Chapter 5- True scent

"Caleb, any updates?" Dante mindlinked, already knowing his friend was probably in bed with another she-wolf.

"Nah, man," Caleb replied casually. "I was busy dealing with a... rather important issue that required my immediate attention."

Dante rolled his eyes and sighed heavily.

 Of course.

They were only supposed to stay here one night.

 But after his encounter with Jolene... everything changed.

 He had extended the visit for a full week, wasting precious time, and he didn’t even care.

 Not when he knew his mate was here. Somewhere close.

His heart screamed that it was Jolene.

 But then... why had the other girl carried the same scent too?

 Was he mistaken? Was something wrong with him?

"Just make sure you speak to the witnesses by this evening," Dante ordered sharply, snapping the mindlink shut.

This mission was supposed to be straightforward.

 Instead, he couldn’t get Jolene’s face, her wild, vibrant hair, out of his mind.

 He needed to see her again.

 No, he had to.

*

"What do we do now?" Lucy asked, looking helplessly at Jo. They were still standing awkwardly outside Dante’s door.

"Well, he did dismiss us," Jo said brightly, clapping her hands together. "Which means... we’re free to do whatever we want!"

Lucy’s face lit up with a grin as Jo grabbed her hand.

 "Come on! You said you didn’t have any hobbies, right? Well, let me share something very special with you!"

Giggling like children, the two girls hurried back to their shared room.

"This is it," Jo said grandly once they arrived. "I present to you... the world’s greatest treasure!"

She carefully lifted her pillow to reveal the book she had been hiding: a thick, worn vampire novel.

Lucy gasped.

 "Jo! Vampire novels are banned! If Alpha finds out, you could get into serious trouble!"

"That’s why it’s a secret," Jo said proudly. "It took a lot of smuggling and bribing to get them through the pack borders. But trust me, they’re worth it. This one’s about my sweet Drake and Daisy."

Jo hugged the book to her chest like it was a precious child.

Lucy burst out laughing.

 "I’m honored to share your big dark secret. But... I’m not much of a reader."

Those were the famous last words.

Within hours, Lucy was completely engrossed, eyes devouring every page Jo had handed her.

Jo wandered back into the room carrying a plate of fruit. She popped a grape into her mouth and watched, amused, as Lucy flipped furiously through the novel, completely absorbed.

"So..." Jo said casually, smirking. "Can I have my book back? I was on chapter seventeen."

"NO!" Lucy snapped, clutching the book to her chest. "I have to know why Daisy keeps trying to run away from Drake! She’s so dumb! Drake loves her so much and she just keeps making it worse. Big oof!"

Jo laughed so hard she nearly fell off the bed, watching Lucy scratch her blonde head in frustration and dive back into the story.

"Welcome to my world," Jo said, grinning. "Which chapter are you even on now? Has the character Cami..."

"Uh-uh! No spoilers!" Lucy raised a finger dramatically. "I’m only on chapter twelve!"

Before Jo could tease her more, the door slammed open.

Polly stood in the doorway, her expression thunderous.

 "What the hell are you two doing here?! You’re supposed to be serving General D. Castiel!"

Jo raised an eyebrow lazily.

 "We were dismissed. And being the good, obedient omegas that we are, we returned to our rooms," she said, dripping sarcasm.

"Jo! This isn’t the time for jokes!" Polly snapped. "Even if you were dismissed, you’re supposed to stay nearby in case the general needs something! Now get back there, both of you!"

Jo and Lucy scrambled up immediately, guilt flashing across Lucy’s face.

As they hurried back down the halls, Jo stomped angrily.

"You okay, Jo?" Lucy asked gently.

"No! Being an omega sucks! You get ordered around like you’re nothing. I’m sick of it," Jo muttered, staring straight ahead.

"Well, lucky we’re getting out of here soon, right?" Lucy said, bumping her shoulder lightly.

Jo cracked a small smile.

 "Yes. Cannot wait," she said, heavily emphasizing each word.

"Cannot wait for what?"

The familiar deep voice made them both jump.

They turned, and sure enough, General Dante stood behind them, arms crossed, looking far too amused.

"Greetings, General," Lucy said quickly, lowering her head. "We were just on our way to see if you needed anything."

"All good, ladies," Dante said, flashing a lazy smile. "Just heading to the hunting grounds. But..." He scratched the back of his head, feigning confusion. "I seem to be a little lost."

"We can guide you, General!" Lucy offered brightly.

"Thank you, Lucy," Dante said smoothly. His golden eyes flickered to Jo. "But I was thinking Jolene could help me instead."

Jo stared back at him, her face blank.

"Sure, Ge-ne-ral," she said dryly, drawing out the word.

 She spun on her heel. "Follow me."

Without waiting, Jo led the way down the corridor, leaving Lucy behind.

*

"So, Jolene..." Dante drawled as they walked. "What’s your story?"

"My story’s none of your business, General," Jo retorted without even glancing at him.

Dante chuckled lowly.

 "You’re masking your scent, you know."

Jo stopped dead in her tracks.

 Her heart hammered wildly in her chest.

How did he know?

She turned slowly to face him, trying to keep her expression neutral.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she said, but her voice wavered slightly.

Dante didn’t respond.

 He simply closed the distance between them, fast, until he was standing so close she could feel the heat radiating off his skin.

Their eyes locked.

 Jo's hazel eyes burned into his molten golden ones, stubborn and furious.

"You can't fool me, Jolene," Dante said, his voice low and commanding.

 "Unmask your scent. Now."

Jo staggered slightly as his Alpha aura slammed into her, heavier and more intense than anything she had ever felt.

 Her knees weakened.

 Breathing became harder.

"Leave me... alone," she rasped, struggling to stay upright under the suffocating pressure.

Dante tilted his head, watching her coolly. Then he reached out, slowly, deliberately, and took her trembling hands in his.

"Not until you show me the truth," he murmured.

Jo's mind spun.

 The moment his hands touched hers, she caught another breath of his scent, woody, smoky, utterly intoxicating.

Why did he smell so good?

 Why did she want to lean closer?

NO.

 This had to be a trick.

 A trap.

Maybe he was a spy from her old life.

 Maybe he was here to expose her, to destroy everything she had carefully hidden.

Panic clawed at her chest.

She couldn’t reveal her real scent.

 She couldn’t risk it.

 Not to him.

 Not to anyone.

Jo clenched her jaw, praying silently to the Moon Goddess for strength as Dante continued to hold her, waiting, watching, daring her to break.