Page 3 of Knotty Pumpkin

“Nah, I’d rather just chill at home with you,” he says as we turn down the alley to our street, and even though I knew he’d say it, my inner alpha purrs, content and eager to take Corey home and lose myself in him and his sweet, toasty marshmallow scent.

An icy breeze blows through the alleyway as we almost reach the end, and we both stop dead in our tracks. Corey lifts his chin, scenting the air at the same time as I do. We spin in perfect synchronisation, in time to see a large figure caging another, smaller figure against the brick wall.

The mix of scents is confusing, emptying all thought from my mind as instinct takes over and the alpha in me reacts to the unsettling presence of the couple in the alley.

Omega.

Danger.

Mine.

The intoxicating pumpkin spice scent of the omega hits me first, knocking the breath from my lungs like a punch to the chest. The pull I feel toward her is instantaneous, stronger than anything I’ve felt before, except for the connection I have with my pack mate, Corey.

Her scent is heavenly, and I want to taste her, have her perfume and slick for me while I lick up every drop she has to offer.

Except, something isn’t right.

There’s a thick, sour note to her scent, alerting us to the bone deep fear she’s experiencing.

At the same time I scent her fear, the scent of the alpha crowding her against the wall hits me. I crinkle my nose, the acidic scent of dirty gym socks making my stomach churn.

The omega whimpers, the pitiful noise quickly followed by the sound of gagging and the wet contents of a stomach hitting the pavement.

I’m moving before I’ve even had time to think, not the least bit surprised to find Corey by my side as we sprint down the dark alley, quickly closing in on the terrified omega and the awful scented alpha.

Corey has always been a caregiver. Gentle, considerate, and less dominating than your typical alpha. I briefly wonder whether he’s reacting to this omega’s scent the same way I am, or if he’s driven purely by the urge to help someone in need.

There isn’t time to dwell on that thought as we reach the couple.

“What’s going on here?” I bark, straightening my spine and puffing my chest out in a display of dominance. Thanks to the gym I’d inherited from my uncle, and the time I spend there working out with clients, I strike an intimidating figure of pure bulky muscle.

“Nothing,” barks the smaller alpha, his scent taking on an angry, burnt edge, making me want to gag and have the contents of my stomach join the small pile of vomit at our feet. “Fuck off.”

“Not a fucking chance,” Corey growls as I turn my attention to the omega, the scent of her fear nearly drowning us. Not only is her scent that of pumpkin spice, she’s wearing a short orange dress, a jack-o’-lantern face on the front with the eyes cut out. Even in this sketchy situation, I can’t help but admire the curves of her body and her plump, rosy lips that look like they’d taste even better than she smells.

“Are you okay, Pumpkin?” I ask her softly, shaking my head to clear them of my wayward thoughts. Now is not the time for my libido to kick into gear.

“No. I’m not… with… him,” the omega whines, her words slurring together as she feebly tries to push the smaller alpha away from her. She has either drunk her weight in wine tonight, or there’s something else affectingher. Either way, she isn’t safe with this sleazy alpha. It’s clear he’s trying to take advantage of her condition.

We need to get her away from him.

Now.

Corey’s concern floods our pack bond, fuelling my desire to help this troubled omega. We share a brief look before launching into action, each knowing what the other will do without having to discuss it.

We’ve done this dance many times before. There’s a reason Corey works campus security. There’s a drive in him, a desire to help anyone who needs it and make the world a safer place, particularly for omegas. We’re known for offering a safe place for those in need, who might have had too much to drink or are otherwise inebriated and need somewhere to sleep it off.

Living so close to Linnara University means it happens more than you would like to think.

We’re also registered with the Linnara police department as an omega safe haven—meaning we’ve been through all the appropriate checks, understand that omegas have the same rights as any other designation, advocate for those rights, and provide a safe place for any omega in need to come at any time of the day or night. We’ve helped dozens of omegas get out of dangerous situations.

There’s never been one quite like Pumpkin, though. Her scent is like gravity, dragging me into her orbit. None of the others have truly appealed to me before, and I can’t help but wonder if Corey feels it, too. Could she be the missing piece of our pack?

Pushing myself between the omega and smaller alpha and breaking the cage he formed with his arms, I chest bump him forward, moving with him as Corey ducks behind me, pulling the omega into his arms and moving a few yards away.

“I think it’s time you moved on, mate,” I growl as I puff out my chest, pushing him back again into his space. “Before I call the police and have them take you in for omega mistreatment.”

Backing away, he glances between Corey and I, sizing us up and clearly deciding he hasn’t got a chance in hell of winning this fight. My brow furrows as he looks directly at the whimpering omega.

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