Page 9 of Follow Your Instincts

The precinct parking garage was quiet and empty when I finally finished the booking paperwork on Phillips. It had been a long, weird day. Maybe Lucas had saved me some dinner.

My car was parked near the exit and as I walked past the Captain’s spot I caught a stronger whiff of the scent that I knew would be haunting me until I could get home and shower. Ripe peaches, bursting with sweetness, balanced by a zing of spicy ginger. Heavenly and sinful at the same time.

She was SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, you asshole, I thought sternly and walked faster to my car.She is a victim and you are a goddamn pervert.

My mind helpfully provided a picture of Carter: her long legs bare, her wild curly hair barely contained in a messy bun, with tendrils curling down to frame a heart-shaped face. Her eyes had been wide and panicked, but I didn’t miss their bright green color and long lashes.

I knew her by sight from around the station, but I didn’t even know her first name. Our first conversation had been earlier at the Heitzig robbery. She was the first on the scene, and I wanted her impressions. It seemed like she’d connected with the victim and could maybe be helpful in futureconversations.

Won’t be happening now, I thought, dully.

How old was Cater? Didn’t Omegas usually present earlier? It had been a few years since our pack had been approached by the Center to meet with an Omega, so maybe I was wrong.

I stewed in Carter’s scent and mild self-loathing the whole way home.

I trudged up the stairs to the main floor, dreaming of a shower where I could get her scent off my body and out of my head. Food could happen after.

“Soren?” Ben called as I tried to sneak through the kitchen and upstairs to my room. I sighed.

“Yeah, it’s me,” I said and looked into the living room.

Ben, Lucas, and Lachlan were all sprawled out watching a basketball game that Ben had muted when I walked in. Lachlan was reading something on his phone, which made more sense.

“Hey,” Lucas said, barely taking his eyes off the screen. “I left some dinner for you in the fridge if you want to heat it up.”

“Gonna shower first,” I said. Just as I turned to leave, the heater kicked on and a gust of warm air blew across my shoulders from an overhead vent.

Carter’s scent spread through the room like wildfire.

All of my packmates groaned, even Lachlan, who finally looked up from his phone.

“Explain,” he growled.

“Let me take a shower first,” I said, and started back into the kitchen. “This scent is driving me fucking crazy and I can only imagine what it’s doing to you guys.”

I took a thorough shower. Then sprayed every article of clothing I’d been wearing with descenter I borrowed from Ben’s room before I went back downstairs.

My packmates were in the kitchen waiting for me, the plate with my dinner rotating in the microwave already.

“Thanks,” I said, and pulled a beer from the fridge.

“Where the hell did you find a perfuming Omega?” Ben asked. “On a case?”

“Yeah, at work. But not on a case. One of the officers at the precinct presented today,” I explained. I sat down at the table while they stood around the kitchen island. The microwave beeped, and Lucas brought me the plate.

“Shit,” Ben said.

“Are they okay?” Lucas asked.

I sighed and took a few bites. “Found her in the precinct locker room being attacked by another officer, this fucker named Phillips. Whole room was completely saturated in her scent. I’ve never experienced anything like it. She’d been fighting back, but he was feral. Had to Tase him.”

“What happened to her?” Lucas asked. “Did you help get her somewhere safe?”

“Captain showed up and took over,” I said. “She’s been bonded to her Omega for years. I figured she’d know what to do better than me.”

“God, she’s probably going to have PTSD or something,” Lucas said, frowning.

“That scent was unreal,” Ben said. “I mean, it’s been a while since we met with an Omega, but that was more intense than I remember.”

---