Page 6 of Knot a Thief

The surrounding air practically crackles with alpha energy. My omega instincts flare to life, a warmth spreading through my core that I ruthlessly squash.

Alphas are not for me.

But my body doesn’t seem to get the memo.

I don’t hide that I’m an omega, but I’ve taken preventative measures since I left Garrett. I don’t want an unexpected heat or for my perfume to suddenly start emitting.

Too many omegas have disappeared in the middle of shopping, while working out or simply running, and never seen again.

Alphas, or more likely packs of alphas, will steal an omega who isn’t theirs. But an omega who makes their nose twitch at the same as their cock, now that’s a recipe for disaster. Or a damn nightmare, and one she probably won’t escape from.

After two years of harsh training, I’m strong enough to fight alphas, and I’m an expert with a knife. But despite that, I have to prevent my scent from ever dispersing in the air.

I still don’t have a scent, though—My stepfather took care of that—But I know the anti-omega vaccination won’t last forever. And I don’t want to suddenly find my scent enticing an alpha, or god forbid, a matching scent alpha.

So I take neutralizing injections regardless of not having a scent.

My heart rate picks up as he approaches the counter, his deep voice ordering an espresso. The barista practically trips over herself to serve him.

As I listen to his low timbre, slick warms between my thighs. I squeeze them together.

Right now, I’m glad I can’t distinguish smells from alphas. I can smell the scents all around me, like the sea ahead or the smell of fuel coming from the race cars zooming around the Monaco track.

Unlike other omegas, my body still doesn’t react to alphas scents—pheromones or their unique perfume.

But I’m not blind—I know an alpha when I see one.

I remove my glasses, placing them on the table before pressing my hand against the back of my neck. I glance at him again as he checks out the pastries.

He’s much older than me, but gorgeous. Tall, and dark from the tan his skin sports. Even the silver streaks in his black hair don't detract from how handsome he is.

I force myself to look away, back to my magazine. But I can feel his presence, like a gravitational pull I can’t escape. There is something about him that makes my mouth water.

“Ava?” Seb’s voice in my ear makes me jump. “You okay? Your heart rate just spiked.”

Seb tracks my body when I’m on a job. I’m not a timid little omega. Not at all. My past has hardened me. But Seb still worries that something might trigger the one thing that has up to now eluded me as an omega.

My heat.

I clear my throat softly. “Fine. Just … saw a potential mark.”

That’s when I feel his eyes on me.

I look up, right into the piercing blue gaze of the alpha.

For a moment, the world falls away. There’s just him and me, locked in a blazing stare that feels like it could ignite the air between us.

He takes a step towards my table, and panic flares in my chest.

No, no, no.

This isn’t part of the plan.

I can’t …

I’m not attracted to an alpha. I lie to myself.

The screech of tires and the roar of an engine fade into the background as he rests his hand on my table. The movement draws my attention, but I’m slow to look at his face.

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