Page 82 of Pack Plus Three

“You really hate it?” Nate asked in a hoarse voice, sinking down to sit in his desk chair.

I nodded. “All I want to do was run a construction company. To build things with my hands.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have figured something out. I’m a lawyer. I get paid decently now.”

“When I signed the contract, we were barely scraping together the money to get you the medication each month. It was a no-brainer. Who hasn’t worked a job they didn’t like for the people they love?”

His face was no longer pale; now, it was taking on a slightly greenish tinge as he realized the extent of his actions.

“Are you going to pass out? You can’t do that. You’ve got two nieces or nephews coming soon.” I laughed as Nate looked at me in a daze.

“Jeremy . . . you have to quit,” Nate said.

I frowned for a brief moment before shrugging. “I’m in it for the next season or two, no matter what, since I signed a contract. Plus, with Daisy about to pop, that medical insurance is going to be extra useful. I’m...content with the situation as it is.”

“But Jer...” Nate opened and closed his mouth, struggling to find his words.

“I’m honestly happy with how things are at the moment. All I want is for you to give Daisy a little more grace. I really love her, Nate, and I think one day, you will too.”

I was pretty convinced that he already had the start of those feelings, but his fear of the pain and suffering, thanks to his severing sickness, kept him from accepting those feelings.

Luckily, Daisy wasn’t going anywhere.

Chapter 33

Nate

My stomach turned uncomfortably as I knocked lightly on the door of the nest. Somehow, I had managed to be such a colossal asshole that I had no idea how I was going to redeem myself.

There was a sour taste in my mouth. How had Jeremy been doing a job he hated so much for so long, and I hadn't even noticed? I was a shit pack mate. Both Devon and I had noticed that he had become somewhat withdrawn after starting the contract, but we had chalked it up to the stress of the new job. The understanding that it was because he actually despised that job made my stomach feel like lead.

I needed to make things right with my pack. And to do that, I needed to make things right with Daisy. Jeremy loved her, and it wasn’t hard to understand why. She was sweet and caring, yet so strong.

She reminded me of Jilly at times.

That was part of the reason I avoided Daisy. Every day since I had lost Jilly had been a struggle. Some days, the pain was only a light gnawing sensation, and I could go about my day and pretend nothing was wrong. Other days, my entire body cried out in pain from not having my bonded omega near me. The medication helped some, but the symptoms never fully faded.

“Daisy?” I called out her name as I opened the door to the nest.

“What do you want?” she growled, even though her voice held all the anger of a newborn kitten. Standing at the edge of her nest, her face red and puffy from tears, she rearranged pillows almost obsessively.

The sight of her stung. I had done that.

Somehow, unbeknownst to me, I had become very talented at hurting the people I cared about. When had I strayed so far from who I used to be?

The day Jilly had decided to use public transport in the rain and lost her life, that was when.

But I couldn’t live like that anymore.

“What are you doing here, Nathaniel?” She repeated her earlier question, not bothering to look at me.

“I came to apologize,” I admitted. She had used my full name, so she was clearly pissed.

“Not interested,” she snarled, throwing a pillow clear across the nest with impressive strength. “Why do you even want to apologize?” she asked, turning to face me, her expression full of disdain. “You made it quite clear that you really don’t like me.”

“I freaked out. It was totally irrational, and I was a complete donkey’s ass, and if you let me, I’ll happily explain my fucked-up thought process.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Why do you want to explain to someone you think is selfish?”

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