Page 109 of This Pack of Ours

“I met her once, when I was at the academy,” I said with a shudder. “She was… awful.”

“You’re sure it was her?” Jhin asked, his eyes intent on mine. I nodded.

“I’d never met a female alpha before. But besides that… she was terrifying. She was eyeing me like I was meat.”

“Phew,” said Vander. “Thought I was going to have to convince you guys we should ignore Juniper’s wishes, but this makes it easy.”

Jhin frowned, and Vander raised a finger at him. “Hey. Let’s not waste time. I had a really long speech planned.” Vander continued.

“Let’s go. Now,” I said. Maybe it was a bit crazy. But no one argued as we raced out to the minivan.

EIGHTEEN

JUNIPER

I stared at the floor as Valerie ran her fingers through my hair. We were at the food court, and she’d pulled me onto her lap to fuss over me.

I’d never been to this mall before, but that wasn’t really surprising. It was massive, and all of it was clean. Each entrance had some kind of art sculpture by it. The main entrance had a massive tangle of steel and coloured glass out front, like tentacles weaving through the ground, creating a kind of maze.

The state of the untethered soul, I’d read on the plaque. Fitting. Although, instead of grasping at empty air, I was trying to cling to this.

“You havesuchlovely hair, Juniper,” she said, wrapping her arms around me and giving me a squeeze. Her nails were manicured into sharp points.

“Do I?” I mumbled.

“God, yes, it’s so smooth. Mine is so dry right now. Do you use hair masks?”

I thought of me and Kit, sitting on the rug in the living room, laughing as he dripped hair cream on the floor.

“Sometimes.” My voice was a whisper.

“Oh my god, you’resocute,” she said, and brought her phone out, handing it to one of the others. “Jake! Picture, okay?”

She turned us around so I was facing the camera.

“Eyes up, girl, we gotta see that gold.” She tapped her finger on my shoulder, and I looked up before I knew what I was doing. Jake snapped a couple of photos. Valerie beamed.

“Good boy. Here you go,” she said, shifting me toward him. I should have been concerned, I thought, as he pulled me onto his lap, legs straddling him.

This time, there was no dad or Kit to keep me from predators. These were my mates. My body knew that; I could feel that as I pressed close to the alpha who held me, his mahogany and ginger scent filling my nose, promising I was safe, that he was mine.

I’d wanted Kit to be mine, but that was wrong.

This was where I was meant to be.

I’d failed my father.

I’d failed the Safe House.

I’d failed Kit.

I let my head rest on Jake’s shoulder, staring at the escalators as his hands rested on my hips.

Valerie was swiping through filters.

“My friends are going to besojealous. Ever since Havoc and Vex showed up, everyone isdyingto bond a gold pack.”

Jake’s fingers were trailing along the hem of my pants, and I closed my eyes. He was warm, pressed against me, and he leaned closer, nipping my ear and sending a shiver down my spine. This wassomething—his touch made me feel something good. Something that wasn’t pain or sadness. My omega instincts, helping me for fucking once, responding to his smell, his touch.

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