10. Lily

Chapter 10

Lily

S lamming the brakes on outside Forget Me Knot, I look at the clock on the dash. One minute past twelve.

"Shit!"

I hurriedly get out of the car and launch myself at the door, unlocking it and wedging it open before I reach around to flip the sign over. If the omega is lurking, I need her to see that I'm open and ready to hand over the goods.

Bustling through the shop to the back, I force Max Hamilton from my mind. I have bigger things to worry about right now than an arrogant alpha whose head seems to be stuck up his arse. Picking up the black velvet pouch with the perfume inside, I fiddle with it, hoping to fuck I didn't miss the poor omega. I got stuck behind a tractor, and I swear they do it on purpose some days, just trundling along and not letting anyone past, even when you already crawled past three pull-over places.

I look up when someone enters the shop, my heart leaping but them plummeting. The dark-haired woman comes closer, almost hesitantly, and it makes me look twice.

It's her .

She has dyed her hair black, which makes her look even more washed out and pale, but it is definitely different.

"Hi," I say in as casual a tone as I can muster. "Sorry I was late back."

"Huh?" she asks, her eyes darting all over.

"Nothing," I murmur, happy that she wasn't hanging around waiting for me and we were both running a bit late.

"Do you have it?" she whispers.

I hold up the pouch, and she nods.

"You don't need to use a lot. Dab a bit on each wrist and behind your ears, and it will mask your scent for around a day, as long as you don't shower or swim. Reapply, if you do."

"Okay, thanks." She reaches for it, and I let it go, wishing I could help some more.

I know I shouldn't pry; most of me doesn't even want to, but I know the fear she has in her eyes because I've had it, too. Before I can stop myself, I murmur, "If you need anything else, anything at all, please text me or call." I slowly pick up one of my business cards from the counter and hold it out to her.

She stumbles back, staring at the card like it's a dead fish. But then her eyes meet mine, and maybe she recognises something inside me that she feels right now, and she snatches it from me. "Thanks," she mumbles and rushes off. I watch her go with a pang of frustration and worry, but there's not much I can do about it now. Exhaling deeply, I get back to work, re-organising the shelf of essential oils and making sure everything is in its right place, neat and tidy.

My thoughts wander to Jack, and I realise I miss him. I haven't seen him today, and it feels like there is a hole in my day where he should be. This whole thing with Max has thrown me for a bit of a loop. I'm not sure what to think about Jack and Sam, who I'm attracted to and then Max, who I am most definitely not. It's more than attraction with Jack. He is my safe space. My person who knows my dark secret and will keep it safe no matter what. Sam is fun and flirty and gives my heart a jump start, and he knows how to handle a ginormous cactus, as well as rescuing cats from trees and people from burning buildings.

"Ugh!" I groan, shoving my hands into my hair. Why, all of a sudden, am I thinking these things? A few days ago, I was happy-ish to go along as we were and now everything has changed. I want more.

Blinking, I know it's not all that sudden. My heat is approaching, and it's making me want things I shouldn't want. I have about a month to sort out what I'm going to do because buddying up with Jack this time might not be the best idea if he isn't all that into it.

With this decision weighing on me, I'm startled by a blur and the door to the shop shutting. Seeing black hair swinging, I wait as the omega flips the sign over and rushes over to the counter, ducking around me and then crouching down, her face against her knees as her entire body quivers, her small backpack jiggling on her back.

"Uhm," I murmur.

"Please," she whispers, her voice muffled by her denim-clad knees.

I'm about to ask, please what, when I see a man stroll past with an all too familiar bowler hat on. He pauses outside the shop and glares at the Closed sign. He cups his hands and peers in the window, clearly able to see me standing there like an absolute spade, wondering what the fuck is going on.

"Please," she murmurs. "Please don't let him in."

"I won't," I murmur, but I have to do something. He can see me, for fuck's sake. Wishing I could bend my knees and slink to the floor, but it is not an option right now.

The bowler hat man's glare turns into a squint, like he's trying to burn a hole through the glass. I offer him my best customer-service smile, which probably looks more like a grimace. He doesn't budge. With his hands on the glass, he's clearly not planning on leaving anytime soon.

Great. Just fucking great.

Somehow, I need to get rid of this man.

Marching towards the door, making sure my movements are deliberate and noticeable, Bowler Hat's eyes follow me, and I plaster that stiff smile back on my face.

Swinging the door open just enough to stick my head out, wedging my foot against it so he will have trouble pushing it open, I chirp, "Hi there. Nice to see you again. I'm sorry, but I'm closed right now for stock take."

He narrows his eyes at me before barking out, "I saw you let someone in."

Shit. Think fast.

"She works for me, so if you don't mind, we need to get back to work."

He doesn't seem convinced. His nostrils flare as if trying to catch a whiff of something incriminating.

"Move aside," he demands. "I need to have a word with her."

"Excuse me?" I say, gripping the edge of the door tighter.

He places his hand on the glass pane and gives it a rough shove.

"Hey!" I blurt out as he bruises my foot. He is strong, an alpha, and not a nice one, judging by the look on his face.

"Move, or I'll make you move," he growls, and it makes the omega inside me tremble with fear and the hideous feeling of wanting to do as he says.

"What is going on here?"

Jack's voice booms down the pavement before I see him stride up, looking like a caged tiger about to break free from his prison.

Jack's presence calms my frazzled nerves. I feel my shoulders relax slightly, even as Bowler Hat's eyes darken with what can only be described as annoyance.

"Who the hell are you?" Bowler Hat snaps at Jack.

"Someone who doesn't appreciate you bullying innocent omegas," Jack replies coolly, his eyes narrowing. He steps closer, his stance protective.

The man hesitates for a second, sizing Jack up. My heart pounds from fear and also with an inappropriate bolt of lust from watching Jack defend me—and indirectly, the scared omega cowering behind the counter.

"You have no business here," Jack continues, voice steady and commanding. "Leave."

Bowler Hat looks like he's weighing his options. For a moment, I think he might actually take a swing at Jack, but then he sniffs disdainfully and turns on his heel with a huff. "This isn't over," he mutters before stalking off down the street.

"Are you alright?" Jack asks softly, stepping past me and inside the shop before shutting the door firmly behind him and locking it for good measure.

I nod, managing a shaky smile. "Yeah, thanks to you."

The omega slowly emerges from her hiding spot like a bunny coming out of its burrow after a storm. "Thank you," she whispers to both of us, her eyes wide and grateful.

Jack's eyebrow goes up when he sees the second omega, and then he frowns, directing it at me as if somehow, I caused this mess.

"Hey," I say, prodding his rock-hard chest. "Don't look at me like that, Jack Thorne. I did what I had to."

"Did I say otherwise?" he asks with a slow smile as he stares down at my finger jabbing at him. I can't resist splaying my hand over his pecs for a brief moment before I reluctantly pull my hand away.

"Thank you," I murmur.

"I'm always here for you, Lily," he murmurs back.

We lock gazes and I feel that bolt of lust blossom into something so much more, it nearly brings tears to my eyes.

I step away from Jack, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Right," I say, rubbing the back of my neck. "Let's sort this out." I walk back around the counter and crouch next to the trembling omega, who has curled up again, trying to appear calm and composed. "You don't have to tell me anything, but it would help me help you if I knew what we're dealing with. Who was that?"

She bites her lip, glancing up nervously. "That was the enforcer for my pack."

Jack makes a noise of amusement, and I glare at him over the counter to shut it. His macho ‘tude right now isn't helping. Although he did tell that arsehole where to go and could probably panel him into the pavement if it came to it.

"My pack. They're controlling. Overbearing. They want to…"

"Want to what?" I croak, getting a very, very bad feeling about this. I clench my hands into tight fists as I wait for her to say the words, I know will come.

"… make me undergo the Omega Trials," she whispers.

I let out an involuntary hiss as she confirms what I already knew. Jack is by my side in an instant, crouching down next to me and placing his hand reassuringly on my back. I nod, giving her a reassuring smile as she gives me a curious stare. "You're safe here. What's your name?"

She hesitates before whispering, "Emily."

"Well, Emily," I say gently, not pressing her for a last name, "you can stay here as long as you need."

Emily gives a small, shaky nod. I can see the relief flood her eyes as she clutches at the hem of her sleeves. Poor thing is terrified, and with good reason. The Trials are… in a word… horrendous. My own experience with them will never truly go away, and even now, five years later, it still affects me. It still gives me anxiety and panic attacks and forces me to remain surrounded by every pungent scent nature has to offer, so no one can track me down.

Jack stands up, stretching slightly before looking around the shop. "I'm going to check the back and make sure everything's secure," he mutters.

"Okay, thanks, Jack," I reply, already feeling more at ease knowing he's here. Jack heads off towards the back of the shop, his presence reassuring.

I focus back on Emily. "Do you want something to drink? Tea? Water?"

She shakes her head again, still looking skittish. "No, thank you."

"Okay," I say. "Do you want to come upstairs?"

She looks up at the ceiling as if it might fall on her head.

"My flat is up there," I explain.

"Oh," she murmurs. "You don't have to?—"

"I want to. If you want to stay, of course."

Jack returns and says before she can reply, "All clear. I moved the cactus in front of the garden gate, so if he tries to come over that way, he'll be in for a prickly surprise."

Despite the seriousness of this situation, I burst out laughing, my nerves taking over momentarily. "Oh, good. Well done."

He snickers softly but sobers up quickly, as do I.

"Cactus?" Emily asks, clearly wanting in on the joke, or maybe just wanting to know her security isn't down to a prickly plant.

"Uhm, yeah. Size mishap."

"Can I see it?"

"Sure," I say slowly, helping her to her feet, my legs stiff from crouching for so long. Emily is fragile, only eighteen years old, if her involvement with the Trials is anything to go off. They take them young, barely into their first heat and force them to undergo a set of humiliating Trials all in the name of pack-matching. It's archaic, and there are nasty elements to the so-called "service" that would leave you feeling sick with disgust.

Jack leads us out to the back garden where Emily eyes up the five-foot cactus with wide eyes. "Thank you," she says and slips back inside, leaving us to follow.

"No need to thank us," I assure her. "We're here for you now, Emily. Let's get you settled upstairs."

I lead Emily up the narrow stairs to my flat above the shop. Jack follows behind, his presence like a warm shield against the world.

"Make yourself at home," I say to Emily as I gesture around the space. "The bathroom's through there, and you can sleep on the sofa; it pulls out."

Emily looks around, taking in her surroundings with wide eyes. She finally sits gingerly on the edge of the sofa, as if it might swallow her whole.

Looking every bit the protective alpha he is, Jack gives me a concerned stare. I know what he's thinking because I am as well. If Emily is running from the Trials, and she is here, that means they are close, setting up their next event in the area, and that means trouble for me. If it hadn't been for Jack five years ago, I would probably be chained up in someone's cellar now, living out a nightmare existence.

I rub the bite scar on the inside of my wrist that he gave me to give me the means to escape and keep running. His temporary hold on me broke the bite bond the Trial organisers gave me because we were connected as friends, and more. I ran over five hundred miles, and I'd run another five hundred if I had to. They don't take lightly to escapees, and I've seen what they do to those they recapture.

"Lily, why don't you grab some blankets and pillows?" he asks eventually, and I gulp as I remember how he ran with me. Followed me away from our hometown and built a life here.

Without me.

But then, I built a life without him, so feeling sad and guilty about that now is pointless.

Without a word, I turn from him and head to my bedroom to rummage through the cupboard for spare bedding, my hands shaking involuntarily from the flood of memories I'd hoped would stay buried deep.