Page 69 of Talk About… Rivalry

She started to open her mouth and say something but I stopped her, needing to get this off my chest.

“It was never on you to say something, Sidney. That was my job. I was just too scared that you would turn me down and that was stupid in itself.”

“I wanted you, too,” she admitted, reaching over and taking my hand even as she made no move to get off of Leo’s lap. She had melted into him.

For the first time I genuinely considered if this was what a pack meant. I wasn’t jealous, just relieved.

Taylor and Bennett arrived at the same time. This time, she caught the sound of their footsteps stomping across the pavement as they rushed our way.

“Sunshine, what happened?” Taylor asked, his voice gentle and imploring as he sank to his knees next to her, brushing a kiss over her forehead.

My chest tightened at the easy contact. What was wrong with me that I couldn’t just do that? Why couldn’t I tell her how I felt before now? I should be able to reach for my omega anytime I wanted.

It was a hard pill to swallow, knowing that she needed them way more than she needed just me right now.

Maybe there was some merit to this pack business. They could give her what I couldn’t.

Bennett didn’t sink to the ground like the rest of us, he looked around as if checking for danger. When he realized we were well and truly alone he crouched down next to her.

“Angel, we are all more than willing to talk. We just want to figure out whatever’s going on in that pretty little head of yours. But this isn’t the place to do it.”

She blinked up at him. His voice was strong and sure enough that it commanded her attention. Her gaze shifted to the half-empty parking lot around us before she winced.

The Sidney I’d always known, the one who used her strength as a form of armor, took over. Her face was determined asshe swiped furiously at the tears running down her cheeks. She swept fingers through her hair before tossing it over her shoulder and trying to climb out of Leo’s lap.

Apparently, he wasn’t ready to let her go. Couldn’t blame him there.

“Do you want us all to come with you wherever we’re going,?” Leo asked gently. She looked at him still seemingly startled by his presence as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“I guess?” she questioned more than said, but that was enough.

Leo stood easily, lifting her with him. He walked around to her passenger door before settling her in with Taylor’s help.

“Where are we going?” Taylor asked as he climbed in behind her, a hand moving to her shoulder. I’d never seen Sidney as the touchy type but she leaned into her omega.

I walked around front, ready to drive, but Leo beat me to it. He gave me a smirk as he slammed the door, my growl echoing in the silence that followed the thud of it slamming closed.

I took back my earlier thoughts. The beta was a dick, through and through.

“You can follow in that big old truck of yours, alpha,” he said. Between the teasing and the mocking voice, it seemed our rivalry wasn’t gone, just suppressed for a moment while we took care of our omega.

“Why don’t you take us to this pack house of yours?” Bennett suggested. “It’s better than our shared spaces or the inn.

“Follow us there,” Leo offered. He turned on her car before checking on her again. I didn’t hesitate to head for my truck. It was only a few feet away, parked haphazardly in my haste to get to her. Honestly, I was lucky I parked at all.

Bennett pulled up in a sleek SUV, giving Leo enough room to pull out. The beta took the lead, probably liking it a bit too much if I had to guess.

Bennett followed and I pulled out behind him, keeping our procession close as we drove.

I’d lived in Rockwood Valley my whole life and I thought I’d seen just about everything there was to see. When Leo pulled out onto an old road I always considered farmland or rental cabins, I realized I was dead wrong.

The road was serene, gorgeous even. It didn’t take him long before he pulled into a long, gravel lined driveway leading up to an old farmhouse.

It clearly needed some work, and from the tarp covered construction materials out front, I’d say he was already in the process. It was huge, though. More than enough space to accommodate our tentative pack.

We all parked out front and I was over on Sidney’s side of the car before Leo had a chance. I heard his easy chuckle as I pulled open her door and helped her out. She stood on wobbly legs and I kept an arm around her waist as we led her inside.

Whatever happened today had shaken her and the need to find out what happened was so visceral that it couldn’t be ignored.

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