Page 37 of Scheme
“You’re getting on the train? Now? Where are you?”
I snorted. “There are those instincts flaring again. When it rains it pours, huh? I’m nearly home, nothing to worry about. Thanks for unnecessarily calling, I’ll be sure to join Violet for dinner next week.”
I shoved my phone away as I hung up, scanning my card and merging into the crowd going down the stairs to the platform.
That explained why he’d been rushing after me the other day when I’d left the festival.Instincts. For all Kit’s incorrect and offensive assumptions about omegas, the powerful pull ofalphainstincts was nothing to be sniffed at. I could just ignore him, ignore any alpha I wasn’t mated to, so long as they weren’t purring or growling in my face, attempting to exert control over me.
But without doing anything at all, I was stuck in Kit’s brain like an annoying ad jingle. I’d entered his orbit as an omega that he gave somewhat of a shit about—whether he wanted to or not—and therefore he was stuck caring about my safety.
Not for all the money and no heats in the world would I want to be an alpha.
Kit looked like an avenging god, standing at the station entrance when I disembarked, muscles tight with tension and dark eyes flashing furiously.
I wasn’t surprised to see him, but I didn’t ask for his instincts to single me out. Contrary to his claim that I’d tried to trick him, Kit had been the one to show up atmyhouse the day after the party. He’d soughtmeout. His instincts weren’t my job to cater to.
I straightened my shoulders and strolled right past him.
With a satisfyingly incredulous sound, he scrambled to follow.
“Don’t,” I clipped as Kit fell into step next to me, tension rolling off him in waves. “Save the whole overprotective alpha routine for an omega who wants it.”
“It’sdark, Margot. And you’re—”
“Do not finish that sentence,” I cut in, flashing him a warning look. If he announced to all and sundry that my heat was approaching, I’d slice open my finger and poison him myself.
Kit checked himself, taking a deep breath and pressing his lips tightly together, but he was still clearly in a bear of a mood. Well, that was fine by me. I hadn’t asked him to swoop in and save me. I didn’t need saving.
“Margot,” he began in an infinitely reasonable tone that annoyed me even more. “Don’t be stubborn—”
“Or, hear me out, you could not tell me what to do,” I cut in.
He threw up his hands in exasperation. “I don’t know why I’m telling you what to do. I’m not one of those alphas. I’m acting like a total asshole.”
“Better,” I conceded, tipping my chin. “You may continue telling me all the reasons why you’re terrible.”
Kit snorted. “No. Tell me you won’t traipse around the streets alone in the dark any more.”
“Also no.”
“Then it seems we’re at an impasse.” He was clearly agitated, being ridden hard by instincts he didn’t really understand, and I found myself taking pity on him.
Damn it.
In spite of everything, that reaction wasmyinstincts, rearing their ugly head. Alphas grumped and sulked and beat their chests. Omegas whined and stomped their feet andsoothed. It was that soothing urge that was riding me hard now, watching Kit struggle, which was some serious horse shit since Kit wasn’tmyalpha.
Why was I getting saddled with these emotions? What deity had I offended for this to be my fate?
With a heavy sigh, I stepped to the side of the path so the crowd could pass us, Kit dogging my every step. Not letting myself question it too much, I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck. He only froze for the briefest second before he was hugging me back, arms banded tightly around my waist.
“What exactly are we doing?” Kit murmured, his lips a hair’s breadth away from my ear.
“Hugging.”
He hummed. “It’s nice. Why are we hugging?”
“Alpha nonsense, with a generous side of omega nonsense. Stop questioning it, it’s already awkward enough.”
Kit shook with silent laughter, the tension bleeding out of him as though I’d snuggled it all away. I could begrudgingly admit that it was a powerful feeling to be able totamean alpha who was probably four times stronger than me.
