Page 4 of Building My Pack

I hide my laugh behind my hand, but Thomas lets his loose, turning heads not just at our table but the ones around us, too. All of his pack grin like they find amusement for no other reason than he’s laughing. Guess that’s what being an omega in a pack would feel like. Having others feel good for nothing more than you being happy. For a fleeting wistful moment, I wish I knew what it felt like. That I hadn’t buried my omega under a beta blanket out of fear. As fast as it comes on, the desire passes, because I think about how George’s betrayal cut deep. He was just one person. I couldn’t imagine going through that with an entire pack. I don’t think I’d survive it.

When Chloe leans over me to ask Thomas what’s so funny, he cracks up again, but mine is half-hearted this time. A fact I hope no one around notices. Emotions are starting to slip through the cracks of the wall, officially buzz killing any effects I started to feel from the alcohol. I just want to make it through dinner and my speech so that I can be on my way back home. Even if it is alone and to an empty house.

Chapter 2

Kennedy

“I don’t see why you want to go to this thing,” I growl at my best friend and business partner, adjusting the tie at my neck for what has to be the tenth time. “Not like you won the damn award or anything.”

Knowing I’m only saying it to get a rise out of him, Santiago chuckles from his seat beside me in the black Town Car. “You know as well as I do that it’s in good taste to show up to congratulate your opponent.”

I snort and shake my head while pulling my phone out of my pocket. “Yeah, and it has absolutely nothing to do with a certain redheaded bombshell that you won’t quit talking about.”

“That’s beside the point,” he retorts with the left side of his lips pulling up into a cocky smile. “Wait and see if you’re still singing the same tune after tonight when you meet her. I’m telling you; I’ve never scented a beta as strong as her.”

And he has been telling me. For months now. The man is a pushy alpha on his best days, so how this woman managed to squeeze herself out of his scrutiny until this point is a mystery. Other than trying to land our largest investor yet for our shared company, I’d expected him to be wrapped around a different beta every other night. To my surprise, and probably his own, he hasn’t had a woman since meeting this beta. Nor has he tried to woo or court her like he has in years past.

We’ve given up on finding an omega for the both of us. That time came to pass years ago when we realized that even as close of friends that we are, we’re much too different. Which is why our pack is probably one of the smallest to ever exist, and we like it that way. Most days.

The car falls into silence as I check my email to make sure the investor hasn’t messaged in the past hour. Nerves from not landing the deal and slight boredom has me locking mine back up and glancing out the window. Trees and buildings pass by in a blur as I force myself to calm down. Santiago’s leg bounces, adding to my worry. In the past twelve years that I’ve known him, I can count on two fingers the number of times he’s been anxious enough to show it, and tonight is one of those.

Sucking in a lungful of air and letting it out slowly, I do what I do best when it comes to my friend by talking enough to calm him down. “Are you ready to tell me what it is about this woman that has had your head rocked?”

He flips the phone in his hand upside down to give me his undivided attention but sucks his bottom lip through his teeth, no doubt attempting to stall before finally answering, “The reason I haven’t already is because I wanted you to meet her without my opinion tainting it.”

“I think you’re too invested already,” I tell him as gently as possible. “We have reasons for not claiming anymore pack.”

Shrugging, he shoots me that half smile. “This isn’t us claiming her. Not yet anyway.”

“If you’re serious then why not introduce us months ago? Why wait this long, and why here of all places?”

The car slows to a stop, but Santiago doesn’t get out. Instead, he turns to me, “How many times have I asked you to trust me and then led you astray? None, and you know it. I’ve had my reasons for keeping our distance. Besides, this is the perfect opportunity for an introduction for the two of you without it coming off aggressively. Now, let’s go ‘keep up with the Jones.’”

He doesn’t wait for a reply before stepping out of the sleek, black rental car provided by his agency. The man has been one of my closest friends for years now, but that doesn’t make him any less infuriating. In our line of businesses, we’ve got to keep up a public face or we’ll fall behind in the rat race, so it’s not like I don’t understand why we need to make appearances like this. I just hate it. Every move we make gets put under a microscope to be inspected. Not to mention, I simply just don’t like it.

Sliding out of the car, I’ve barely had enough time to do the button on my jacket before my phone rings. Santiago looks over his shoulder with that half ‘cat catching the canary’ grin and a slight eyeroll.

“I’m going to take this and meet you inside,” I tell him, fishing the phone out of my inner pocket and answering it with a hello without looking at the id. This is my personal line, so anyone who has it is important.

“Hi, Mr. Kane,” Amber, my assistant, replies. No matter how many times I’ve tried to tell the woman to not be so formal in the past five years, it never has worked. “I’ve faxed over the proposal to the Steignhatch investors but haven’t heard back from them yet. Would you like for me to stay a little later in case they get back with us tonight?”

“Nah, that’s okay,” I tell her. “Go ahead and go home. I appreciate you taking care of that for me while I was out today.”

She clears her throat softly. A nervous tick—another thing I’ve never seemed to be able to break her of. Even though I’ve tried to be the least intimidating as I possibly can, she’s still as skittish as a bird. “No problem, Mr. Kane. Have a great rest of your weekend.”

“You, too,” I answer before ending the call and sliding the phone into my pocket. The entire exchange gives me a bad feeling. If I can’t even get my assistant who’s been with me for so long to loosen up and not be so frightened every time she speaks to me, what chance do I stand against a woman like Santiago’s beta? Many alphas have had one too many drinks at the Christmas parties and said they wish that they were half the man I am. Sure, it’s a compliment since they’re already good men, but at the same time, I’m almost certain they were talking about my size. Some would call it a blessing and wish for it. Being the size of a damn house is a curse and I’d change it if I could.

Already internally cringing from what’s, no doubt, going to be a very long night, I let myself into the building. Choosing to avoid the main room for as long as possible, I walk around pretending to admire the cheap artwork lining the walls.

That’s when I see her. A redhaired beauty in a peach dress with a flush to her cheeks and sexy as hell legs. She brings a hand to her chest like she’s just been startled, and my feet are moving before I’m conscious of telling them to do so.

Taking the risk of frightening her even more, I ask, “Hey there, you feeling okay?”

She lets out a soft squeak that I don’t even think she realizes before she’s stumbling over her words in a hurry, saying something about the bathroom. I point her in the direction I just came from. I must admit, it’s a miracle I manage to make any words leave my lips at all. Especially as she passes by and the scent of sweet bananas hits my senses. No wonder Santiago didn’t say anything before. He’s going to be pissed that he missed my reaction to her, but I’m glad he isn’t here. I’m ashamed enough of my own actions when I follow her down the hall without him giving me thattold you solook.

While waiting for her to return, I tell myself it’s only because she seemed out of sorts and that I want to check and make sure she’s alright. My hands fidget to the point of forcing myself to stuff them down inside my pockets, which makes my jacket puff out. Quickly undoing the button, I have just enough time to tuck them back inside before she’s reappearing.

The pink that colored her cheeks that had started to dissolve, quickly re-blooms at first sight of me. I don’t know why but I find myself wanting to put her more at ease than I’ve ever managed with my assistant. It’s the reason I make small talk as we walk back toward the event space. Even going so far as to tell her one of my darkest secrets about card collecting back in the day. My instincts ride me hard as she tucks her chin when I compliment how beautiful she looks. I want to take her in my arms and squeeze her tight until she believes it.

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