Page 7 of Building My Pack

In my mind, I know they're simply trying to romance a beta, and boy, is it working. However, that voice deep down can't help but wonder if they know my darkest secret and are trying to court me as an omega. I literally scoff out loud at that thought. There's no way they could possibly know. It's too late to take the noise back as I remember Chloe still standing quietly across the desk from me, probably waiting for juicy details on who sent the flowers.

"Looks like Santiago sent a congratulatory prize," I joke.

A smirk lights her face as she retorts, "Well, if those are from him, am I right to assume these are from Mr. Kane?"

"Maybe," I tell her, wondering why the sound of his name rolling off her tongue makes me slightly uncomfortable. "Do you know them?"

She shrugs, never losing that knowing smile as she hits me with my own word. "Maybe. My pack kind of does. They had some dealings with them before I joined, and they come for dinner from time to time. They're good people from what I hear, if you're curious.”

"I might be a tad bit curious," I admit. "But, I don't think I'm what they're looking for."

She shrugs with a smile. "If you weren't, then I doubt they'd be sending you flowers. They're pretty smart alphas."

I'm not sure her using their designation is on purpose or not. Considering I've despised being seen for nothing other than mine my entire life, I think it just strikes that chord within me.

Yanking me out of my inner musings, she picks at an imaginary piece of lint off her shoulder as she asks, “So, this may sound a little weird, but Thomas wanted me to ask you if maybe you wanted to go to lunch one day this week.”

Straight away I want to tell her no, because there was something about the way he made me feel over the weekend that almost seems like he knows my secret. That’s obviously not what I do, though, since it honestly wouldn’t hurt to have a few friends. “Sure, you guys pick the place, and we’ll go.”

Rolling her eyes playfully, she says, “I think he kind of just wants it to be the two of you.”

I shake my head, feeling it deep to my bones now that he might just be on to me. “It’s not like that.”

She laughs. “Oh, I know. I tend to be overdramatic about things sometimes, so he said as much before he even requested that I ask.” Shielding her lips from the door with her hand, she adds, “I think he wants to talk about Santiago and Kennedy. When he finds out about the flowers, he’s going to be beside himself. Thanks for humoring him. Even though you might just learn something useful at the same time, too.”

With a wink, she leaves me staring at her back with slightly parted lips. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I’m being conspired against in these attempts to push the three of us together.

For someone who doesn't like change in the least, the past couple months have been hard enough as it is. Now with alphas obviously in pursuit and the feeling I can't quite seem to shake at home, I'm starting to feel off-balanced and out of control. Of course, it doesn't help that there's no time to stop and deal with these feelings today.

Almost as soon as Chloe leaves, I see Stephanie cross in front of my office door. To my surprise, she flicks her head to the side pretending to not look inside. I guess she wasn't prepared to see me still standing here and so near the huge arrangements of flowers. There's a small part of me that rejoices in how her eyes about pop out of her head as she does a double take. Which cements a thought of where I'd put these massive things while showing houses today. My pettiness leaks a little as I grab my things, stuffing the cards in my purse, but leaving the flowers on display in my lit office with the door open. I happen to know for a fact that there isn't a romantic bone in George's body. By her reaction, I'd say none of her other pack treats her often, either. Not that someone else's misery should make me even the smallest bit happy, but karma isn't a friendly lady.

My smirk only grows as George holds the front door open for me on his way back inside. That ridiculous-looking worry line rests on his forehead as he asks, "Who sent you flowers?"

I open my mouth to tell him that it's none of his business, but that's not what tumbles out. With more confidence and hardness than I mean to, instead, I say, "Santiago Cooper and Kennedy Kane."

I hadn't even stopped to reply, so I almost miss the way his jaw clenches before his voice calls out behind me, "Alphas, Bryce? Really? I'm sure your parents are going to love hearing that you're being courted now."

"It's not courting," I reply easily. It isn't until I make it to my car that I turn to see if it's worth arguing any further and see that he's followed me instead of heading inside. "Besides, it's none of their business, either, even if it was courting. Just as it's not yours anymore. You have a pack now, remember?"

Shaking his head, he points out, "So, all of those years of pretending to be a beta was for nothing then? You lose me and run straight into the arms of alphas? Sounds about right for an omega."

There isn't a way to describe the anger that erupts inside of me at the one person who I trusted for years turning and using my own truths and quiet confessions against me. Especially when it comes from a place of obvious jealousy. Taking the high road, I don't bother asking him to stand still so I can run him over with my car like I so desire.

Leaning forward into his space, I take a few short sniffs, "Why, George, I do believe you smell of cigarettes. Back to smoking again, are we?"

Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in lording things over other's heads that we forget that we have our own issues that aren't all that great to discuss out in the open. If he thinks that he can bully and back me into a corner, he's got another thing coming. For a second, I really look at him. The expensive dress slacks and loafers below an even more pricey shirt and tie does nothing to hide his long beak-like nose or the dark circles underneath muddy-brown eyes. He'd started losing his hair back in college, so the comb over thing is his go to now. Though, I honestly thought he'd have tried to have it filled in by this point. I question my sanity at how I ever found this man attractive. And compared to men like Santiago and Kennedy? Alphas or not, they might as well be Greek gods compared to the pathetic man in front of me. One who doesn't want to speak on his own faults, apparently, as my words seem to have triggered his own anger. He turns on his heels and stomps back toward the office without another word. Oh, the names I'd call that man if I wasn't a mature person. As it is, I still want to flip him the bird, and just barely stop myself from doing so.

Getting behind the wheel of my sensible, small car, I take a deep breath and give myself five seconds to let this entire, crazy day soak in before letting it pass with the air that slips through my lips. Now if only I can make it through the rest of the day, I could drown my sorrows in a hot bubble bath and a glass of wine. Even so, the thought of going home tonight to what used to be my sanctuary away from the rest of the world almost breaks me out into a nervous sweat. Maybe I'll swing by a couple stores on the way there. I've just got to go make clients happy and sell my open house first.

Chapter 5

Santiago

Smoothing aftershave on my cheeks from trimming up, I grab my white button-down from the back of the bathroom door where I'd hung it moments ago. Throwing it on and fastening the buttons, I tuck it down into my slacks and straighten my belt. The last I saw of Bryce was her back when she walked out of the banquet hall without so much of a glance behind her two days ago. And there I had been thinking that I was making progress, wooing her, or at least throwing Kennedy at her to help with said wooing. There had been indisputable chemistry between the two just like I'd hoped. Then, she just got up and walked out like we'd shown up for any other reason than supporting her. Between my arrogance and daydreaming, I'd gotten my hopes up for at least a simple conversation, and maybe if I was lucky a quick stolen kiss. I'm going to see what I can do to change that tonight.

Giving myself a once over in the massive antique mirror hanging above my sink, I let just the right amount of cockiness bleed into my smirk as I think about what I'm about to do. She's not escaping me tonight.

I tuck my wallet and keys into my pockets and head down to where I know I'll find Kennedy in his study. A stoic-faced Nicholas passes me in the hall and gives a short nod of his head. Staring after him, I can't help but wonder what kind of information he was able to find on our girl. Honestly, I hated giving Kennedy the freedom to dig into her past, but the guy is like a pit-bull. He wouldn't have been satisfied until he knew for certain that she wasn't any kind of harm to our pack. Not just to us personally either. After the last woman who'd weasled her way into our lives only to snake information for a competing developer, it took us almost a year to figure out how the information from prospecting properties was being leaked. By that time, it was too late for him. Kennedy had fallen ‘head over nuts’ for the beta we never speak of. I'd loved her, too, but there'd always been something I couldn't quite put my finger on. We'd discussed not actively searching for an omega for our pack before her. Saying one thing and feeling another are two completely different stories. So, I'd accredited the negative energy that I felt with her to wanting an omega for our pack and not having one. Then she screwed us halfway to Tuesday and not in the fun way. My poor friend hasn't taken to a single woman since, no matter what designation. Only one night stands that he never bothers to even bring home. She was the last that we shared.

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