Karson, Rebel and Hyatt Lee. He’d only met Karson and Rebel that one time in the hospital, when Dorian and Samuel had gone to visit Symon in the burn ward, but he remembered them both instantly. Hyatt he’d seen maybe twice before on the Fowler estate, when he was there visiting Symon. The young omega with his black curly hair and warm-brown skin tone looked nothing like Rebel, who was pale-skinned, red-haired and freckled, so it was difficult to think of them as brothers.
Brothers by love, not by blood.
Karson politely said hello to Dorian, but Rebel and Hyatt hung back. Dorian didn’t blame them one bit, not after what Dorian’s sire had done to their family. But as the trio passed, the loveliest scent of sweet cherry filled Dorian’s nostrils and held tight. He’d never scented anything so strongly, and his mouth began to water for a taste. He glanced around, curious if someone had brought out a dessert tray too soon, but no one in his immediate surroundings had food. Only a few glasses of champagne.
What the hell is that scent?
He glanced at Hyatt’s departing back, only to catch the omega looking sharply away.
No. No fucking way.
What were the odds that the goddess would torment him like this? To have his bondmate be one of the Lee brothers? Three men who had every right to hate and despise Dorian and his family? No.
Dorian tried to concentrate on the rest of his duties tonight. The steady stream of incoming guests had slowed to a trickle, so now was the part of the night where he chatted and schmoozed and talked the wealthiest men in Sansbury into donating to Light House. And to do that, he needed to keep his wits about him and avoid contact with Hyatt Lee. In a house the size of the Porter estate, that shouldn’t be too hard.
He hoped.
Five
Hyatt had hesitated over attending tonight’s fundraiser when Karson invited him along with himself and Rebel. High-end stuff like this wasn’t really Hyatt’s thing, and even though he definitely had credit to donate, the wealth contained in not only the Porter estate, but also the guest list, intimidated him like crazy. But when Karson stressed this was for Light House and there would be free food, Hyatt couldn’t say no.
Light House had helped give Hyatt his life back, so he’d do what he could to help the organization thrive.
He’d also been surprised as hell that the person organizing the fundraiser was Dorian Fowler. Hyatt had seen the slightly older alpha a few times on the Fowler estate, but they’d only truly met in the hospital that one time. His inner omega had reacted to the intense pain in Dorian’s eyes as he’d talked about taking his sire off life support, and he’d wanted to comfort Dorian. He’d refrained, though, out of respect for Symon and his near-death at the hands of Dorian’s psychotic omegin.
Dressed up in a black suit and gray tie, Dorian was a stunning sight in the Porter home’s foyer. Dark hair and eyes and a rugged build, Dorian was handsome in a way Hyatt hadn’t noticed last year—probably because of his own grief and uncertainty over Symon’s burns. But the oddest thing happened as Hyatt walked past the man: he’d scented him. A strong, unique scent that reminded Hyatt of summer rain. Something appealing and scary, and it had to be a strange fluke, right?
He followed Karson and Rebel to the ballroom where the majority of the entertaining usually happened, but couldn’t help a glance over his shoulder at Dorian. Dorian seemed confused and spooked, and when he looked Hyatt’s way, Hyatt turned back.
What does this mean?
Nothing. It means nothing.
Yes, Hyatt had finally heated a few weeks ago, so his chances of scenting his bondmate had grown exponentially, but that couldn’t be what had just happened. Not with Dorian Fowler. After all the shit that Hyatt had survived already in his twenty-one years, he deserved a kind, loving mate his brothers would accept with open arms. Not the spawn of Dustin Fowler, who’d tried to murder Symon.
Hyatt wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings and walked right into Karson’s back when the pair stopped moving. “Hey, sorry.”
“You okay?” Karson asked. “You look kind of spooked. Shit, was it seeing Dorian again?”
Might as well be truthful. “I think so. The only time we ever spoke to each other was that day in the hospital. It’s odd to think he could be so completely different from his sire