who she is. Her scent is even more suffocating in my throat.

“Oh, I’m Pippa.” Her fake smile widens. “I’m sure they’ve told you about me.”

I wish – oh, how I wish – I could say no. Instead, I nod.

“So, if you’d just let me in, I can grab my things and get out of your hair. Of course, it would’ve been nice to say hi to the boys. I’m sure they’d love to see me. But—”

“You’ll have to come back,” I say, “when they’re here. I can’t just let you in to rummage through their stuff.”

The woman laughs. “Oh, they won’t mind, sweetie.”

“I think they will. And I think you should’ve called before you showed up.”

“Oh, I did. I was messaging Seb last night. Didn’t he tell you?” She looks at me with fake sympathy, and I’ve never wanted to reach out and strangle someone as much as I do right now. “Didn’t he mention I’d be dropping by?”

“No,” I say, trying not to grind my teeth, “and I’ve got to go.” She starts to protest, but I close the door before she gets a chance. I hear her mutter something about my rudeness, and then her heels click on the path as she walks away.

I wait a few minutes and then creep to one of the front windows, peering through and searching the street. She’s gone.

Immediately, I rush up to the bathroom, searching through the cabinet until I find mouthwash. Snapping off the cap, I chug back a whole mouthful, swilling it around my mouth, desperate to remove the sugary taste of the other omega. I don’t know why it repulses me so much, but it does, turning my stomach and making the fine hairs in my nose bristle. I wash my mouth out three more times and blow my nose twice before I’m satisfied. Then I scrub my hands and my face, even though I didn’t touch her.

Her scent hangs in the hallway like a bad smell, though, slowly curling up the stairs and to my room as if she’s invading the house.

When the alphas return, I come to lurk in the hall, ready to read their expressions. They smell her immediately. I see the way their nostrils twitch and the knowing glances they throw at each other.

“What the hell?” Zane mutters.

I step forward. “She was here,” I say before any of them can dash away.

“Pippa,” Ollie states.

I nod my head. “She wanted to come and pick up some stuff. I wouldn’t let her in.”

“Good,” Zane snaps, dropping his bag to the floor with a thud.

“But she said you knew she was coming, that you’d arranged it.”

Zane’s eyes leap to mine in shock, and he points to his chest. “Me?”

“No,” I say, peering over the others to Seb lurking by the door. “Seb.”

The others snap their heads around to stare at their pack mate. “You’ve been talking to her?” Ollie asks in clear disbelief.

“No.” Seb stomps towards me, stopping right before me. “She’s been talking to me.” I go to open my mouth, but he cuts me off. “You know we’re not interested in that omega. Are you seriously concerned about this?”

“No,” I say, feeling foolish. The girl hurt them, Seb especially. And I’m their omega now.

“So, what exactly has she been ‘talking’ to you about?” Zane asks, the tension clear in his voice.

“She’s been texting me. Saying she made a mistake. That she wants us back.”

“For how long?” My voice is weak in my throat. “For how long has she been texting?”

“A couple of weeks. I ignored the messages. Then I got pissed off with them and told her we have a new omega and to leave us alone.” He reaches up and places his palm on my shoulder. “I am guessing that sparked her curiosity, and she wanted to get a look at you. If I’d known …” I frown. “She’s so far from my mind now, Omega, it didn’t seem worth mentioning it. To you. To any of you,” he adds, turning to look around at his pack mates.