Page 18 of Beta Lies and Cursed Lives
I frown. “Yeah.”
“Listen, I’m reading a few research papers right now that may be helpful. I’ll have some more information next week.”
“Right.” I stand up and stretch my arms above my head and make my way to the door. “See you.”
“We still have five—”
I slam the door shut behind me, cutting off his voice but not his thoughts. “Dick.”
I cough out a laugh, and as I near the stairway, then stop short when that voice I’d caught earlier floats through my brain again, clear and crisp.
“Three hundred fifty klicks north-northwest.”
My brows draw in confusion. Who is this guy?
“Old city. Rebellion.”
The thoughts fade, the man they belong to likely moving out of my range. But his thoughts had been loud and...strange.
My stomach growls, and I give it a pat before making my way down the stairs to the third-floor cafeteria for lunch. Usually me, Aubs, and Rai grab the table for four in the back corner, so it’s my intention to do just that when a lovely scent stops me in my tracks. My mouth waters and my teeth ache, facts that scare the shit out of me.
I’ve been surrounded by Omegas for my entire life, and never have I wanted one. I’ve found some attractive, but I’ve never been drawn to another person before, aside from Aubrey and Rai. But they’re my bros. This...this is entirely different.
I scan the lunch crowd surrounding the cafeteria entrance but don’t find her. The thoughts of those around me begin to flood my brain as more and more people file into the hall, ready to eat. My head throbs, the cacophony of thoughts makes my pulse hike. The room begins to tilt, and I gasp to breathe.
I haven’t had a panic attack in almost three months, and the last time I did, I was sent to solitary.
That thought makes everything worse, and I lean back against the wall, squeezing my eyes shut.
“Are you okay?”
The voice is soft beside me, that scent overwhelming all of my senses, a feeling of calm envelopes me like nothing I’ve ever felt before.
I peel my eyes open and look down into the most beautiful silvery eyes I’ve ever seen, framed by raven-wing lashes that match the damp hair she pushes off her concerned face. It’s barely a microsecond before her gaze deflects to my clavicle, and she begins to fidget.
“I…” I stare down at her, my brows drawing together tight.
Her thoughts. I don’t hear her thoughts.
In fact, the other thoughts around me are quieted. Still there, but not so loud.
It’s like an old radio left on a channel that doesn’t come in. The static is nearly as soothing as her scent.
I clear my throat against the lump that’s formed. “I’m okay. Thank you.”
Her head bobs up and down fast and nervous. “Great. I’m glad.” She coughs, and oh boy, her fidgety behavior is doing all sorts of crazy things to my insides. “I’ll be going then.”
She turns toward the cafeteria, and my mouth runs before my brain catches up. “You should eat with me and my friends.”
What?
She turns to me with an expression that matches my shock, her eyes deflecting from mine to focus on my nose. “Why?”
Because I don’t want you to leave.
Because you being near me soothes me.
Because I want to stay by your side.
