30. Harrison

30

Harrison

P ractice is canceled. There's no point. Meggie is still out with Emily. Oz is pestering Ellis and Dante to kiss-and-tell. McQuinn is muttering to himself while fiddling with his lucky rabbit's foot, and Nils is slouched at the kitchen island staring at Meggie's tea pot as if it will spill all her secrets.

What a mess. Letting my head fall back on the couch, I rub my temples and try to figure this out. That's my job as pack alpha. This is my pack. They are everything that matters to me, and this stress and tension isn't good in the house or in the pool.

Meggie was the wrong pick. I can see that now. I should have picked someone else. The thought immediately riles me up, and I pinch the bridge of my nose to the point of pain. No, Meggie is… right. She's pack. I can't explain it, but I know she belongs here with us.

But what she's doing to my team… What she's doing to me… I've never been so captivated by someone before. Her smile. Her laugh. Her stubborn determination. I've fixated on her for weeks. Not romantically. Not exactly. But I'm drawn to her. She makes me feel stronger somehow.

And then there's the mystery of her.

Even after weeks of living together and trying to pick up her scent, I still don't know what she smells like.

I loved it at first. I thought it was considerate compared to others that use their scent as another tool in their arsenal. But now, it's maddening. How can she smell like absolutely nothing all the time? Not a whiff of anything until this morning. Just that tiny hint of cooked apples and butter. Warm and comforting, it had my mouth watering and blood stirring my dick.

And the way she looked down as I towered over her, sweet submissive little thing.

The sound of the front door opening pulls me from my thoughts as I bolt upright.

Meggie's home.

But it's not our sun-kissed brunette that walks through the door. It's Ava.

"Where did you get a house key?" The question is out before I can stop it.

"Hi, baby!" She gushes and shuts the door behind her. "What? I can't stop by to see my big strong man once in a while?"

I haven't seen her in over a week. Haven't wanted to.

"Where did you get a house key?" I repeat.

"Meg—oh." Oz comes sliding down the hall on his socks and stops in his tracks as he sees Ava. He groans ostentatiously and turns on his heels. Not at all caring how rude he's being. I don't care either.

Ava's out of line. She made herself a fucking house key without even asking! She's inconsiderate, pushy, nosy, and outright lied about being engaged during tryouts.

"False alarm," Oz bellows to the rest of the pack. "It's just Ava."

Breaking up with her wasn't on my agenda for the day, but I can't keep doing this. Where the fuck did she get a house key? Did she steal mine to make a copy?

Oblivious to the displeasure rolling off me, she tries to greet me with a kiss, ignoring Oz completely as he trudges back towards the kitchen. I hold her off by the shoulders and don't return the physical affection.

"So," she flashes that too-white smile in an effort to glide over my slight, "how are things going with the new roomie, Madgie?"

"Her name is Meggie," I correct. "Listen, Ava, we need to talk."

"We do," she gushes. "Paris! I can't believe we get to go to Paris together as Olympic athletes, and come back home with our medals, then plan our lives together."

She tries to hold my hand, but I pull away and run my fingers through my hair. Is she really this clueless?

"It's so much better than competing in Atlanta or Beijing. It's Paris!" She swings her arms wide in her exuberance and nearly knocks over a lamp. "The most romantic city in the world!"

Down the hall, fake retching noises carry from the kitchen. Oz, from the sounds of it.

"Let's go upstairs so we can talk alone, alright?" I don't desire her scent in my bedroom anymore, but this conversation should be a private one.

With a swift nod and a sultry wink, Ava heads for the stairs. If she's this inept at reading the room, the conversation we're about to have is going to be a difficult one. She's ignored all my attempts to keep this casual, and I have a feeling she's not going to leave amicably.

I lag behind, dreading what's coming. Again, she doesn't notice, bounding to the top of the stairs like she's on her way to plan a party. Before I can follow her, the front door opens again. I can't help the twinge of relief in my stomach when I see it's Meggie.

She flashes me a nervous smile and jostles the items in her hands. Presumably she feels guilty for ditching team practice today, but we can talk about that after I deal with Ava. For now, it's enough to just know Meggie is home.

And then my senses are hit with what can only be described as an act of war as the door closes behind her. Vinegar. Hard-boiled eggs. Tuna. The smells coming from our beta are a revolting combination.

Emily must have taken her grocery shopping, or they went to brunch and ordered the worst combination of foods ever.

A canvas bag slung over her shoulder, Meggie digs a fork into a red plastic bowl in her hand. Kimchi. I recognize the shredded cabbage, garlic, and tangy spice smell, but never thought it was a great ' on the go ' snack the way Meggie is eating it.

"Meggie!" Oz bounds down the hall like an over-eager bloodhound. Her departure this morning made it glaringly apparent how much this petite woman means to our pack. But then her smell hits him, and Oz falters.

Nils and McQuinn follow him into the room. Nils, with his hands in his pockets and a pensive look on his face. McQuinn, looking angry. He wasn't happy when I canceled our practice.

"Hey." Meggie gives a little wave with her fork before digging back in for another bite of kimchi and heading for the stairs. "I didn't shower after the pool this morning, and my hair is wrecked."

Her brown tresses look perfectly fine in a sloppy bun, two curling tendrils hung down by her collarbone.

Hopefully, Ava is already up in my bedroom. I don't see her on the stairs ahead of Meggie and don't want her lurking and causing a scene. Our beta looks like she might startle easily, despite the hours spent with Emily. I want to approach her, to talk to her… but her body language and aroma make that difficult at the moment.

"We'll be out back," Oz volunteers. "Come sit with us after you shower."

Meggie gives him a nod, then scampers up the stairs.

When she's safely out of sight, Oz and McQuinn head back to the kitchen while Nils and I share a look. He's always been the most intuitive of the six of us, and I'm curious what he thinks of Meggie's behavior.

Rather than comment on our beta, he makes his way to the nearest window and pushes aside the curtains. "I'll air the place out a bit."

I appreciate the gesture.

This morning in the hall, there'd been that something sweet I'd smelled from Meggie. Cinnamon… and warm butter. I want to smell that again. Smell her again. But right now, all I can scent is the repellant food she's dosed herself with.

I sigh, knowing the first thing I have to do is deal with Ava.