Page 51 of Follow Your Instincts

And I would love the chance to get to know you better if you’ll allow it. As well as repeat this apology, wholeheartedly, in person.

There is absolutely no pressure to respond. We will respect your decision, and this will be the last time any member of the pack reaches out to you without your express desire.

If you do want to try again, you know how to reach us.

Yours sincerely,

Lachlan Murray

I laughed out loud in pure disbelief when I finished reading it, then immediately reread it three times.

I had to hand it to him. It was a good letter.

The idea that Ben, Soren, and Lucas might be missing me was gratifying since I was still fighting the urge to burrow into my bed at the thought of never seeing them again. I also appreciated Lachlan’s attempt at an olive branch.

Luckily, I’d already decided to call Ben. Or else I might have had to admit the letter was very persuasive.

I read the letter one more time, like a heroine in a Victorian novel. Aletter. No one had ever written me one and my heart sang with a secret thrill. It made me feel special. And my inner Omega liked that very much.

He doesn’t see you that way, I thought sternly. But I folded up the letter and held it to my nose. Sure enough, a hint of Lachlan’s whiskey scent still clung to the page.

Chapter 19

Maggie

Waiting for the pack to show up in the back room of the coffee shop was the definition of nerve-wracking.

Bridget and Kira had helped me pick out an outfit, dark jeans and a lavender sweater, and braid my hair into a coronet around my head. I thought it looked silly, but they both insisted it made me lookregal,and since I was supposed to be the one in charge, why not wear a crown?

Jess had been distinctly unhelpful. I’m not sure exactly how she’d found out about the “packleader not being into me” detail of the story, but she was sure to comment on it.

“I don’t think you should get your hopes up. If the packleader isn’t interested, how can you ever expect to be a full member of the pack?” she said with faux concern.

Which sucked, because it was exactly what I was thinking.

But I was still willing to give it a shot. Mostly because the alternative, giving up my career, never finding another pack and dying alone, was too depressing to consider.

Steffi and Andreas had talked to the coffee shop about letting us use the back room instead of the reception room of the Center. I wanted everyone to feel like we were on neutral ground.

So here I was, tangling my fingers together with nerves and jiggling my foot to keep from pacing.

Of course, I smelled them before I saw them. The front door bell tinkled, and Ben’s watermelon scent hit me first, mostly because he came rushing into the back room.

He stopped in the doorway, and I stood up cautiously. Ben was wearing a jean jacket and the same navy baseball cap he’d had on when we first met. He looked so unsure that I took two steps forward unconsciously, ready to comfort him, then stopped.

“Go inside,” Soren said from behind Ben as he pushed him across the threshold. Soren was wearing his black leather jacket, and his beard was longer. In short, he looked hotter than ever.

Lucas followed him inside the room. He had on a pastel blue button down that emphasized his beautiful skin. His scent was stronger than I remembered and so sweet it made my mouth water.

And Lachlan came in last, looking severe and sheepish at the same time. His hair had grown out past his collar, and it waved back from his forehead. His green eyes were as intense as I remembered. With the scar on his lip and his penchant for writing letters, he could have been the main character in a gothic novel.

“Hi,” I said into the awkward silence.

To my surprise, Lachlan stepped forward first. He held out a hand as if to shake mine. As soon as I reached out, he gently clasped it in both of his hands and brushed a thumb over my palm. It shouldn’t have caused a full-boy shiver, but it did. “Before anything else, I want to apologize again for the other night. We wanted you to feel welcome, safe, and comfortable. I’m so sorry that I made you feel the opposite.” Being locked in that intense stare was like being hypnotized by a giant snake.

“Thanks,” I said. “I, um, I appreciated your letter.” Understatement of the year. I had already read it multiple times that morning. That secret thrill hadn’t worn off yet.

“Thankyoufor agreeing to meet with us,” Lachlan said. He finally broke our eye contact and dropped my hand. Embarrassingly, my breath whooshed out in a rush, but no one mentioned it.

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