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The doctor’s words loudly echoed in my mind. He shouldn’t have been able to pick up my scent from the front of the medical offices. Anger burned away my sadness and wormed its way into my voice. Not holding back, I argued with him, my words laced with acid. “You’re full of shit. You can’t possibly have picked up my scent from the front of the hospital.”

He had a faint smile on his face as he shook his head. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. I can and I did. You smell like jasmine. And honeysuckle. It’s a mild scent, very calming.”

He wasn’t wrong. Although I was “hormonally a beta”, my scent was potent to me. And for as long as I could remember, my pheromones had mild undertones of jasmine and honeysuckle. I tucked mahogany curls behind my ear, pushing my hair behind my shoulder. “Before I tell you that you’re full of shit—”

“Again.”

“—I need to know how to properly address you.”

He sat beside me, a charming grin causing his eyes to crinkle in the corners. “That’s a very wordy way of asking what my name is. But call me Eli.”

“You’re full of shit, Eli,” I stated, without pause.

Eli turned his chin up to lightly sniff the air before he looked at me. “Underneath your staunch uncertainty is the overwhelming desire to believe me. And now”—he sniffed again, grimacing—“Oh… anger.”

“Don’t do that,” I spat as I shot up. “You don’t know me well enough to read my scent and then try to discuss it with me.”

“I’d like to get to know you well enough. What’s your name?”

Mentally, I lost my footing. My eyebrows pinched together, my eyes narrowing little by little. Truthfully, I was vacillating between being angry with how forward Eli was and feeling pleased that an alpha found me attractive enough to hit on, especially after receiving devastating news. I chewed on the inside of my cheek for a few seconds before giving him an answer. “Delaney.”

Eli leaned forward, tilting his chin up and glancing at me through thick lashes. “Since I’ve put my foot in my mouth multiple times, how about I treat you to dinner, Delaney?”

I quickly weighed the pros and cons, concluding there would be no adverse consequences. A free meal was a free meal. Plus, it didn’t hurt that he was attractive. Extremely so. “I'm rather selective in my tastes.”

Eli gasped, lifting his hand to cover his mouth. His eyes widened in astonishment. “You don’t say! Your Gucci bag and matching loafers make me highly doubt that.”

The corners of my mouth twitched into a grin. “And I just became extremely expensive.”

“So, a value meal is out of the question then?”

“You know.” I began, my tone teasing, “I just met you, but I believe it’s an accurate assessment to call you an asshole.”

“I’d say that there are at least three out of five people in my life that would exuberantly agree with you.” He flashed another dazzling smile like he didn’t just out himself as a black sheep.

I chuckled. “Would I be in good company?”

“Fuck no,” Eli laughed. “Although, my mother and older brother might adore your preference for expensive labels, which could possibly influence how you feel about them.”

“Oh.” I paused, clicking my tongue against my teeth. I rolled my lips, tapping a finger to my chin, feigning deep thought. “That would be tricky. On the one hand I would probably love their fashion sense, but on the other hand I would absolutely, with all certainty, loathe the very fiber of their being.”

“Can I take you out to dinner for the rest of your life?” Eli held my stare, his eyes glowing with sincerity that made my cheeks warm.

I cleared my throat. Holding out my hand, I demanded, “Give me your phone.” Without question, Eli complied. Calling myself from his cell, I saved my contact as Delaney, yet his as Hospital Alpha. He had to work his way up to earning his name in my contacts.

I handed the phone back to him with an air of nonchalance. “Text me when you want to meet up.” Not giving him a chance to answer, I turned in the direction of my car, fishing my keys from my bag. I barely finished buckling my seatbelt before my phone vibrated.

Hospital Alpha:

Are you free right now?

Delaney:

You’re eager

Hospital Alpha:

I prefer the term “hungry”