Page 161 of Pack Scratch Fever
“You know what. You’re perfuming, even with your new meds. I was there when the doctor spoke to you, Piper. So, no,I’m not doing this again. Donotstart your Heat here,” Blair snaps.
I scoff. “I’m fine. I just got here an hour ago. I’m supposed to close.”
But a shiver wracks my body, and I clench my teeth.
“Heidi and Gary are coming,” Blair says. “And we have a new volunteer who reached out to us, too. She’s in the area for a little while and wants to help.”
“Oh?”
“Her name is Maeve. She seems really sweet,” Blair adds. “So, we will have more than enough people here, Pipe.”
I groan and roll my eyes. “But we still need to?—”
“Dude, you were just in the hospital,” Blair says. “You cannot ignore your Heat symptoms or overexert yourself.”
I chew my lip.
“If you’re not going to do it for me, do it for your pack.”
I stare at Blair, considering.
“I’ll stay one more hour,” I acquiesce.
“Your face is beet red,” she insists, motioning to me. “You’re wearing one of your Alpha’s shirts, and youstink. Let me guess, you’re wearing slick pads too, right?”
I stay silent, and Blair snaps her fingers and points at the door. “Home. Now.”
I huff. I know Blair’s right. I don’t want to be away from Avery, Maddox, or Poe—but the rescue is also my second home. It brings me so much joy to be here, especially after I almost lost it.
But I suppose going home to three hot Alphas isn’t awful, either.
“You’re right,” I sigh dramatically, rolling my eyes. “IguessI’ll gohome.”
“Yes, please. Get all those Omega hormones out of you.”
The door opens just as I’m about to snap back at Blair, and a woman with an auburn ponytail walks in. She’s dressed in a pink plaid skirt and black fishnets, complete with a leather jacket and black combat boots.
She looks like an adorable rocker chick.
“Hi!” she chirps. “I’m Maeve. I reached out to you about volunteering?” she says to Blair.
As she enters, I catch a whiff of her scent.
She’s an Omega, but something is familiar about her aroma.
It’s sweet with a hint of honey and herbs.
It almost smells like…
“Hi! I’m Blair, and that’s Piper,” Blair says as Alvin meows and hops onto the counter to greet the new Omega. “And this is Alvin.”
At the mention of my name, Maeve’s eyes widen, and she turns to me with a toothy grin. “You’re Piper?” she cries. Then, before I can react, she’s running up to me and wrapping me in a hug so tight I let out anoomph.I cast a worried look at Blair, who watches, dumbfounded.
“I can’t believe it’s you!” she squeaks. She steps back to look at me. “Oh my god, and you’re so pretty. Wow, and you smell good, too!”
“Sorry, do I know you?” I ask.
“I’m Maeve,” she says proudly. “You know, Maeve?” When I shake my head, she groans. “I hate my brother sometimes. He didn’t mention me at all?”
