6. Harrison

6

Harrison

I hate flying. Being stuffed on an airplane surrounded by the scent of hundreds of people is my worst nightmare.

"Shut the fuck up and sit down," I snap at Dante, who's standing in the aisle helping Meggie with her bag and talking about going to see the Versailles gardens.

Meggie slides behind him and sets her hand on my arm. "You okay?"

"Fine." I flinch away from her and move over to the window seat.

Ellis's sister, Emily, kneels backwards on her seat in front of us. "Isn't this exciting?! I can't believe we're going to Paris!" She gives a little jump and bumps her head on the ceiling, hitting the light on in the process and laughing.

Meggie grabs her hand, smiling that bright smile that I can't get out of my mind. I'm glad we went to the effort to make sure we were on the same flight as Emily.

"We need an in-flight selfie," Emily says and reaches for Meggie's cell. "To send to Ashleigh with a ‘gh'."

"Who's Ashleigh with a ‘gh'?" Ellis asks, taking the seat next to Emily.

Meggie blushes. "I've kind of been chatting with that girl from the fundraiser at Oakview High."

"The omega?" I ask.

Meggie gives a meaningful nod, and my chest tightens. She really cares about this, about omegas being able to compete in the Olympics and girls like Ashleigh being able to pursue their dreams. Meggie's heart is as big and beautiful as the night sky. She's passionate and caring. And I'm the asshole who still isn't sure it's safe for her to be going to the Olympics. The asshole who only gave in to her coming because I couldn't bear to be away from her. The asshole who beat a man to a pulp just a few days ago.

I sink into my seat as Meggie and Emily happily snap the selfie, then pull Ellis into a picture of the three of them.

"Let me get one of you and Harrison," Emily says.

Meggie immediately sits next to me. I want to tell them I don't need a picture, but all I can do is focus on the spot where Meggie's shoulder leans into mine.

I'm not sure what I hate more. Smelling Meggie's incredible scent everywhere I go, and not having her, or the lack of her scent now. She went back on her blockers this morning. We all washed everything we owned to make sure there was no trace of apple pie lingering on us. It feels like someone punched a hole in my chest, like part of me is missing when a part of her is missing too.

Emily turns around and takes her seat after snapping the picture. I expect Meggie to get up and go sit next to her friend, but she stays next to me.

"You're clearly not fine, Harrison," she whispers. "What's going on?" Her hand comes to rest on my knee, an innocent touch that has every muscle in my body coiled and ready to pounce. I want to tug that hand to my mouth and bite her delicate wrist. Mine.

"Talk to me." There's the slightest whine in her voice. "Please."

Not sure what to say, I keep quiet. I've been wound like a spring ever since finding out she's an omega—a scent match! She makes me feel so out of control that I don't trust myself around her. Even now, without the temptation of her scent, I want nothing more than to pull her onto my lap and distract myself from the horrible smells by burying my nose into her neck, my cock into her heat, and my teeth into her breast. Fuck!

I stand up so fast, Meggie startles and lets out a little squeak of surprise. I glare at Oz, who's sitting behind us. "Trade seats with me."

He hates sitting by the window, but he only deliberates for a moment when he realizes it'll put him next to Meggie.

"Harrison," Meggie scolds. "We have to talk about this."

"We will." But not now.

"When?" Meggie's hand around my wrist makes me think of that grip on other parts of me. Less appropriate parts.

"After Paris." I pull away, trying to ignore the hurt on my omega's face. Until the Olympics are over, I need to keep my cool. My pack needs me, and I can't risk accidentally bonding her.

I step out into the aisle without looking and someone grunts as I step on a foot. This close, I can pick out Ava's scent from the whirlwind of smells around me. Our eyes catch and the devastation on my ex-girlfriend's face is undeniable.

"I'm sorry," I say, both for her foot and for more. I should have ended things sooner. I thought I wasn't leading her on because I told her I didn't want anything serious, but not breaking up with her when I knew we had an expiration date was still misleading.

"It's… what are you all doing on this flight?" She looks around at my pack mates, her voice a little shaky. I can't believe we didn't notice her or her blonde ponytail when we boarded.

"We wanted to fly with Emily." Emily is on the USA Olympic Diving Team. Of course, Ava and the other Team USA swimmers would be on the same flight. Stupid of me to forget about Ava so fucking quickly.

"Ah, I see." Her gaze shifts to Meggie and her features harden.

"I really am sorry," I whisper. Ava overstepped, and the guys were right about her, but when she was relaxed and not trying so hard, she could be sweet too. Especially at the beginning of our relationship before she started feeling so threatened by the rest of my pack.

Overwhelmed by everything, I don't notice Daniel coming up the aisle until he's swinging his arm over Ava's shoulder. I really need to get my head on straight if Daniel Teague can sneak up on me, with that disgusting burnt toast scent of his. "Don't blame Harrison. He couldn't help it."

My eyes catch on his and a threatening growl rumbles through my chest. It's a harmless enough comment without context, but it's enough to make Ava give him a quizzical look. My growl gets louder and the rest of my team joins me on their feet, surrounding Daniel. A satisfied smirk graces my face when a whimper slips past the other alpha's lips.

But our show of strength doesn't go unnoticed by Ava, her gaze swinging between Daniel and me. For all her faults, Ava's always been perceptive.

"He's right," I say, jumping in before she can start piecing anything together. "You know I'm not like most men. I can't help that my reactions aren't normal. You're a lovely woman, but…" I shrug, leaving her to think that my breaking up with her had something to do with my struggles with physical intimacy.

Her lips form a silent 'oh.' It's not the reason I broke up with her, but I also didn't break up with her because of Meggie. She and I were over long before Meggie. But I'll let Ava believe whatever she wants if it protects my omega.

Ava's expression shifts to a sickening, pitying grimace. "I knew you were broken, I just thought I—"

"Harrison isn't broken." Meggie presses against my back, leaning around my shoulder to look at Ava. Her defensive tone sparks a little flame in my chest. I'm not used to having others protective of me. I'm usually the protector.

Daniel licks his lips as he looks at her, and I tighten my fists. I can't lose control. Not now. Not here. This is why I need to keep my distance from Meggie. When I get too close, every protective, possessive instinct goes on hyper alert.

Meggie rubs my back, a gentle reassurance to calm down.

Ava's pitying look turns to Meggie and she chuckles. "He's not exactly normal."

"Who gets to say what's normal?" This from Oz, who's joined the conversation, tattooed arms crossed over his massive chest, and eyes menacing.

The flight attendant comes down the aisle at just the right moment to keep things from escalating. "Y'all need to take your seats now. We're gonna take off in just a few minutes."

At her prompting, Ava and Daniel scoot past us towards the back of the plane, and I switch seats with Oz.

As soon as he and Meggie are sitting down, he puts his arm around her and pulls her close. Through the gap between the seats, I can see him whisper something to her, his lips close to her delicate ear. Goosebumps decorate her arm and she giggles, a musical sound I want to swallow down into me. But it's not for me. It's for Oz.

My alpha instincts scratch at my chest, begging me to rip her away from him, drag her to the nearest lavatory and join the Mile High Club. The possessiveness isn't as extreme with my pack mates, but knowing that they have her, and I don't, makes me feel like a caged animal.

Oz kisses Meggie's neck, and I purposefully knee his seat.

"Hey!" He swings around to look between the seats. He catches my expression and has the nerves to smile. "You had your chance, man. Go sit up with Ellis and Emily so you don't have to see it, because I plan to make our girl feel good on this flight."

"No, you don't." We all know what's at risk if she perfumes on this plane. Her blockers seem to be working again, but we can't risk getting her worked up in public.

"He's right." Meggie touches his arm, and I clench.

Oz grumbles, but wisely takes his hands off Meggie.