Page 78 of Scent of Home

They bring back the calm, happy omega.

They ignore the fragile edges, but they are gentle, sweet, kind. They spend a lot of time with their faces buried in the crook of his shoulder, breathing deep.

The parallels between my family and this pack are too great to ignore, and my heart beats fast. This is something special.

I want to be part of this. I want to be part of it forever.

I glance at Shane and see the same desire in his eyes.

Is it possible? Can we have this? First things first, let’s get through the heat and protect the omega and alphas. After that, I can see if I can talk this short-term pack into staying here in Twin Rivers and becoming a permanent pack.

A family.

Chapter twenty-three

Erin

I inhale the hotmocha scent from the cup I’m holding and take a sip. It’s made perfectly. It helps that Shane has this place decked out with every device money can buy. The coffee machine is my god, though. I will worship at its shiny stainless steel altar.

I’m leaning on the huge, white granite kitchen island, experiencing nirvana, when Finn walks in. His expression is strangely fixed, and he gets into the fridge and pulls out whipped cream, turns, and walks off without even acknowledging me.

What the fuck?

Finn is always polite. Manners should be his middle name. I stand up and stare after him.Have I done something wrong?

Ten minutes later, I’ve convinced myself it’s all in my head when Bray comes out. He bounds to the fridge and grabs some strawberries. He then turns, even though I’m right there, and stalks off.

I let out a frustrated snarl.

I know I haven’t had a fight with anyone.

I pad after them and find them sitting in the media room, watching a huge movie. Finn draws a pattern on Locke’s chest with whipped cream and then licks it off.

My body throbs just watching it. I want to go in there and join in, but there is that niggling feeling that something is not right.

Bray dips a strawberry in the trail of cream and holds it up in offering to Locke.

“Perfect,” he purrs after he’s swallowed.

I fold my arms over my chest and wait. He leans forward and lets out this purring sentence that sends sizzles down my spine. The urge to obey drives me, but I push that aside and watch as Shane gets up and walks out, passing me silently.

I walk into the room and stand in front of the screen and the blanket nest Locke has created.

“Locke Raines, are you able to purr people into doing what you want?” The shock makes my voice far too loud.

He blinks up at me, his eyes huge but dilated like he’s high. Judging from the vanilla in the room, he is high as a kite on his heat, which has just started.

“Stand up, Omega,” I growl, putting a bit of bark into it.

He sulkily slumps. “Join me,” he purrs.

FUCK ME! I knew it! I was waiting for it! I was not prepared for it.

The urge to kneel before him almost breaks my knee caps. Only my sheer will keeps me on my feet.

“Stand up!” I snap, and the bark gives him no leeway. The relief is instant.

He whines. “Alpha.”

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