Page 98 of This Pack of Ours

Fuck him. I was going in alone.

I marched up the stairs and went up to the front desk, where a beta in a crisp uniform frowned up at me.

“Bathrooms are not public," she said, lips thinning as she saw my golden eyes. My cheeks heated, and my eyes narrowed.

“No, I’m here for a meeting with the Aisha Foundation? Juniper Anders. I was told to check in here.”

“Oh?" Her eyebrows raised as she typed something in on the computer. I got a little jolt of dark satisfaction as she blinked in surprise and looked back up at me.

“Eleventh floor. Here’s your guest pass," she said coldly, handing me a lanyard. “It says there’s a Jhin Argo with you?”

I checked my phone, but there was still nothing.

“No, he couldn’t make it.”

My next barrier was the security gate, where they were insisting I be patted down.

I opened my mouth, about to tell them what a ridiculous rule that was, but a friendly voice cut past us.

“It’s alright! She’s with me.” A curvy ginger beta in high heels was approaching, waving back security. She gave me a warm smile. “Juniper Anders, right?”

Right. Who the fuck else would have golden eyes and be arguing with security?

“I’m Phoebe. I thought I’d come down here and guide you to the office.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, wishing again, that Jhin was here. I’d bet he’d have showed up in a suit and let me borrow the jacket if I asked. Then I could be facing this woman smelling like blackberries instead of scent blockers and sweat. The scent blockers had destroyed what remained of Kit’s scent mark, but I supposed that was for the best.

“Just follow me." She turned and led me toward the elevators. We stepped inside the open one, and she tapped the card, pressing the button for 11. We were there in seconds, which kind of blew my mind. I thought all elevators smelled faintly of piss and took forever to decide to take you somewhere, but this wasn’t like that at all.

She took me down a brightly-lit corridor and into an office with glass walls. There was a water jug on the table that had ice and a lemon slice in it. I poured myself a big glass.

Phoebe smiled at me again. “I’m sorry about security. It’s a whole different world over here. But that’s precisely why we need you.”

There was another water glass on the table for Jhin.

“Should we wait for your partner?" she asked.

A pang of disappointment throbbed in my chest. “I don’t think he’s coming.”

Phoebe nodded and continued.

“Quite frankly, Ms. Anders, we here at the Aisha Foundation are very impressed with the operation you’ve set up. I’m sure you’re aware Ms. Eden is very passionate about protecting omegas, particularly gold packs, and she tasked us with finding ways of supporting omegas. We know the heat clinics don’t meet the needs of every omega. I’m assuming that’s why you started the Safe House?”

I nodded, squeezing my pen, trying to focus. Kit’s mood had shifted from despair to something like hope. He’d likely gone home by now and was being comforted by the pack.

Good for him.

Shit, what had Phoebe just said?Tasked with. Jhin was probably right. Vex Eden just seemed to be a name attached to this place.

“It’s nothing against the heat clinics,” I offered with a swallow. “I know some omegas… have had experiences that mean they need extra precautions to feel safe.”To be safe, I thought, but I was trying to be diplomatic.

“Yes, we've been trying to find a solution to this as well. She initially was starting from scratch, but then we discovered… you. The Safe House is perfect, because it’s completely organic—grassroots. It’s built for omegas, by omegas—like you. You who have an intimate knowledge of what you need. You’ve gone through trial and error already. You’ve already built a reputation of safety and anonymity and have trust with your client base. So we’d love to invest in your Safe House.”

I nodded, but it couldn’t be that simple. Jhin had said it might come with a catch. Where was he? She seemed to be waiting for me to say more.

“Yes, um, it sounds… good. But I’m worried. There are a lot of things that have to be done a certain way…” I trailed off. Was I being rude?

“I understand,” the beta said. “You said you’d prepare some terms, correct? I’d be happy to take them off your hands.”

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