Page 12 of For the First Time
“I would hate to drive that far every day for work,” Hannah said, wrinkling her nose.
“A job’s a job.Plus, the pack seems nice.”
“I thought you hadn’t met them all yet.”
“I haven’t.But I doubt their third member would be rude when both Atlas and Oaks were exceptionally nice.”
“Which one is the omega?”she asked.“I wonder if it’s his family’s farm and that’s how he gets away with working there.”
I couldn’t help frowning at her words.“There’s no law that says omegas can’t work.”
“That doesn’t mean anyone actually hires us.”
“This pack is different.”Even if the ranch wasn’t Atlas’s, I think Oaks would have hired him.It was the way Atlas held himself.Oaks had pointed it out too.Atlas didn’tactlike an omega.“I think you would like them.”
“Maybe we’ll go out and meet them.I could do a trip to the ranch—what was it called?”
“Pink Lady.”
“Horseback riding ...apple picking.We could go as a pack.Check out who Eve is spending all this time with.”
I smiled, even forced myself to chuckle, although I hated the idea.I didn’t want anyone around the pack, which was absolutely illogical and exactly why I didn’t say anything.Betas didn’t get territorial, yet I would’ve sworn that was the exact emotion rushing through me.Which made it even more ridiculous since Hannah was completely happy with her alphas.She was just trying to be a good friend, so I forced myself to say, “I think you would have a good time there.”
“What is it you’ll be doing, Eve?”Zeke asked.Of all of Hannah’s alphas, he was the most laid back.He had a lazy air to him, which was helped by the fact that he was always in sweats, like he’d just got up from a midday nap.
“Home management.Cooking, cleaning, laundry, decorating for the holidays.I won’t have to chauffeur them or watch over any pets since they don’t have them.But if they sign up to host anything, I’ll handle that.”
“Host, like parties or work functions?”Hannah asked.
“Either.Both.”
My phone buzzed, nearly making me jump with my eagerness to answer it.Oaks had been texting me since the day of my interview.Small, little updates as well as pictures of Atlas, although never ones where he’s looking at the camera.
This time, it was a photo of dinner.It looked like salmon, rice, veggies, and a large chocolate muffin.Another text came in saying,What are you eating for dinner?
The smile that came to my lips was automatic.Sure, I texted Hannah every so often, but Oaks had been texting me every day.I was pretty sure my phone had never gotten so much use before.
“Oh, who’s texting you?”Hannah crawled closer, her face already lifted as she tried to sneak a glance at my phone.
“Just Oaks.”
“Your new boss?”That question came from Han.He was sitting behind Zeke, his fingers mindlessly rubbing over Zeke’s chest since the two were also together.I hadn’t realized Han had been listening to our conversation since his attention had been on the TV screen.You wouldn’t guess by looking at him that he was into sports considering he looked like he came from money.It probably didn’t help that he wore fancy slacks, a slim belt, and a thin black shirt that almost showed his skin through the fabric that had an actual logo on it.“What’s he texting you about this late on a Saturday?”
“Dinner,” I admitted.
Hannah frowned, her brows pulling together as she looked up from my phone to me.“Are you flirting with him?”
“What?Of course not.He has a pack.He has an omega.”I went through the older photos and found one of Atlas, showing her.“See.”
“I don’t know, Eve.It kind of seems like he’s flirting with you.”
I pressed the phone to my chest, hiding it from her gaze, like that would hide me from her scrutiny.My stomach was turning, the guilt at Hannah’s insinuation making me regret every text I’d sent.I didn’t want to steal Atlas’s alpha—not that I thought I could.Alphas needed omegas, not betas.I hadn’t meant to be inappropriate.I was just having fun.
“You think it’s weird?”I ask.
Hannah shrugged.“I don’t know.I’ve never had a boss.But I can say that if any of my alphas were texting an employee this late, about something not work related, they wouldn’t be spending the night in my nest.”
“That’s assuming they have a closed pack,” Han said.“Our pack is done growing.”
