Page 126 of This Pack of Ours

“Yeah, she’s probably going to be really pissed,” I said, scooping more whipped cream into my mouth.

“Fuck,” he groaned, putting his head in his hands.

TWENTY-ONE

JUNIPER

I woke up that morning feeling calm and settled, a stark contrast to the fits of weeping I’d been in and out of all yesterday. That meant my heat was imminent. I always hit this strange calm period until the cramps started, and then it would hit fast.

The pack had gone out this morning, leaving Kit and me at home. He’d insisted on giving me a makeover, which was a good distraction from the nerves I was feeling about being with the pack. Kit seemed to think everything was peachy, but I wasn’t so sure. I was about to spend another heat with them, and this time as their extra. Their omega’s omega. My stomach flipped again, and I tried to distract myself by watching Kit wield the curling iron.

“How come you know how to use that thing and I don’t?” I grumbled as Kit produced another perfect ringlet.

“I learned it at Hawthorne Academy. They like to make sure omegas learned all the important stuff,” he said with a smile.

“Like how to make a shiv?” I asked, referencingPack DarlingPart 1 & 2.Seriously, that story had power. Probably even enough to inspiresomeoneto write a 100,000 word double-omega-themed book in less than a month after reading it for the first time, though that was weirdly specific.

And wasn’t it a movie in this universe?

“Haha,” he replied sarcastically, and crouched in front of me, pulling apart the final curl.

“Okay, done.”

He’d done full makeup and hair this morning, and refused to tell me why. My skin was smooth and glowing, and he’d convinced me to try a bright red color for my lips. My eyes were perfectly shadowed.

“Kit, I don’t even have anything that’ll go with this,” I said, peering in the mirror at the impeccable makeup and the pajamas I was still wearing.

He grinned and grabbed a box out of the closet.

“Adrian asked me to help him pick it,” he said, settling on the bed as I looked down at the box. “Which worked out perfectly because then he had to get me a new outfit as well.”

I undid the fancy ribbon and lifted the lid. It was a navy blue dress, made out of a soft, light material. I was afraid it was going to be too fancy, but it was a nice kind of casual flowy that I could wear out.

I took off my pajamas and pulled it on. It was high-necked and crisply cut, the material just loose enough that my nipples weren’t super obvious. It had a sash-like waist before flowing to my knees, flaring out a little. And most importantly, it had pockets. Kit came up behind me, resting his head on my shoulder as we both stared.

“Perfect,” he said, kissing my cheek.

“Okay, are you going to tell me what all this is for?” I asked. “Or where the others are?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said.

* * *

It was the New Oxford Aquarium. I could feel my excitement bubbling up as we drove into the parking lot and Kit bounded over to open my door for me. I looked around, searching for the pack, but they weren’t here. I took Kit’s hand, and he walked me to the fountain at the front. Adrian was there, sitting on the bench, and he stood as we arrived, blushing a bit as he stared at my dress.

“Okay, I’ll see you later,” Kit said, pressing a kiss into my hand and gesturing me forward.

“Okay…?” I gave him one last glance as he stepped to the side.

“Hi,” said Adrian. “You look lovely.”

“Thanks.“ I stuck my hands in my pockets. “And, um, thanks for the dress.”

“More of a hit than my last gift?" he said, and I blinked at him. Oh shit.

I rummaged in my handbag and pulled out the small, glowing keychain.

“This?” I asked, feeling a little guilty as he looked at it, confused.

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