Page 109 of Verses and Blooms
We all piled out, Ares staying near the pump while the rest of us hurried inside.
Rydell stuck close to me, making it a bit easier to live in the moment.
“Who knew choosing candy could be so overwhelming,” I muttered, glancing around. I could barely remember the last time I’d had something sweet like this. Hell, I didn’t recognize half the brands at this point.
“Choices are hard, huh?” said a woman as she walked up next to me. She was an omega, her smile warm and open.
I smiled back. “I have no idea what to pick. It’s… a little overwhelming.”
She chuckled. “Want to know my trick? I grab something sweet, something fruity, something salty, and something savory. Covers all the bases. You’ll crave all of them eventually.”
She winked and walked off. That woman would likely forget me by morning, but she was the first person to talk to me who wasn’t paid to. She treated me like any other omega, and she had no idea what that meant to me.
Smiling, I followed her advice, picking four snacks and grabbing an armful of drinks.
“I grabbed quite a few,” I said when I returned. “Hopefully, someone likes something in this mix.”
“Same,” Ansel said, showing off his own collection that was twice as big as mine.
“Perfect. Let’s pay,” Ledger said with his own arms packed full. Not one of us bothered to hold back. Even Rydell had his own selection.
We piled everything on the counter, making the clerk’s eyes widen. He didn’t comment, just bagged everything up… five full bags worth.
Ares had finished fueling up when we got back out. Ledger handed out the bags, and I climbed into the back with Ansel while Rydell took the front seat this time.
Ansel and I snuggled together under a blanket Caspian tossed over to us.
“What about Lilly, Sara, and Paul?” I asked.
“Paul’s on standby,” Kane said. “He’ll meet us wherever we end up.”
“Same for Sara and Lilly. I’ll fly down for them if I have to.”
“So… where are we going?” I asked, half-expecting the answer to be ‘anywhere but here.’
“The chief offered me a position,” Ares said as he turned around to face us all.
“Did you accept?” Kane asked, just as surprised.
Ansel frowned. “Why was this a secret?”
“Not yet. And, it wasn’t exactly a secret. Things have just been crazy,” Ares said with a sigh. “Then it was something I just couldn’t let go. But, I will accept if this is the right path for us.”
Ares reached for a duffel bag, pulled out a folder, and handing it to Rydell.
“Oregon?” I asked, raising a brow. “That’s… random.”
“It’s a quiet assignment. One most agents wouldn’t want but might be perfect for us,” Ares explained. “There’s an omega-only homestead out there. We’d be there to preserve and protect them when alphas come sniffing around. I’m sure if they’re escaping shitty situations that plenty will pop up to keep us busy.”
He gave us the full rundown. The more he spoke, the more I liked the sound of it.
“I’d love to be involved,” Caspian said. “The more I think it over, the more I want to join the Alliance.”
“Same,” Ledger added. “But I have a few things to wrap up quietly. I’m giving everything I know to the feds. I don’t want my father knowing where I’m going.”
Ares nodded. “It’s a small town. Nature everywhere. They have a Christmas market and festivals for every season. The perfect place to raise a family.”
“Lilly will love it,” I said, smiling at Caspian.
