“See, nothing to worry about,” I told Cohen. He let out a breath and shook his head.
“I think I have everything to worry about,” he muttered. His gaze was pointed, locked right on me, but the corner of his mouth tipped up into a smile.
“Maybe if you’re a good boy I’ll even let you take me home tonight,” I teased, blowing a kiss before walking out. I wanted to leave on a flirty note and give him even more reason to show up tonight.
I also intended to make that promise a reality. If we were lucky, maybe Avery would join us.
Now that would be a night to remember.
Arden
The bar was already packed by the time I walked in. This wasn’t exactly my usual scene but finding your mate meant that you had to step out of your comfort zone.
Mate.
That was still so hard to comprehend even after days of her scent filling my memory, taunting and enticing, yet out of reach.
I spotted the two men I met at the lake across the room. Ford and Mason were still strangers and I wasn’t sure how I felt. That day at the lake I was ready to punch them for jumping into the lake with my omega, yet she was laughing when they stepped out of the water.
She was overwhelmed that day, the discomfort and stress making her scent sour around the edges, but I hoped tonight would be different. Ford mentioned that they were celebrating a success with their online following.
I knew how hard our own social media and PR teams worked so I knew she put in hours of work to achieve what they had. I’d even pulled them up on PackVlog to follow them and their views were incredible for such a new account.
Though, she had played it smart, showcasing her alpha brothers almost as much as the bar and the town.
“Welcome in. Drink special tonight is the Whitaker signature shot, or we have a selection of craft beers,” one of her brothers greeted me as I approached the bar, a grin on his face.
“Arden! You made it,” Avery’s voice cut through all the noise in the room and I zeroed in on her. She was gorgeous tonight. Her lipstick was a dark, sexy red that stood out among her dark hair and black outfit. Her face was flushed with either warmth from this room or excitement. As she moved closer, the brother side-eyed me, apparently putting together just who I was.
“Is this one of them?”
Avery poked him in the side, making him duck away. “Yes, this is Doctor Arden Clark, one of my alphas.”
Fuck, hearing her call me alpha was intoxicating. My chest puffed out in pride and I was ready to scream it from the rooftops.
She wasn’t hiding right now and I wasn’t sure if something changed, but I wouldn’t complain. If Rockwood Valley and the work she’d taken on were helping her come out of her shell and fight off the lingering effects of her exes, then I was glad.
My blood boiled all over again at the passing thought of her ex alphas. The Network had promised me that the legal team was taking over, and wanted the names of everyone involved. I gave them Avery’s lawyer’s information instead of hers, but I also gave them everything she’d given us about those awful men. From the details given and the anger in the legal team representative’s voice, I knew that they would be facing the consequences of their actions.
I personally hoped they rotted in jail for years to come. There would likely be a few alphas on the inside who would put them in their place. There were two things that would rile up alphas, and that was harming kids and harming omegas. They’d not just harmed her, they forced a mating.
That was one of the lowest of lows.
“Hey, you okay?” Avery’s hand landed on my wrist, her warmth searing right through my thoughts and bringing me back to the moment. I put on a soft smile.
“Sorry, yes, it was just a long day. I hear you have success to celebrate, though?”
She bit back a grin and nodded. “We’re packed more than ever tonight and we plan to go live soon behind the bar. Before opening we set everything up,” she said, gesturing to the corner where a small tripod was set up, aiming at the back so customers would be off screen, but her and the brothers would be visible. It was close enough they could comment and chat with the viewers.
She clearly had an eye for details.
“Speaking of, could I interview the Network here in Rockwood Valley? I’d love to have a little snapshot of the clinic here and the workers who new omegas would meet. It might make more omegas feel better about going in. I may even do a little chat about how it helped me settle here for a new beginning,” she explained, eyes shining with hope.
I knew I couldn’t deny this omega anything.
“We would love that. Let me know when and I’ll warn the girls,” I promised easily. “It’s our job to make omegas feel comfortable and protected.”
She beamed, her full focus on me. I soaked in every ounce of her attention while I had it. Soon, I’d be sharing it with the others.