Page 65 of The Pack Next Door
Gideon looked stricken at that news. Did he really think I was gonna come on board with his great and glorious plan? How on earth could Fate decide he was the man for me?
“What about your mother?” April snapped.
“She’s made clear that she’s an adult and is still capable of making her own decisions.” A glance over at the house made clear there were limits to that. “So I’ll make sure she has all the help with the garden and the house she needs. Mum has her life and I have mine.” I surveyed all of them in turn. “And once I’ve got supports in place to help her, I’ll get back to it.”
My fingers played with the melon on my plate, but I made no move to eat it.
“That’s what I came over here to tell you. I’ll stay in town long enough for my heat to break. In return for…” Gods, as if this wasn’t awkward enough. I had to allude to the Whitlock’s getting me off to their parents. With a shake of my head, I forged on. Whatever weird family dynamic they had was none of my business. “Helping me out.” Ned’s grin spread slowly. Gag. “I’ll make sure to help you as best I can to get through the alpha trials.”
This was where I explained that I was going on a trip and would be back in a few days. That the next trial would happen when I got back and if they texted me the details, I’d work out a way to help. Where we carefully, clinically dealt with a difficult situation, because whatever fate decided, we were strangers to each other.
“Briar—”
Gideon looked so pale as his hand slid across the table, ready to take mine. There was a hunger there, a desperation that I frankly wondered where it came from. He had something to say, but before he could get a word out, April cut across everyone.
“Leaving town?” she spluttered. “Helping out? An omega’s place is with her alphas!”
“Mum—” Jace growled as I shoved my chair backwards. Getting to my feet, I remembered exactly what Mum said.
“It’s 2025, April,” I said in my very best supercilious tone. “An omega’s place is wherever the hell she thinks is best.”
In my case, it’d be on the road at first light, I thought as I leapt off the deck, crossing their yard in quick steps. I heard my name called out, some shouting, but I paid it little mind.
“Didn’t go well?” Mum asked when I appeared in the lounge room moments later.
“No.” My lips thinned. “How do you feel about having Jacinta come to stay for a few days?”
Chapter 32
Jace
Everything was going to hell.
I remembered this shit from when I was a kid. Everyone talking at once, their voices getting louder and louder, as if that would help. It didn’t. Instead, the anger and fear just pressed down on me hard. My eyes flicked around the table, watching everyone’s faces flushing, their eyes shining, and my wolf growled, ready to demand everyone shut the fuck up. Instead, my fingers went to my lips and I let out a piercing whistle.
That had everyone turning my way.
OK, I thought, get them laughing. It’s the only way to stop from getting into the newspapers for a murder/suicide.
“So usually we don’t start arguing like this unless it’s Christmas and Uncle Dave has had way too much rum and is wearing his underpants on his head.” I looked around at my family with exaggerated care. “Can’t see him anywhere, so before Mum tries to take feminism back to the 1950s, Mads tells everyone that they’re stupid, and then Gideon provides a ten-slide PowerPoint analysing what went wrong, how about we eat whatever amazing concoction Mum whipped up?”
I shook my head slowly.
“The last thing we need is two wolf packs getting hangry.”
“She’s not the right omega for you,” Mum said. I’d have assumed she was a bull terrier shifter, not a wolf, if I hadn’t seen her shift with my own eyes, because that woman never let a single thing go. “I told you?—”
“That you need some help in the kitchen?”
When I got to my feet, Mum followed. Whatever the hell my grandparents told her growing up, nothing got her snippier than a man in her kitchen.
My kitchen, I reminded myself.
“Who the hell does that little madam think she is?” Mum spluttered. “Coming to my house?—”
“My house.” Her eyes met mine, her mouth opening, but hey, the grandparents’ conditioning helped me out sometimes. Mouth closed with a snap; she stared at me mulishly. “And I assume that Briar…” I emphasised her name, “is just trying to do what everyone wants.” I settled back against the counter, wondering how the fuck we ended up here. In the forest, there was quiet, the moon, birds and my mate in my arms. Nothing else mattered. Part of me wanted to take fur and run out there, looking for my omega amongst the trees. “To be happy.”
“Happy comes from doing your part.” Gods, had I heard that lecture from Mum often enough growing up. “Remember that, Jace.”
