Page 90 of Marigold Run

Horrible reminders of things she endured.

But Izan is right.

Our omega is strong. She can handle meeting someone that shares the same name as her brother, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t hope for the both of us that it might be her brother.

Three Weeks Later

Mari

Hutch has been gone for over a week now. Nine days to be exact.

Not long after my heat, he packed a bag, kissed me and Everly, then left with Izan’s blessing. I know it has something to do with the Tenus pack because Dassy was really pissed at Izan for the first few days. I searched my bond with Hutch, praying I’d be able to feel what he was doing, but the damn alpha keeps me shut out, only seeping into my dreams.

But on the third day, I overheard Izan and Dassy arguing about whatever it was that Hutch was out doing. Izan told Dassy that he was too emotionally involved, and emotions meant that he was more likely to make a mistake. Dassy growled and snarled, but in the end, he agreed with Izan, saying that there was no room for mistakes when it came to my safety. It was thefirst time in my life I heard an alpha set their pride aside for someone else…and it was for me.

Since then, I’ve spent every moment I can kissing or cuddling the big blond alpha, letting him know how much I love that he’s been home with me. Afterall, his love language is touch, but today we won’t be spending the afternoon snuggling in my nest. We have somewhere to go.

Apparently, Izan closed an important contract with another pack, so we’re meeting them at a fancy restaurant to celebrate. Everly woke up this morning practically vibrating with excitement for me to meet their omega. Even Izan thinks it’ll be good for me to know another omega, but I’m not so sure I want any friends. I’m happy with my little pack. I don’t need anyone else.

“We should probably take an umbrella.” Everly steps over to a small coat closet. She bends over, riffling through the contents, but all I can do is stare at her pretty ass. Her black dress is a little short, showing off the beta’s long legs. “It’s supposed to rain,” she mumbles, shoving a few coats out of the way. “I know we have at least one umbrella in here.” She huffs as she pushes up onto her tiptoes, and now all I can see is the long curve of her back. My beta is so fucking pretty.

I bite my bottom lip, trying to fight a moan. “Maybe we should cancel,” I say, hoping she’ll agree to stay here and snuggle. “I’m not a fan of rain.”

“Wecan’tcancel.” Everly’s voice is shockingly loud as she spins around. She almost looks upset at the suggestion. “We have to go.” She marches to me, then immediately starts fussing with my hair. I let her, sensing that she needs some kind of outlet for her weird manic energy.

“Alright,” I say, not wanting to say or do anything else to set the beta off. “No need to yell.” She’s been a nervous ball of energy all morning.

“Okay, ladies. How do I look?” Dassy struts down the stairs, holding out his arms so we can see his entire outfit. He’s wearing a dark purple button up and black slacks. I admire his trim waist and thick thighs. They flex with each step, making my sex clench over and over and over.

Everly wraps her arm around my waist and licks her lips as she looks him up and down. “You look…” she lets out a dreamy sigh, “good.”

I nod, leaning into the beta’s wonderful aroma. “Very good.”I really wish we’d just stay home.

“Are you wearing your underwear?” Izan appears from the hallway next to the stairs. He’s wearing a soft gray shirt, black silk tie, and black slacks. I haven’t seen him wear a tie since the day he claimed me. All of my boys look good dressed up. “Mari?” he says my name as if waiting for me to answer a question. “Are you wearing your slick-underwear?”

“Oh! Yes.” I lift the skirt of my sage green dress, flashing my red panties. Izan and Dassy’s eyes go dark and I smirk, praying both alphas are too tempted to leave the house. “I’m already a little wet.” I look up at Izan through my lashes, giving him a flirty look. “Maybe we should stay in,” I whisper.

Izan’s wet tongue slips out over his bottom lip, and his mighty chest rises as he inhales deeply.

“Nope!” Everly practically barks as she snatches my skirt out of my hands, and forces it back over my legs. “Izan made these plans weeks ago.”

“Everly is right.” Izan adjusts his cock as he crosses the entryway. He places a kiss to the top of my head, patting my arm like we’re distant friends. “I’d love to stay here and fuck you raw, but sadly, I’ve made a commitment to the Stanley Pack.”

“And you might end up loving their omega,” Dassy adds quickly, but it’s the meaningful look he immediately shares with Everly that has me suspicious as hell. But before I can askwhat’s going on, the front door pops open. Hutch steps into the entryway, and our eyes meet.

I don’t know what I imagined Hutch would look like when he returned, but it wasn’t this. He mostly looks…normal. There are bags under the alpha’s eyes, and his knuckles are bruised with deep cuts that still look fresh. But that’s it. He looks like he’s simply returning from a jaunt to the store. Not a nine-day journey across the mountains.

“Alpha!” Everly gasps as her senses return, then she runs into Hutch’s arms.

Hutch catches her, kissing her deeply. They share an intimate moment, one that I don’t want to end. I give a needy whine, looking up at Izan, but his firm look tells me that we still aren’t canceling lunch.

“Where’s everyone going?” Hutch asks as he slowly places Everly back on her feet.

“Stanley invited the whole pack over for lunch,” Izan says. “We thought it would be nice for our omegas to meet.”

The air in the room seems to shift as everyone turns to look at me as one. All the bizarre looks and hushed conversations have my nerves shot, and I snap, “What the hell is going on?” I cross my arms, very annoyed. “Why does everyone want me to meet this omega so damn bad?”

“Because you need a fucking friend,” Hutch snaps back with just as much attitude. He definitely needs a nap.

---