Page 73 of This Pack of Ours

“No?” I gave him a funny look.

“What?” he asked. “She‘s got white hair! She could be wearing contacts, too!”

I rolled my eyes as he kissed my cheek and hopped into the minivan.

“See you later! I’ll miss you guys!” he said cheerily. Then Jhin pulled the door closed, and the engine started.

Emery waved Juniper and me back over as the pack drove off to their apartment.

“Kit, thank you for your help the other day. It would have taken me hours to pot all those plants by myself. Did you give any more thought to my offer?”

“Oh, thank you, Emery, but I’m good,” I assured her.

“Well, if you change your mind, let me know.” With a final smile, Emery turned and stepped through the door.

“What offer?” Juniper asked when she was gone.

“Mo handed in his two weeks. She offered me his job in the store,” I said as we started walking toward the car. Juniper’s eyebrows rose.

“That’s great, Kit! You love helping out in there,” she said, seeming relieved. “You should take it!”

I scuffed my shoe on the ground, my heart sinking. I honestly would have really liked to work with Emery in the Glass Berry. She was nice, and it was the kind of work I’d be doing that I couldn’t really mess up, like potting plants or arranging displays. But I’d said no because I’d thought Juniperneededme at the Safe House.

“I mean, I already have a job, though,” I said. “With you.”

There was a pause, and Juniper looked a little uncomfortable.

“Wouldn’t you rather have, like, a proper job?” she asked slowly, and I could hear the unease in her voice. “You wouldn’t have to live in the Safe House for a week every month. And I know you hate having to carry the gun around.”

“Yeah, but we need people to host,” I replied. Didn’t we? It wasn’t easy finding people who’d work the strange schedule we had.

“Don’t worry about us, Kit. We’ll be fine if you go. You should really take the job with Emery!”

I shrugged, my throat feeling a bit tight.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll think about it,” I replied, but I couldn’t shake the disappointment weighing on my shoulders.

We reached the car and climbed inside without another word. I felt tense as we started to drive to the Safe House.

Shit.

She’d kept on making excuses as to why I couldn’t help her with the admin stuff, and now this?

Why did she want to get rid of me?

THIRTEEN

JUNIPER

Our trip to the Safe House was a lot shorter than I thought, and Kit had been very quiet the whole time. I knew I’d pushed too hard and hurt his feelings when I’d heard about the potential job, but I’d been so relieved. If Kit got this job with Emery, he wouldn’t have to worry about what would happen if the Safe House shut down.

Honestly, it would be a real pain to replace him. I didn’t know if anyone could fill the hole he’d leave. I wasn't the only person who felt safe around him. I’d seen him convince even the most paranoid omegas they could trust the Safe House. Gold packs who’d spent years burning through all kinds of dangerous hormones, self-sedating with expired meds rather than risk tellinganyoneabout their heat. I’d learned first-hand what could happen if you told someone who betrayed your trust. But Kit… people trusted him enough to take the risk.

The Safe House might be done though, and Emery’s would be best for him. I hoped this meeting tomorrow with the Aisha Foundation went well, and I could make it up to him then.

When we got back to the apartment, Kit retreated to our room, mumbling something about a headache, and I took up a spot on the couch to fiddle on my laptop.

The doorbell rang, and I stood up from the couch with a frown. The pack should be back soon, but they’d never rung the doorbell.

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