Page 101 of Scent to the Feral Cowboys

I just never expected things to turn out this way…

Boone.

“Bathrooms that way,” Wyatt pointed down the hall. I angled my body to the right, hoping Nelly could see past me to the door with the small antlers mounted above it. My braid swung across my chest. “If you get hungry, just let us know. Kitchen’s always open.”

“I won’t get hungry,” Nelly replied, then took two steps inside the room. She turned to face us, gripped the door, and began to close it. The narrowing view made me step forward, bumping into Coop. I didn’t mean to move, but it was like those urges I got to disappear for a few days. My body just needed to be closer to her. My soul desperately wanted to look at her a while longer. I couldn’t stop myself from listening to the deep-seated desire.

Wyatt pushed his boot in the way, preventing her from shutting us out.

“Am I not allowed to close the door? No privacy for the product?” She arched an eyebrow, challenging us. “Any other rules I should know?”

“We’ll respect your privacy, Nelly,” Wyatt said slowly, the hint of amusement in his voice probably only detectable to our pack because we knew him so well. “Just wanted to let you knowthat this room is temporary. The new place will be finished soon. It’s got a proper pack suite there and?—”

“I already know this situation is temporary, and I don’t need to know anything aboutyournew house.” She pushed the door with both hands, trying to force Wyatt’s foot away. It was a valiant effort, one which made her face redden and her frown deepen. Her pinked cheeks made her freckles stand out. I imagined her on the back of a horse. Copper hair flying behind her as she rode. Sunlight deepening the flecked spots across her pale skin. She shouldn’t be trapped in this house, trapped in this situation with us. This woman deserved to be free, unrestrained, adored for exactly who she was. Even if she’d agreed to work with Eros, she shouldn’t have to stay somewhere she hated.

I wanted to say, ‘Let her leave. We can’t keep her here.’ Yet, the words wouldn’t come out. The truth was that every part of me rejected the way Nelly had arrived at Sagebrush with her damn wrists bound and those Beta bastards treating her like a package. The flip side was that she’d already burrowed into my marrow. I’d recognized her as my mate from the second I smelled her. We were irrevocably bound, mark or not. The rest of the pack felt the same. The certainty of finding our Omega had already shifted their Alpha colognes. Our group scent was layered with new notes. The floral, herbaceous scent of the stunning woman I couldn’t stop staring at.

“Ournew house,” Levi said hopefully, though he seemed to regret his words seconds later when our Omega’s eyes shot arrows in his direction.

“Yes,” she said carefully, whittling the syllables into swords, “Yourpack’s new house. The five of you. I’m sure it’ll be a brilliant place to jack each other off because no Omega in their right mind will have you, Eros contract or not!”

She slammed the door closed.

Wyatt crossed his arms and stared at the barrier for a moment. His mouth was tugged up at the corners. Though it was solid hardwood, he could break it down in heartbeat. While I stood feeling like I’d betrayed my morals by forcing a woman into our lives, Wyatt seemed to be almost enjoying her defiant spirit. But I knew that a person, and a wild creature, only acted this way when they were unnaturally caged.

“Maybe let’s just leave her alone for a while,” Cooper suggested, shuffling his feet and looking like a guilty kid who stuck his hand in the cookie jar one too many times.

I knew him all too well; the man was beating himself up for thoughtlessly spending money again. Even I knew this was different though. He wasn’t pulling a prank. This wasn’t an impulsive one-click purchase from a late-night social media ad. Just like the rest of us, Cooper was suffering. Wearing down at the edges, because our fucking genetics forced us to find an Omega. This wasn’t a fancy ass espresso machine, or a bread maker we’d never use. Nelly was the key to staying sane. I couldn’t fault him for trying, while the rest of us were running away, throwing ourselves into work, or having meaningless one-night stands in town.

“We’ll leave her alone,” Wyatt said slowly, “soon as I’ve said my piece.”

He moved forward, lifting a fist to knock firmly on the door. Nelly didn’t say anything.

“Nelly, I’m going to assume you’re listening,” Wyatt spoke loud enough for her to hear clearly inside the bedroom, “You’re free to roam the property, but not alone. Wyoming wilderness isn't Seattle. We got grizzlies, mountain lions, even wolves in these parts. It’s rough terrain for miles. No cell service. Nearest town is thirty miles away. Going out alone, especially at night mind you, is foolhardy.”

Wyatt fell quiet, waiting for a response. None came.

He shook his head, smirking a little. “She’s going to be a handful,” he said under his breath in a tone that clearly showed he didn’t mind that Nelly was a wildcat.

When Wyatt began walking away, we all naturally moved.

After a few feet, Nelly finally shouted at us. “I’m out of here the minute you turn your backs!”

The raw defiance in her voice stirred my inner Alpha.

Protect her.Safeguard her from any future harm.

Our Omega, my Omega, had been handcuffed and delivered to strangers. Yes, we were strangers to her, even though our bodies recognized her in an inexplicable, supernatural way.

“Nelly, it’s real dangerous out there. We’re not just trying to scare you.” The words were tumbling out of my mouth unbidden. I was nearly shouting, pushing through the other guys to get back to Coop’s bedroom door.

"I survived Seattle's nightlife," she shot back, voice loud enough that I was pretty sure she stood right on the other side of the door. "I think I can handle a few coyotes or bears or whatever the fuck’s out there."

Pressing my palm against the wood, imagining I could feel her warmth through its solidness, I tried to communicate with her the way I did creatures out in the wild. I remembered the bear, how we’d experienced the night together, warming by the fire. I hated how her smell was dampened right now. Yes, her scent still lingered in the hallway, but I wanted it to flow around me, unobstructed and potent.

“Just listen fornow, Nelly. Stay safe rightnow. Later, we’ll figure this thing out.” I breathed out the words, hoping she’d see reason.

“Unless you guys get the fuck out of my way and let me leave rightnow,” she weaponized my own emphasis against me, “then I don’t see how we’ll figure this fucking thing out. Just leave me alone!”