The Main Hallway

THE MAIN HALLWAY

Bennet

"Go." Director Spanner steps to one side, making it very clear I need to leave.

It takes everything in me not to snap at the beta. I understand this is her ward, and the patients here are under her protection, but they're my fucking patients too.

"Beta Marin," I turn to Scarlett, but she keeps her head down, not quite looking at me. It's a sweet and submissive stance. One that drives me wild. "I'm sure we'll speak soon," I say, before marching off.

I can still smell Scarlett's soft scent as I make my way down the long corridor toward my office. The air around her smells almost brighter. Cleaner. Almost woodsy. And it's so addicting. I can admit I'm being a bit reckless entering the Nesting Ward just to catch a sniff of her, but the urge hit out of nowhere. I had to see the beta. My desire to be near her is just too damn strong to ignore anymore.

"Dr. Enoch." My assistant motions to a stack of folders on the corner of his desk. "Here's the information you requested on Violet Licht."

I eye the paperwork. "Thank you, Davis." But I'm too amped to go through them. What I want is to corner a certain beta and push my nose into the soft crook of her neck. I want to lick her, and see if she tastes as amazing as she smells. "I'm going to do some rounds." I turn and walk off. Davis says something behind me, but I can't hear him. My ears are pounding with a rush of something I've never felt before. It's too much. I need some fresh air.

**The Cafeteria**

"What the fuck happened to you?" Drek snorts as he sits down across from me, eyeing my neglected coffee. "You look like shit, Enoch."

I glare at my friend, not in the mood. "Don't you have patients to see?"

Drek snorts as he leans back in his chair. "I just came to get a bit of coffee, but I'm not waiting in that line." He hitches a thumb at the front counter. "I swear they understaffed the cafeteria on purpose," he groans.

I nod, but I really don't give a shit. All I can think about is Scarlett. Her dark eyes and long hair. The soft point of her chin and the slight bump on the bridge of her nose. She's beautiful.

"I heard you went into the Nesting Ward today," Drek says as he grabs my cup of coffee. He sniffs it before taking a quick sip. "Seriously?" He pulls a face. "You don't even put sugar in it?"

"I like it black." I reach across the table, taking the flimsy paper cup from him. "If you want a cup of sugar, go get your own damn coffee."

"What's going on?" Drek says as he combs his fingers through his trim blond hair. "Why were you in the Nesting Ward?"

Agitation crawls up the back of my neck, making my skin flash hot. I'm too on edge. "I was checking on a patient." It's not a lie, but it might as well be.

"Bullshit." Drek barks then laughs, but I can't smile with him.

I hate what I'm feeling and the way I'm acting. This isn't like me. Omegas have this effect on alphas. Not betas. But it's like there's a veil over my eyes every time I look at Scarlett. My perception has shifted, changed, and nothing else matters but that pretty little beta.

"Bennet." Drek leans forward, resting his arms on the table. "Talk to me, brother. What's going on? Is it…" he cuts a sweeping glance around the cafeteria, "is it Beta Marin?"

My whole body goes tight and my fists curl. "Why the fuck would you ask me that?" I whisper, hating how obvious I am. Spanner saw right through me, and now Drek. Does the whole damn hospital know?

"Ben." Drek glares hard. "You've been on that sweet beta's trail for almost a year now. And I get it." Two x-ray technicians walk past us, chatting wildly about an impressive broken leg they saw this morning. Drek waits for the voices to fade before he adds, "I know it can be distracting when you find that perfect beta to add to your pack, but?—"

"I don't have a pack," I say firmly. Drek knows this, and I hate being forced to remind him.

"Yeah, but all packs start out somewhere," he says as if I'm being purposefully difficult. "Hell, Darla coupled with our beta before she brought in me and Josh. And now we have a full pack. We're even on a waiting list to claim an omega." His chest puffs with obvious pride. "Feeling an animalistic pull to a beta is normal. Trust me."

"It just feels weird to ask her out when I don't have the security of a pack to tempt her." I'm a little taken aback by my own words. But they're true. "There are even some betas that don't want alphas. They're all about standard relationships with other betas. What if?—"

" All betas want to be claimed by an alpha." Drek lets out a booming laugh. "They might not have the same driving instincts as an alpha or an omega, but betas want what our kind can provide. But if you're that worried, just don't tell Beta Marin you're not in a pack. Problem solved."

I pull a face, making it clear that I do not approve of his suggestion. Drek leans in, clearly wanting to explain a bit better.

"Don't tell her at first, " he says, emphasizing the ‘ at first '. "Go on a couple of dates. See if she's just a pack-slut looking to hook up with a fuck ton of alphas."

"She's not a fucking slut," I snarl, curling my fists tight.

"I'm not saying that." Drek smiles wide at my reaction. "I'm just saying that you should go on a few dates and see if she likes you, or if she just likes the idea of being with a pack."

It's not a terrible idea, but I can't shake the worry growing in my gut. "She's going to find it odd that I don't have a pack." I give the room a sweeping glance. I don't want anyone to hear what we're talking about. There's a reason I don't share my private life at work. "I have nothing to offer. I'm pushing forty, with no pack. No stability. No?—"

"Fucking, hell, Ben." Drek groans, giving me a tight glare. " You're the one that isn't listening. You don't need a pack. But you do need to get your head out of your ass and ask the damn girl out. It's very clear you're drawn to her and it's dangerous for alphas to ignore that kind of pull." His eyes cut just past me, and a bright smile fills his face. "Beta Marin!" he yells and my whole body tenses. "Come sit with us!" Then his friendly energy shifts darker as he leans in and whispers, "Man-the-fuck-up and act like a goddamn alpha." He stands, smoothing his hand down the front of his dress shirt. His green tie is weirdly stiff. I want to choke the life out of him with it.

"Dr. Foresten." Beta Marin moves at my shoulder and it takes everything in me not to turn and look at her. "Dr. Enoch," she whispers my name, and I swear it comes out a little deeper. Throatier. It's a little thrilling. "What can I help you with?" she asks as if offering to check a temperature or draw a patient's blood.

"Have a seat." Drek motions to the chair he was just in.

The sweet beta obeys, placing a small cup of coffee on the table between us. I can't help but admire her as she glances up at Drek. Her skin is so smooth and her scent is so warm. I want to touch her so fucking bad.

"What's going on?" Scarlett asks in a bright voice as she looks from Drek to me.

"Bennet and I were just talking, and we wanted your opinion on something." Drek glances at the main counter and his grin pops back into place. "I'll be right back. The line is finally bearable." And just like that, the fucker walks off.

"Okay," Scarlett whispers, before turning her brown eyes to me. I love her eyes. The soft color with a ring of deep green around the edges. They're the first thing I noticed about her. They remind me of the woods where I grew up. "What do you need my opinion on?" Scarlett asks me, and my attention immediately snaps to Drek's back. The asshole.

"Have you given any more thought to the Christmas party?" I ask, trying like hell to do what Drek said. He's right, but he's also an idiot. Alphas can be aggressive with other omegas and even other alphas, but betas are an entirely different creature. They require more time for affection to grow.

"I was thinking of going," Scarlett smiles sweetly, but I don't miss the way her hands tighten around her cup of coffee. Is she nervous? Do I make her nervous? Fuck, I hope so. "Are you bringing a date?"

Her question catches me off guard, and I sit a little straighter, ready to make my move. "I was hoping to take you."

Scarlett's whole body goes tight as her eyes slowly widen. "What…" she shakes her head, her expression a mixture of shock and maybe fear. I don't know. It's hard to tell. "Are you saying you want to take me…" she points at her chest, "...as a date ?"

I can't help but smile at her reaction. "Yes, Scarlett," I say her name slowly, cherishing the moment. It's the first time I've addressed her informally, and it feels surprisingly good.

"Oh." A bashful smile fills her face as she ducks her head. Fuck, she looks so submissive. "I think…" she licks her pouty lips. "I think I'd like that."

My chest puffs out as my heart swells. I feel as if I've won a precious prize, but I need to tell her I don't have a pack. That might be an issue for her.

"Scarlett," I slip my hand across the table, wrapping it around her small wrist, "I should tell you?—"

The PA system overhead beeps loudly followed by a monotone voice. " Dr. Enoch. Code twelve on the ninth floor. Dr. Enoch. Code twelve on the ninth floor ."

"I should go too." Scarlett pulls her arms back, forcing my hand to fall from her wrist. "I'll talk to you later, Dr. Enoch."

"Please," I resist the urge to fly across the table and kiss her hard, "call me Bennet."

A deep blush warms Scarlett's cheeks and she stands. "I'll talk to you later, Bennet."

And it takes everything in me not to follow her.