Chapter 3 THE SCENT OF DANGER

BANG. BANG. BANG.

The sound struck my skull with the force of a physical blow. I woke up from sleep while becoming stuck in the expensive sheets which cost more than my automobile. For an instant I lost track of my current location.

The scent of cedar mixed with aggressive odors entered my nostrils.

Damon's voice announced "Up and at 'em Princess!" through the heavy oak door. "0500 hours! If your feet aren't on the floor in thirty seconds I'm dragging you out by your ankles!" he declared.

I groaned while covering my face with the pillow. My entire body experienced pain throughout.

I had to use my voice to say "Go to hell Sterling."

"Twenty seconds!" he shouted.

I tossed the blankets aside. My chest filled with panic because of the patches not because of the run. I hurried to look at myself in the mirror. The adhesive on my neck had formed wrinkles because I had slept. I pressed it down frantically my fingers cold and clumsy.

It holds. It has to hold.

I put on a thick hoodie and running shorts which I wore after ten seconds. The door flew open.

Damon performed push-ups in the living room. He used one arm to do his push-up exercise.

He had his shirt removed.

The sight proved to be unfair as I stopped dead. His back displayed a sculpted physique which showed trapezius muscles and deltoids and lats. He already had sweat on his body which made his skin shine in the dim morning sunlight.

He leaped up to land softly on his feet. He didn't display any signs of exhaustion.

You are late he said while looking at his watch. "You took forty-five seconds to complete the task which resulted in a lap penalty."

I complained "I was asleep" while pulling my hood up. "Normal people sleep at 5 AM."

Damon told me "Champions don't sleep." He tossed a water bottle at my head. I caught it while fumbled. "Drink. We will run five miles at high tempo."

The run proved to be excruciating.

Damon didn't jog. He turned his running style into a hunt. He moved forward with a long stride which resembled a predator stalking its prey.

"Beta! he shouted back at me from behind him.

I used all my strength to make my legs run faster. My lungs burned as if glass shards had entered my body. My Omega physiology was created to handle short distance running. I was designed for rapid accelerations. Every step brought intense pain which spread through my shins.

I would rather die than allow him to witness my defeat.

I repeated "Don't quit" to myself. "Think of the check. Think of Lily."

The sun began to rise at the moment when we returned to Building C. Damon finally slowed to a walk. He turned to look at me his chest heaving slightly.

"Twenty-eight minutes he said while he shook his head. "My grandmother runs faster than that."

I bent over while placing my hands on my knees to catch my breath. "Your... grandmother... must be... terrifying."

Damon released a quick loud exhale. The sound resembled a laugh.

"She is" he stated while looking at me. He looked me over which made his eyes stay on my breathing chest. "You have grit Vance. Most Betas would have puked by mile two.

"When I run my pace I run my best" I said.

"Clearly." he replied.

He wiped away a drop of sweat which had fallen from his forehead while he stared at the elevator.

He declared "Shower" to everyone present. "We have class in an hour."

Shower.

The word shower struck me with the force of a bucket full of icy water.

I needed to secure the first entry into the area. I had to lock the door so that nobody could enter while I needed to remove my sweat and change my patches. If I showered second the room would become filled with his steam. If we showered at the same time...

Damon used his keycard to enter the building. I raced out of the room as soon as Suite 402 door unlocked.

"Shotgun!" I yelled while running toward my bedroom.

Damon shouted "Hey" while he took off his shoes. "I am the Captain! Seniority rules!

The old man couldn't move as fast as me.

I closed my bedroom door and locked it before jumping into the bathroom that connects to my room.

I took hold of the door handle which led to Damon room and forcefully closed it. I turned the lock.

Click.

Safe.

I leaned against the door while I listened to the door. I heard Damon grumbling inside his room while he searched through drawers.

Vance he shouted through the wall. "Don't use all the hot water!

I yelled back "No promises!

I took off my sweaty clothes. The mirror showed my flushed face.

I reached up and peeled back the edge of the scent patch on my neck.

The sweat had turned the adhesive into a white slippery goo which made it impossible to stay on my body. The product came off in my hand.

"Which of us says crap" I whispered.

I was left without protection.

I opened the shower while I set the temperature to maximum. I stepped into the shower space while closing the heavy white curtain.

The hot water created a heavenly effect on my sore muscles. I used the soap to wash away my body odor which mixed with sweat and fear.

Thud.

I froze because my hand lost control of the soap.

The sound originated from somewhere inside the bathroom.

Thud. Click.

Someone tried to enter Damon's side of the room by turning the doorknob to Damon side. The door handle turned to my horror.

The lock had failed to secure the door. The door latch had either worn out from use or I had failed to turn it properly.

The door opened to let in a stream of cool air which made the steamy room feel less hot.

Damon called out "Vance? You in here?

I stood perfectly still behind the curtain. I was naked. My patches had started to dissolve inside the trash can. A flimsy sheet of plastic shielded me from danger.

"I'm in the shower!" I yelled with a cracking voice. "Get out!

Damon replied "Relax" as he entered the room. I heard his heavy footsteps on the tile. "I just need my toothbrush. You locked the door like a paranoid freak.

"Shower time" I screamed. "Get out Sterling!

"Yeah yeah. You need to stay calm.

He stayed in the room while he turned on the faucet. He was brushing his teeth.

I stood there shaking as the room filled with steam. The small space had become filled with white vapor, which now filled every inch of the room.

The situation had one major issue.

Heat and humidity made it impossible to maintain secrecy because they could transport scent particles. My natural scent began leaking from my body because I had no patches on my skin and the hot water vapor filled the air.

A small amount of smoke escaped from the burning stove. The sweet smell of burning sugar filled the space.

I held my breath. The smell needs to remain undetected. The stuffy nose must present itself.

The sink water stopped its flow.

The room became completely quiet.

Damon chose to remain present.

Damon called out to Vance. Damon spoke with a different tone because his voice appeared to have deepened. His voice became deep.

I squeaked out my word what.

What soap do you use.

I stammered the words until my back hit the cold tiles I said Hotel soap which I identified as generic.

Damon spoke No. He drew closer to the shower curtain when I heard his footsteps. Damon said the substance did not qualify as soap since it produced a fragrance that resembled wild honey.

My heart beat against my chest like a bird trying to escape its cage. The scent of wild honey defined my Omega essence.

I told him I did not comprehend his words. The scent might come from your shampoo.

Damon said he did not use honey shampoo. He stood directly outside the curtain. The white plastic material allowed me to see his shadow which appeared broad and imposing and terrifying. He started to reach out.

The aroma tastes like something that should be eaten.

His hand made contact with the material of the curtain.

I yelled at Damon to stop while using every drop of venom in my voice. The moment you touch this curtain I will report your actions to the Dean as harassment. Your father's identity holds no value to me.

The hand on the curtain stopped moving.

The dangerous situation existed in the dense steamy atmosphere.

Damon showed signs of uncertainty. His instincts competed against his intellectual thinking. His Alpha side wanted to rip the curtain open and find the source of that sweet smell. His logical side knew he couldn't assault a teammate.

He released a deep growl filled with frustration.

Damon said that I had good luck because I did not turn into a predator.

He moved his hand away from the object.

He forced his voice to inside and said The bathroom stinks because of your feminine soap.

I heard him turn around. The door opened and slammed shut after the door exit.

I remained in my position. The shower water continued to hit me for five minutes as I trembled nonstop.

He detected the scent because he described it as delicious.

I looked at the counter where my fresh patches were waiting. I took the patches and used a towel to dry my neck before putting on three patches.

The foggy mirror above me showed my reflection. My eyes were wide open because of my fear.

The lock had stopped working. The roommate situation became a complete mess. Damon Sterling now possessed my scent.

I exited the bathroom wearing a turtleneck sweater that covered my entire body despite the warm weather outside.

Damon sat in the kitchen area while eating his protein bar. He raised his head to observe my arrival. His eyes immediately focused on my neck which the sweater hid from view.

He sniffed the air. The honey scent disappeared and was replaced by the clinical chemical odor of the new patches.

He did not like what he saw.

Damon said to me The bathroom door lock needs our assistance. The bathroom door lock requires maintenance.

The bathroom door lock needs our help to fix.

I need the door to exit the room I asked what.

Damon looked at me with his dark eyes that showed no expression.

Your soap needs to be replaced because it creates a distracting effect.

I chose not to respond him. The door remained open for me to leave.

The effect created by the situation demanded immediate attention from all involved.

That statement constituted a severe understatement. If he discovered that I was the source of the soap scent, he would not only lose focus on his task.

He would feel hungry.