Page 14 of Heat Hesitation

"Your name is Ophelia?" Sully confirms, his voice deceptively calm. He slowly lowers to a crouch so we're nearly eye level, though his torso is so much taller than mine, I still have to look up.

I hesitate.

We're scent-matched. I can almost hear Alma making a case for them, telling me to just give in. But memory Alma and dead Alma are two different people. Memory Alma was a dreamer, in love with the idea of an omega from South Loop getting swept off her feet by a high-society pack, like a real-life Cinderella. Dead Alma knew what a wealthy pack was capable of: dark at their core, vicious, dangerous liars.

I don't have anything against packs. Or alphas. But I have something against them.

I'm tempted to run, but it's useless at this point. They'll chase after me. They'll be able to track me down easily, knowing Fletcher.

Asher's strong woodsy scent envelopes me, his grip firm. When I attempt to stand, his hands dart out to help, his touch never leaving my body. One hand holds my arm, the other at my lower back.

I take in the four of them. The familiar swagger and charm I'm used to seeing in the newspapers—Theodore Constantine, the playboy, the heartthrob—is nowhere to be found. He's angry. His mouthwatering, enticing sweet lemon and honey scent is tinged with a bitterness, making my steps falter.

Straightening himself out, he turns and storms through the parking lot. Enzo watches quietly, curiously. Less is known about him, though supposedly he's a brilliant, reserved savant. There are rumors there's something dark and disturbing about the fourth member of the Constantine pack, but I find nothing discomforting about him.

Sully takes my other arm, and he and Asher guide me through the lot, never letting go. When we reach the waiting SUV, Theo's already shut himself in on the front passenger side. Enzo tilts his head, observing the whole thing like a documentary.

I stare at the open door, then up at Asher, then Sully. They're both so tall and broad-shouldered, towering above me.

"You're not letting me go, are you?" I ask dejectedly.

Enzo laughs, shocking his brothers. Asher looks at me like I've rejected him, kicked him in the stomach. The image of him hurting, the way his scent dims, makes me want to reach out and hug him, to tell him I'm sorry, and I take it back. I swallow the urge to apologize.

"No. We're not leaving you, an omega, and our scent-match, alone in the fucking parking lot," Sully growls. "Get in the car."

"Will you drive me home?" I tilt my head toward him, curious if this is the part where they kidnap me and force me to be theirs. He surprises me by nodding once.

I guess this is the end of the line. I look back to the waiting SUV. Sensing I've decided not to struggle, at least not yet, Enzo goes to the other side, climbing in the back seat. I climb in the middle, Asher next. Sully climbs into the driver's side, and we all silently wait.

Theo reaches over, turning off the radio, making the quiet even louder. Finally, Sully asks, "Where do you live, Ophelia?"

"Downtown," I lie. He nods and drives out of the lot to head back down the mountain. Despite the intensity in the air, my conflicting feelings, fear about what happens next, and the utter relief at finally being near them and their scents, has my little omega snuggling, cozy and tired.

I want to roll my eyes at her.

Enzo, to my left, has the most unique scent of eucalyptus and mint. It's crisp and sharp, just like that feeling I get when I jump in the river. It makes me feel awake, vibrant, and alive. He's staring at me like I'm a puzzle to figure out, and I can't help but steal glances at him, too.

Maybe there's a way out of this that doesn't involve me being nothing but a hole for them to knot. I have Red, I remind myself. He won't let me get stolen away.

"Ophelia," Asher whispers softly, and I can't help but shiver and preen when my scent-match says my name. The action doesn't go unnoticed, and suddenly, he's purring. I've never had an alpha purr for me. My eyes close, and I let the vibration calm my racing heart. Asher tenses at my reaction, and I try to hide it, but his fingertips caress my bare arm, allowing us both to bask. I hate that I love it.

His purring eventually subsides, but he and Enzo continue to stare unabashedly. The scents of these four alphas are overwhelming, and it was already an emotional night.

"Can you please roll down the window?" I manage to croak out to no one in particular.

Theo murmurs, "Gladly," rolling his down as if he, too, needs some air. He's angry, and maybe I'm dense, but I can't figure out why.

When traffic picks up, and we start hitting more populated parts of downtown, Sully clears his throat. "What's your address, Ophelia?"

I don't want to give him my address. They'll see where I live and judge me for it. My omega already feels shame creeping in that they might think less of me, which only angers me. Maybe I'll give them the address for Queenie's, and I could walk home. Actually, that would be worse.

Sensing my internal debate, Sully says, "You might as well tell me. You're not hiding from us for another fucking year, Omega. We will follow you to the ends of the earth," he threatens matter-of-factly.

I grit my teeth, biting out, "6626 C-Street."

"Where the hell is C-Street?" Asher asks, but Sully types it into their fancy GPS, and we continue. Their scents change the further downtown and south we get, and when we finally cross the sixth bridge and reach South Loop, they're all but posturing.

"No," Asher snaps. "You are not living here." His eyes dart around, noticing the apartment buildings are more run down and the gangs on the street corners, who are obviously dealing drugs. I'm annoyed at Constantines pampered life and refuse to feel shame for myself and my neighbors because we live here. It's not like we've got all the resources they do up in the Hills.

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