By the time I reached the front door, my hands were trembling, and my mind was a jumbled mess. I fumbled with the keys, finally managing to shove the door open. The warm, familiar scent of vanilla greeted me-Morgan's signature diffuser was on full blast as usual.
Morgan was sprawled on the couch, her laptop balanced on her knees, typing furiously. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and she had a bag of chips open beside her. She barely glanced up as I walked in.
"Hey, you're late. Pizza again?" she asked, popping a chip into her mouth.
I stood frozen in the doorway, unsure where to start. My pulse was still racing from what I'd overheard, and I wasn't even sure if I could string a coherent sentence together.
Morgan finally looked up, narrowing her eyes. "Uh-oh. You've got that look. Spill it."
I dropped my bag and sank into the armchair opposite her, hugging a cushion to my chest. "You are not going to believe what just happened."
"Try me."
I launched into the story, starting with how I'd smelled him-Theo-outside the café and ending with my eavesdropping in the alley. I skipped over how my heart had practically exploded when I realized they were talking about me.
Morgan's eyebrows climbed higher and higher as I spoke, and by the time I finished, she was gaping at me.
"Wait, wait, wait," she said, holding up a hand. "You're telling me this giant Alpha-this same Alpha you've been quietly obsessing over for weeks-is out there brooding in alleys because he has a thing for you?"
"That's what it sounded like," I mumbled, my cheeks burning.
Morgan let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's some serious romance novel-level drama right there."
"Don't make fun of me," I groaned, burying my face in the cushion.
"I'm not!" she said quickly, her tone softening. "I'm just... processing. Okay, so let me get this straight-he's into you, but he hasn't made a move because he's worried about scaring you off?"
"Pretty much," I muttered. "And his person? Friend? Beta.. I think -Callum, I think his name was-was telling him to stop lurking and just talk to me."
Morgan leaned back, her expression thoughtful. "Well, that's... complicated. But honestly, it sounds like he's being respectful. I mean, Alphas aren't exactly known for holding back, so the fact that he's worried about how you feel says a lot."
"Maybe," I said, chewing on my lip. "But what am I supposed to do? Pretend I didn't overhear any of it? Or confront him about it? I don't even know how I feel about him, Morgan. He's... intense."
Morgan tilted her head, smirking. "Intense and hot as hell, right?"
I shot her a glare, but my silence was answer enough.
"Look," she said, sitting up and setting her laptop aside. "You've got two options. One: you wait and see if he works up the nerve to talk to you first. Two: you take control of the situation and talk to him. Either way, you're going to have to deal with it eventually."
I groaned again, flopping back in the chair. "I hate it when you're right."
Morgan grinned, grabbing another chip. "You love it. Now, go shower or something. You smell like coffee and drama."
I threw the cushion at her, and she dodged, laughing. But her words stuck with me as I headed to my room.
Was I brave enough to face Theo head-on? Or was I going to keep running away and hoping he'd make the first move?
Tomorrow, I'd have to decide.
~~~~
The morning routine at the café lulled me into a false sense of calm. I wiped down the counter for what felt like the hundredth time, trying to focus on the mundane tasks instead of the swirling thoughts in my head. Last night's overheard conversation replayed on a loop, Theo's deep growl and Callum's teasing words etched into my memory.
I was still trying to convince myself that it had all been a weird, stress-induced dream when the bell over the door jingled.
The scent hit me first: salted caramel, smoke, and something sharp like pine sap. My stomach flipped.
Theo was here.
But he wasn't alone.
He entered the café like he owned it, his massive frame commanding attention even in the casual black shirt and jeans he wore. Two other men followed closely behind him.
The first was Callum, his friend from last night. His sharp blue eyes immediately landed on me, and his smirk was just as infuriating as I remembered. But it was the second man who really caught my attention.
An Alpha, just as large as Theo but with a more polished air. His jet-black hair was slicked back, and his piercing green eyes swept the café like he was assessing a battlefield. His scent-whiskey and cedar-blended seamlessly with Theo's, a subtle testament to their bond.
I barely had time to process his presence before a third figure stepped inside. He was shorter and slighter than the others, his movements graceful and deliberate. His scent was the sweetest of the three, a mix of fresh-baked bread and lavender, with just the faintest hint of citrus. An Omega.
He tucked himself closer to Theo, his soft brown eyes darting around the café like he was searching for something-or someone.
I froze, gripping the counter tightly as they approached.
Theo's gaze locked onto mine, and my heart slammed against my ribs. He said nothing as he stepped up to the counter, his presence overwhelming in the small space.
"We'll take a booth," he said, his voice low and rough, but not unkind.
I nodded, swallowing hard. "Of course. I'll be right over with menus."
They moved to the farthest corner of the café, the booth partially obscured by a potted plant. It wasn't exactly subtle, but it gave them just enough privacy to make me wonder what they were planning.
"What's that about?" Clara whispered as I grabbed the menus and their table number.
"No idea," I lied, plastering on a smile. "Maybe they're just hungry."
She snorted. "Hungry for more than coffee, I bet. Did you see the way that big one was looking at you? And the Omega-he's adorable! Are they, like, a pack or something?"
My stomach twisted. A pack? No, that couldn't be right. But what would I know about these things?
But as I approached their table, the way they leaned into each other, their scents mingling effortlessly, told a different story.
The Omega glanced up as I placed the menus and number on the table, his soft brown eyes meeting mine. He gave me a tentative smile, and my heart ached at the sheer gentleness of it.
"Thanks," he said quietly, his voice as sweet as his scent.
"You're welcome," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
Theo's gaze stayed fixed on me the entire time, his expression unreadable. Callum smirked, and the green-eyed Alpha leaned back in his seat, studying me like I was some kind of puzzle.
"Do you work here every day?" Callum asked, breaking the silence.
"Uh, most days," I said, my palms sweating.
The green-eyed Alpha chuckled softly. "Interesting."
I had no idea what was so interesting about my work schedule, but I didn't stick around to find out. I hurried back to the counter, my mind racing.
Who were these men? And why did it feel like I'd just stepped into the middle of something far bigger than myself?