Page 60 of Pack Larsen

Chapter 23

Pace

I expected to be kicked out of the over-the-top mansion, escorted from the charity ball by security after insulting and vaguely threatening the host, so imagine my surprise when I’m left alone by the large alphas stationed near the door, arms crossed behind their backs, faces neutral, and postures stiff as they stand on guard.

“It’s probably because Alek has put the idea that I’m a part of the mafia into their heads,” Munro snickers, glaring in the direction I know Cynthia scurried to after her verbal beat down, taking little, puny Philip with her.

Glancing over at my omega’s mother, I find her watching our table, eyeing the twins as they chat to Professor Champion and two other members of Alek’s pack, a little tidbit I wasn’t aware of. Silver never once mentioned that Barnes Champion, the art professor at North U, was basically family to her. But there he is, casually conversing with the twins out of school hours, relaxed and completely at ease. It’s a trippy development, and I find myself more amused than anything.

“Yeah, probably. Your brooding finally came in handy, brother,” I comment, looking over at Munro and rolling my eyes at him. Slouched in his seat with one arm braced over Aero’s seat while his other hand remains tucked in his pocket, he sits like he hasn’t a care in the world. His shirt splayed open to reveal a shitload of ink, his hair is a little mussed from where Silver was gripping him to kiss in the middle of the dance floor, and there’s a perma-scowl etched on his face as he continues to burn a hole in Cynthia’s head.

Munro scoffs before finally taking his eyes off the vile woman that produced the perfect woman, lazily looking over at me before he drawls, “Happy to be of assistance.”

My lips twitch before I look away, my eyes landing on Silver the moment I turn. It’s like my eyes simply seek her out now, whether it’s done consciously or not. I don’t mind. I’d watch that woman every hour of the day if it wouldn’t annoy her.

Standing with her cousin and Lazarus, an easy smile on her face as she fixes Alek’s suit jacket while nodding to whatever he’s saying, I watch with rapt attention as she throws her head back and laughs, her pale hair falling away to reveal her slender neck that teases me from where I’m sitting. The urge to run over and sink my teeth into her is one I fight with gritted teeth, my instincts warring inside me. Ever since Cynthia decided to try her hand at matchmaking once more, bringing with her the dull alpha who stinks of almonds, there’s been a pressure in my chest that I’ve been forced to ignore. A pressure that demands I bond with the omega currently talking animatedly with her hands, making the two alphas laugh loudly.

Grinning, Silver turns her head toward our table, and our gazes collide. I watch with my heart hammering as my omega’s face softens, her grin gentling, almost turning shy, before she turns back to reply to something Lazarus tells her. But that one look sears itself into my memory, not that I need to, because Aero blurts, “Yes! Got it.”

Frowning, I ask, “Got what?”

Instead of answering with words, Aero lowers his cell phone and shows us the screen, and what’s on there makes me smile widely. Silver, in all of her beauty and glory, is captured in a photo that shows me it wasn’t my imagination that painted her face in a soft fondness that borders on being shy. It’s right there, immortalized, and I point at the photo, demanding, “Send that to me.”

Aero winks and does as he’s told. “Already done, bro. Check your cell.”

Sure enough, my phone pings a moment later, and I pull it from the inside pocket of my tux jacket. The moment I unlock the screen, I’m heading to my messages and downloading the photo waiting for me, instantly replacing the generic lock screen I’ve had since I got my phone two years ago to the photo of Silver looking at me like she’s…

I want to sayin love, but I feel like that might be my wishful thinking. Sure, I heard every word between her and Meemaw, and Silver didn’t deny her feelings when Meemaw suggested that the look of love on her face suited her, but I don’t want to assume. One thing’s for certain, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m falling for Silver. Falling hard, fast, and willingly.

My eyes fall back on Silver when Munro and Aero end up in a conversation that I pay no attention to, and I find her head snapping back quickly as though she was watching me and didn’t want to be caught. I watch as her cheeks turn pink at whatever Alek says, and she flips him a subtle middle finger that has him grinning wildly before he tugs her into a bone-crushing hug. I’m convinced I can hear her grunting in pain from here, and I make a conscious effort to remain in my seat instead of vaulting over the damn table to pluck her from her cousin’s hold.

Before I can consider the pros and cons of caving in to my urges, there’s a tapping of a microphone that sends a buzz of static through the room just as the harpist ends her song on a long, vibrating note.

My attention diverts from Silver to Meemaw, who stands elegantly on stage, her dress held in one hand to prevent tripping while the other holds a black microphone that looks brand new.

“Hello, everyone,” Meemaw begins as soon as the mic is pressed to her lips. “Thank you so much for coming tonight to support a worthy cause that will aid in future generations of omegas who, like myself and my beautiful granddaughter, have faced the struggles of their designation and will be offered the necessary resources to learn who they are in a safe and stable environment designed for them. I know you all value the omegas of our society, just as deeply as we value betas and alphas, and so I want to offer you all a chance to become an integral part of a new system that will help the omegas of the world flourish into who they’re meant to be.”

A round of applause follows after the speech, and I sit back as my eyes go in search of Meemaw’s granddaughter. I find her hugging a woman with pale-blonde hair much like hers and Alek’s, the woman’s arm banded around Alek’s waist as she whispers into Silver’s ear and makes her smile.

“For the next portion of this evening, we will be hosting an auction that has been compiled of a wide range of donated items that I’m sure will appeal to you all. Each benefactor here tonight has offered a range of lavish prizes, from a trip to Paris, to a brand new Rolls-Royce that you could drive away with tonight. On each table, you’ll find a catalogue of each item available for your bidding pleasure. The auction will start in twenty minutes or so, so have your wallets at the ready, folks. Let’s raise some money for a cause worth supporting,” Meemaw concludes, smiling at the crowd as she receives another round of applause before stepping from the stage with all the grace of a queen.

As soon as Meemaw is floating across the dancefloor, heading in the direction of Silver and Alek, my eyes go to my omega like she’s a magnet I’m drawn to. Only, she’s no longer standing where I left her, and I frown when I watch the woman with pale-blonde hair wrap Meemaw up in a rocking hug that she reciprocates.

“Who’re you looking for?” a sweet, raspy voice breathes in my ear, and I flinch before my head turns quickly toward Silver.

She’s smirking at me, a knowing look in her pretty, gray eyes, and I can’t help but smile at having been caught watching her again.

“You,” I answer honestly, wrapping an arm around the backs of her thighs and dragging her close enough to inhale the mouthwatering bubblegum scent I’ve grown obsessed with. Silver comes easily, dropping one hand to my shoulder as she leans toward me, and I run my hand up and down the backs of her knees as I tell her, “Auction starts soon. Are you bidding on anything?”

Like a kid in a candy store, Silver’s eyes light up like a freshly-sparked firework, and I bite back a smile as she nods enthusiastically. “Mac and Ford, the twins in Alek’s pack? They own one of the companies who are financing Meemaw’s charity. Alek told me a couple of weeks ago that they’re auctioning off a vacation to the Bahamas for fourteen days. Since putting the money Meemaw gave me as a trust into investments and stocks, it’s accumulated enough money that I’m going to bid on that vacation and a few other things. It’s my way of giving back to Meemaw for all she and my Paws have done for me over the years. Meemaw gets more money for the charity, and I hopefully win a couple of sweet prizes along with an adrenaline rush being at an auction brings.”

Munro is openly watching her with, eyes filled with a renewed flood of want for her, a new development since they shared a kiss in the middle of the room before Alek burst their bubble.

Aero is snickering into his hand before he says, “Baby, I’ve never seen you look so excited to spend money, and I’ve seen you buying pizza.”

“I don’t know what it is about auctions, but they’re a rush. When I won my Ducati in the garage? Some teen racer who I was bidding against lost his shit and threw his paddle at the auctioneer. It was crazy,” she breathes, grinning with genuine excitement to spend fuck knows how much money in an auction. The fact that it’s for her grandmother’s cause makes it even better, knowing the money spent will be going towards a worthy cause.

Professor Barnes overhears Silver, breaking free of his conversation with the twins, and smiles at my omega as he says, “I told you that guy was going to go postal.”

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