Page 7 of Match (Damselverse #1)

Chapter seven

Aiden

I’ve just finished putting Sox the Tuxedo cat back into his overnight cage as I finish his routine health check.

Someone brought him into the surgery last Thursday afternoon, and unfortunately, the little handsome chap isn’t microchipped.

I’ll be stapling missing cat posters to every post I find in the next few days—any way to get the cat back to his owners.

I bet they’re missing him and his little white mustache.

For the time being, until his humans are found, we will ensure that he is as comfortable as possible. And if someone doesn’t come forward…well, he will always have a place at the local adoption center.

I’m good friends with the Alpha who runs it.

“Don’t worry, little fella,” I promise the cat as I rub beneath his chin. It looks like someone loves chin rubs. “We will find you a home soon enough. Just hang tight.”

He purrs, loving every rub of my finger. Then he flops down onto his back, showing me his handsome white underbelly that looks like a tuxedo as he stretches out his paws, displaying those perfect murder mittens.

I smile.

Damn, I freaking love cats. I practically grew up with them, so I just get them, you know.

This one seems to get me, too, as he keeps being an adorable motherfucker, giving me the serotonin boost I need as he continues rolling on his back.

I heard what happened at Penn’s shop, and I can’t believe some people…

Arson. Seriously.

At least no one got hurt.

If I ever get my hands on the bastard who burned down his shop, well, I will happily put a dent in their face.

As a vet, I have all kinds of tranquilizers. I’m sure I could think of something.

Someone knocks on the door of the surgery, and I look up to find Dane’s smiling face.

I’ve only seen brief glimpses of what happened through the pack bond, but I take it he is here to tell me the full story.

Still, poor Penn. He’s not going to know what to do with himself. He’s not the kind of Alpha who likes to keep still. He needs a purpose.

I guess he could always help me out in the surgery. So long as he doesn’t mind cleaning up cat shit, then I’m sure we could come up with some arrangement.

“Aiden! Just the vet I wanted to see…”

Fuck. I know that tone. It looks like someone did get hurt in the fire after all, and it seems I have a new little soul to save now.

Sometimes, I hate humans. Despise them.

I sigh, rubbing beneath Sox’s white chin. “What is it? A cat? A dog? Pigeon?”

Yes, I even work on pigeons. They deserve as much love as any other creature.

Dane steps into the surgery, shutting the door behind him. “Not exactly. She’s much larger than a pigeon. Though, only a little bigger perhaps.”

She?

“St. Bernard then?” I ask.

“Hell, no. Way smaller…”

I roll my eyes. “Spill it, Dane. The suspense is killing me.”

“It’s an Omega. There. All out in the open.”

It takes me a moment to process his words. “A human Omega?”

Dane laughs nervously. “What else?”

Now I am confused, and I stop petting Sox as I shut the door to his crate. “What is going on, Dane?”

The Alpha steps toward the crate, letting the cat sniff his finger through the bars, but he can’t evade my question for long.

“Dane? Look, I’ve had a long day. I’ve neutered two dogs and spayed one cat. Katie had to leave earlier to pick up her brother from school. Just get on with it.”

Katie is my assistant, of course.

Dane sighs, rising to his full height, and folds his arms, putting on his serious hat.

“Aiden, it’s pretty serious, but there is something you ought to know before you meet her. She’s the one who caused the fire.”

I raise my brows. “And you brought her home with you, why? Why isn’t she in a cell?”

He blows his cheeks. “I was getting to that. Well, it turns out that she’s my scent match. Her rose scent called to me, hence how I knew she was in the basement of Penn’s shop.”

Wow. What kind of idiot lights a match in the basement of a shop filled with natural tinder? Not that I would ever tell Penn that books make for good tinder.

“And how does Penn feel about you bringing the woman home who just destroyed his life?”

Dane runs a hand through his brown hair. “I was just getting to that. She’s his scent match, too. Maybe. He didn’t say, but he didn’t have to. I could tell by the way he looked at her.”

This is too much. I need a drink. I head to my office, where I keep whiskey in a decanter, and pour myself and Dane a glass.

“Sabrina!” Dane exclaims when he finds our nine-month-old golden retriever puppy in her basket.

The dog bounds out of her bed and up into Dane’s arms and licks his face to death as he cradles her like she’s still a wee baby.

“How’s my girl been?” he coos. Sabrina answers him with a bark, and the Alpha laughs. “Oh, really? Well, wait until you hear what kind of day I’ve had.”

“Dane?” I probe.

Look, I get that Sabrina is cute, but we need to finish this discussion. We have an Omega arsonist living in our house. It's best to be as calm as possible in these situations, but I take it that Dane has a good reason as to why he brought her back.

Her being his possible scent match isn’t quite enough.

Dane drops the dog back to her feet, and she watches him like he hangs the moon as he explains himself.

“She didn’t cause the fire on purpose. She had been living in Penn’s basement.”

So, she’s homeless.

“And you brought her back because you think she may be your scent match.” I sip my whiskey.

“I don’t think; I know it. Penn feels it, too. Just trust me, Aiden.”

I run my fingers through my blond hair, pulling out the hair tie. “Fuck.”

“Just meet her first before you judge her. Penn decided not to press charges, and I put in a good word to the cops.”

I sigh. “Seriously, Dane.”

“Look, I wasn’t about to turn away some helpless Omega. Even if she weren’t the one, the girl needs a place to stay.”

True. It’s not safe out there for Omegas. Where are her Alphas? Did they know she had been sleeping in a bookstore basement?

“And her pack?”

Dane shakes his head. “No pack.”

Well, that’s rather odd. Surely, there must be Alphas out there worried about her.

Dane grabs his drink, swigging it back. “She’s sleeping right now, but she should be waking up soon. Just…you may want to prepare yourself before you meet her.”

“Why?” I ask.

He smirks. “You’ll see.”

Oh, I will, will I? It’s not as if I liked any of the other girls he’s tried to throw at me. So, why should this time be any different?

Besides, arsonists don’t quite do it for me.

Penn arrives at the office next, and I sigh when I meet his eyes. “Hey, I’m sorry about what happened, man. Just know that we’re here for you.”

The Alpha shuts his eyes, reaching down to pet Sabrina, and I can tell he’s trying to keep it together.

He rarely gets mad, but I think this would be a good time as any for him to damn the entire world. It’s just not fair.

“It’s fine,” he rasps, his voice hoarse. “I’ve come to terms with what happened.” Sabrina whines up at him, and he meets her eyes. “Why, thank you, Sabrina.”

The Alpha pets the dog on the head, and she wags her tail happily.

Penn looks at Dane. “She has risen.”

Wow. He makes it sound so ominous. He does look uncomfortable, though.

Is he afraid of the girl?

Dane beams. “Amazing! Come on, Aiden. Time for you to meet Petal.”

Petal? Here we go…

He has already named her.

I lock up the office and follow Dane, Penn, and Sabrina toward the house. I whisper to Dane before we enter the back kitchen. “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

He grins. “Oh, trust me, I do, Aiden. I have a plan.”

“And pray tell, what plan would that be?” Penn asks, his voice bored and neutral.

Dane chuckles. “We make her fall for us. You heard her, Penn. She has no Pack or Alphas.”

“And are you so sure about that?” I ask this time.

Dane shrugs. “I don’t see any reason not to trust her.”

I exhale. “Well, you can’t argue with that logic.”

I hope for his sake he is right. Because I do not want to see him get his heart broken…again. Dane just loves too easily. So many girls have taken advantage of his kindness, and I hope this time really is different.

We enter the house, stepping into the living room, and my eyes fall on the small blonde by the fireplace.

The one with the messy, towel-dried hair, but even then, she’s remarkable.

“Petal, I would like you to meet the third member of our pack. Aiden. The vet.”

I have no idea what comes over me when she finally turns, fixing me with those huge periwinkle eyes.

She’s perfect. Well, at least my Alpha thinks she is, and I thank my lucky stars that she’s unspoken for.

I don’t want to have to fight off any potential rival Alphas.

I sense it then. Her scent.

Rose.

It’s divine, and my Alpha rears his head as he growls one word. Mine.

Great. Now I’ve gone and lost my mind, too.