Page 6 of Match (Damselverse #1)

Chapter six

Halle

T he drive back to the guy’s pack house has to be one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life.

Being trapped inside a small, enclosed space with a pair of Alphas whose scent entices me is stifling but also thrilling.

My body feels hot all over, and I have to close my eyes, counting down as I urge my Omega back inside her cage.

I cannot perfume in the car. I just can’t.

What was I thinking, going back home with them? This was a mistake. I mean, it’s hardly smart, getting inside a car with two men you don’t know from Adam.

They could be murderers.

But one did save me from a fire and is a respected member of society. So, I know I can trust them.

Dane turns around in the passenger seat, offering me a friendly wave, and I can’t believe I even thought for a moment that this guy could be a secret serial killer. He just exudes friendliness, like a human version of a golden retriever.

My nerves evaporate, and I return his smile.

Yes, I am safe with this pack. The real monsters are out there still, looking for me.

Well, that’s just too bad. They will never find me again, because I refuse to be their miserable plaything. For the time being, I will stay with Pack Hope.

A small giggle escapes me. The name is almost too good to be true, even for me. Hope has been in short supply in my life lately.

Mostly, my life has been grim.

Pack Grim.

“I see that smile…”

Blushing bright red, I meet Dane’s hazel eyes, and his beautiful grin only widens, making his dimple even more prominent.

“You have a beautiful smile, Petal,” the Alpha coos, making my face burn redder. I shrink in my seat.

Penn sighs, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as he looks at his pack brother pointedly.

The two truly are a sharp contrast. They’re like the sunshine and grump pairings that I often see in books.

The car is covered in Penn’s scent, and I take it that this is his vehicle. He startles me as he speaks, making me jump up to attention.

“So, Halle…no Alphas in your life?”

Wow. That was pretty forward. Penn seemed quiet before, but now he is full of surprising questions.

How do I skirt around his question? I was never good at lying, and I don’t want to have to go into the full story of why I left my pack.

But if I have to lie in order to keep my peace of mind, then so be it.

Dane laughs, trying to change the subject as he punches Penn playfully on the shoulder. “Stop interrogating her, Penn. What’s it to you, anyway, whether she has a pack or not? Unless you’re asking out of personal interest.”

The spectacled Alpha turns the color of beetroot as he keeps his eyes on the road. “No. Just curious why an Omega is wandering the streets alone. Surely, she must have a pack looking for her.”

Dane shakes his head at his pack brother, then turns back to me. I answer the question I see in his eyes.

“No… No pack. J-just me...”

A sad expression takes over Dane’s face, yet there’s no missing the slight relief in his eyes, too.

Is he glad that I’m packless?

Why?

“Well, that’s a shame. What Alpha or pack wouldn’t want you, Petal? As far as I’m concerned, you’re a catch.”

Yeah, tell that to Pack Grim, who didn’t seem to care whether I existed or not. They only kept me around out of convenience.

Or when they were bored and needed something to torment.

Most of the time, they seemed ashamed of me. Of all the Omegas they could have been paired with, they had to end up with me.

That was why I ran away.

I couldn’t deal with the idea of hiding anymore. Especially as they liked to entertain other women in what was supposed to be our pack house.

We were all matched by personality, apparently, but I personally never found any of their scents enticing.

Not like the Alphas in front of me.

We soon arrive at a fancy wrought iron gate, and I stare in awe. They live in a gated community. Does that mean they have money?

Now I know that I am definitely intruding. Will they think I’m a gold digger?

The drive to the house is serene as we roll down a tree-lined street that smells of pine, and I spy large white houses.

Minimansions. That is the only way to describe them. Or manses, maybe.

Penn pulls up to one house tucked away from the rest, one surrounded by beautiful trees, and I try to keep it together.

I’ve always wanted a home by the woods.

The garage door swings upwards, and then Penn parks the car next to two others—an SUV and a truck.

“Home sweet home, Halle,” Dane drawls.

That’s where he’s wrong. This place will never be my home. I am intruding here.

The big Alpha comes around the car, offering me his hand when he opens the door. I take it, letting him lead me into the house as I ignore the spark between us.

Dane gives me a tour, showing me the living room and the movie theatre. They even have a gym and a pool. I really am out of my depth here.

I will not be using that pool as long as I’m here. My stay will only be temporary.

“Well, let’s take you to your room. You must be tired.”

I am, but I don’t tell Dane that as he leads me up the spiral stairs to the second floor. I count five bedrooms, even though there are only three inhabitants, as far as I can tell.

Dane directs me to a room at the end of the hall, pushing the door aside. A large four-poster bed awaits me on the other side, along with an ensuite bathroom and a bay window with a view of the woods.

It's perfect. Too perfect for me.

I shouldn’t be here.

Dane leans against the wall, eyebrows raised as he waits for my response. I meet his hazel eyes.

“It beats the basement of the bookstore, I bet,” he teases.

I bite my lip, trying not to look too eager. I’m afraid I will smear this place with my dirt. Still, I should remember my manners. “Thank you.”

His grin widens further. “You’re welcome, Petal. Just let me show you how the shower works, then I will leave you to your devices.”

Dane wanders to the ensuite, showing me how to use the dials on the shower, and he makes it look and sound so sexy.

"For hot, turn the dial left, and for cold, just turn it right, Petal," the Alpha says, continuing to work that dial until the faucet drips above his head.

Keep it together, Halle. You don’t want to be perfuming now.

When he finally leaves, I step under the shower and let the hot water soothe me. I even take my time, lathering myself up in a mint shower gel that has hints of Penn’s paperback scent.

Could it be his shower gel? Who knows.

When I’m done in the shower, I head to the bed, falling straight to sleep with my hair wrapped up in a fluffy white towel.

It seems almost dying in a fire really takes it out of you after all.

But at least I have good dreams for once.

Dreams about Pack Hope, of course.