Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Joss

The drive home felt longer than usual. I stopped at a light and gripped the wheel. Thoughts kept coming. That mouth. The way he sucked me like he needed it. The sounds he made even when he was mad. I shook my head hard. Stop thinking about it. It was a mistake. One night. Nothing more.

Another light. I sat there longer. My phone buzzed. Arnold again.

“Footage is as clean as I can make it. But seriously Joss. That scent on you is strong. Go shower before you see anyone.”

“Thanks. I will,” I typed back.

I drove more. The city lights passed by slow. My body felt heavy. Tired from the race. Tired from the fight at the gala. Tired from everything that happened after. I thought about Gawin for a second.

That idiot from my past. Always acting like I was the bad one. But it could not be him. No way. The guy in the room fought different. Or maybe not. I pushed the thought away again.

I stopped at another place to get some water. Drank it slow in the car. The fruity scent was still there inside the car now. It mixed with my own. Made my head spin a little. I started driving again.

The house was not far but it felt like forever. My parents were going to notice. They always noticed everything about me. The Enigma thing made them extra careful since I was a kid.

When I finally pulled into the driveway the lights inside were on. I sat in the car for a few minutes. Just breathing. Trying to get my story straight. I walked in and hoped to go upstairs quiet.

“Joss. Sit down,” Dad said from the living room right away. He did not even let me take my shoes off.

“Dad I am really tired. Can we do this tomorrow?” I asked.

“No. Come here now.” His voice was firm.

I walked in and dropped on the couch. Mom came from the kitchen. She stopped and made a face.

“You smell like..,” she said. “No way you still smell strong. What did you do tonight Joss?”

I leaned back and closed my eyes for a second. “Nothing. Just the usual after race stuff.”

Dad sat across from me. “Do not lie. that scent. It is all over you. Alpha scent mixed with yours. You lost control didn’t you?”

I opened my eyes. “Okay fine. My rut came on fast. I forgot the pills. But I handled it. No big deal.”

Mom crossed her arms. “Handled it? You could have hurt someone. Enigmas do not just have normal nights. You know this. Did you knot him?”

I looked away. “I do not want to talk about it.”

“You have to talk about it,” Dad said. “This affects everything. Your racing. Your future. If that alpha gets pregnant from this…”

“Pregnant? Come on. It was one time,” I said. But my stomach twisted a little. I remembered how deep it went. How my body reacted.

Mom sat down next to Dad. “One time is enough for someone like you. We raised you better. We suppressed you since you were young so you would not be hunted or used. And now this.”

I sat up straighter. “I said I handled it. Arnold is cleaning the footage. No one will know who it was. His face did not show.”

Dad shook his head. “That is not enough. Your scent is still strong right now. Anyone can tell. We need to fix this properly.”

“Fix it how?” I asked. My voice got louder. “I am not a kid anymore.”

Mom looked at Dad then back at me. “We are bringing a wife for you. From abroad. Good family. Strong bloodline. She can help you control this. Give you a proper bond so ruts do not end like tonight.”

I stared at them. My mouth opened but no words came out at first. “A wife? You are joking right?”

“Not joking,” Dad said. “She arrives in two weeks. We made calls already. This is what is best for you.”

I stood up fast. “Best for me? You decide I need a wife because of one night? I do not even know the person. I do not want this.”

“Sit down Joss,” Mom said. “You lost control tonight. This is the consequence. The family needs you stable.”

“I am stable. I win races. I handle my life,” I snapped back.

Dad sighed. “You almost forced someone to sex if not already forced them. That is not handling it. The arrangements are made. She will arrive and you will meet her.”

I paced the room. My head pounded worse now. Tiredness mixed with shock and anger. That mystery alpha. The scent. The memories. And now they wanted to marry me off. Everything felt too fast. Too much.

“You cannot force this,” I said.

“We can and we are,” Dad answered. “Sit down and we will tell you about her.”