Page 4 of This Pack of Ours

I snorted. “Okay, let me handle that.”

I was ninety-nine percent sure the Levine pack would say yes, and they were themostbearable of all the packs here.

She nodded but sniffed again, taking my hand in hers.

“I’m just… scared,” she said, almost too quiet to hear. “It’ll be my first time… awake.”

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Juniper.” Her gold eyes lifted to mine again.

“I’m Kit,” I replied, and it was the first time I’dfeltlike Kit since I’d come here. She gave me a tentative smile, and I didn’t think I’d ever seen anything more beautiful.

She kept holding my hand as we walked across the grounds, and it lit a warmth in my chest. She scrubbed at her face and straightened her back, that angry mask settling back into place as we neared the dorms.

I knocked on the door of the Levine pack’s apartment and waited for the answer. I glanced down at my shirt, missing a button from the rough treatment earlier. I tugged another button loose, biting my lip nervously and shooting her a shy look. Exposing a little more skin certainly wouldn’thurtour chances of convincing them. Garrett Farwood opened the door, raising an eyebrow and giving me a cocky grin. His scent was actually kind of nice; green tea and cloves.

“Back already, Kristofer?” he asked, his gaze blatantly lingering on my half open shirt, before noticing Juniper at my side. He eyed her golden eyes and her worn outfit. “Who’s this?”

“A friend. Look, she came for some heat helpers, but they bailed. Help us out?” I gave him a small smile andmayhave batted my eyes. Just a little.

“Bella.” Juniper offered a fake name, stepping toward him and extending her hand. Her arm only betrayed a slight tremble. She’d gone close enough to make sure he could smell her, and I could see his nostrils flaring, his pupils dilating as he took her in.

“I know it’s really late notice,” I said. “We dropped the offer down to five grand.”

Juniper gave a tiny, shocked squeak. I squeezed her hand. That might be a harder sell for an omega with golden eyes, but my presence legitimized the offer. They could afford it. Five grand was pennies to this pack, and it could make a world of difference to people like us. Garrett shifted on his feet, his expression torn.

“Well, we’d have to cancel two dates—” he started, glancing back inside.

“Oh, of course,” I said, letting my face fall.

I tugged him to the side, lowering my voice. “Sorry to bug you. I just thought she’d want to actuallyenjoyher first heat with alphas, y’know?” I ignored his renewed glance at Juniper and stepped away, taking her arm. “C’mon, I’ll show you the way to the Aven dorm.”

I started tugging her away, and she gave me an alarmed look as she started to follow. Oh, there was no way they were actually letting us go. I’d delivered the perfect magic words. They’d lost every bidding war they’d had with those Aven bastards. grandmother had made sure to point that out in the last batch of distorted, fuzzy photos of their secret heat helper group.

“Hang on.” Garrett’s eyebrows furrowed. “Don’t take her to those—um,them. I just meant I gotta go talk to the others. Come inside.” He glanced around before ushering us through the door. We waited there while he left us to get his pack mates. Inside, the pack’s scents covered everything, and I saw her tense with what was likely a cramp.

“They’ll be good to you,” I said, squeezing her hand. “Trust me.”

With Garrett gone, she’d started to look so fragile again, her scent spiking.

“Your little lady’s in luck,” Garrett said as he walked back toward us, Lee Levine in tow. “We can clear our schedules for the next few days.”

He gave her a smile, and she nodded. She was still very tense, her eyes darting to me for a second.

“We’ve got a nest room. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable there and we’ll come check in on you?”

“Okay,” she said, letting go of my hand at the mention of a nesting room. She’d put on a cool expression, her jaw ticking, but I could still see the fear in her eyes.

“Thanks, Kristofer. See you round?” Garrett said.

“Oh, I’m staying with her,” I said, stepping forward and reclaiming her hand. She looked at me, surprised for a second, before relief crossed her face.

“Withher? The whole time?” asked Lee.

“The whole time,” I said firmly. “We’re heat buddies.”

And it wasn’t even one week later that I dropped out of the academy for good.

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