Page 21 of Citius

“Oh, but it is. You make anticipating omega needs look effortless. Take your office, for example.”

That knowing look was back on his face. Why had I started this?

Cal stepped closer and asked through a barely suppressed smile, “What about my office?”

“It’s inviting. And well-stocked. I’ve had a ton of different designation counselors, but I can only think of two with readily available blankets and snacks. I understand why. It’s hard to keep things sanitized, and budgets are tight, but it can make all the difference.”

“Does your current counselor have them?” Cal asked, suddenly all business. His reaction and question were both outside my expectations.

I nodded.

“That’s good. Now, what else?”

“Your sweaters.”

“Oh?” Cal leaned toward me, a mischievous gleam in his eye. A loaded silence stretched between us. He was more than content to wait until I cracked.

And crack, I did. “It’s the textures. Exactly the type of thing an omega wants to steal.”

“Come up with a few good ideas for PheroPass,” Cal half-whispered, his voice dripping like honey down the back of my neck. “And I’ll turn a blind eye if you run off with one.”

I took a purposeful step away from Cal. He was too close, and Rory’s compact frame was heading straight for us. My siblings were experts at getting the wrong idea, and I didn’t want Rory to misunderstand our relationship.

The alpha confused me enough as it was.

“Have fun with your nephew. See you next week.” I started towardmy brother, then shot a death glare over my shoulder. “And don’t follow me this time.”

Cal laughed—a whole-body experience that lit him up from within. I forced myself to keep walking.

“Morgan!” Rory jogged the final few yards between us, cheeks pinked with happiness, and pulled me into a tight hug, rubbing circles into the fleece of my vest for half a minute before letting go.

Thankfully, one of us could adequately channel our omega instincts.

He had the same luminous allure as Kelsey but with our mother’s auburn hair instead of Papa’s blond. Today, it was pulled back into a careless bun. With a football jersey over a hoodie, cuffed jeans, and spotless white sneakers, he was the perfect mix of effortless cool and the lovable boy next door.

So comfortable in his own skin that it almost didn’t seem fair.

“Who’s that?” Rory asked as he relinquished his hold on me, bright green eyes locked on the alpha over my shoulder.

“Research colleague.”

“Not what I asked, sis.”

“And yet, that’s the only answer you’re going to get.” I took his elbow and steered him toward my car. The name on the back of his jersey came as a surprise. “Since when were you a fan of Landon Choi?”

“Omega solidarity. I swear half my dorm bought one.” Rory lived in an omega-only dorm on campus. It was mixed-gender since there weren’t enough male omegas enrolled to warrant a separate building. “Don’t read into it, though. There’s only like three omega football players to choose from.”

“There’s eight, actually,” I said without thinking.

Rory rolled his eyes at me. I couldn’t help it, not when I spent so much time obsessing over the football team’s data.

He shot another look at Cal while I unlocked the car. As soon as he buckled in, Rory started composing a text. “If you won’t tell me, Jacobi will.”

Of course, he would. This was the kind of sibling meddling Jacobi lived for.

As we drove away, I spared a parting glance for Cal in the rearview mirror. He was leaning against the side of his truck, thumbs hooked in his pockets again, his hair a beacon of gold in the setting sun.

My fellowship was in the hands of two members of the same pack. A potentially divided pack. Would their relationship put my fellowship at risk?

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