Page 15 of Want It All
‘Ready.’
I swallowed as she stepped outside. She was wearing a high-waisted dark green skirt with a cream blouse, and my mind went blank. The entire outfit was tight to the skin and she had the kind of figure that belonged in a Golden Age film.
I hitched my bag on my shoulder and cleared my throat. ‘Great,’ I said inanely, because it was all my lust-addled alpha brain could manage.
We didn’t chat as we walked down the stairs, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. All I could hope was that she didn’t think I’d gotten into Banksia because of my mother. The administration insisted that I sat all the entrance tests, then begrudgingly told my parents that I rankedsomewhere in the middleof the cohort. Rosemary didn’t seem to mind that I was quiet, though.
We lined up for food. She eyed the waffles with the kind of wistful look that would give me a coronary if it were ever aimed my way, but when we got to the serving station, she asked for Bircher muesli, instead.
I studied her from the corner of my eye. Omegas craved sweetness like bees needed pollen; they burned energy at a higher rate than an alpha in a rut. I knew that Bircher muesli would never have cut it for Tina. When I stepped up to the serving station and the man behind it smiled at me, I asked for an omeletteandthe waffles, which I piled with every topping I could. Rosemary blinked at me but didn’t comment; I followedher through the dining hall, ignoring the stares from other students and, when we sat, I offered her a waffle.
She frowned at me. ‘They’re yours.’
‘We can share.’
She held out for longer than I was expecting, finishing half her muesli before she tentatively slid a waffle covered in maple syrup from my plate and demolished it in small, neat bites. When I offered her another, she smiled, full and honest.
‘Thank you, alpha.’
I tried to shove down the satisfaction that came with those words. My instincts were less easy to deal with, purring silently with approval as she bit into the food I’d chosen.
‘Fuck, yes!’ came another voice; a moment later, Sebastian plonked himself down next to Rosemary with a grin, holding a plate heaped with his own pile of waffles. Tristan followed with a plate of toast and fruit. He nodded in greeting, then sat beside me.
‘Griffiths,’ he said.
‘Grace,’ I returned.
Neither of us commented on whatever the fuck was happening, and the four of us just … sat together.
As if we were friends.
Or something.
Sebastian shot me a grin, and I forced myself not to react to it. I wondered how long it had taken Tristan to become immune to that smile, or if he ever had. Between the pretty beta and lovely omega, it was a wonder that I could concentrate enough to chew. They looked incredible together: Sebastian with his summer glow and Rosemary with her quiet autumn beauty, like two seasons come to life.
My instincts purred again.
Sebastian nudged Rosemary with his elbow. ‘Are you ready for day one?’
She shoved a forkful of waffle in her mouth. ‘I will be.’
‘Coffee,’ Tristan muttered, raking his hands through his curls. ‘Need coffee.’
Clearly, I wasn’t the only one struggling with my instincts.
‘Griffiths?’
Tristan stared down at me, one eyebrow raised, and my stomach tightened. I shook myself, realising he was asking for my coffee order. ‘Flat white. Thanks.’
He rolled his eyes in anof coursekind of way. ‘Rose?’
She gave a shy smile. ‘A chai latte. Thank you.’
‘Hmph,’ Tristan answered, and strode away from the table.
Sebastian watched his alpha leave with a hooded smile, then met my gaze. His smile turned playful. ‘Something in the air this morning, alpha? First day nerves, maybe?’
I raised an eyebrow. He knew exactly what was happening, the menace. ‘Something in the air,’ I agreed blandly.
