Page 65 of The Packaged Deal

“When you kiss me properly, I may just die,” I admit when he swings me up. He pushes me into Adrian and stalks out of the aisle. I watch him go, a smile teasing my lips. It will be harder for him to refuse now he can see how perfect our life could be together.

Adrian wraps an arm around my shoulders and guides me to the next aisle. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. Very clever, but don’t push too hard.”

I stare up at him. “I just want him to see how it could be. Is that so wrong?”

Adrian strokes a hand down my spine, giving me whole body shivers. “No, it’s not. It’s good to see what we’re passing up.”

My face falls. I fight to ignore the urge to cry, and instead, force a huge smile. “Knowledge is power, my alpha.”

“How are you enjoying shopping?”

“It's wonderful. Can we do it again tomorrow?” I whisper, swallowing the tears that have strangled my throat.

This has been one of the best days of my life. It really has. Why am I so sad?

eighteen

Jade

“We can’t leave her here. Not in the house alone!” Adrian growls and heaves out a frustrated sigh.

I look up and narrow my eyes on Adrian. Sven steps into his space but doesn’t touch him. The two of them are really trying to push me over the cliff into psychotic rage omega today. I want to record them and play these words when we’re bonded and make them crawl on their damn knees! Three days ago, we were having a wonderful bonding moment in the shopping centre. Now, we’re standing in the lounge room while these…these monsters debate how to find a babysitter for me!

This event is some black tie thing that Adrian and Sven have been invited to. It’s also expected that they and Kandi show up as Raptore employees. I’m not even sure I want to go. but this discussion has nixed it, I’m going!

“Well, we sure as fuck can’t take her with us,” Sven growls. “She wouldn’t fit in. She’d stand out. Be a target.”

My nostrils flare. HOW. DARE. HE!

“She would be fine,” Adrian growls back.

“She doesn’t even have anything to wear,” Sven snaps, smiling as if he’s won the lottery.

Kandi looks up from her phone. “Yeah, she does. Of course, I organised it.”

Sven snaps his head around, glaring at the beta. “We’re supposed to be showing a united front.

“I’ll be united when you stop being an ass,” Kandi mutters.

I bite my bottom lip to hide the smile as she tugs me out of the kitchen.

“Shoes on, let’s go. We need to go because I’m going to shoot one or both of them if they keep talking.”

I don’t tell her off or ask to borrow her gun. Yay for me.

“Where are we going?”

“Shopping with Hazel and Onyx.”

I hesitate because I don’t want to go out with them. They don’t like me, but these people are my pack’s friends. I need to make an effort.

“Okay, this will be fun. I’ll just get my shoes.” I go into the bathroom first and stare at myself in the mirror. “You can do this, Jade. You can face the omega and beta paragons, and you will be cool.”

I nod and quickly style my hair. The colour is still a lovely shade of lilac, shimmering slightly. I love it, but it’s hard to look at myself in the mirror these days. Every time I stop, I stare at myself and wonder what is it about me that is so repulsive that my pack doesn’t want me?

Kandi waits for me by the front door, she is distracted but seems relaxed. I want to lean into her and put my hands in her jeans pockets and just breathe in her scent. Kandi is the balm to everything. As soon as I arrive, she smiles, looking me up and down. I haven’t changed anything. I’m wearing a pair of short jean shorts that cling to my hips like a second skin. My ass looks amazing in them. But the look she gives me has me biting back the teasing words that might have had us back in the bedroom.

“Come on,” She rasps out and, to my surprise, she puts her hand in the pocket of my jeans over my ass.

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