Page 44 of The Pack Next Door
“No thanks.” That was the wolf talking, not me, but when I thought about it, I agreed. “If things get too grim, I can always ask Candy to express down Mr. Knotty.”
“And be separated from her emotional support dildo?” Riley said with a laugh. “I don't think so, but you might want to watch out for sex toy care packages in the mail. I mean unless your mother is really open-minded…”
“She’s not.” I nodded. “But thanks, Riley.” I peered past her. “And Fen. I think just talking about options helped a lot.”
“Always happy to provide options for other omegas,” she said. “Look after yourself, Briar.”
When the screen went black, I let the phone fall to the bed. Work, emails, Tom, it was all there waiting to be dealt with, but not tonight, I decided finally. As I walked over to the window, I stared at the alphas’ house, counting each window that was still lit up. I wasn’t going to deal with the Whitlock pack either. I’d learned to prioritise me over the years, and that’s what I’d do now, because no decision needed to happen tonight. Instead, I walked downstairs, pulling out the leftovers from the fridge, only to find Mum standing there.
“I left a plate for you in the microwave.” She set it going, the whirring a reassuring backdrop. “Wasn’t sure if you’d be back tonight.”
“You thought I was going next door for a sleepover?” I asked.
“I thought you looked like a woman who wanted the truth.”
Her eyebrow curved upwards, as if asking me to confirm whether or not that was true. My lips twisted, then curved into a smile.
“Yeah, I did.”
“So…”
I watched my mother move around the kitchen, because putting the kettle on was a time-honoured tradition when dealing with tough topics. A mouthful of stew and then I was ready to answer.
“So you were right.” Mum did a very good job of holding back her triumphant smirk, but I saw that sparkle in her eyes. “The Whitlock pack are my alphas, and I’m not sure what to do about that.”
“Sleep on it.” Her gentle squeeze of my arm, the fact she held back advice, had me moving forward and wrapping her up in a hug. “What was that for?” she asked.
“For not telling me what to do or think.” The kettle started to whistle and I pulled away to turn it off. “For giving me the space to work it out myself.”
“Well, know this.” She poured two mugs of tea and then pushed one my way. “Whatever you decide.” Her eyes met mine over the rim of her mug. “I’m proud of you. Not sure if every omega would be able to pick herself up and dust herself off like you did, especially not as successfully.” She gave me a little nod. “Someone as strong as that? Pretty sure she can deal with whatever change comes her way.”
For a moment, I just dragged my spoon through my food, smiling at her words. I might be grown, but some part of me was still a kid, wanting her mother to tell she was OK. After I finished off my food and cleaned the dishes, I pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Thanks, and yeah, I’ll work it out.” A glance down at my phone saw a massive backlog of emails. “After I deal with a work emergency. Pretty sure I’m going to have to hang around home tomorrow and deal with all of this.”
“Whatever you need, darling. Perhaps some French toast for breakfast?”
With the anticipation of one of my mum’s amazing breakfasts to accompany me upstairs, I showered and then got ready for bed.
The wolf got restive, as sometimes she did at night. This time was hers, she’d decided, showing me exactly how it would be if I took fur and let her have her head. Out to the forest, our paws raking across the earth, then the pine needles. The moon would swell huge above us and we would throw back our head and howl.
But in her vision, we weren’t alone.
Another howl and another cut through the night. Shadowy shapes pursued me as our tail was held high like a flag. We ran faster and faster, demanding they follow.
Not tonight, I told her, pulling a sleep shirt on.Rest is what I need, not rutting.
She didn’t care at all for the long list of things I showed her that needed doing. Her mind was absolutely fixated on the pack next door. Perhaps that’s why she haunted my dreams when I finally dropped off to sleep.
The crisp scent of pine needles was thick in my nose, the sound of them crunching under my paws competing with the rasp of my breath. We’d run all the way from my mother’s house, deep into the forest, only to come to a stop at the clearing. I thought the wolf would howl then, announcing her presence to my dream suitors. Instead, she abruptly relinquished control of my body.
Only for me to realise this wasn’t a dream.
The cold air on my skin, my eyes whipping around to look at this path, and realising I had no idea which she’d taken. I didn’t shiver, get gooseflesh all over me, in my dreams. “Shit…” I hissed. “Shit, shit, shit,” because when I looked down, I saw I was perfectly naked.
Something Jace noted too.
Footsteps in the quiet of the forest were easy to hear and they had me spinning around, only to see the golden figure of before bleached silver by the moon. His grin rivalled its brightness, his fangs flashing as he took a step closer, only for me to realise he was completely naked as well.Look away!I shrieked inside my head, but my body had its own ideas.
