Page 73 of The Pack Next Door
“Close, it’s Tom. He and his wife, Honey, live a couple hours from Mum’s place and I need to go and smooth some stuff over. Half the shipment arrived cracked and he’s pissed.”
“Tom and Honey, eh?” The sly note to her voice had me stiffening as I walked out and towards the truck stop diner. “Are they like, really open minded swingers or…?”
I swallowed, wincing in anticipation of what was about to happen.
“The Whitlock pack volunteered to come with me,” I said.
“You’re on a road trip with your fated mates.” She burst out laughing. “And all stuck in the same car while you’re going into heat. Oh my gods, this is glorious! Tell me there’s only one bed at the hotel you’re staying at.”
“Shit, I didn’t think about sleeping arrangements.”
“Oh, this is better than reality TV. You, one bed, three alphas and a heat that’s about to hit you hard. That’s not a hotel booking. That’s a pay-per-view event!”
“You’re having way too much fun with this,” I grumbled.
A big, burly trucker opened the door for me and I nodded and smiled before walking in.
“Of course I am! Like for the sake of the gods, don’t use the hotel laundry or anything.”
“Um… why?” I spied the guys in a booth at the back and headed over.
“Don’t want you reaching into the dryer and getting stuck.”
My jaw locked tight as she described one of the dumber tropes of omega porn. Apparently, we were so helpless we couldn’t even retrieve clothes from the dryer without needing an alpha dick.
“I hate you and I’m going. If you can get Riley?—”
“Fanta Pants is already on the case. You know how conscientious she is.” Candy made a very rude noise. “Honestly, it just makes the rest of us look bad, being efficient and everything. You’ll have some plain language papers and a script in your inbox before close of business today.”
So help was on the way. As I ended the call, it didn’t provide me with any relief when all three men turned to look at me. Things were getting worse. The mental clarity I felt right now was already starting to fray. Jace, thrusting hard against my chest. My hand came to rest over the spot he’d rubbed his seed into. Mads pushing me to have one, two, three orgasms. Then all my cries were muffled as I swallowed down Gideon’s scalding load. As if in response to that, he pushed a mug my way. The sweet, spicy scent of a chai latte wafted up, drawing me closer.
“Chai latte with three sugars?” I said, after taking a sip. My sickly sweet tastes in drinks was well known to my friends and workmates, but not to him. “How did you know?”
“Your blog post written on the 8th of August last year,” he replied, the mask well and truly up. “You said that and a pineapple, chicken, and double cheese toastie was your favourite comfort food.” A plate was slid over to stop in front of me. I picked it up and saw yep, it was exactly as he said. “You need more food, to stay hydrated until…”
Until my heat was over and I was free to head home. With a nod, I took a bite, then let out an involuntary moan as the explosion of sweet and salty hit my mouth. Jace went pale, swallowing hard and ignoring the burger in front of him, but Mads leaned closer.
“About that.” His eyes seemed to contain a potent mixture of amusement and heat. “We’ll get you to this Tom’s place, make sure you’re good to take this meeting with your supplier, but…”
But I’d need more from them to get there in any kind of sensible state. All three of them watched me steadily, waiting for a response. The fact I could turn into a wolf seemed like a lie right now, because I didn’t feel like an apex predator, but a little mouse.
“And I’ll help you win the next trial, as agreed.” With a falsely bright demeanour I leaned forward. “Any word on what comes next? I can text Damien to get the scoop if needed.”
“It’s not.” Gideon was such a hard one to read. On the one hand, he’d ordered me exactly what I wanted, taking the time to read through how many of my meandering blog posts on Omega Core’s website to get my drink order right. The other? He shut me down at the offer of help in return. His phone was lifted from the table. “Texts just came through. Next trial is in two days, and it's a game of capture the flag.”
“The one game we are eminently qualified to play.” Jace’s smile was grim. “It was something we did a lot back in Glen Hallow.”
“But the other packs have more members than you.” I studied each man in turn. “Won’t you be overwhelmed?”
“No.” All the good humour went out of Mads. “If there’s something the dads trained us for, it’s how to win when you’re outmatched.”
But at what cost? The mood around the table had my wolf whining inside me. She shifted back and forth, not able to determine the source of it. Her solution was a big puppy pile in a forest as a pack, but instead, we finished our meals in silence, then walked back to the car. Men looked up as I passed, their steady gaze raking across my skin. Gideon’s hand went to the small of my back as he positioned himself between me and them, steering me outside and into the car park.
“Look—” I started to say.
“Let’s get you to the potter’s place.” Gideon’s hand landed on the roof of the car, just above my head, and to anyone looking on, he must’ve appeared to be my boyfriend. “That’s what’s important, right?” There was no edge to his voice. I knew, because I expected it. Instead, there was a strangely warm kind of resignation about him. “We’ll get you through this road trip,then back h— to Moon River.” There was a faint growl there that was gone seconds later. “And then after the final trial, we’ll work out what to do next.”
The goals were small, actionable and practical, so how could I argue?
