Part 30

I was feeling down the next day. In the back of my mind, I knew it meant I was at that point in the cycle where my heat was due in a week or so. My face turned red the more I thought about it. The night with Alphas in such proximity certainly didn't help my cycle.

My wolf was more on edge today and likely will for the following days. The upcoming hectic schedule involving campaign for our book fair meeting the twin's family, it made my stomach swoop. Hopefully, everything will be alright.

I was needier, colder, and found myself distracted in my head more than I could admit.

The night before was something else. I have no words to describe the time spent with Rowan and Reed. For a second, I completely forgot that we had been apart for five years. That's dangerous territory. Crossing lines. I reprimanded myself on the way back home.

No matter how much they try, it's still an act, and I won't be easily swayed. Not this time. The years have only hardened my resolve to not fall into the same pattern and get hurt by Alphas. It would be foolish of me to abandon my learnings and blindly follow them.

Fortunately, neither of them tried anything, keeping it strictly business. Although Reed did slip back into the balcony, but he quickly snapped back. As much as I wanted to stay longer and admire their humble flat, it was too much. Rowan dropped me off while his brother stayed back.

He did not speak a word in the car, apart from a light commentary on one of the songs playing in the radio. For that, I was grateful, my thoughts already mush and pulse racing with closeness. Bidding him goodbye, I sank into my bed and muffled a loud groan.

I shook my head, trying to stop thinking about the events of last night. It's a bright new day, and I have to be in the office, start with my work.

Stepping out of my house, I noticed that the streets were still white, and the weather was unusually cold for this time of year.

As I headed to the bakery across the street to get my favourite bagel, a bit of sun peeked through the clouds. I closed my eyes for a second and relished the feeling on my skin when I heard someone call my name. A quick glance to the right made me aware that it's none other than Isabella.

The Alpha was racing rather quickly, and when she came to stand right in front of me, she landed a solid punch to my arm.

"Ow, hey!" I called out and jerked back, almost stumbling in my steps. "Why did you do that?"

"Why are you not wearing your suppressants? I could smell you before you entered inside!"

My face turned bright red, aware of a few heads gawking at me. It's not a lot but still quite a few, mainly two Alphas. They are the ones who are always most affected anyway. Usually, there are side effects to taking those suppressants, ranging from drowsiness to going into a drop—both of which I cannot afford at this rate.

She narrowed her eyes dangerously into slits, nose flaring. "Don't tell me you are planning on spending your heat with the twins."

More heads turned to us. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me as a whole. Why was she like this?

At her high pitched voice, I grabbed her by the sleeve and pulled my friend into the corner, giving her a shove. Her back collided with the wall, and she let out a wince.

"Sorry, but are you trying to make an announcement here?!"

She sheepishly smiled. "Sorry. So am I right?"

"You couldn't be further away from the truth. There's nothing going on between us."

"Oh really?" She took a huge sniff, a grin tugging on the corner of her lips. "Are you sure about that? I can smell the Alphas scents on you."

I cleared my throat. "That's because I was having dinner with them last night." Pressing my lips together, I glared at her and added, "Strictly business."

"Ooh, sounds hot."

"You're so weird!"

"Says the one smelling like sex on legs!"

"Shut up!" I weakly slapped her arms, feeling conscious all of a sudden and wrapping my arms together. "Do I really smell?"

"It's subtle, but there. Don't try to navigate outside on your own. Let's go together."

"Geez! Thanks, mother." I rolled my eyes at her. "You know I can protect myself, right? Omegas are equally strong, and I can kick ass."

"I agree with all that, but it's better to be cautious. You are in the pre-heat stage."

I let out a sigh. "Fine."

***

So distracted that I didn't even notice my office door pushed open and loud footsteps approaching. My nose scrunched as I tried to focus on the files laid in front of me.

Renee put them on my desk early in the morning, a detailed marketing plan of our announcement day. My vision blurred at the edges, fingers sliding down the pages.

"Erin?"

I startled at the sound, blinking against the gloss over my eyes and turning to see Rowan. He stood a respectable distance away from me, his jaw set in a tight line. To my surprise, I almost forgot that he could inhale my preheat scent, his smile falling immediately.

"Your smell!" He let out a low growl, a hand running through the thick strands of hair. A single curl clung on his forehand, a sheen of sweat forming by his temple despite the cold. "You are going into heat."

There was almost a wonder in his voice as if something he had been waiting for forever. Or maybe I imagined things again.

Rowan took a step closer, crossing by my desk to stand directly in front of me. I tilted my head at the Alpha and hesitated, mouth parting as I tried not to let my eyes roll at his intense pheromones. In the back of my mind, I knew exactly what my wolf needed right now, but it was a silly, stupid desire.

Clearing my throat, I clasped my hands together, palms clammy. "Umm...Sorry, I'm not feeling too well today. Whatever it is you want, contact my friend, Isabella. She will be in the third cubicle."

He continued staring at me.

"Please head out, Rowan. I won't be desirable company right now."

I was weak today. Weak, and my omega was craving to be held. Coddled and comforted in his arms so that my heat shall arrive soon. A stupid tradition of our ancestors.

"Won't be desirable?" He let out a sharp breath, his hands coming to rest on either side of my chair. "I disagree about that, Erin. Not when you smell like this." This close, I could see every flicker of colour in his eyes, and it's making me forget about everything else but the bright green colour.

Heat radiated off the Alpha in waves, making my toes curl.

I suppressed a wince, the urge to press my neck into the crook of his arm, soak up his scent, my face equally heating up beneath his unwavering gaze.

"Rowan..." I weakly whimpered, tongue feeling heavy in my mouth.

His fingertips ghost over my jaw and across the plump of my cheeks, making my eyelids flutter lightly. I held my breath, feeling my skin tingle everywhere. The Pack Alpha was so close that his body heat entirely engulfed my still shivering figure, coldness stuck to my bones.

His eyes skimmed over my face, stopping at my eyes and nose and lips, and I had no idea what was so captivating that he couldn't seem to stop running his fingers along the contours of my face.

I felt raw and exposed, letting myself be observed by someone like Rowan, the Alpha who trampled my heart years ago like it meant nothing. The same person who was hell-bent on finding out about my past for reasons unknown.

The Alpha zeroed in on my lips, and I knew the feeling that gripped hold of me out of the blue when his gaze lingered. It's the unfiltered desire that's been building up for so long it almost sizzled between us when we locked our eyes.

My lips parted open slightly in an attempt to breathe because that seemed unbearably tricky at this point. I could feel my resolve slowly crumbling once again; I knew it as Rowan ran the pad of his thumb back and forth against the corner of my mouth.

He shouldn't be here. But at the same time, I knew that somehow, this has been inevitable from the very start. Sagging in my seat, I let fate take its course, fluttering my eyes shut, hands fisting at the material of my dress.

Anticipation built in the pit of my belly, waiting for his lips to claim mine.

***