Page 16

FOURTEEN

Playing: Bird of Prey by Emily James

I raise my fist to knock but stop. I can feel that same swirling in my stomach, like some deep-rooted anxiety is causing physical uneasiness.

It twists and turns, causing me to take a step back.

I try to remember which breathing exercises normally help with panic attacks before I have a distressing thought: what if I puke on their carpet?

Oh god, I can’t puke in front of them, not from nerves of all things. At least let me get sick from fucking food poisoning, not anxiety .

I realize I can’t just loiter on their porch. They’ll eventually figure out I’m out here. I can’t decipher which one is more embarrassing: having a freak out outside their door or having one in their living room.

I breathe in deeply through my nose and blow it out slowly. The act helps the tiniest bit. My omega tries to ease me through a few more breaths. When I finally feel like I have my emotions under control, I raise my fist to knock once more before I can convince myself not to.

It’s time to rip the bandage off.

It doesn’t take long for Ciro to answer the door.

Just like every time I’ve interacted with him before, he’s grinning from ear to ear.

He’s very casual today in his simple black band tee with gray sweatpants.

I repeat: gray sweatpants . My anxiety instantly gets overridden by the horny omega inside me.

I must zone out because Ciro’s arms are wrapping around me in greeting.

It’s not unwelcomed in the slightest, but I am wholly unprepared for his scent to dominate my senses instantly.

I give a satisfied hum before I wrap my arms around his waist, letting the weight of him ground me.

I hang on, probably longer than I should, inhaling his scent and using it to comfort me enough to do this.

He must notice, because he lets me take my time; I even feel a slight squeeze of comfort come from his hands.

“Are you ready?” he whispers softly in my ear. I swallow down a whimper from the gentleness of it.

All I do is nod against his shoulder because I’m terrified of telling him the truth: that I’m not sure if I will ever be ready for this.

We pull apart. I already miss the comfort, but he makes up for it by taking my hand in his and flashing a small smile. There’s a distinct emotion on his face, but he’s already leading us inside before I can decipher it.

The same plethora of beautiful scents meet my nose as we journey through the house. I’m focusing on it, allowing it to calm my nerves as my omega’s anticipation rises with each step.

Their living room comes into view as the scents come to a head.

I focus on that beautiful mahogany coffee table, where there are cards and board games sitting in a pile, followed by an array of snacks.

A few of my favorites that I told Ciro about are among them; my omega preens at the sight of them.

I finally find the courage to look up at the alphas sitting around the area. They stand up as soon as they spot us, like I’m some honored guest here to bless their home. The sight is surprisingly favorable, and causes something in my stomach to clench.

I take a look at each of them, now in their casual clothes rather than their hockey gear and helmets. I gulp at the same moment my omega gives a heavy exhale.

God, they’re beautiful.

No one approaches us. I stay glued to the doorway, eyeing these alphas as they watch me in a way that makes me feel exposed. There’s a new tension in the air, one that feels centered around me.

“Stacia.”

I turn to Ciro, my name a quiet plea on his lips. I see it then, the emotion I didn’t have time to decode before: longing, hopefulness.

He gives me an anxious smile and it hits me. They know . They’ve known this whole time. The denial in me is crumbling fast; my heart rate speeds up, and I realize that this is the life-changing moment that my omega tried to tell me it was.

So many factors go into scent matches meeting for the first time.

What if they find I’m not the same as how they pictured me?

What if I connect with a few of them, but the rest don’t feel the same way?

Will I be prompting a perfect pack to fall apart with my presence alone?

What if I can’t get over these fears, and they tire waiting for the affection that they all deserve?

“Stacia.” I hear again, and the touch of Ciro’s hand on my arm brings me back to my body. I look at him and realize I’m breathless. His pack mates are still waiting, their faces full of concern as they battle with their instincts to stay still and let me come to them.

Ciro rubs my arm gently. “I’m right here,” he reaffirms. “If you get overwhelmed, let me know and we can take a step back. I promise .”

His words find their mark in my chest. I believe him, I trust him. And that alone helps me take a deep breath before giving a much more confident nod.

I turn to the alphas. Their scents are potent, but a hint of fear now spreads through the room as my own scent joins theirs. I will myself to be brave, as I finally take them all in. They are gorgeous beings, and I suddenly feel small in their presence.

I square my shoulders as much as I can before walking further into the room. My omega’s eagerness dances with my apprehension with each step forward.

The blond alpha moves first. His excitement bounces off of him in spades, his enthusiasm instantly infectious. I find myself smiling despite the bongos beating in my chest.

This is Kendall . I remember Ciro’s description of him: extroverted, happy-go-lucky, and loyal.

The familiar and intoxicating aroma of coconuts floats over, and I bite my lip in embarrassment at the things I did to that smell. I perfume involuntarily, and it invades the space around us. The alphas try to muffle their groans, but my cheeks heat up regardless.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Kendall reassures me.

“If you’re embarrassed, then I should be as well.

The blanket you found has a permanent spot on my bed now.

It’s no longer allowed in communal spaces.

The guys think I’m being selfish.” He says it with such undiluted confidence that it takes me aback. I feel a flush travel down my neck.

“I’m so sorry about that. I… I can’t use my omega as an excuse, but she was quite enamored with it.”

I cringe. When did I turn into a 1800’s duchess?

He gives me a cheeky smile. “Don’t apologize. I am very happy about it. My alpha is giddy knowing that you enjoy our scent that much.”

Oh gosh, I really really do. Even now, I want to step closer to get a bigger whiff of the real thing.

“Is it okay if I hug you now?” he asks, looking boyish in his excitement. I’m nodding before I can even think better of it.

His arms come around me, and the safety of it has me clinging to him harder. His sweet scent surrounds me, making me languid in his arms. His limbs hold me more secure to him, and I sigh, realizing that this is what it feels like to be calm, safe, and unmistakingly adored.

“I’m Kendall by the way,” he says in the crook of my shoulder.

“I know.”

“Oh, you do?”

“Ciro said you were the mix between a surfer bro and a golden retriever.”

He barks a genuine laugh before giving a narrowed look at the pack beta. “Although accurate, I can’t help feeling like that’s a dig.”

Ciro returns his amusement. “I’m nothing if not precise.”

The alpha playfully rolls his eyes before we hear a throat clearing behind us.

We turn in tandem and I’m met with a very beautiful face: dark hair, a broody exterior, very strong muscles.

Kendall smiles and gives me a kiss on the cheek before turning to his pack mate.

“Okay, Uriah. I know you’ve been trying to wait patiently. Come on.”

Uriah saunters over slowly and keeps his head pointed downwards.

His dominance flies off him, and I realize that he’s trying not to intimidate me.

I remember Ciro saying that people were afraid of him, of the intensity they see in his features.

But all I see is a beautiful soul in a very tough exterior.

I gently touch his chin, feeling it under my thumb before raising it so he can meet my eyes.

They’re dark brown with a beautiful orange glint around the pupil.

The air between us is exchanged as we stare and embrace one another.

It might just be wishful thinking, but I’m pretty sure I’m affecting him almost as much as he’s affecting me.

His eyes flutter shut as his nostrils flare, and I realize he’s taking in my scent for the first time.

A raspy moan escapes his mouth, making my perfume that much more potent.

I gasp as his own scent travels towards me, ever so strong but also calming.

It reminds me of burning palo santo on a rainy day, its intensity cleansing me from the inside out.

My stalled fingers on his chin find their way to his cheek, where my thumb swipes across it instinctually. He cradles my own face in return before his lips twitch into a smile.

The first of many , my omega whispers.

It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. The fact that not many people get to see him like this, with an abundance of glee poking through the mask, makes this moment feel precious.

“Omega,” he breathes, and the rasp in his voice sends the word right between my legs. “You are beautiful .”

At the truth in his words, I feel my omega preen. He leans his forehead against mine. We stay there a moment, leaning together in unspoken camaraderie. I feel what he’s trying to say and a whimper comes up my throat.

He’s been waiting for me.

And I think somewhere deep down, I’ve been waiting for him, too.

“Are you ready to meet our prime?” he whispers, and the way he says our prime makes electricity shoot through me, like he’s my prime as well.

We pull apart, but the disappointment from being separated is short lived as the final alpha steps up.

His brown hair is tousled; it looks wonderful in an idle way, like he’s used to running his fingers through it.

His eyes are the most beautiful shade of dark blue, and they’re turned on me with hardened determination.

He steps closer, and his scent grips me. “I smelled you at the fraternity,” I blurt out, remembering it all too clearly.

While it was mixed amongst the others here in their home, it stood out distinctively that day I broke up with Derek. The smell of vintage books alongside chamomile tea. It grounded me when I needed it the most.

“I hope that’s a good thing,” he comments, and I see his eyes have a gleam of mischief in them. The alpha in front of me doesn’t seem like the same prime Ciro had described, and that thrills me unexpectedly.

“The day after…” I hesitate, not wanting to bring up that day, not wanting to have it plague this beautiful moment. “The day after the fight , I went over to end things. I smelled you in the common area, right before.”

“And?” Atlas walks closer still, making me feel like willing prey.

“It calmed me,” I add. “You… helped me do what I needed to.”

A sudden noise sounds from his chest as he stops before me. It takes me a second to recognize the deep purr, my pupils dilating with both glee and shock. He doesn’t look surprised by it, only happy that he can finally do it for me.

He wraps me up in his arms and I melt into him, submitting innately.

“Good,” he rumbles in my ear. “I’m so glad you’re here, Stacia.”

I sigh heavily at hearing him say my name for the first time. It’s a little reminder that I’ll hear it many more times, in many different ways.

“I know this is a lot. You must have questions and reservations. I want you to know, we are here for you. And we will go at your pace, I promise.” His declaration leaves me speechless, remembering Rory’s encouragements from earlier today.

I didn’t even need to ask for what I needed, they just naturally knew.

Great, now I’ll have to tell Rory that she was right. Again .

I swallow nervously, pulling back to look up at him. “I’m still a bit shellshocked,” I admit.

I look at the rest of the pack. They’re all intently listening, giving me their undivided attention. “Can we just… have fun tonight?” I ask timidly before pointing at the coffee table. “I’m really looking forward to playing some games.”

Their smiles light up the room, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Ciro finds his way behind me, and props his chin on my shoulder. “Oh, doe, just you wait. This is our favorite night of the month. Are you ready to lose or win hard?”

I couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped even if I tried. “Most definitely.”