Page 15 of Pack Baines

For a long moment, Juno remains frozen, arms lying limp at her side, feet hovering above the ground. It’s just as I’m about to release her, to take a step back, and run away like an embarrassed idiot that should have thought before he acted, when she finally moves.

Thin, but toned, arms wrapped in leather band around my shoulders, effectively trapping my face against her warm neck, keeping me exactly where I want to be. She hugs me gently at first, right before a shaky sigh leaves her lips, and those arms tighten until her hold on me is as tight as mine on her. She’s still as thin as she used to be, only now she’s filled out with a few subtle curves and soft, but toned, muscles. She’s certainly not the little tomboy we were all obsessed with, but now a beautiful woman pressed against me. I heave her higher in my arms, and those jean-encased legs find their way around my waist, one of my hands cupping the back of her head, while the other finds purchase on her lower back to keep her in place.

Through my rumbling purr, one I’veneverheard before, I murmur against her neck, “Hey, sweetheart.”

“Ev,” she whispers back, her forehead dropping to my shoulder with a tremble, one I try to fight off with a rub of my hand over her back.

Groaning low in my throat, my purr finally cutting short, I blurt, “Fuck, I’ve missed you.”

A whimper slips past her lips, and her scent becomes onlyslightlythicker, and I swallow hard as my mouth waters. She smells so fucking good. She’s always smelt a little sweet, but this is something else entirely, creating a little niggle in the back of my mind. It’s faint, noticeably so, but she still smells so good that I could drown in her scent and die happy. It only makes me wonder briefly about what designation she’s in, her scent too faint to be anything but beta, but so sweet that that niggle of a thought blooms only a little with the idea that she could be an omega. But then I hear her inhale deeply, and everything else is forgotten as those trembles wracking her small body settles slightly.

“Want to let her go, bro? You’re not the only one who wants a fucking hug,” Geo snickers from behind me, and it pops whatever bubble surrounds us.

I could growl at Geo when Juno tenses around me, but I nuzzle her neck and she relaxes a fraction more, satisfaction unfurling in my chest with a pleased purr. Slowly, I unlatch myself from Juno, lowering her carefully to her feet. I’m beyond reluctant to pull away, already missing her warmth as I step back, smiling down at the stunned, purple-haired beauty as she rapidly blinks at me. No longer is her hair that dirty-blonde filled with knots and sticks from running around the forest with us, but I find this suits her more, the shoulder-length waves brushing her shoulders, a deep, rich purple color that makes her piercing blue eyes stand out that much more. She’s fucking stunning.

Before I can utter another word, though, she’s stolen from me, Geo’s meaty form wrapping around her, arms banding aroundher head and shoulders to pull her into his chest. She’s quicker on the uptake this time, her arms finding purchase around his waist.

“Hey, Firecracker,” he damn near croons, pushing the boat out by pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. For fuck’s sake. Why didn’t I think of that?

Juno huffs a strange semblance of a laugh and groan, hints of disbelief in her slightly raspy voice, yet another change from the girl we remember.

“Hi, Rocky,” she breathes, splaying her hands over his back as she presses her cheek against the guy’s meaty chest. Man is built like a fucking house, muscle for days, and gives the appearance of a stereotypical alpha despite being a beta. The only beta of us all, much to everyone’s surprise when our designations came in at ages sixteen. Not that we give a shit. Designation means nothing to us, because we’re family. Geo means as much to me as the others, and we all feel the same. He’s no different just because of his designation.

When she finally pulls back, Juno eyes the guy with raised eyebrows and a slight shake of her head. Whistling, she stuns me when she jokes, “Effing hell, what have they been feeding you? You’re built like a tank.”

Geo beams down at her, flexing his muscles, and teases back, “What can I say? Good genes, Firecracker.”

She hums under her breath, a small sound of amusement, before creating more space between them. I watch as she subtly inhales, and I see the moment she recognizes his fresh air and sea-salt scent, faint as it may be. It’s a clear indicator of his designation, though, as much as mine paints me as an alpha. She doesn’t mention anything though, simply stepping back a little further, until she accidentally bumps into Creek, who’s lingered behind her.

“Let’s get you inside, beautiful. The heat’s getting out,” he says, nudging her carefully, forcing her a step forward so he can close the door.

Swallowing hard, Juno looks back at the door, her shoulders tense as she eyes the handle like she’s contemplating running again.My body tenses before hers relaxes, a flash of something crossing her features too fast for me to name, but then she turns with a grimace for a smile and stands awkwardly by the door.

“Come on, sweetheart,” I offer, hating the uncertainty that pulses from her in waves. It sets me on edge, and a sudden urge to comfort, to soothe, washes over me. I don’t even question it, reaching my hand out for her. “Let’s get you settled, huh? Food should be here shortly. How about a drink?”

Blowing out a breath, she nods, slipping her dainty hand in mine with only a small moment of hesitation. It’s like a wave of victory roars through me, and I roll my eyes at myself as I tug her gently to the living room, where Leylan and Lowie have migrated.

Juno stumbles over her feet as the twins stand, and a small, thready whine crawls from her parted lips. When I look down at her, I find the first drops of tears threatening to spill, and my heart seizes in my chest, an ache forming at the look of desolate heartbreak in those icy, blue eyes.

My girl is swarmed before I can take a breath that doesn’t hurt, Leylan coaxing her into an embrace that she melts into, softly crying against his chest. Lowie stands behind her, unsure and pained, before her cries get the better of him. He’s pressing against her back the next moment, his forehead dropping to her shoulder as his arms wrap around her waist. They fit between her and Leylan, whose one arm bands around her and his brother, while his other arm strokes Juno’s hair as she cries. I can barely hear Lowie as he whispers, “Ssh, it’s okay. It’s alright, Angel.”

Jaw clenched as I watch the heart-breaking scene, I swallow and decide to leave them have their moment, feeling very much like I’m intruding on something that doesn’t need spectators. As quietly as I can, I leave the room, meandering back to the kitchen where Geo and Creek already wait, the former battling tears in his own eyes. I grunt, before muttering, “Fucking hell.”

Then I’m pulling Geo into a hard hug, slapping his shoulder as he tries to shake off his emotions. Emotions I’m sure match mine,intense and overwhelming, especially knowing the girl we’ve all dreamed of for years and years is currently sobbing her heart out in the next room.

When we pull apart, Geo’s eyes are red rimmed, and I feel like I’m on the verge of sobbing like a baby, my emotions all over the fucking place. Blowing out a harsh breath, I turn to Creek and say, “That was heavy.”

He snorts humorlessly, nodding in agreement. “No, shit. Got a better reaction than I did, though. I should have hugged her tighter the moment I saw her.”

My lips twitch, because his thoughts echo my own when I watched Geo kiss her head. “You got her here, bro. That’s fucking huge.”

Creek’s whole body sags and his eyes shudder closed, his jaw clenching tightly before he whispers, “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we found her. That she’s literally standing under our roof, just a room away. It doesn’t feel real.”

“You’re telling me. I’m fighting the urge to go back out there and hug her again, just to make sure she’s real,” Geo agrees, heading to the fridge to retrieve three beers, handing one each to Creek and me.

I huff a laugh. “Preach, brother. Didn’t want to let her go.”

They both nod, understanding perfectly what I mean, and I find myself downing half of the bottle in my hand before I realize I’ve done it. I then finish the damned thing when the fierce urge to get back to Juno makes me it’s bitch, my body almost jerking with the force I have to put behind keeping my feet planted where they are.

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