Unnatural - Alessandra Hazard Page 0,17
familiar scent of wet soil and ozone assaulted his senses. The scent was thick and heady, and quickly clouded Haydn’s mind at the rate Royce was pumping out his pheromones.
The urge to bare his throat was becoming irresistible, and Haydn fought it with everything he had. Fuck, this was so weird. While he was in Pelugia, he had started doubting his memory, doubting himself. Surely he hadn’t just docilely bared his throat to another alpha on a regular basis, right? But he had.
Someone coughed.
It took Haydn a moment to remember that they weren’t alone.
Snapping his eyes open, he stepped back from Royce and turned. He’d expected to see amusement on Devlin’s face, but Devlin’s dark brows were furrowed, his gaze flicking between Haydn and Royce. He smelled of puzzlement—and something else.
“Devlin Schaefer, the Duke of Westcliff,” Devlin said, stretching his hand out to Royce. “Haydn’s cousin.”
After a moment, Royce shook it, his black eyes boring a hole in Devlin. He was still pumping out his pheromones non-stop, and it put Haydn on edge. He wanted to sit down. He wanted to start a fight. He wanted to bare his throat. He wanted to flee.
He breathed deeply, trying to shake off the contradictory urges and wants.
“Royce Cleghorn,” Royce said curtly, his gaze moving back to Haydn. “Haydn? You all right?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Just… Could you cut it out, please?”
Royce gave him an uncomfortable look and nodded. His scent became slightly less overwhelming. “Slightly less” being the key part.
Haydn suppressed a sigh. He knew Royce probably couldn’t help himself. Not only did Haydn’s alpha scent aggravate him, but there was another alpha present, a strange alpha Royce didn’t know at all. Any alpha would be a little territorial in such circumstances. It probably didn’t help that Devlin was a Xeus and his scent was very strong. Having grown up with Devlin, Haydn barely noticed his scent, but he knew other people considered it abrasive. Xeus alphas were difficult to be around. They tended to make people uneasy. Even betas reacted to them strongly, and other alphas much more so.
“I wasn’t aware you were bringing a guest,” Royce said, laying a hand on Haydn’s shoulder and steering him toward the mansion in the distance.
The touch felt ridiculously proprietary, and Haydn knew he wasn’t just imagining it when he caught Devlin’s incredulous look.
“Devlin has invited himself,” Haydn said. “Never mind him. As long as we give him a room and feed him, he’ll stay out of the way.”
“I can hear that.”
Haydn grinned at his cousin over his shoulder. “I know.”
Devlin flipped him the bird.
Royce’s hand tightened on his shoulder. “Come, everyone is waiting for you. Everyone’s missed you.”
Haydn smiled a little. Royce was probably exaggerating, but it was still nice of him to say that. “Everyone? What about you?” he said, bumping their shoulders together.
Royce’s dark eyes darted to him for a moment. “I missed you dreadfully. Especially your exquisite scent.”
“Ouch,” Haydn said with a laugh. “There is no need for insults.”
As soon as they reached the house, Royce practically shoved Devlin at his mother and pulled Haydn into the nearest empty room while his mother and Devlin were making awkward small talk.
“What?” Haydn said as soon as Royce shut the door.
“You told him about me,” Royce stated, looming over him.
Haydn didn’t know how he managed to loom when they were about the same height and weight, but somehow, Royce did.
Haydn swallowed, his own scent spiking, which, of course, only aggravated Royce further.
“Devlin doesn’t count,” Haydn said. “He’s practically my brother. He won’t tell anyone, I’m sure of it.”
Royce glowered at him. “But what if you’re wrong? If you are, my career will be damaged and my mother will face legal consequences. I told you that in confidence, Haydn.”
He felt a twinge of guilt. “He won’t tell anyone. Devlin isn’t like that.”
Royce scoffed. “He’s a Xeus. Impulsiveness is his norm. He might give it away without even meaning to.”
“I thought you weren’t as closed-minded as other people. Isn’t your brother a Xeus, too?”
“That’s precisely why I know what I’m talking about,” Royce said, his expression grim. “Look, a lot of the prejudice against Xeus alphas is unjustified, but some things people say about them are true: they are driven by their instincts and emotions more than their rational thoughts. What happens if Devlin gets angry with you? He will spill your secrets out of spite.”
Haydn glared at him. “That’s still a gross generalization, Royce. You’re a Torryn alpha, but you’ve hardly been a paragon