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"She's not wrong," he agreed.
The couple in front of us paid and moved to the side to wait for their drinks.
"What can I get for you three?" a cute, purple-haired teen in a witchy costume asked.
“Any favorites?" I asked Rook before turning to Merrick. They both just shrugged and looked a bit lost at the themed drink menu.
"Sorry about that, they are new in town," I explained, "we will take three Phantom Fizz's, a vampire punch, and a fog juice. Please."
"You got it," she smiled and totaled it up and I paid before stepping to the side. "We will have it out to you soon."
Rook leaned in close, his nose skimming over my neck and making me shudder. “Your scent is back.”
“I noticed,” I admitted as liquid heat spread through me. I liked his touch far more than I cared to admit. Flirting was safe. This was… so much more. “It was muted with the stress of getting sent here and finding a cure, I think.”
He hummed. “Does that mean we broke it for you, little witch?”
“You don’t need a bigger ego, Rook.”
“Does this mean you’re mine, Prue?” he asked. This time, the teasing had drained away. He was asking me point blank if we were scent-matches. I couldn’t lie to him.
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m diving head first into anything,” I warned. I’d learned long ago you couldn’t trust anyone. If it went deeper than our relationship was now, then I knew I’d run.
Merrick stepped closer as the crowd pushed in around us and I was hit with the combination of their scents. Rook’s parchment, campfire, and cinnamon mixed with Merrick’s sweet honey, creamy vanilla, and caramel. It was like a Halloween night reading a book, enjoying a sweet treat.
Then something else joined the mix and had me freezing. The change in me was stark enough Rook moved around me, balancing the fries and staring down at me with concern.
“What is it? Did I push too far?”
"No,” I said, eyes scanning around us but no one was looking back to indicate they noticed the life-altering moment, either.
“What is it, witchling?” Merrick’s scent spiked with a bitter edge and I reached for him and squeezed his hand, calming it instantly.
“I’m fine… someone’s scent just hit me. Not yours.”
“Oh?” Rook perked up at that and glanced around. Merrick frowned but didn’t protest. No sane beta or alpha would deny an omega her scent-matches.
Adding another curse to the mix might be a problem but how could I hold that against anyone?
“Is it gone?” Rook asked. “I don’t see anyone close enough that might be pack.”
“Do I feel like pack?” Merrick asked. Rook looked over at him and grinned, nodding his head to confirm.
“Yes, you do. My alpha is protective over you. We’ve got that sibling energy going on,” he said with a chuckle. Merrick huffed out a laugh but even I could see how pleased he was by Rook’s words. I gave Rook a grateful look before glancing around again.
“Get the drinks.” I said the words quickly before surging forward and following my nose. It wasn’t easy. The bazaar was packed with an overwhelming amount of scents and the aroma of food and treats.
But that same scent was lingering and strong, potent enough to stand out amongst the rest. Caramelized pecans, buttery pastry, sweet maple syrup, and that undeniable alpha spice. The scent was getting stronger as I ducked between two booths and toward the trees that outlined the fairgrounds.
A figure darted into the woods, the wind carrying that scent right back to me. There was a flash of dark fur before the woods swallowed him whole.
I stood there for a second watching the tree line in hopes he’d come back. The shifter must not have realized that I was here and the sinking feeling that filled my stomach was completely uncalled for.
It wasn’t a rejection.
Right?
Merrick found me a few minutes later. HIs scent announced him as the soft ground hid his quiet footsteps. He stepped up next to me and followed my gaze.
