Page 57 of A Baby for the Beast
I don't know if the action's meant to make me think he's less of a threat, but it only makes me feel worse about this whole thing. I don't think betas scent match, but it's not like I've ever wanted to be with one.
"Oh," Sarah's eyes go wide, and she steps even more in front of Henry like she's making sure I know he's claimed. She shakes her head, mumbling, "The one time I don't bring spray."
"Yeah, you can blame me in the car," Henry chuckles, stepping back toward the open doorway. He lowers one hand to wrap around Sarah's shoulder and slowly drags her back with him.
A single tear falls from my lower lashes at how I'm going to have to explain this to Lucas. He's been so wonderful about everything else that I don't want to add even more to his plate. Oh, you want me even though I was pregnant with your rival's baby, and I didn't scent match you? What about if my bodyresponds to your twin? Gee, what a wonderful foundation for a long and healthy relationship.
"Get off of me." Sarah shrugs Henry's hand off her shoulder, stepping closer to me, and I tense.
"I don't want him," I tell her, crowding closer to Tessie, trying to keep her away from any threat.
Sarah would never hurt my daughter, but she probably thinks I'm going to try to seduce her alpha and make him mine since he's my scent match. She probably hates me now. All of her family is going to hate me, and I'll have to go back to only having my coworkers as friends. I'm not even sure if I still have that job, because I haven't been back since the drama with Kyle started. I might lose everyone because of my stupid nose.
"Henry?" Sarah asks, her face screwing up like she's confused. "I know you don't, but I do want to see my little niece. Can I?"
I shake my head immediately, the primal part of my brain saying that I shouldn't let her near my baby, not when she might be trying to get rid of the competition. The rational part of my brain, which, granted, isn't doing so hot right now, is telling me that she's family and hasn't ever made me feel like she's a danger to me or the baby. I turn my body, eyes flittering back over to her in a panicky way until she steps up beside me, gasping and cooing, melting at my daughter's sleeping form.
"She's beautiful, Hayley," Sarah tells me, reaching over and squeezing my shoulders. "Do you need to sit? You're probably tired."
"I'm fine."
I stand up straighter, not wanting her to think I can't care for my baby on my own. Again, it's the part of me that thinks she'll use anything in her power to make it to where I can't have her mate, but it doesn't make any sense in today's day and age. She's not going to get rid of my baby because I scent matched Henry.
I glance back over at the alpha, and he's still by the door, a soft smile on his lips as he watches Sarah fawn over Tessie. His eyes don't leave her, not even when I stare at him for longer than I should.
Someone in the hall catches his attention, and his eyes flicker gold. "Beta, it's time for us to go."
"You haven't even seen her yet," Sarah pouts, turning to Romulus. "She's perfect."
"We'll see her another time," Romulus says, his voice leaving no room for argument when he calls her over again. "Let's go."
Sarah looks like she wants to argue some more, but she just presses her lips together and follows him out.
She tries to keep her voice hushed when she asks, "Could fucking not have waited like five more minutes?" but I catch it and it has my cheeks heating up even more with embarrassment at my body wanting this man who obviously has no interest in me, even a little bit. Not that I want him to, but it's so pathetic when it's not even reciprocated.
"Calm, beta," Romulus growls, leaning down to nip at her as they leave the room.
I let out a shaky breath, trying to compose myself before someone else comes in. I wipe at the tears that, thankfully, haven't fallen after the first tear, but that's all I have time for as another figure steps into the room, terrible purr already going.
Sweet peppermint fills the air in the room still, a reminder that I need to just come out with it and tell Lucas I've scent matched his brother. I can't even meet Lucas's eyes as I open my mouth, nothing but a choked sob coming out.
"What did he do?" Remus asks, arms wrapping around me. "Tell me what Henry did and I will make him pay."
I shake my head, allowing him to pull me flush against him. I nuzzle into his shirt, inhaling deeply to figure out what he smellslike. Maybe I scent matched him, too, but the only thing I can smell, the only thing my body is responding to, is the scent of sweet peppermints. I let out another sob because I can't even smell Remus and Lucas underneath Henry's distinct scent.
"Hayley, what did he do?" Remus sounds like he wants to be snapping and snarling, but his busted purr still stays around me, surrounding me just as tightly and as comforting as his arms.
"I like the way he smells," I choke out, holding onto Lucas as hard as I can because I don't want him to leave as soon as I tell him.
I need him to stay for long enough that I can explain to him that I don't need a scent match. I chose him when I let him bite me. I would pick him over any scent match any time. He is all that I want. He is the only alpha I need in my life.
Remus doesn't respond to me. Instead, his purr falters, Lucas's laugh filling the air instead. I'm so caught off guard by the reaction that my sobbing stops just long enough for me to feel indignant, and it's me who's pushing away from him.
"No, you don't, omega." Lucas laughs harder, his arms banding around tight enough that all I can do is struggle in his hold and slap at his shoulders. "You're staying right here. Right where you belong. Smell me again. These are all clothes from our apartment. They were with Henry for maybe twenty minutes, and unless he was wiping them on his balls, his scent wouldn't stick to them that strongly."
I pause my fighting long enough to do as Lucas asks, and I still only smell the same scent I did when Henry came into the room. I whine, looking up at Lucas like he's betrayed me, but there's nothing but mirth and amusement in his eyes.
"This isn't funny for me," I tell him, swallowing hard because my mouth is watering to taste the scent cloying at the insides of my lungs. I don't understand why it feels like Henry's scent islingering in here for so long when he wasn't even trying to mark his territory.
