“Why not? I can smell an older man on you. You like them older, and you’re hanging out here more than normal. So why wouldn’t I connect the dots and assume that you want Neill too?” She takes a deep breath in.
“If you can smell them on me, then you know I’m an Omega, marked by my mate.” I turn my head to show her the mark left by Mitch. I try everything to make sure that I only say the one mate. I’m not sure how the meeting went with Colson’s parents, but there hasn’t been an announcement about his mate. So I keep my composure, even though I want to rip into her. “You’d also be able to smell my heat. And I am not in heat. I am, however, just here to be here. I enjoy coming to the library, but after today, I may have to change my mind. You’re the second person to threaten me here.” I pick up my things and turn away from here.
“So you don’t want him?” Mandy grabs my arm, turning me back to face her.
“No,” I sigh. “I don’t want him.” Saying that he’s old enough to be my father isn’t something that bothers me, only because I have Darrell. The part that bothers me is that he is actually my father. But she doesn’t know that, how could she? “So are you an Alpha?” I take a deep breath. She doesn’t smell like one. She smells sweet, like I do.
“No. I’m an Omega.” Her eyes dart over to Neill, who is still lost reading.
“Then why do you want a Beta instead of an Alpha?” I ask quietly.
“My Alpha rejected me. Stating I wasn’t good enough for him.” I watch her face flush with shame.
“That’s terrible. Who was your Alpha?” I push for an answer that is none of my business.
“I didn’t find him until a year ago. He’s four years younger than me, and said that he wouldn’t have an old bat as his Omega. I was broken for so long. Neill helped me through it. Helped me find my courage again. I fell in love with him while he helped me. I get a little jealous when people talk to him.”
“Well, I promise you I do not want him like that. Who was the Alpha that rejected you?”
“Ian Clemmons.” She hangs her head, filled with desire and sadness. That’s Sadie’s older brother. He graduated the same time Mitch did. If she's only four years older, then she’s barely older than me.
“The Heir to the Clemmons Mafia, Alpha Throne?” I try not to gasp.
“Yes.” She looks back over at Neill. “But it’s his loss,” she says, pressing her thighs together.
“You’re in your heat cycle?” I ask, taking a deep breath. She smells like honeysuckle. I glance around the library to see if anyone notices her.
She nods, clenching at her abdomen.
“Why the fuck are you out in public?” I ask. I don’t quite have everything figured out, like some do. But, I’m like ninety-nine percent sure she shouldn’t be down here. “We need to get you back upstairs, Mandy.” I loop her arm over my shoulder, and each breath I take, the more I can smell her. She’s ripe and ready for the taking.
I see Neill stand up at the desk, dropping the paper. “What’s going on?” He rushes around the counter to help me with Mandy. Mandy growls at me as Neill gets too close.
“Put your teeth away, Mandy. It will never happen between Neill and I.” I adjust her arm, getting her to the back door so we can take her upstairs.
“Why would you even say something like that?” Neill says, looking at me confused.
“She’s feeling a bit territorial about me being too close to you.” I try to hide the fact that I know he’s my father, but at this point, Mandy’s nails are digging into my shoulder so hard, I kind of want to scream it out so she’ll stop.
Biting back a howl as the pain radiates down my shoulder from her nails. “Mandy. Why would you…” He takes a deep breath. “You’re an Omega?” It’s like a light behind his eyes turns on. “That makes so much fucking sense.”
I laugh. It’s hard not to. How did he not know that before now? “Neill,” Mandy growls his name.
I watch his face turn when he takes another deep breath in. “And you’re in heat?!” I’m not sure if it’s a question or statement. He still seems confused.
“Yes, now get the door,” I say, pulling Mandy’s weight off him. He opens the back door leading to the stairs. I rush Mandy through the door, and we head up the stairs. “Neill, Colson is outside. Go let him know what’s going on. And that I’ll be out in a little.” He just nods as I help Mandy up the stairs.
She whines as Neill leaves. I ignore her and help her get to her apartment. We push through her door. I dare not ask her anymore questions, or go too far into her house. I’m not sure where she has her nest set up, and I don’t want to intrude. I’d be pissed if she walked into my room with my nest.
Laying her on the couch, I look around the living room and notice that it’s bare bones, and she has absolutely no pictures on the walls. Like it’s temporary, but she’s been here for years. I hear loud footsteps up the stairs.
Neill bursts through the front door. “I closed the library, and Colson said he’d wait in the car for you.”
“Thanks. Look, I can't just hang out around here. Her scent is already on me, and it’s gonna send my guys into a frenzy, can you handle her?” I ask him. I realize in that moment, that I have his eyes. Fuck, he really is my father isn’t he.
“I uh.” He rubs his head.
“Listen. I get it. Talking about this with me could be weird. But she needs sex, and she’s already given you blowies. So buckle up, buttercup, because she claims you as her beta, and there is no Alpha to ease her heat. So take care of her, and I’ll see you guys around.” I bolt to the door, dipping around Neill to avoid looking him in the eyes again.