Page 140 of The Packaged Deal

I make a promise to myself to make sure that remains true forever.

thirty-seven

Jade

Ispot my mother standing in the corner of the room. Our eyes meet, but we both turn away, refusing to acknowledge each other. Her stays in the psych ward have certainly mellowed her out. My father left her a few months ago, too. I don’t know where he is. I don’t care, but sometimes I wonder if he’s happier without her.

Silas has volunteered one of his hotels for this charity event. It’s raising funds for the Omega Refuge. I’m working there now, with Silver Davies and my dreamy Adrian. Hazel and I came up with this idea, and using her contracts and with my bullying power, we got a record number of people to attend tonight’s event.

Sven and Kandi ended up not going back to work with Missy. They started a gym and self-defense studio and work a couple of times a week at the Refuge, giving omegas and their children demonstrations that could save their lives.

Silver rushes towards me, and I let the memory of the past slip away. I embrace the omega tightly. Over the past year of working in the refuge, I’ve gotten to know her really well, and I can firmly say that she is one of my closest friends.

“Hey, I just wanted to say goodbye,” Silver says in a rush.

I pull back and stare up at her. There are shadows of agony in her eyes. I don’t know how everyone else can’t see it.

“You’re leaving?” I say carefully.

“Yes, tonight’s my last night working for the refuge.” Silver glances around, almost like she’s looking for someone.

“You have to stay in touch, Silver. I’m going to miss you,” I say, but I’m watching her carefully, trying to gauge what’s wrong.

Silver shrugs and squeezes me once more. She looks up, appearing hunted, and turns with a small wave before scurrying away. For a moment, I remember the terror of those nights alone, the panic of always looking over my shoulder. The pain of my injuries. The bite that healed up with no scar, thanks to Adrian’s ministrations.

“Silver, wait!” I call out, but she’s gone in the crowd in seconds.

My mind clings to those old memories. And I remind myself it’s over.

No one came looking for Trevor, and the police took it as an accidental overdose. The most interesting thing about those few weeks has been the forced friendship I now have with multiple packs. Missy and Kandi are back to happily being best friends. I have to admit, she’s okay when she’s not trying to destroy my relationships. Hazel and Onyx are close. Dylan, Soren, and Barren, the three omega males, are a force unto themselves, each propelling the other into amazing feats of diabolical naughtiness that gets all of us omegas grounded. But they bat their eyes and get away with it.

I still need to figure out that part.

My pack never lets me get away with it. Sunny, Jet, and Lukas are my three favourite alphas from the other packs. They happily aid my mischief and cover for me. Lukas enjoys getting it up on Sven, and Sunny enjoys being a bratty baby brother, or so Kandi says in vicious growls. Jet, I think he just enjoys chaos.

“What was that about?” Kandi asks.

I turn and inhale sharply. Every time I see her in that black slinky dress, I have the same gut punch reaction. I take her hand and kiss her knuckles. I’m in purple, like usual. This time, the material floats around me, light as air. Adrian said I looked enchanting.

“Have I told you how incredibly beautiful you are, Beta?”

“Only a hundred times.”

“Let me say it once more, then.”

I shuffle closer, leaning up against her. “You’re stunning, and everyone is jealous that you’re on my arm.”

“I think you’re confused,” Kandi whispers back. “They are looking at you.”

I stand on my tip-toes and press my lips to hers. “I adore the air that you breathe.”

“I worship the ground you walk on.”

Sven snorts a laugh. We snap our heads around to glare at him.

“Do you mind? We’re doing something here,” I snarl.

“Making people around you get out of the love bomb orbit? So far, it’s 100% effective.”

---