Page 57 of Daughter of Garnet

There is a long, weighted silence as Cliff chews the bite of food he has slower than he needs to. He swallows, takes a sip of his coffee, and then finally speaks.

"What have they been about?" There isn't jealousy in his voice, not really, but his tone is reserved, and his face gives away nothing.

"He's left me a few dresses, some ginger water when he knew I had been sick. But there are also ones that imply that he…knows."

"He knows?"

I pitch my voice so low that I worry even Cliff won't be able to hear it. "He knows." My eyebrows meet my hairline, and I try to communicate with my eyes what I'm afraid to say out loud for fear of being overheard.

He catches on. "And you're concerned he'll tell someone?"

Try as I might, I can't picture Cameron revealing my designation to anyone. He knows that it's a secret, and everything he's done since that first day has been to look out for me.

"No, that's not it. But he hasn't left me notes in days, and I'm worried about him."

Cliff places his napkin on his plate and relaxes back in his chair. "You're worried. About your stalker."

"It's weird, I know, but…"

"But you're a friendly person, and you can form attachments to people like him."

I don't consider myself especially friendly, and I think he's trying to speak in code, but I'm not sure I get what he's trying to say. It takes me a minute, and some pointed looks, to figure out what he meant.

That Omegas can form attachments to Alphas.

"Isn't that only if I… like his cologne?"

That was not as smooth or subtle as Cliff's coded language, and his eyes sparkle with a concealed laugh.

"And you didn't consider that might be the case? Do you like his cologne?"

"I don't know, I only met him that once weeks ago, and I wasn't really friendly at that time." Gods, this is obnoxious. I wish we could have a normal conversation. "I left him a note, and if he doesn't answer, I want to find him. But he did attack you, and I don't want to make you uncomfortable…"

Cliff shakes his head. "Don't worry about me. You and I are together now, and that should stop him from seeing me as a threat."

A giggle bubbles out of me. "I think you can just say we're together."

I'm glad I talked to Cliff about this. The guilt I felt about wanting to find Cameron has lessened significantly, but I can't stop myself from dwelling on what my Beta said.

Is it possible that Cameron and I are scent sympathetic? How would I know? I couldn't tell with Dominic. Do I just not recognize what it feels like?

I don't spend a lot of time with Alphas. Ray, Dominic, and Cameron are the only ones with whom I have been in close quarters. Aside from the Alpha in the woods that Ray made sniff me, but the fire masked whatever scent he had.

Maybe I need to meet some other Alphas to see what it's like being around them.

Cliff and I toss our trash on the way out of the dining hall, and he walks with me to Designation Hierarchy. Despite the new development in our relationship, things feel natural with him. There's no awkwardness, just stolen glances and our hands brushing together as we walk.

We stop outside the door, and his eyes dart to my lips. "Can I give you a goodbye kiss?"

The question is so timid it makes my heart stutter a little.

"I'd like that."

I feel small in Cliff's massive arms as he wraps them around my waist and pulls me close. He slides his lips across mine, sweet and soft, appropriately chaste when people are around, even if I wish it were a little deeper.

When he pulls away, his eyes widen with shock as he looks over my shoulder.

Warren pushes past us, knocking into Cliff as he goes.