Chapter 2 - Intoxicating Scent

• Emily's POV
• The trip down to the pack house was quicker than I had hoped, and before I knew it, Jax stopped the car in front of the pack house.
• Jax got out of the car and went around, opening the car door for Mila. He held his hand out and carefully helped his mate from the car.
• "Mila, my love," Jax said, kissing the top of her hand. "I will be right back. Wait for me!"
• My heart pinched at the tenderness of his voice. He spoke to her with so much love and care.
• Mila nodded her head, and Jax got back in the car and drove off.
• Two minutes later, the dark-headed wolf appeared next to Mila.
• "Ready?" He asked, taking her hands in his.
• Mila giggled like a typical schoolgirl and blushed.
• I turned my gaze away, giving them some privacy.
• Some days I wish I had what Mila and Jax had. Their love for one another was so tender and unconditional.
• A small smile followed at the corners of my lips, remembering the night Mila found out Jax was her mate.
• We were all in the clearing, waiting for her to shift, when the single word 'mate' slipped from her lips.
• Jax came forward, answering her call. He knew all along that Mila was his mate. He found out the year before and kept it a secret while keeping a watchful eye on her.
• My gaze moved to where the two lovebirds stood. The tall, dark-headed wolf had his arms around his blond and beautiful mate and his lips devouring hers.
• Mila was the first to pull away, turning her gaze toward me and blushing.
• "I'm sorry," she apologized. "We can't help it!"
• "I am used to it by now," I smiled, gesturing between the two of them. "No worries."
• Jax's gaze moved toward the huge double doors and back to us.
• "They are about to start," he announced.
• Mila took my hand, and the three of us headed together toward the entrance.
• The same unholy feeling crept up inside me, and my heart rate increased, warning me I shouldn't be there—I shouldn't have come.
• We came to a stop a couple of feet from the door, and Jax let go of Mila's hand, opening the door.
• I took a deep breath, trying to get my racing heart under control and force my anxiety aside.
• As soon as Jax pushed the double door open, a scent so intoxicating hit my nostrils—apple crumble.
• It was the most delicious scent I have ever smelled.
• My mouth watered to have a taste of it.
• The scent suddenly started to smother me, and I felt dizzy. I took an unwilling step back, turning my face away from the smell and seeking fresh air.
• "What the hell?" I muttered to myself.
• Mila turned to look at me, and concern crossed her eyes.
• "Are you alright?" Jax asked worryingly.
• "I-I-I don't know," I stuttered nervously. "There is this sweet smell of apple crumble coming from inside. It's overwhelming," I explained.
• Mila knitted her eyebrows together, confused, and lifted her nose to the air, taking a whiff.
• "I don't smell anything," she said a moment later. "Do you?" She asked, turning her gaze to Jax.
• Jax, in return, shook his head.
• "I don't smell anything out of the ordinary," he said.
• "Maybe the kitchen is making some pies and desserts," Mila offered as an explanation. "Alpha Cole did mention that he was going out of his way to welcome Alexander back."
• I nodded, and the scent suddenly cleared, giving me room to breathe.
• I followed Mila and Jax into the pack house and down to the community room.
• The community room was a huge room where we mostly had functions and packed meetings; tonight it looked more like a ballroom fit for a king.
• "Wow!" Mila gasped, "It's Wow!"
• "It's something, alright," I said, moving my gaze up the walls to the roof. Alpha Cole surely decorated the place beautifully.
• We were just in time to see Alpha Cole leave the stage, and seconds later, the music started again.
• I moved my gaze over the sea of people, hoping to get a glimpse of Alex, but he was nowhere to be found.
• Did he leave already?
• "Let's go dance," Mila said, interrupting my thoughts and grabbing my hand.
• We were on the dance floor for about an hour when Mila said she wanted to go to the ladies' room.
• "It seems like you are enjoying yourself after all," Mila said when we were heading to the exit.
• "You know I love dancing," I said. I felt more myself, and my anxiety was long gone.
• "Yeah, I know," Mila chirped, seriously. "You do know that every unmated wolf was checking you!"
• I was taken aback by her words. I didn't even notice that people were looking at me.
• "Well, if they are," I said sourly. "They are chicken sh*t for not asking me to dance."
• "Maybe it's for the best," Mila said, pushing the ladies' room door open. "We both know you are way better than them."
• I couldn't help but smile. Mila always knew how to cheer me up.
• But deep down I knew it wasn’t true. Everywhere I go, the pack members are always ignoring my existence—they wouldn’t even glance at me.
• Some days I wish people would just notice me. I didn't disappear. I was still there and part of the pack.
• A group of ten young adults passed me next, heading toward the exit of the building. They were my friends before my birthday. I used to be part of that group, and my Beta rank made me popular too.
• I sighed.
• Why was I part of a pack that didn't accept me the way I was?
• My heart pinched, and my hands flew to my chest. The painful feeling made me feel numb inside.
• "Do you want to go home?" Mila asked, taking my hand.
• I lifted my gaze, and Mila smiled kindly at me, wiping the warm tears from my face that I didn't know had spilled over.
• I shook my head. If I went home now, my parents would think that something had happened, and I wasn't in the mood to answer their questions.
• "No," I whispered. "Just give me a minute."
• Mila softly patted my shoulder, giving me time to gather myself.
• "Feeling better?" she asked, and I gave her a weak smile, reading the pity in her eyes.
• I slowly followed her back to the community room, but just as we passed the double doors going out to the gardens, I froze in my tracks.
• It was as if everything inside me screamed to be outside.
• And there’s the sweet scent of apple crumble again.
• "What's wrong, Em?" Mila asked, looking back at the door. "You are acting strange."
• I slowly turned my gaze to meet hers, and her hands flew to her lips as she gasped, taking a step back.
• "I’m fine," I said, my voice sounding higher than usual in my ears. "I just need to go check something. I'll meet up with you in just a few minutes!"
• Mila blinks a couple of times before she reacts. She then turned on her heels and dashed off toward the community center, as if someone were chasing her.
• As soon as she was out of sight, I turned toward the door.
• What happened next left my world spinning out of control.
• ****