Page 13 of In Control

Yeah, it should be that easy. We alphas aren’t drawn to betas in the way we are to omegas. There’s no scent, no pheromones pulling us that way. No bloody biology taking control and driving our actions. I shouldn’t be this fucking torn up.

“I am staying out of her way,” I snap. “But it isn’t easy. Not when she seems to be in every faculty meeting. Not when I have to watch her sauntering down the corridor every day in her little outfits. Not when …”

Liam examines me. “You’ve never seemed fixated by a girl before.”

No, I haven’t. I have my pack. I have my brothers. We have our omega. That’s always been enough for me. Sure, it hasn’t stopped me chasing women. I like the seduction, the thrill. But unlike Liam I’ve never wanted a relationship. A date or two. A one-night stand. That’s always been enough for me.

This girl, though, this beta. There’s something different about her. She’s haunting my every fucking thought.

“Maybe it’s the lure of something you can’t have. It makes you want it more.”

“Oh, I’ve had her,” I say, taking another sip of my drink. The alcohol hasn’t kicked in yet. My mind is buzzing. I won’t be able to sleep.

“What?! You just said–”

“It was before. Before I started at the university. Before I knew she was a student.”

Liam brushes his hand across his jaw. “Usually once you’ve caught them, you lose interest, Esra.”

“Yeah.” I knock back the last of my drink.

“What’s she like?”

I groan. I’m not sure talking about her is going to help my situation. I should be forcing her out of my mind, not letting her dwell there.

“Beautiful. Fucking beautiful.”

Liam chuckles. “There are plenty of beautiful women around.”

“Yeah, but she’s smart too. And she knows exactly how to press my buttons. It’s fucking torture.”

“She’s a PhD student?” I nod. “Well, then, she’s not going to be around forever. You’re going to have to suck it up, mate.”

I groan. Easy for him to fucking say.

“You ever had this problem?” I ask my packmate as he leans back in his chair. “With a patient or …”

“You know the hospital won’t let me treat any omegas unchaperoned. But I’ve been lucky – I’ve only treated a handful. Each time, though, it was torture – mainly because the little things started mewling and pawing at me as soon as I entered the room. There I am trying to help them, to make them better,” he shakes his head, “and they’re trying to crawl into my lap. One time my chaperone, Dave, had to call for backup because this feisty little omega was fucking strong.”

I laugh. “You fucking pussy!”

“No, mate, you have no idea. You’ve been with Gabriel too long. He’s bonded, mated, settled. He’s not the fucking handful most omegas are.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Gabriel settled?” Our omega likes his dalliances. He’s probably had more lays outside the pack than any of the rest of us.

“You know what I mean. He knows who his alphas are. He always comes home to us.”

I fidget on my seat. It’s true and yet I’m not sure it’s how a pack is meant to work. When we found Gabriel, I thought that would be it for us. No more searching, no more sleeping around. That thirst would be quelled. And it was at first. But then …

Since then, things haven’t been the same between us. Even if none of us will ever admit it.

“Where is he tonight?” Liam asks.

“Out at some after party.”

“You didn’t want to go.”

“I wasn’t invited.”

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