Page 95 of How to Lose a Pack in 10 Dates

Zara: WFH today—can meet you in 30? Coffee or something stronger?

I nearly cry.

Love you. Meet me at Otto’s?

She sends a thumbs up and a heart, and I close the laptop without saving.

*

Zara’s already at the table when I arrive, sunglasses pushed up into her curls and a glass of white wine already halfway done. She raises an eyebrow the moment I slump into the seat across from her.

“You look like someone who’s been living with three alphas,” she says, dry as ever.

“I look like someone who’s madechoices,” I mutter, grabbing the menu mostly to hide behind it.

Zara waves a hand at me. “Spill. I want the unabridged version. You texted like someone who needed an emotional exorcism.”

I hesitate, then set the menu down. “I slept with Jace and Cam.”

“Ok-ay,” she says. “Wasn’t expecting you to open with that, but go off, queen.”

“It wasn’tplanned,” I say quickly, cheeks burning. “It just—happened. Or… well, itescalated. One minute I was wedged between them, the three of us having a nap, the next…” I gesture vaguely. “I’m being called agood girlso many times I nearly melted through the mattress.”

Zara snorts. “That’s grossandadorable.”

“It wasn’t just sex,” I admit. “They were... gentle. Cam’s always so attentive anyway, and Jace is surprisingly soft when he wants to be.”

“I’m not quite hearing the problem,” she smirks.

“I just. I guess I thought it would feel like a game,” I admit. “Like I was still in control.”

“But you’re not?”

I shake my head slowly. “Not even close.”

Zara leans forward, lowering her voice. “And Wes?”

“He flipped out last night,” I sigh. “Like,reallylost it. We were arguing, and then Jace stepped in, and then Cam, and… yeah. He stormed out.”

Her expression shifts into something more thoughtful. “You knew he wouldn’t take it well.”

“I mean, I was banking on it,” I admit. “That’s what I wanted. But that was when I thought I’d be the one pulling the strings. I thought I could keep everything compartmentalized, but now I’m sleeping next to them and waking up wrapped in their arms and—andfeelingthings, Zara. And I don’t do that.”

“You do, though,” she smiles, all soft and knowing. “You just don’t let yourself admit it.”

The waitress takes our order, and I pretend to rearrange cutlery just to avoid direct eye contact. Zara gives me the space, then picks up again once our food arrives.

“Look, Aimee: like the tech or not, you’ve been scent-matched through this app to these three alphas. That’s notnothing. And now you’ve been living in close quarters with them—two of whom clearly worship the ground you walk on. Falling for them a little? That’s biology. It’s chemistry. It’s human.”

“I guess so. But now… now, Ilikethem,” I whisper. “More than I meant to.”

“I know,” she says gently. “That doesn’t have to be the end of the world, though. Maybe it’s just time to stop pretending this is just a stunt.”

I chew on a piece of bread as I process her words.

“What about Wes?” she asks.

I blow out a breath. “I don’t trust him. Not yet. But… I don’t hate him either.”

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