Page 15 of Stella

“I want to be matched soon.” Meredith clapped her hands together and looked downright vengeful.

Meredith spent most of her life trying to be the dutiful omega daughter. It was equal parts terrifying and relieving to see my baby sister stepping out of her shell.

“I’ll be sure to post on Instagram how excited I am to start the matching process.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Stella said quickly.

“Of course I want to. I’m going to rub it in their faces.” Meredith pushed her hair off her shoulder.

The reminder was a slap in the face. Stella would benefit from matching Meredith. Even if it was a chance meeting, there was no getting away from Stella benefitting financially from knowing Meredith.

It was harsh, but our world was based on navigating what other people wanted from you, and weighing whether or not the price was too dear to pay.

My father had made sure I knew that, and it was a lesson I would never forget.

Chapter4

Stella

Another night, another day closer to my heat.

Quality time spent with my vibrator didn’t take the edge off. I think it pissed my libido off even more.

I’d texted Jerrick last night, pretending I was asking about book recommendations. From there we’d talked about how he’d lived all over the place growing up as an Army brat. That had led to discussing my family and our business, and then on to some of my favorite places in the mountains. In between we’d discussed food. There’d been lots of food talk.

Between him and Simon, my libido was in overdrive. If I hadn’t promised Meredith I would set her up in the database so she would be allowed to browse pack profiles, I would have called off sick for the week.

Part of me wanted to see Simon again. Even though he was a pompous ass. I had better ideas of what I could do with his mouth than listen to his cynicism.

I arrived at the office early. The building where we met new clients was the first thing people saw when they drove up to the grounds. We’d spent the summer when I was thirteen painting it white and blue, and it looked like a summer cottage on the beach. Scrub plants dotted the rolling green and tan fields.

A mixture of metal and wooden wind chimes hung from the wraparound porch. The front lobby was comfortably decked out with a variety of couches and armchairs, a chaotic blend of crocheted blankets, quilts, and soft throw blankets. We added pillows at an alarming rate, and our regular clients joked about playingWhere’s Waldo?with the new pillows.

But what else should they expect with three omegas in the family? Lots of pillows, that’s what.

The wall opposite the entrance were built in shelves where we displayed Luna’s handmade candles. We had a healthy side-business in metaphysical items that were both decorative and helpful to center energy. I didn’t talk about it with outsiders much, since everyone seemed to think the “healing vibrations of crystals” was a gimmick, but this place always calmed me, especially when I was trying to deal with the gaping hole my parents left after they died.

If the sunlight grew plants that fed and nourished us, why couldn’t plants and rocks also put off energy to heal us?

Ember was in the lobby, as expected since it was her week to have desk duty, but the hunky alpha sitting on the waiting room couch was new.

He stood up with an easy smile. He was shorter than a lot of alphas I’d seen, probably around five seven, but lanky. He wore a loose-fitting shirt and basketball shorts and moved with an easy grace.

“Please tell me you’re Stella.” As he looked me over, heat scorched through my body in the wake of his gaze.

Ember laughed, tossing her red hair over her shoulder. “Oh, I like your new boyfriend.”

Ember and I were only a month apart in age, and revealed to be omegas at the same time. Between her carefree attitude and my love of adventure, we kept Raina and Zephyr on their toes growing up.

I shot a glare at my cousin. “No one asked you for your opinion.”

The alpha smiled at our exchange. “I’m Evan.” He gave a little wave. “I’m with Simon’s pack.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“I see you’ve met the jerk,” Evan laughed. “Don’t judge me based on him. I’m the fun one.”

“Hmph.” I gave him a more appraising look. Blessed with tanned skin and sinewy muscles, he had short black hair and hooded eyes that were slightly triangular shaped, with lashes long enough to make me jealous. He smelled like the beach and ocean spray at the same time with a warm musk undertone. “You’re okay with being assessed?”

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