Page 35 of Follow Your Instincts

“Which place?”

“Sam’s on 35th,” he replied.

“Oh god, no, we’re not eating fucking garbage bagels. We’re going to get actual good bagels from BB’s - it’s on 39th street. I’ll get us there,” I said.

“Yes ma’am,” Soren said and smiled at me when I glared.

“It’s not my fault Lucas has shit taste in bagels,” I said defensively.

Soren lifted a hand in mock surrender. “Didn’t say anything.”

We rode in silence for a few moments and Soren switched on the radio, but turned the volume down low so it was more background noise. He didn’t seem to feel any awkwardness in the quiet, but I was getting antsy.

“Any updates on the Heitzig case? Have you heard from Greta?” I asked, latching onto a safe topic.

“No, nothing. I forgot to ask you, though, did she say anything about a pack when you were talking to her? Her family said she just started seeing one. Did she say anything about calling them?” He looked over at me, hopefully.

“Sorry, she didn’t mention a pack,” I said. “Do you know anything about them?”

Soren huffed. “Her cousin says their name was ‘something Russian.’ Super helpful,” he said sarcastically.

“Russians in Fairview City? Should be easy to narrow that down,” I joked. “Do you think she had something to do with the robbery?”

Soren considered the question carefully as he merged onto the bridge into the city. “I don’t know. I talked to her a bit after you left that day, and she seemed genuinely shaken up.”

“I thought so too,” I agreed.

“But disappearing like this… It doesn’t look good,” he continued.

I nodded, and jealousy burned in the pit of my stomach.

“You alright?” Soren asked after a few moments.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just wish I were working on this case.”

“Me too. Maybe then Harcourt wouldn’t be threatening to stick me with Jacobs. Plus, I’ve heard good things about you and your work.” Soren said.

“You have?” I asked, bewildered.

“Yeah, from other detectives. Milsap said you were helpful in a few cases last year, and Fraser has always preferred working with you,” he said.

“Wow,” I said, blushing. “I’ve always really respected your work. So it sucks that I can’t work this case with you because of Todd’s inability to control himself.”

“It’s complete bullshit,” he agreed. “But you’re coming back?”

“Yeah, she said there would be an opportunity. After I… bond with a pack, I mean. My scent will settle or something? All this Alpha and Omega biology was not something I ever thought I’d have to deal with,” I said, blushing even harder.Could this be any more awkward?I thought.

Luckily, Soren didn’t seem bothered. “You never thought about being part of a pack before this?”

“No, never. I didn’t even grow up with a regular family, and the concept of pack life is so foreign to me. How about you?”

“I grew up outside the city, about an hour north, with Lachlan. Our families were close, and we basically grew up together. I was jealous of his life. Not that my parents aren’t great, but his house was just… more. Lachlan has three older sisters, and they became like my older sisters, too. So, a few years ago, when Lachlan asked me if I wanted to join him and create a new pack, I was all in,” he said.

“You make it sound so easy,” I said.

“It’s not always easy. Lachlan is a bit of a dick and Ben annoys the shit out of us. Lucas is too nice most of the time, but he’s alright. We love each other, so it works out,” he said.

“That’s kind of beautiful,” I whispered.

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