Page 3 of Building My Pack

I’d thought he was talking to me originally, but a quick flick of my gaze up to his finds him with a smirk on his face directed toward the man at my side. One quick peer down at me, and my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest again. Thankfully, this time his expression is full of pure arrogance for the knowledge of his effect on me, making it easier to stomp those emotions back down where they belong.

Preparing for a lungful of that summer rain and coffee from the two of them, I take in a breath and shoot Kennedy a soft smile, excusing myself. “Nerdy gentlemen aren’t appreciated as much as they should be these days. Thank you for being so thoughtful.”

“Anytime,” he replies without bothering to acknowledge his buddy standing there in front of us.

I can feel their eyes burning a hole into my back and other places as I leave them standing in the hall. I can almost make out Santiago asking what that was all about, but I can’t be sure since the room has filled up a ton more in my absence, making the noise of conversation nearly overpowering.

“Oh, my God. I was wondering when you were going to show that pretty face,” someone calls out as I’m wrapped up in a pair of arms and swathed in a face full of purple material that smells like lavender.

Chuckling, I tell Chloe, “I’ve been here for a bit. Just made a quick dash to the restroom.”

Having worked in our agency for over a year now, Chloe is the closest I have to something called a friend. That word is a loose term, however, since all of our interaction is work related. Well, it had been up until George pulled his fast one. It’s not something he and his fling have tried to hide in the least, so everyone in the office knows at this point and have taken sides. Taking into account that they all think we’re both betas and he’s now aligned himself with one of the strongest packs in our area, I wasn’t all too surprised when I wasn’t left with many allies. Not to mention how many times I’ve been told that I should be happy that he found his pack or that I’ll understand when I find my own. Societal hierarchy my parents had tried to help me avoid finally catching up with me.

She must be thinking my frown is related to the ex-hole, because she spits out, “It’s a good thing George didn’t show his dirty face tonight.”

“Chloe,” one of her alphas chastises quietly. John if my memory serves me right. He’s an older man with streaks of grey through his dark hair and smells faintly of something I can’t exactly place. It’s not unpleasant, but not all too appealing either.

“What?” she demands, taking my hand and slowly walking us back to their table, which I’m happy to see is the one I’m sharing with them. “It’s not like it’s not true. I told you what he did.”

She hadn’t exactly asked if I was okay with her pack knowing my business, but not like it’s a big secret at this point. Besides, I may not be a part of a pack, but I know enough to be partially aware of how the dynamics work. Lies and secrets come back to bite you in the tush. Who am I kidding? They do that in every relationship, not just packs. Had to learn that the hard way. Thank you, George.

John slowly shakes his head with a soft smile as he takes a seat beside one of their other alphas, which just so happens to be his twin brother Jake. Those were the easiest to remember when she’d started having lunch at the office with me and over-sharing her life.

I take my seat between Chloe and the other two members of her pack. One of which surprises me, considering he’s their omega. From what I’ve gathered, he doesn’t go to a lot of the social events their pack is invited to. I try not to stare for too long and give my curiosity away as they both say hi in greeting.

Their omega reaches a hand between us. “I’m Thomas. Nice to finally meet you. Our girl has been talking about you nonstop lately.”

“Pleasure,” I tell him, shaking hands quickly. His head tilts slightly over like he’s trying to either study me or something I’ve said. The one word answer can’t be complicated, meaning it’s the former and that just makes me nervous. I opt for a small nod instead of a handshake for their only female alpha sitting next to me who introduces herself as Taylor. Her scent is kind of ashy, like a fire that just got put out. Strangely enough, I find it comforting rather than smothering like one would think.

“You seem to have done really well for yourself this year,” Jake says with a killer smile.

Ignoring Thomas quietly begging Taylor to switch seats with him, I reply, “Yes, it’s been a great year for sure. We couldn’t have asked for a better market.”

“The houses practically sell themselves on good markets, I bet,” he says, taking a sip of the drink in front of him.

Thomas brushes against my side as he takes Taylor’s seat next to me and I try to subtly shift away, using the excuse to lift a hand to the waitress walking by. So much for my two-glass limit as she passes over another champagne. Not wanting to kill the attempt at conversation, I take the smallest of drinks before replying, “It’s a blessing and a curse all rolled into one, but I think I much prefer these up years instead of like the last one.”

“I’d say so,” Chloe snorts. “It’s the whole reason we’re here living the high life with all the top real estate contenders of the state tonight. Because you pulled one out for team beta and showed these alphas how it’s done. No offense, pack. You know I love you.”

Her alphas do their best renditions of dealing with a small child that’s said something out of sorts. Jake and John shake their heads, while Taylor tries to hide her grin behind her glass. By their reactions, I’d say they’re used to Chloe’s outspokeness. I share in their humor until I glance to my side and find that same curious expression on Thomas’s face. As our eyes meet, his narrow the tiniest amount as though he’s starting to figure out that thereissomething off with me.

I’ve never had a poker face. Everyone who knows me for more than twenty-four hours can figure this out. Whatever emotion plays across my features answers the questions the omega is begging to ask of me. Looking extremely satisfied with himself, he drops one eyelid down into a wink before sitting back in his seat with his drink.

When the last two seats at our table fill with more people from our office, it’s easy enough to let Chloe’s pack run the conversation as I listen and casually toss in a remark here and there. Not having to be fully engrossed, leaves me the opportunity to let both my gaze and mind wander. Surprisingly, it doesn’t fall back on the one thing that’s been a habit over the past couple months, speculating how George and I went wrong and blaming myself for things that I could or couldn’t have done to make him stay.

No. As though they’ve got a mind of their own, my eyes locate Santiago and Kennedy like a heat-seeking missile in the middle of a blizzard. They’re standing in a small crowd of five or six people and whatever Santiago is telling them is making the entire group chuckle. It really is no wonder why the man is in sales. He knows how to work people using a voice that would draw in someone from a mile away. Literally as I sneakily spy on him, no less than three women inch their way closer to the group. Can’t say I blame them, either. Even if his voice wasn’t something you wanted to fall asleep listening to, and his scent one that made you want to run naked in the summer, he’s got the glamor too.

Standing at least half a foot shorter than Kennedy—at his side—still leaves him just as much taller than the other alphas around him. His light-brown hair is buzzed around the back and sides, leaving the two inches or so up top and his facial hair to dominate his features. With wide shoulders and a slim waist, the pinstriped suit fits him perfectly enough to make mouths water.

“Neither Cooper nor Kane are tied down to a pack yet,” Thomas says in a conspirative whisper, startling me enough to bring a small blush to my cheeks. I didn’t even realize anyone had been watching me closely enough to see where my attention had turned. I glance at the omega quickly before dropping my eyes to the floor.

“Rumor has it they might be on the hunt for an omega, but no one has caught their eye yet,” he continues. “That one is going to need adjustment after tonight, I think.”

Lifting my chin a bit, I notice Thomas give a flitting motion with his toward the alphas. Following his instruction, I find Kennedy appearing lost in thought as he observes how closely Thomas and I are together. Getting caught mid-stare, a smile creeps across his lips.

“I think we’re going to need the fire department with how hot it’s getting in here,” Thomas chuckles.

Taylor, having obviously missed the entire exchange up until this point, spins toward him. “Are you hot? You can take your jacket off, or I can go ask them to turn the AC down.”

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