Page 64 of Sweet Heat

Calm down. Keep it under control.

I do my best to give myself a pep talk and tamp down my trepidation. Skating my eyes over the area, I search for anything that can help us. My phone has disappeared from the pavement as has Mari… and I hope like hell she’s gone to find someone, anyone, to save us.

“I can hear it, but your scent is saying hell yes.” He leans down, pressing his nose into my neck to take deep, gasping breaths before flicking his tongue out and licking the crook of my neck. Emma is screaming behind us, causing Wyatt to groan with the effort of keeping the wildcat under control… I just need Alex to get a little closer.

A little more…

Yes… right there…

Bringing my knee up, I slam it as hard as possible into his balls, but the piece of shit just grins.

What a mistake…

Chapter Thirty-Four

The bulb flashes in my face, making little spots dance along my vision for the hundredth time, and my willingness to be a part of this apparel campaign is quickly waning. For whatever reason, this bullshit has gone on for much longer than ever before, and I’m completely fucking over it.

“Just a few more,” the photographer announces way too cheerfully. “I need some of Miller and Owen together. Our ace pitching and catching dynamo.”

Across the room, Owen mutters something to Crimson that even my superior Alpha hearing can’t detect, but judgingby the eye-roll Crimson tosses his way, it’s something shitty. My so-called best friend has been acting like a pouty baby this whole shoot, refusing to talk to me and snarling anytime we come within ten feet of one another.

Dude needs a serious slap upside the head. The rest of his pack and my other teammates are treating me like a social pariah, albeit in a more subtle way. Damien keeps throwing me apologetic glances, but he clearly doesn’t want to cross the line.

Absolutely ridiculous.

You’d think I had been kicking puppies instead of claiming my scent match. Where’s the congratulations? The ‘I’m so happy for yous’? Nope—these shitstains are all rolling over so as not to provoke the Almighty Owen Moore—the owner’s son.

“Okay, let’s get it done,” I agree, stepping forward, eager to finish so I can meet up with Posie at the fair. Owen frowns but gets on the platform, standing as stiff as a statue and as far away from me as possible.

“You two are going to need to get closer for the shot,” the photographer directs. With a huge sigh, Owen stands where he’s told. The aggression pouring from him raises my hackles, and I imagine myself throwing an elbow back into his gut.

The camera clicks loudly. Owen mutters behind me, and I stand under the bright lights, sweat dotting my forehead, counting backward to calm my anger.

Three.

Click. Click. Click.

Two.

“You’re such a fucking snake,” Owen mutters.

One.

“Fuck off. I love her.” A growl rumbles from my chest, making the people near us blanch and take a few steps back. No one wants to get between feuding Alphas.

“Okay, now you need to look like you don’t want to murder one another,” an assistant chirps, scanning the pictures.

“Well, maybe he shouldn’t be violating my baby sister,” Owen shouts at the poor, unsuspecting man who slowly blinks, glancing between us with no idea what to say. “She’s practically a child, you fucking pedo!” He grabs my shirt, giving it a rough shake. A tear rips through the air.

Absolutely. Fucking. Not.

“She’s twenty—a few weeks away from twenty-one. Don’t act like I’m some kind of creep,” I snarl, wrenching away from him. This shoot is officially over. They can figure the rest out without me. My heart drums in my ears. I need to step away before I do something I’ll regret. Storming out of the bright lights, I grab my phone. Posie’s been alone for long enough, and it’s high time I head her way.

The screen brightens at my touch, and my mouth goes dry when I see that I missed a text from her.

Someone’s freaking my girl out at the carnival? Fuck no. Without looking back, I grab my bag and run from the building.

The drive to the fairground goes by in a flash of lights and swirling trees. There may have been cars and stoplights, but hellif I know. The world has narrowed to one thing and one thing alone—getting to my omega.

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