Page 23 of This Pack of Ours

“Should we take you back home?" he asked. Kit sniffed.

“Juni says I shouldn’t tell alph—people where we live," he mumbled quietly.

“She left her handbag here,” Ez pointed out. “So she’ll come back for it, right?”

Kit nodded.

“Yeah. I’ll wait for her here. I’m her ride home too, so…”

“Are you alright?” I asked softly. He sniffed.

“I will be,” he said, looking around at us. “Shit. Sorry. Um, I’m Kit.”

He put on a half-hearted smile. Oh. We hadn’t even introduced ourselves.

“I’m Adrian,” I managed, “And that’s Ez and Jhin. Vander was the guy who left.”

“Do you want us to leave, Kit?” asked Jhin. “We don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

“You don’t,” Kit said quickly, and then scratched his neck. “God. A scent match.”

There was an awkward pause, and Kit glumly picked up the disposable coffee cup to start eating the whipped cream with a spoon.

JUNIPER

I was practically running down the street, furiously wiping my eyes on my sleeve. I reached the car and stopped. My keys were in my handbag, which I’d left in the coffee shop. Yeah, I wasnotready to go back yet.

My stomach plunged as I heard Kit’s words again.

I think I’d be fine with it, for you. If you want. Sharing.

Kit’s ultimate kindness. Using his leverage to get them to bond a gold pack.

I’d set myself up for this.

“I don’t want a pack. I want to stay with you,” I’d said, and he’d taken it that this was my only chance.

Me. The sad, pathetic failure of an omega.

Not the right one for this pack, but still so desperate for one that, y’know, maybe they’d toss me a bone. Indulge me. An extra, unwanted tag along they’d pity fuck when they had to, for her sake, before returning to theirrealomega.

Fucking humiliating.

I hugged myself tighter.

I was fine.

This was fine.

Because now I didn’t have to worry about if they liked me or if I’d mess everything up. They’d love Kit, and so I was sure my secret was safe. I’d lose Kit, but that was inevitable anyway.

This was a good reminder to not let myself get swept away by stupid, hot alphas.

I mentally shook my omega, scolding her. Stupid. Stupid instincts.

I kept on down the street, not wanting to just stand awkwardly by my car.

I turned left into a park, slowing down a bit, my mind turning back to Kit leaving.

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