Page 67 of Scent of Home

Bray snorts. “I’d love to hear you play.”

I brush our upper arms together and slow down. He slows with me, and when I stop; he turns to face me.

His other hand lifts and cups my cheek, his thumb drawing over my bottom lip.

“You don’t need to worry. We will look after you, Locke. Shane and Finn are the best of people.”

I find it weird that he says that after how they have treated him.

“I’m not worried.”

He leans down and touches his lips to mine. I swear my soul jumps inside my skin.

“Everything is going to be okay. Whatever it is, it will work out.”

“Has it worked out for you?”

Bray smiles. “I thought it was never going to work out, but then the bus rolled into town, and this incredible alpha and this stunning omega stepped off, and I kinda think maybe my life may have changed.”

I close my eyes. “I’m not staying.”

“Better to have loved and lost,” Bray says softly. “Let me love you, Locke. Just for a little while, and if you need to go, I’ll let you go.”

My throat is so tight I might never be able to speak again. I jerk my head in a nod.

“Good. Come on, I think Finn is dying to feed you. He’s a feeder. It’s the answer to all the problems of the world.”

I snort a laugh and let Bray drag me across the street, but right before I enter the door, I look back, and I think I see someone staring at me. They don’t look familiar, but the way they stare at me is so violent, so angry, that I shiver.

I don’t know them,I think defensively.

But then Bray pulls me into the diner, and I’m lost to the smells of roast pork and gravy.

When I look up, Finn, Shane, and Erin are smiling, with two seats waiting for us.

Bray is right. Getting off that bus has changed my life forever.

We’re at Destiny’s, wherewe’ve been for hours. It’s late and most people have headed home. Finn is behind the bar cleaning up. Shane is leaning his chair up against the wall, watching Erin.

She’s standing in the middle of the dance floor dancing. She’s alone. Her eyes are closed, but she moves like she has no bones. Erin dances like it’s the only thing she wants to do.

Bray stands up and wanders over to her, pulling her hips up against his, and the way they dance is almost sinful. It’s a slow bump and grind of pure intensity. Heat licks up under my skin.

I get up and wander towards the stage. There’s a guitar up there. It’s been calling my name for hours. I surrender to the urge and pick it up. I sit down on the edge of the stage, strumming it until I like the sound I hear.

The song I play isn’t a song that is one of mine. It’s one of Ryn’s. She’s a genius songwriter. If only she could have been able to sing them herself. It’s a song of finding a lover and not being able to be with them. This song is special, and it’s a new one. It's a slow-build melody that circles up and suits my voice range perfectly.

I sing this song now. For these people that I really like. That are breaking apart my world.

The stragglers in the bar watch intently. Some wiping tears from their eyes.

But I don’t pay attention to them. As I get to the end of the song and my voice fades, I look up and find Finn with his hand raised in the air. He’s frozen. Erin is swiping at her eyes, but she smiles so widely it’s blinding. Bray stares at me, his eyes dark, his face a mask.

I don’t know what he’s thinking, so I look away and find Shane.

He’s got his face in his enormous hands and is doubled over himself.

I set the guitar back and move towards Shane, but he gets up and walks out. I chase after him.

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