Page 3 of Kiss Me for Christmas

No. I need to let this go.

I’m not the kind of girl that falls for an alpha.

THE MAIN HALLWAY

Bennet

“Go.”Director Spanner steps to one side, making it very clear I need to leave.

It takes everything in me not to snap at the beta. I understand this is her ward, and the patients here are under her protection, but they’re my fucking patients too.

“Beta Marin,” I turn to Scarlett, but she keeps her head down, not quite looking at me. It’s a sweet and submissive stance. One that drives me wild. “I’m sure we’ll speak soon,” I say, before marching off.

I can still smell Scarlett’s soft scent as I make my way down the long corridor toward my office. The air around her smells almost brighter. Cleaner. Almost woodsy. And it’s so addicting. I can admit I’m being a bit reckless entering the Nesting Ward just to catch a sniff of her, but the urge hit out of nowhere. Ihadto see the beta. My desire to be near her is just too damn strong to ignore anymore.

“Dr. Enoch.” My assistant motions to a stack of folders on the corner of his desk. “Here’s the information you requested on Violet Licht.”

I eye the paperwork. “Thank you, Davis.” But I’m too amped to go through them. What I want is to corner a certain beta and push my nose into the soft crook of her neck. I want to lick her, and see if she tastes as amazing as she smells. “I’m going to do some rounds.” I turn and walk off. Davis says something behind me, but I can’t hear him. My ears are pounding with a rush of something I’ve never felt before. It’s too much. I need some fresh air.

**The Cafeteria**

“What the fuck happened to you?” Drek snorts as he sits down across from me, eyeing my neglected coffee. “You look like shit, Enoch.”

I glare at my friend, not in the mood. “Don’t you have patients to see?”

Drek snorts as he leans back in his chair. “I just came to get a bit of coffee, but I’m not waiting in that line.” He hitches a thumb at the front counter. “I swear they understaffed the cafeteria on purpose,” he groans.

I nod, but I really don’t give a shit. All I can think about is Scarlett. Her dark eyes and long hair. The soft point of her chin and the slight bump on the bridge of her nose. She’s beautiful.

“I heard you went into the Nesting Ward today,” Drek says as he grabs my cup of coffee. He sniffs it before taking a quick sip. “Seriously?” He pulls a face. “You don’t even put sugar in it?”

“I like it black.” I reach across the table, taking the flimsy paper cup from him. “If you want a cup of sugar, go get your own damn coffee.”

“What’s going on?” Drek says as he combs his fingers through his trim blond hair. “Why were you in the Nesting Ward?”

Agitation crawls up the back of my neck, making my skin flash hot. I’m too on edge. “I was checking on a patient.” It’s not a lie, but it might as well be.

“Bullshit.” Drek barks then laughs, but I can’t smile with him.

I hate what I’m feeling and the way I’m acting. This isn’t like me. Omegas have this effect on alphas.Notbetas. But it’s like there’s a veil over my eyes every time I look at Scarlett. My perception has shifted, changed, and nothing else matters but that pretty little beta.

“Bennet.” Drek leans forward, resting his arms on the table. “Talk to me, brother. What’s going on? Is it…” he cuts a sweeping glance around the cafeteria, “is it Beta Marin?”

My whole body goes tight and my fists curl. “Why the fuck would you ask me that?” I whisper, hating how obvious I am. Spanner saw right through me, and now Drek.Does the whole damn hospital know?

“Ben.” Drek glares hard. “You’ve been on that sweet beta’s trail for almost a year now. And I get it.” Two x-ray technicians walk past us, chatting wildly about an impressive broken leg they saw this morning. Drek waits for the voices to fade before he adds, “I know it can be distracting when you find that perfect beta to add to your pack, but?—”

“I don’t have a pack,” I say firmly. Drek knows this, and I hate being forced to remind him.

“Yeah, but all packs start out somewhere,” he says as if I’m being purposefully difficult. “Hell, Darla coupled with our beta before she brought in me and Josh. And now we have a full pack. We’re even on a waiting list to claim an omega.” His chest puffs with obvious pride. “Feeling an animalistic pull to a beta is normal. Trust me.”

“It just feels weird to ask her out when I don’t have the security of a pack to tempt her.” I’m a little taken aback by my own words. But they’re true. “There are even some betas that don’t want alphas. They’re all about standard relationships with other betas. What if?—”

“Allbetas want to be claimed by an alpha.” Drek lets out a booming laugh. “They might not have the same driving instincts as an alpha or an omega, but betas want what our kind can provide. But if you’re that worried, just don’t tell Beta Marin you're not in a pack. Problem solved.”

I pull a face, making it clear that I do not approve of his suggestion. Drek leans in, clearly wanting to explain a bit better.

“Don’t tell herat first,” he says, emphasizing the ‘at first’. “Go on a couple of dates. See if she’s just a pack-slut looking to hook up with a fuck ton of alphas.”

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