First Street Heat (Beastverse #1)

9. Lilah

9

Lilah

M y phone buzzes in my scrub pocket with what I'm sure is another message from Scott. So far, he's messaged me about five times in the last week. Not that I mind because it's actually pretty cute.

The only reason I haven't responded is because I know if I give into Scott's advances, then I'm not going to stop wanting to be near them. It's already hard enough not to try to see if I can get Fenrir out to send me dirty messages.

They're trying their best to give me the space and time I asked for, and it's what keeps me steady in not messaging back.

I check the time on the wall one last time, waiting for Ian to come and grab me out of this orientation room. I spent the whole day filling out paperwork and getting introduced to the various staff.

I've already met most of them since I've done most of my clinicals at this Omega clinic. Ian's the one I spend most of my time with. He's been the one I shadowed three times I've been here and the one who welcomed me here with the warmest of arms.

"Your time is up," Ian says as he opens the door with a bit too much enthusiasm. He's carrying a coffee and what I'm assuming is the lower half of a chocolate chip muffin. He takes a bite, continuing to talk even though his mouth is now full. "You could've left like ten minutes ago."

"Pretty sure you told me to wait for your shift to be over so we could get drinks." I lift a brow at him, daring him to deny what our plans were.

He finishes off the muffin in a few more bites, motioning for me to follow him out of the small room I've been trapped in for most of the day. I snag a muffin on the way out.

It's only fair since a whole breakfast spread was sent to the clinic for the staff from an anonymous donor. Just like when I was here a few days ago to formally apply for the position, sandwiches from the deli down the street were brought in.

I might not have thought anything about it if not for one of the texts from Scott asking if I enjoyed my lunch not minutes after it was catered in.

Thankfully, none of the others knew or cared that it was the attempts of an infatuated alpha trying to get me to notice him. Well, no one noticed or cared except for Ian, who is now giving me a knowing look and a teasing smile.

"I hope you keep dragging him along for at least a few months," Ian says as we walk out of the break room and through the employee exit to our cars. "I've already requested to work only the same shifts as you because I want the perks of an alpha chasing after me, too."

I eye his mating mark very obviously bit into his neck much higher than where they normally go. It's so it can't be hidden. I know this. He knows this. Every single omega and alpha out there knows this.

It makes some envious, and others will pretend not to be, but who doesn't want their alpha to want them so badly that they put the mark in a place that can't be covered up unless you wear the highest of turtle necks? I am firmly in the jealous category. It doesn't help that I don't have a claiming mark at all, so that adds fuel to the jealousy.

"Tell Gale to step up his game, or another alpha is going to come in and sweep you off your feet with free breakfast." I nudge his shoulder, laughing when he snorts into his coffee.

"I'm going to tell him you said that, and he's never going to let me go out with you again." Ian wipes the dribble of coffee off his chin. "No, scratch that, I'm technically already not supposed to be going out with you because, and I quote, 'she'll give you ideas of trying to act hard to get, and I've already got you.'"

This time, I'm the one snorting. "Yeah, I'm so hard to get."

"I don't see a mark." Ian gives me a pointed look. "If this guy wants you this bad, it's not for his lack of trying."

My face falls slightly at the remark, reminding me in part that it's kind of Scott's lack of trying that's left me without a mark on my neck and his scent on my body.

I'm pretty sure Fenrir would've bitten my neck during my heat if he'd been allowed to stay out. Scott's the one who didn't want to, but he's also the one who's been messaging me so much.

Speaking of messaging me. The thought reminds me of the messages on my phone. I pull it out of my pocket as we near our cars and read over the older ones before reading the newest one. All of them have butterflies erupting in my stomach and a smile to play on my lips.

Scott/Fenrir: I'm so sorry about Fenrir calling you and messaging you. All of that was inappropriate, and I'll keep him on a tighter leash. We'll be ready to meet with you whenever you're willing to give us another chance. Hopefully, soon. -Scott

Scott/Fenrir: Hey, sorry for messaging you again. It's really hard to stay away from you. We're wondering if it's okay if we just park out front of your apartment building for a little while. We won't approach or anything, but I want to make sure it's okay with you before we show up. -Scott

Scott/Fenrir: I hope you enjoyed your lunch. I wasn't sure if you packed anything since it's just an interview. I know they'll love you and will probably get the process of hiring you started. I wanted to make sure you ate something in case you had to stay later than expected. -Scott

Scott/Fenrir: Sorry for all of the messages. We wanted to let you know we're thinking about you. We hope your orientation goes well tomorrow. I did some research into the clinic you're at, and they do really good work. I think you'll like it there. I can't wait to talk with you about it when we're finally talking. -Scott

Scott/Fenrir: Fenrir and I hope your orientation went well. I'm going to attempt to stop sending so many messages. I did good for a few days there, but I've been slipping. Fenrir in my ear, always telling me to contact you doesn't help either. I hope we don't come across as too desperate. Although I don't think we'd care if we did. -Scott

I laugh at the final message. Each one puts a stupid smile on my face.

I need to ask Scott if he ever texts like a normal person or if he's always writing in paragraphs and signing his name at the end like I won't know it's him and not Fenrir just by the lack of asking to see my tits.

"Is that him, now?" Ian sneaks a peek over my shoulder before I can hide my phone screen. "Multiple texts all that long?" He gives me a faux gasp of surprise. "He's either going to stalk you until you give into him, or he enjoys being rejected. Which is it?"

I roll my eyes and tuck my phone into my pocket. I haven't rejected Scott and Fenrir, which leaves only one option in Ian's scenario. I'm not about to admit that an alpha is stalking me. Especially not admitting it's an alpha with a beast.

Ian's likely to call the police on Scott as a precaution if he learns about how they're outside my apartment every night since my heat. I'm not trying to explain the whole sordid details of how I went to a heat clinic, was rejected by an alpha I scent matched, and now he's following me around, buying me food, and texting me in paragraphs.

It's cute, damn it. It's not creepy like I know everyone will think until we actually get together.

Okay, maybe I'm a dirty liar and want to tell someone—anyone—about what's going on with Scott, Fenrir, and me. I haven't even told Maggy about it because she's been busy recently, and I haven't had a chance to call her.

There's something so validating about sharing in person, and I'm about to tell it all to Ian without much of a fuss. He doesn't need to know that, though.

"I'm very capable of taking care of myself," I say, hoping my tone conveys that I'm perfectly content with how things are going with Scott and Fenrir.

"Oh, I know," Ian says with a laugh. "We've all been eating well, thanks to you. I just want to know how you've got him so hooked."

"How about?" I pause and tap my chin with my car keys, acting like I'm really thinking about something that he could give me that might have me offering up all the details of my love life. "You pay for all the drinks tonight, and I'll tell you everything."

Ian closes his eyes for a second, muttering numbers under his breath and counting on his fingers. "No." He shakes his head with a pout. "You'll just have to tell me everything, or I'll annoy you all night."

"One drink?" I counter, knowing it's a lost cause.

He's right that he'll be able to get me to tell him almost everything. I already want to share it, but he can think I won't for a little while longer. It'll add to the mystery of what's going on and how I've snagged an alpha that's slightly stalking me.

"One drink for all of your secrets?" Ian practically squeals. "Deal!"

He opens his car door, shutting it before I can argue that I did not agree to offer him all of my secrets. It's no use, though. Once he's decided on finding something out, he's pretty good about weaseling the information out in any way necessary.

Not that my secrets are hard to give up when it takes a slight buzz and some french fries to have me squealing.

He watches me walk a few parking spots down and get in my car. I have it started when he pulls out of his parking space and then drives down the street to the closest omega bar.

I unlock my phone and reread the messages from the beginning, when it was Fenrir telling me to show him my tits, all the way through to Scott telling me he doesn't care if he seems desperate. I'm blushing like a kid with her first crush when I finally put it away and drive the few minutes to the bar.