Page 8 of How to Lose a Pack in 10 Dates

And I got mad.

I could walk away from this. Ishouldwalk away from this. But why the hell shouldIbe the mature one? Why does he get to be all suit-wearing and self-possessed while four years later, I’m still stress-eating dumplings and emotionally bonding with discount wine? Why doesheget to ghost me and move on while I’m still explaining to my great-aunt why there’s no wedding every Christmas?

No.

No, he doesnotget to have the upper hand.

I don’t know why he’s on that app, or why someone who ran from bonding like it was a cult recruitment booth would voluntarily sign up to get scent-matched, but I’m going to find out. He has to have an angle, here—some kind of messed-up game plan.

And if he thinks this is going to be easy, I’m going to make it hell. If he thinks he can out-calm me, out-class me, or out-alpha me, I will become his worst nightmare in SPF 50 and spite lipstick.

And if he thinks I’m still broken over him, I’ll break him instead.

(Publicly. With citations.)

I smile slowly at Rachel, all teeth and simmering rage. “I want a bigger bonus.”

“You’ll get exposure.”

“Addmoneyto the exposure.”

She sighs, but there’s an undeniable glint of excitement in her eyes that I haven’t seen before. “Fine. Done.”

“Alright then,” I nod. “Let’s lose a pack in ten dates.”

“I thought we were going with ten heats?”

“Do I look like I have the ovarian stamina for ten heats?” I blink up at her, my expression completely deadpan. “I’ddie. That’s a workplace safety issue.”

Rachel lifts a brow.

“Wes could probably growl someone into orgasm, and I’ve seen the other two,” I go on, my voice climbing. “Cam definitely makes sex playlists with names likeCuddle & Destroy, and Jace’s biceps are in a committed relationship with creatine. I’m not entering heat with that pack unless I’ve written a will and booked physio in advance.”

She snorts. “Fair enough.”

I lean back in my chair and open a new tab on my laptop.

Operation: How to Lose a Pack in Ten Dates.

Step One: Be annoying.

Step Two: Be hotter than their combined emotional range.

Step Three: Be sure not to fall in love, no matter how good they smell.

I sigh and re-open the app, staring at the pack I’ve been scent-matched to.

“I’m gonna need a hydration strategy, backup underwear, and a chiropractor,” I announce.

“Noted,” Rachel beams. “Now go get 'em, champ.”

I ignore her dry tone as she turns on her heel and walks away. Friday is four days away, and I’ve got a dry shampoo calendar to build, a spreadsheet of alpha red flags to exploit, and a four-year-old vendetta to execute with surgical precision.

Chapter Three

Aimee

Iarrive at the overpriced brunch place early on Friday, scanning the room and preparing for what might end up being a hostage situation.

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