Page 12

Emmie

I quickly change into dry clothes and look around the empty cottage. The thought of lying in bed replaying not only Romeo's words but also his girlfriend’s, makes my stomach clench.

I need to see Eli. There was something about him I liked. He’s possibly the kindest Alpha I have ever encountered. And he invited me to his cottage in the woods whenever I wanted to talk.

I think about Professor Benson’s words as I take the route through the estate’s gardens. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with flower beds transitioning seamlessly into more natural woodland areas.

It’s peaceful here.

The wind chimes grow louder as I follow the sound through the gardens, past the rose beds and toward the eastern edge of the estate.

Eli’s small cottage comes into view. Dozens of wind chimes hang from the covered porch, creating a symphony of gentle notes that carry through the air.

I should turn around, go home, but I don’t. Maybe it’s the Omega in me seeking comfort, or maybe I’m just desperate for Alpha contact that doesn’t come with ulterior motives.

I smile when I hear the soft sound of someone whistling nearby. Hoping it’s Eli, I follow the sound; I discover him kneeling beside a bed of herbs, his hands dark with soil as he carefully transplants seedlings.

He looks up as I approach, a genuine smile lighting his face. “Jolie. What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

He studies me for a moment, taking in my damp hair and the obvious distress I had tried to wipe from my face.

“You look upset. And you’re shaking.” When he speaks, his voice is gentle, lacking any of the commanding authority I associate with Alpha men.

I glance down at my hands and realize he’s right. My whole body is trembling, whether from cold or fear, I’m not sure.

“I’m fine,” I say. I think I am. The combination of Professor Benson’s support and the walk to this peaceful setting has done more for my mood than I expected.

“What are you planting?”

“Lavender,” he says, sitting back on his heels. “It is good for relaxation, and the bees love it. Plus, it makes excellent tea for settling nerves.”

I crouch down beside him, studying the delicate purple flowers. “You really do know everything about plants, don’t you?”

“Not everything,” he laughs. “But I’ve had a lot of time to learn. There’s something honest about gardening. If you put in the work, provide the right conditions, things will grow. Much simpler than dealing with people.”

There’s something wistful in his tone that makes me study his profile more carefully. “Do you ever miss it? Dealing with people, I mean. Don’t you get lonely out here?”

Eli pauses in his planting, his green eyes meeting mine. “Sometimes,” he admits. “But loneliness is better than the alternative, in my experience.”

“What alternative?”

“Trusting someone and having them leave when something better comes along.” His voice is matter-of-fact, but I catch the old pain underneath. “At least plants are honest about their needs.”

I think about his story of Kate, the Omega who left him for her scent match. “Not everyone leaves,” I say softly.

“Don’t they?” He turns to face me fully, and there’s something vulnerable in his expression. “In my experience, people stay until they have a reason not to. And there’s always a reason, eventually.”

The cynicism in his words makes my chest ache. “That’s a sad way to live.”

“Let’s go inside,” Eli says, gesturing toward his cottage behind us. “Let me make you some tea.”

Every instinct I have screams at me to politely decline and go home.

I consider why I came here. I don’t know this man, don’t know his intentions, but there’s something in Eli’s demeanor that feels safe.

He has a calmness that Romeo completely lacks, and I sense that he’s offering comfort expecting nothing in return.

“I don’t want to bother you,” I say quietly, still wondering why I came.

“You’re not bothering me.” His smile is warm and genuine. “And the beautiful company would be welcome.”

He called me beautiful . Against my better judgment, I nod. “Okay. Thank you.”

The inside of Eli’s cottage is a revelation. Where my place feels like a carefully maintained rental property, this feels like a home. Books line every available wall, plants cascade from windowsills, and the furniture is comfortable, pieces that invite you to curl up and stay awhile.

The scent that fills the space is uniquely Eli—he smells like the outside and sunshine. I know he’s not my scent match, but his scent is calming in a way that makes my shoulders relax for the first time all day.

“Sit wherever you’re comfortable,” he says, moving toward a small kitchen area. “Chamomile okay? It’s good for settling nerves.”

I settle into a corner of his oversized couch, tucking my legs beneath me. “How did you know I was upset?”

Eli glances back at me while he fills a kettle. “Call it intuition. Plus, you’ve been crying.”

I smile as I touch my cheek.

“Bad day?” he asks gently, not pushing for details.

“The worst,” I say.

“And how has Romeo been with you?” Eli’s tone is carefully neutral, but I catch the slight tightening around his eyes.

“He’s left me alone for a few days.” The lie tastes bitter, but I’m not about to dump too many of my problems on a stranger, no matter how kind he seems.

Eli brings over two steaming mugs, handing me one before settling on the opposite end of the couch. He’s careful to leave plenty of space between us, I notice, respecting my boundaries in a way that feels foreign after Romeo’s aggressive invasion of my personal space.

“You don’t have to tell me what happened,” he says quietly. “But if you need to talk, I’m a good listener. And I promise, nothing you say will leave this room.”

The tea is perfect and soothing, chamomile with hints of honey and lavender. I wrap my hands around the mug, letting the heat seep into my fingers.

“Can I ask you something?” I say after a few moments of comfortable silence.

“Of course.”

“Have you never had an Omega since Kate?”

He’s quiet for so long that I think he might not answer.

When he finally speaks, his voice carries a weight that suggests old pain.

“I loved her very much. We were together for three years, planning to bond formally.” He stares into his tea as if it holds answers.

“But she wasn’t my scent match. And when she met hers. ..”

“She left,” I finish softly.

“She left,” he confirms. “Couldn’t fight the biology, couldn’t deny what her Omega recognized as her true mate. I understood, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It was a few years ago.” He looks up at me, and I can see the old sadness in his green eyes. “But it taught me something important about the difference between love and biology, between choosing someone and being chosen by your instincts.”

The parallel to my situation with Romeo is so obvious it makes my chest tight. “Do you think...do you think scent matches are really that powerful? That they can override everything else?”

Eli studies my face carefully. “Are we talking hypothetically, or is there something specific you’re dealing with?”

Heat rises in my cheeks. “Hypothetically.”

“Hypothetically,” he says with a small smile that suggests he doesn’t believe me, “I think scent matches create a powerful biological pull. But I also think we’re more than our biology. We have choices, even when those choices are difficult.”

“But what if the Alpha doesn’t want to choose? What if they want to have it both ways?”

Something shifts in Eli’s expression, a sharpening that reminds me he’s an Alpha too, despite his gentleness. “Then they’re a coward and a fool. Any Alpha who would string along an Omega. Especially his supposed match, rather than making a real commitment, doesn’t deserve either woman.”

The vehemence in his voice surprises me. “I take it you’re speaking from experience.”

“I speak from watching too many alphas treat omegas like possessions instead of people.” He sets down his mug with careful control. “It’s disgusting behavior, and any Alpha who engages in it deserves to lose both relationships.”

I think about Romeo’s proposition, his casual dismissal of Cerise’s feelings, his expectation that I should be grateful for whatever scraps of attention he’s willing to offer. Eli is right—it is disgusting behavior.

“What if the Omega is tempted?” I ask quietly. “What if she feels the biological pull, and it’s strong enough that she’s considering accepting an unhealthy situation just to...to have some connection?”

Eli leans forward, his green eyes intense. “Then I’d tell her she deserves better. That accepting less than she’s worth will only lead to heartbreak and regret.” His voice softens. “And I’d tell her that real Alphas—the ones worth having—don’t make those kinds of selfish demands.”

Tears prick my eyes at the kindness in his voice, the way he’s affirming things I know in my head but can’t quite feel in my heart. “What if she doesn’t think she can do any better?”

“Then she’s not looking in the right places,” Eli says simply.

“Trust me, Jolie, any Omega brave enough to ask these questions is smart enough to recognize when she’s being treated poorly, and she deserves an Alpha who will cherish her completely.

Not someone who wants to hide her away like a shameful secret. ”

Using my name makes it clear we’re no longer speaking hypothetically. I should be embarrassed that he’s seen through my transparent questions, but I feel a sense of relief at being understood.

“You make it sound simple,” I whisper.