a's

th textbooks, on our way to the library for a last-ditch cram session. The sun was warm on my skin, but a faint, oppressive f

d us. Conversations faltered. People stopped in their

arted like

of sight and saw the s

the unshakeable confidence of a king. He was flanked by two other guys, both built like linebackers, who moved in his orbit like loya

dging me with her elbow. "The

ith shoulders so broad they seemed to fill the entire walkway. Every movement w

it grated on every one of my nerves. It was the kind of power that didn't ask for respect, but demanded i

esire. Rick seemed completely oblivious, or perhaps just indifferent. Hi

swept across the crowd and snagged

physical touch. My breath caught in my

eyes away, grabbing Bl

we hurried away. "He walks around

led presence, Ellie. And you ha

e," I corrected her t

r-looking girl, clearly an Omega from her timi

just stopped and leveled a

ed a frantic apology and practi

hat I had run away from. The casual cruelty, the effortless intimidation, th

alked past us, so close

erceptible, but it was there. Pine and t

art s

t was the same

to confirm, but he was already too far away, his

coincidence. Lots of Alphas wear cologne that s

confused sound. She was drawn to th

asked, noticing the co

e absurd notion from my min

idence. The nightmares were making me paranoid, se