Page 6 of Lion's Crossing

I froze, not meaning to have said the last part out loud. Knox turned to face the window, but I still caught the smirk across hislips. Shit, I had no idea what was so different about the omega that made me act like a fool and unable to hold my tongue.

We ate in silence, though Knox’s scent only grew stronger. That worried me. I didn’t want anyone else to catch a whiff of him. While I refused to act on my lion’s urges, I did not want another alpha to approach him.

“Excuse me.” Knox tapped my arm. “I need to pee again.”

I stood to let him out, and my beast urged me to follow him, to ensure no other alpha messed with him. My lion had other ideas, too, but I refused to acknowledge them. I sat in my seat instead, willing the predator inside me to settle down. The train really needed to be fixed so I could get back to Adan Records and forget all about the omega who caught the attention of my lion.

Chapter Seven

Knox

Breathe in. Breathe out.

I gripped the sink wishing my heart would stop racing. I did not expect to be in the bathroom of a train, trying to calm down because my deer wanted to jump back on an alpha’s lap and ride him until I couldn’t move. My vacation was not about finding an alpha. More like the opposite. It was about me finding myself away from the social pressures of a small town and my parents. Sure, Linc was super nice and not conceited the way I’d expected a pop star to be, but I didn’t imagine my deer to suddenly come alive on my trip, let alone at the very beginning.

What would Linc think if I started touching him more as my deer suggested? Would he accept me cuddling closer to him and resting my head on his shoulder? I doubted it. He’d probably think of me as some crazed fan who could no longer hold in my excitement at sitting next to him. I didn’t need that since I had no idea how much longer we’d be stuck on the train. Why couldn’t it get moving again so I could get to Saramto and forget about him?

What if my deer sensed something about Linc that I didn’t? He was attractive and exceedingly kind, but what if my deer perceived a little more? FNL often sang about fated mates. I’d never believed in the possibility, stuck in a small town with only arrogant alphas around. I did not want to be destined to any of them. What if I’d been meant for Linc all along, but we’d never crossed paths before now?

Glancing in the mirror, I shook my head. Just because Linc was the first alpha to be nice to me without expecting something in return, didn’t mean we were fated to be together. He’d been quick to get me out of his lap as soon as the danger had passed.And his maple and brown sugar smell meant nothing. He’d probably sprayed scent blocker on before he’d left, but it had faded after being stuck on the train for so long. I had to rein in my libido and ignore any attraction I felt for Linc before I returned to my seat.

I quickly used the toilet, and as I washed my hands, someone knocked on the door. A bubble of excitement rose up inside me, hoping it was Linc on the other side, coming to ensure I was okay, or to join me in the small space and make me scream his name.

When I opened the door, that bubble popped. Hard. A pregnant omega stood outside the bathroom. I shuffled past him and headed toward my seat. The sight ahead of me made it feel like an invisible force had reached into my chest and ripped my heart out.

Linc sat in my seat. Beside him, a tiny, blond omega smiled and giggled as he ran his hands all over my seatmate. I wanted to vomit, cry, and scream all at the same time. I hadn’t been gone that long, and in that time, the pop star had found someone he preferred to sit beside, leaving me on my own. The worst was seeing Linc smile back at my replacement, seeming to enjoy being groped.Typical.

Told you so.

I ignored my deer. Even if Linc had wanted me to throw myself on him, I couldn’t. Not when I’d be discarded the moment we reached the city. And why had I thought it a good idea to be mated to a pop star? Then I’d have to see all kinds of fans approach him and read their comments about my mate on social media. I didn’t want to be part of that life at all. Yes, I often regretted growing up in a small town, but I did not want to ever be thrust into the spotlight. I never wanted to be famous for any reason.

When I got to my former seat, I reached over the omega to grab my bag. “Excuse me. This belongs to me.”

“Oh, you’re back.” Linc’s cheeks reddened.

“Yeah, and I guess I have to find a new seat.” Maybe it would be better sitting far away from the alpha anyway.

The omega giggled before Linc shoved him toward me, wiping his smug look right off.

“No!” Linc slid over into his seat then stood in the aisle. “I’m glad you’re back.”

Didn’t seem too upset I’d left.I kept my thoughts to myself, afraid I would yell or cry, making a fool of myself either way. I shuffled back to sit in my seat and clutched my bag against my chest.

I tried to ignore the other two, but I couldn’t help but cringe when the omega rubbed his hand down Linc’s chest. “Why don’t you give me your number so we can continue our conversation without an audience?”

Linc gently removed the omega’s hand from his body. “It was nice meeting you, but it’s time for you to return to your seat.”

The omega huffed at the dismissal. “Your loss. I could have helped inspire your next album, but I guess you’re just a washed-up star now, not allowed to do anything other than produce anymore.”

Linc didn’t react, only returned to his seat, but I wanted to snap back at the omega and tell him that it takes just as much heart, if not more, to write and produce songs than it does to perform them. I refused to come to his defense or to let the alpha make me have any more feelings for him. The train couldn’t get moving fast enough, and when we finally reached Saramto, he would be out of my life forever.

Chapter Eight

Linc

I’d never been more thankful to see an omega in my life. When Knox left for the washroom, I breathed a sigh of relief, needing a break from his scent. From him. My lion was determined to make him mine even though I still barely knew him. How could that part of me be so obsessed with someone I’d only met a few hours earlier?

Handing out snacks didn’t help. I’d only worried about him more, looking forward to being back in the seat with him. And when he’d left again, part of me longed to follow. Maybe I should have.

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