Page 84 of Not Looking
I started looking for breakfast ingredients as the coffee brewed. Some sausage stood out, along with another tube of biscuits.
Biscuits and gravy sounded perfect, though I’d wait for Randy to wake so that I wouldn’t have to worry about it getting cold.
“Ready for breakfast, Spud?” I asked as I made my way to his bowl.
His ears were alert as he trotted over, nails clicking on the floor.
I chuckled as I poured a scoop of kibble into his bowl—which he immediately dug into. Then I changed his water as he ate.
I’d just sat at the table with my coffee when I heard tires on the gravel outside.
It seemed early for somebody lost on the way to their rental, but I didn’t want their knocking to wake my sleeping omega.
Car doors as they got out, and Russy was at my heels as I made my way to the door.
Footsteps up the stairs to the porch.
I opened the door to see an alpha woman reaching for the handle.
She blinked at me in shock, then her demeanor shifted, and she started growling—deep and threatening.
I took half a step back in shock, confused at the sudden aggression. Then my alpha side reminded me that my omega was asleep upstairs. I firmed my stance as an answering growl bubbled up from my throat.
I would protect my intended mate and his space.
Her growl deepened in response.
I didn’t tear my gaze from the woman, but I had to figure out what had set her off. Children were talking. Did she think I was a threat to them?
“Russy!” yelled a little boy right before he ran between the woman and me.
She broke eye contact as she reached for him. “Marco! Wait!”
“Tio Randy!” called a girl as she made her way around her mother.
“Michelle!”
I blinked. “Wait… Are you Randy’s sister?”
Her gaze snapped back to me as the kids evaded her and ran inside. “And who are you?”
“I’m…” I started.
“Jessie?” Randy asked from where he stood in the bedroom door in only his boxers.
“Randy!” the woman—Jessie—cried, turning to him. “Are you ok?”
He let out a single chuckle. “I… ummm… I’m fine. Let me put on some clothes.”
She nodded, then focused on me again, low growl still in her throat.
I held up my hands as I started to understand. We were both protecting the same man, but for different reasons.
“Do… do you want some coffee?” I asked, attempting to de-escalate the situation.
She blinked, then slowly nodded—though the growl was still there.
“How do you take it?”
