Page 19 of This Pack of Ours

Adrian’s eyes dropped to the ground, and he gave a shrug.

“Yeah, she was cool,” he muttered.

“I will count that as a yes, also.”

“I think you’re all forgetting the part where she sneered at us and told us she never wanted to see us again,” said Vander.

“You say shit like that all the time, but you’re secretly nice, too,” Ez said. “So, technically, if she doesn’t deserve a chance, you don’t either. Check. Mate.”

He folded his arms and leaned back on the couch, very pleased with himself. Vander glared at him.

“No offence, V, but she could be good for you,” said Adrian, running his fingers through his hair.

“What does that mean?" he snapped.

“He means we need someone with a backbone who can deal with your bullshit,” said Ez, delightedly.

“He has a point,” I said. “And you two don’t need to like each other. She needs alphas for heats. We need omegas for balance. We could build something on that.”

“Whatever,” muttered Vander. “I’m outvoted anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. We done?”

He didn’t wait for an answer before storming off to our room.

“Sick,” said Ez.

I was relieved. We’d all been put on medical leave after theincident, but Vander hadn’t bounced back like we had. He’d already been unstable for years, but he’d seemed to break completely afterwards. This was hope.

Plus, I would really like to see her again.

Despite her outburst—likely borne of stress—I was intrigued by the fact she ran the Safe House.

It must have taken someone with a lot of passion to set up and manage something so omega-centric. In my research to arrange us attending a heat, there was a disturbing amount of programs that seemed to exploit the omegas involved, treating them like commodities. The Safe House had been different the moment I clicked on the poorly-coded website. Instead of being designed for alphas, it spoke mainly to omegas, promising safety and care. Someone who ran that seemed like the kind of person I’d want to get to know.

I reached into my pocket, touching the handkerchief she’d wiped her eyes with. I couldn’t get her out of my head. How she’d been so tense, so angry until that one moment. How brave she’d been with tears sparkling in her eyes, lip trembling, trying to pretend she wasn’t crying. How her eyes had crinkled at my laugh.

Yes, it would be very nice to see her again.

JUNIPER

The heat and pain had come back in the middle of the night, and I’d crawled to the bathroom, turning the shower to cold. I forced down some painkillers and told myself I could do this.

Thankfully, it passed, but I’d traded the pain for a whole different slew of shitty symptoms. Still, I was here, parked outside our local coffee shop for this date. Ready to bow my head, apologise, and not bite any heads off.

We got out of the car, and Kit tugged the collar of his turtleneck up to his chin. He slipped his hand into mine and squeezed, giving me a smile.

“You look great. Like a snack,” he said.

“Great. My lifelong dream,” I replied flatly, and he laughed.

I’d let him help pick my outfit, and so I had ended up with thigh-length stockings beneath a pleated miniskirt, and one of his knitted sweaters over top. I’d even given in and let him do—a bit—of makeup. I’m sure I’d looked like a complete mess during my heat, and I wanted to show that I could look like a normal person, too. Although I shouldn’t really care, because, as I kept reminding myself, I was doing this for Kit.

I wasn’t used to having so much skin exposed while out—I usually wanted to do the opposite of attracting attention. I tugged my skirt down a bit, then glanced at him.

“Hang on. Are you matching me?” I asked. He gave a cheeky grin. Hewasn’tin a miniskirt, but our colors coordinated, and his sweater was almost identical to mine in a different shade.

“Couldn’t resist,” he said, then turned toward the coffee shop, leading us in. “I’ve got a good feeling about this, Juni.”

I nodded glumly, adding it to my list of suspicions that he was ready to leave. But, I did feel better with him here. More settled. Ready to face this pack again.

---