Page 43 of Sweet Heat

Sensing their defeat, I try not to be the most manipulative asshole ever, but I can’t help but add, “Maybe you should be with him right now. I have everything handled here.”

Please leave me here.

Crossing my fingers, I wait for them to jump at the chance to do the right thing, but when Owen’s eyes narrow, my mouth dries, hoping I haven’t overplayed my hand. He stares at me as though trying to read my mind and ferret out my secrets. Thankfully, I don’t turn into a puddle of flop sweat.

“Nah, he’s off touring one of his factories. He didn’t want to come home, so we’re all good to stay here. Unless there’s areasonyou need to be alone with my sister?” he asks like he already knows the answer, and I can sense his Alpha rising.

Our eyes lock. Two dominant bulls, ready to smash horns. Shit’s about to get bloody, and I hope the other Alphas of Pack Moore don’t jump in—three might be a bit more than I can take.

“Wow. It smells tense in here. Everyone all right?” a loud voice booms from the hallway, echoing into the room. Both of us jump and whirl toward the intruder. An enormous man stands in the doorway dressed in black, wearing bright-yellow sneakers.

“Niko!” Crimson shouts, launching himself across the room. With a last glare, Owen goes to welcome his packmate, and I slip out my phone to check it once again.

Not a single damn word from my mate upstairs. Slipping out of the room amid the commotion, I take the stairs two at a time. The need to get eyes on her is completely overwhelming.

Her door’s ajar, and I shove it open further until the metallic hit of de-scenter smacks me in the face. It’s even thicker now than before, and suddenly, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, she’s gone.

Where are you running off to, my girl?

Fortunately, I don’t need to wonder long because I have an app for that. Pulling it up, I tap my foot on the ground impatiently until the little blue dot appears. It’s moving quickly, probably in a rideshare—heading straight for Emma’s apartment.

Gotcha.

Chapter Twenty-Three

My overnight bag is heavy in my sweaty palm as I exit the car, stepping carefully onto the curb in front of Emma and Mari’s apartment.

“Thank you!” I call with a wave at my driver before smiling grimly at the concierge holding the door open for me.

“Miss Mari already called down. You can head straight up, Miss Posie,” he tells me kindly, and I’m so thankful I don’t need to check-in. My nerves are completely shot, and I need to snuggle between my two besties to have any chance of getting myself under control. “Would you like some help withyour bag?”

“You’re the best, Charlie,” I say gratefully. “It’s light, though, so I can carry it up.”

The elevator dings instantly, and I step in. Blessedly empty, the small space chugs quietly up to their floor, helping the tension in my shoulders to relax and my breathing to normalize. The elevator lurches to a stop, and I stumble out into Emma’s waiting arms. She scoops the bag from my fingers, then slings an arm over my shoulders, walking to the familiar apartment.

My favorite blanket is already on the couch, waiting. I don’t think I could live without these girls by my side. Mari comes into view, carrying a tray with three steaming mugs.

“You’re here! That was fast. I made hot chocolate,” she looks at me with concern, and tears flood my eyes.

“Come on! Puppy pile,” Emma prods, getting me moving. “Our favorite omega needs some serious cuddles.”

Emma tosses my bag aside, and I quickly toe off my shoes before padding over to the puffy cream couch and sliding into the middle. The girls crowd in beside me, and we pull the blanket up to our chins, getting as cozy as possible. With my fight-or-flight instincts in complete control, the closeness and pressure are just what I need to help find my center again.

We sit in a comfortable silence for a while, long enough to help my nervous system come back online. My heart rate slows, and I meld into the cushions, allowing the comfort of everything surrounding me to take hold. Blinking, I take in the space I love so much, wondering if I’ll ever get a chance to live here now.

Do you really want to?

Then again, Miller didn’t tell my brother about us—I was eavesdropping—and the lack of claim pushed my omega into a tailspin.He’s known this whole time and never said a word… Maybe he doesn’t want to move forward together. Even scent matches fail. It’s rare, but it happens.

“Sorry,” I mutter, watching the steam rise from the pretty mugs Mari brought over. I want some hot chocolate—badly—but I’m not ready to let go of the blanket yet.

“Never apologize for needing us,” Emma admonishes. “But we’re both dying to know what made you send the SOS. Is this about Alex?”

Alex?

I blink a few times, trying to understand what she means, then I remember—the awful date. It feels like that mess happened a lifetime ago. Yeah, he was a dick, but that’s nothing compared to finding out you have a scent match. Especially one who’shidden it from you for seven years.The jumble of emotions rises again, churning in my gut.

“No,” I say, unsure of where to start. Lowering the blanket, I pull a cup of hot chocolate off the table. For a second, the rich chocolate and marshmallow tickles my nose before disappearing.What the fuck?I bring it to my lips and take a sip, letting the warm liquid sit in my mouth for a second. It might taste a little better than usual, but I can’t be certain—it’s definitely no churro cum.

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