Page 3 of Match (Damselverse #1)

Chapter three

Halle

M y mind is hazy as I slowly come to, and in the sweet momentary bliss of amnesia, I forget how cold and alone I am.

I forget how fucked up my life is and that I am on the run from my pack.

All I feel is warmth.

And Grandma…where is she?

I saw her; I swear I did. She was spreading her arms out for me, telling me to join her on the other side.

Then there was a bright light. I swear I saw it.

I sure smelled it. Flowers. Lots and lots of flowers; the smell reminded me of Grandma’s old garden.

I guess she’s still gardening on the other side.

But I don’t smell flowers anymore. Now, all I smell is smoke as I shiver, missing the warmth she brings.

Grandma…Please… Come back.

My voice echoes as I float endlessly in that space between life and death. I knew it wasn’t real. She had been an illusion. A trick of the mind.

But then she speaks to me, her voice as clear as day. “Wake up, Halle. It’s not your time yet.”

My heart pounds back to life, and despite how weak I am, I speak right back. But…Grandma…I want to go with you…

“But it’s not your time yet. We will see each other again one day. Just…you need to live first, Halle. A long, full life. Promise me. When we meet again, you will be even older than I am, sweetheart.”

A tear drips from the corner of my eye as I inhale my first clean breath.

Older than her? How is that even possible? But still, I promise.

I will, Grandma. I will…

“Now, wake up. There’s a handsome firefighter hovering over you.”

My eyes snap open.

Firefighter?

Stars. Trapped inside a velvety black expanse that my mind can’t quite place a word for yet.

The stars are hidden behind a veil of orange and hazy smoke…and what happened? Where am I?

My face is covered in an oxygen mask, and it takes me a few moments to gather myself.

I’m alive.

And I almost died.

Still, it doesn’t stop me from wiping away at the tear in the corner of my eye as my grandmother’s face and voice linger.

I want to see her again. Life has been so hard since she left. I never found that dream pack that she always wished for me.

The pack that I did find…well…

Someone steps into view, and I peer up, meeting vast hazel eyes. They’re beautiful, like swirling galaxies far away in space, and it takes me a moment to realize that I am looking at an Alpha.

I shuffle away from him, and he blinks at me in surprise. “Whoa, easy now.”

But I don’t listen to his deep, silken voice. No, I continue to shuffle away from him because I’ve had enough of Alphas these days, thank you very much.

Still, his scent of woodsmoke and spice awakens something deep inside me, and I can’t help but feel gravitationally drawn to the hazel-eyed Alpha.

“Are you all right, Petal?” he asks, his voice laced with concern.

Petal?

No one has ever given me a pet name before. Well, no man ever has, and certainly no Alpha.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath as I ignore my racing heart. “Where…where am I?”

The Alpha shuts his eyes, taking off his helmet, and that’s when I finally see it. He's a firefighter, and a freaking handsome one who also happens to be an Alpha.

Does that mean there had been a fire? It would explain all the smoke and the orange haze in the sky.

A few stars still blink down at me from up above as the Alpha speaks again, his voice resonant. “Petal…you were caught in a fire.”

It's like the Grim Reaper squeezes my heart as his words confirm my fears. Even though I had ascertained as much, it still doesn’t stop the shiver that skitters down my spine.

Now it makes sense. The matches, the basement…

I had set the adorable little bookstore up in flames, and tears pour from my eyes when I think of all those poor books.

They will be nothing but ash now.

The Alpha startles, and then he does something strange next.

He purrs.

The sound vibrates, shooting straight to my heart, but I don’t understand why he is purring for me. He is not my Alpha.

But then, it’s not as if my Alphas ever purred or comforted me.

“Petal, don’t cry. You’re all right now. No one got hurt. That’s all that matters. You are alive.”

He growls the last, as if to punctuate his point, but the waterworks still don’t stop. Now I’m a complete mess as my howl echoes through the street, and people are watching me.

But I don’t care. Let them see me.

That’s when the Alpha wraps his large, muscled arm around me, and something awakens in me again.

My Omega melts like a little kitten receiving a pet, and I meet his eyes through my tears.

“I’m…sorry. I…I never meant…”

I hiccup, as I can’t finish my words.

“It’s all right, Petal,” the Alpha purrs, and it affects his voice, making him sound even more sinfully sexy.

It's the last thought a girl should have after being pulled out of a burning fire, but my Omega can’t help but be attracted to the Alpha with his rich, smoky scent.

It's potent, thrilling even as it burns through my veins, bringing me back into focus. It grounds me, and now I resist the urge to run my fingers through his shoulder-length brown hair.

The Alpha chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to play with matches?”

I blink dumbly up at his face, but the Alpha continues to laugh.

I’m really confused right now.

Am I in trouble, or what?

“It’s all right, Petal. I’ve got you covered,” he winks. “I know the owner of the bookstore. He won’t press charges.”

My heart flaps like a terrified bird, and then I go into a mini-panic.

Of course. I had been living in the basement of the bookstore, unbeknownst to the owner, and I look at the Alpha earnestly now. “The books? Did they make it?”

The Alpha blinks at me in surprise again. I get it. I almost died. Books should be the furthest thing on my mind, but then he closes his eyes and sighs. “They didn’t make it, I’m afraid.”

My body deflates. No…

All those books. All those little universes that have turned to ash, all because I had been so careless with a match.

The Alpha studies me carefully. “If you don’t mind me asking, Petal, but what in the blazing hell were you even doing down there?”

My reticence seems to say it all, and he exhales for the umpteenth time, stepping back again.

My Omega whines at his absence, and I just want to drag him back to my side and let his warmth comfort me, but he’s a stranger.

And I pretty much burned down his friend’s bookstore and livelihood, most likely.

He smiles, showing me a prominent dimple on his gorgeous face. “But they’re just books in the end. Don’t you worry, Petal.”

Just books? No, no, no.

I haven’t had a chance to read as much since living on the streets, but books have saved me countless times throughout my life.

They gave me an escape when life got too much. A new world to explore.

He's obviously not much of a reader then, and I highly doubt that his friend shares his sentiment.

Just books…

Unbelievable.

“I’m Dane, by the way. What’s your name, Petal?” he asks.

The Alpha extends a hand, and I stare at his fingers for a moment before accepting his handshake.

A spark ignites between us. Did I light another match, perhaps?

“Halle.”

The Alpha grins, showing me a set of shiny white teeth. “Halle? Pretty. But I’m going to keep calling you Petal, if that’s okay?”

I smile. “Sure.”

Dane peers behind his shoulder, and his thick eyebrows crumple. “Um… You remember that friend I mentioned? The one who owns the bookstore?”

My heart pounds. Oh no.

“Well, he’s on his way over, and as you can imagine, he’s a little distraught. But don’t worry, Petal. I meant it when I said I had you covered.”

Oh, fuck me sideways.

I am about to meet the man whose basement I have been staying inside this past week. Even worse, I just burned down his building.

He will hate me for sure.

That’s when the bookstore owner steps into view, and I am spellbound by a set of piercing gray eyes—eyes that are magnified by his glasses.

Fuck. He’s gorgeous, too, with dirty blond curls and full, kissable lips that are way too pretty for a guy.

And the worst part of all…

He smells like the pages of a brand-new book.

One of my favorite scents.

Well, I’m screwed.