Page 43 of Stella

“Aren’t you going through the matching process too?” Meredith asked with a grin. “You need to pick your own crystals.”

I sighed. It was harmless. I took the stones, the smooth, polished weight feeling good in my hands.

Stella watched me, and judging by the slightly pleased expression, I’d passed some sort of test.

It shouldn’t have felt so good, but warmth filled my chest anyway.

“The black stone is obsidian. It will help guide you to your inner truth and protect you from bad energy.”

Stella tapped the brown stone with yellow running through it. “That’s jasper. It helps you through times of stress, nurtures you.”

I snorted. “I hardly need nurturing.”

“Don’t you?” Stella raised an eyebrow. “Everyone needs to be taken care of.”

“I suppose so.” I grumbled. “But I’m the only supposed to be taking care of you.”

Stella gave me an amused look. I put the crystals in my pocket, enjoying the smooth feeling of them against my fingertips.

We lingered until a red head who had Stella’s eyes and one of the most powerful omega scents I’d even smelled poked her head into the room. “Ready to have your chakras balanced?”

Meredith’s eyes widened. “Yes? I’m not sure what that is, but Stella says it’s relaxing.”

“It is,” Stella said. “Ember is the best.”

Ember pointed at Stella. “You’re overdue too. Come see me after your heat.”

Stella grinned. “I’m fine now.”

Meredith left with the other omega. I leaned into Stella, getting another whiff of her sweet and tangy scent.

My cock hardened, and I forced myself back to business. “What do we do now?”

I hadn’t meant it as a come on, but Stella’s scent sharpened, and she sucked in a breath.

“Uhhh, I have some paperwork to catch up on.”

“Allow me to assist.”

She shook her head. “I’ve got it.”

“I’m good with paperwork. More hands make light work.”

Her beautiful face flushed. Her lips were slightly parted, and it was all I could do not to cup her face and press my lips against hers.

“Sure.” Her voice came out breathy, the sharp-sweet citrus peach scent intoxicating me. Her voice grew stronger. “You can help file paperwork.”

She made it sound like a threat, but I had started as a clerk in my father’s company least it seem like I wasn’t capable of leading. Paperwork didn’t scare me, and if it meant being around her longer…I would have done much harder work for the chance.

Stella left the crystal room. Before we got too far, an alpha male stopped her. He was about as tall as I was, with thick brown hair pulled into a ponytail.

I grit my teeth, wanting to shove the strange alpha away from her.

“Hey, Stell, Pack Kahele is in the banquet hall.” The alpha kept his attention on me.

Stella frowned, and then looked between us. “Zephyr, this is Simon. Simon is Meredith’s older brother.” She looked at me. “Zephyr is my cousin.”

“A pleasure to me you.”

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