Page 58 of Packed Up In Vegas

“We’re not. We didn’t?—”

She looked at me curiously. “I’m gonna need a little more info here.”

“She’s a scent match. Kai bonded her during a show.”

“Oh, shit,” Farrah breathed. “So we’re done, then?”

I crossed my arms over my chest, letting my petulance win. “I didn’t want to bond her.”

“And you still don’t now?”

“Fuck if I know, Fare. I just wanted to keep doing what I was doing.”

Farrah raised one eyebrow at me. “Well, you can’t.”

“I’m aware of that.” I sat down on her concrete stairs and she tentatively joined me.

“Sucks for me. We had a lot of fun.” She sighed, resting her chin on her palm. “What’s wrong with the omega that makes you not want to bond her?”

“Nothing,” I growled out. “I wish there was something so I could justify being annoyed. The others love her, and there’s just so much fucking pressure to fall into line.”

“They’re pushing you for it?”

“No.” My eye twitched. “They’re being chill, but I know my choices are to accept her or leave the pack, and I don’t want to leave. Feels like the walls are closing in and forcing me to choose one or the other immediately, and it’s just making me feel worse. Fuck. If I could have gotten to know her outside of this, maybe I’d feel differently.”

“Go to therapy,” Farrah stage-whispered. “Give yourself a break. This is a huge change and it makes sense to me you’d feel that pressure. Maybe you should chat with a professional about it all? Either way, I’ll say that she’s probably feeling the exact same as you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re part of the pack. She’s hopefully not wanting to cause issues with an established unit, and so I’d bet you anything she’s looking at you and feeling the same panic. I’m sure if you asked, she’d tell you she’s worried about things working out between you two so it doesn’t cause friction with the others.”

“I…” I hadn’t thought of it like that. Maybe Farrah was right and Callie felt those same shackles closing around her throat.

“Take some time to breathe,” Farrah offered. “Obviously we’re not going to play now, but if you want to hang out, I’m fine with that. I can call some friends to join us so you don’t feel weird with it just being me.”

“That would honestly be great. I need a few hours of space before I go back to the pack house.”

Farrah patted my shoulder and popped to her feet. “Well, I’m honored you picked me for that space. Let me see who I can rustle up.”

A handful of her friends joined us over the next half hour. I knew a few of them, other performers who called the city home. As much as I needed the time away, it also grated on me. The minutes ticked by, slowly ratcheting up the tension in my shoulders.

Maybe I should try to start over with Callie. We could go on a first date instead of staring down the barrel of the together forever gun. I knew I wasn’t being fair to her, but my mouth kept running faster than my brain and my pride was too fucking strong to backtrack when I said something stupid.

I sat there for hours, watching people enjoy themselves around me, participating in conversation when someone thought to include me, but otherwise mostly stewing.

Farrah passed me a bottled water. “You look miserable and I can’t use my normal method of fixing that.”

I gave a bitter laugh. “I have one source for that method now and that tap isn’t flowing.”

“Pity for her. She’s missing out on the best head this side of the Strip.” Farrah grinned at me. “Go be nicer to her. You’re a hard man to resist when you’re relaxed. Take her out dancing. Ooh! Take her to my show! On a night I’m not performing so it’s not hella weird,” she clarified. “The show is so fucking hot. No way she’d be able to resist you after that. Spend time with her and enjoy yourself.”

“You really think I should?”

“Of course you should.” Farrah sat down next to me with her own drink. “Just because you feel like something is inevitable doesn’t mean you get to take it for granted. At least try for Kai. He’s a sweetheart, and if you’re wigging out an omega he’s bonded to, you’re passing that along to him. Now, I’m not kicking you out, but I am going to point out that you look just as miserable as when you arrived, so I dunno that the space is helping.”

She was right. I’d wanted to breathe air that didn’t smell like Callie so I could have a clear head for half a second, but now that her scent was nowhere to be found, I was craving it. “I should probably go home.”

“Not a bad plan. Or invite your omega out.” Farrah shrugged. “Either way, you need to quit moping.”

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