Mason grunts. “We need to talk about her and about the fact that we’re scent matches.”
Yeah, I don’t really want to do that, but what choice do I have?
I can’t ignore it. It’s not like it’s going to go anywhere.
“Kiara is my top priority,” I say as Davis moves back to the stove. “Scent matches or not—she will always come first.”
Alexander squeezes my shoulder before his hand returns to trailing up and down my back. “As she should be. She’s your mate.”
“She is, and I’m not giving her up.”
“First, we would never ask that of you. Second, we want her too. We just need to figure out how to convince her of that.” I turn my head to watch Mason as he runs a hand through his hair. “Which is why we’ll do whatever you need us to do to make things right with her. Us being scent matches shouldn’t come between the two of you.”
“We’ll move out if we need to.”
I turn my head to glance at Alexander, reading the sincerity on his face.
I shake my head. “I don’t know if that would hurt or help things, honestly. There’s not a damn thing I can do until she comes home. I can guess at what’s going through her head, but until I talk to her, I don’t know for sure. I don’t know how to fix this.
“She tried to hide it from me at first—just how terrified she is of me finding my scent matches—but it’s hard for her to keep things from me. I’ve known since we were teenagers that she would be part of my pack, but nothing I’ve told her has convinced her I mean it. I’ve even told her I wanted to bond once we graduated, but she always says no. She really believes that finding my scent matches would mean forgetting her completely, and since bonds can’t be broken…”
Alexander sighs, running a hand through his hair. “She really told you that?”
“Not in so many words, but yes.” It’s my turn to sigh as my hands slide into my hair and tug. “I’ve tried for years to show her that I love her—that she’ll always be my first pick. But she never believes me. Why won’t she believe me?”
This time, I can’t fight back the tears, so I just bury my face in my arms.
Trying to control my emotions as an omega is never easy. We feel everything soul deep—or at least most of us do. I’m sure there are omegas out there who have complete control over their emotions, but I haven’t met any yet.
There are so many hormones running through our bodies that it’s hard to regulate them when we’re stressed.
Apparently, there’s a biological reason for it. I’ve taken the required omega courses, but it still doesn’t make sense to me. Probably because I don’t want to actually understand.
Who cares why it happens? I just wish I could make it stop.
“Please don’t cry,” Mason pleads, leaning close. “I’m having enough issues dealing with these stupid alpha urges, and I don’t want to take liberties with you that I’m not entitled to.”
I snort, wishing it was just that easy to turn off my tears.
Fuck, it would be amazing if I could.
“Here.” The scent of buttery, cheesy goodness hits my nose as a plate scrapes across the island. Davis’s smile is tight when I lift my head to meet his gaze. “Eat. I don’t think anyone can cry while they’re eating.”
I snort. “Pretty sure I can do both.”
“Don’t take it as a challenge, Crew. I just thought it might provide a much-needed distraction.”
I shrug. It’s worth a shot, right? It’s not like I want to be sitting here sobbing while surrounded by my surprise scent matches.
I ignore the tears still streaking down my face as I take a bite, groaning at how good it tastes. My stomach growls as I take another bite. I guess I was hungrier than I realized.
Davis grins before turning back to the stove, and by the time I’ve finished my first sandwich, he’s adding a second to my plate.
“This is one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had. Better than everyone’s but Kiara’s.”
He shoots me a wink over his shoulder. “Who do you think taught her how to make them?”
Interesting. That’s not something she ever shared.