Page 36 of Pack’s Pledge

“I meant to drink,” I said, and the dreamy look in her eyes would have been annoying on another night, but tonight, I just laughed. “But I like your style. I like a girl who knows her worth, who knows what she wants and goes out and takes it.”

An alpha approached–one of her three, if I had to hazard a guess–and the two of them, flirting outrageously, reminded me of Beau and Adrian. I’d met Adrian right here, too, I thought, smiling to myself as I filled three pint glasses with non-alcoholic beer and passed them over to the alpha, who disappeared off with them. Was he their pack leader, I mused? He didn’t seem the type. But then again, neither was Conall.

I lost myself in thoughts of him as I fixed a pomegranate sunrise martini, my hands going through the motions automatically. Even as he’d whispered my name in my ear last night, it was hard to believe we were together—that Conall, who had filled every dream of mine for so many years, wasmine.

And being with him was even better than I’d ever hoped.

I didn’t want to wait any more. I wanted him. Beau had whispered filthy things to me during our nights together, about Conall, about Adrian, and I wanted to see for myself.

The omega’s eyes widened as I set the drink before her—graceful layers of peach and red—and shoo’ed her towards her alphas. “Go get ‘em, girl,” I said, and she grinned, then gracefully shimmied off her stool, leaving her martini behind.

“Wait, your drink!” The omega turned back to the bar with a devilish smile on her face, and her next words sounded so much like Beau that I burst into laughter.

“Thanks, but… on second thought, I don’t think I’ll be here long enough to drink it. I’m taking them home with me, and I’d hate to make them wait.”

I watched as she walked off, a sway in her hips that I knew would have hypnotized any alpha she set her sights on.Good for her.

“Should I be worried that you’ve developed a taste for omegas, now, baby?”

The familiar voice was low, yet the shiver that ran up my spine and into the base of my neck… I would recognize that feeling anywhere.

“Beau,” I breathed, as his hand crept across the bartop to grasp mine for a moment before he winked and released me with a sly smile. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home?”

“So they told you, did they?” he asked, and shook his head as I began my apology. “It’s fine. I should have mentioned it, but…” he leaned over the bar, purring suggestively, “we werepreoccupied.”

I wrinkled my nose, and he stood, straightening up so he appeared lessseductive omegaand more like just another handsome man at a bar. The corner of my smile twitched.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself,” he said, and although his smile hadn’t changed, his eyes were hard. Adrian and Conall were right: hereallydidn’t like being coddled. Still though…

But no. His alphas were here, and Ardor was safe. I wouldn’t press. Instead, I just asked him what he wanted to drink.

“Youknow,” he said, and I blushed. “You think anyone comes here to drink mocktails? Britt, I just want to tasteyou.”

“I’m working,” I said, but I sounded weak even to myself.

“Mmm, yeah,” Beau agreed, “but why don’t you take a little break and meet me in the bathroom, baby?”

He leaned across the counter toward me, and even under the bar light, he was glowing, even more gorgeous than usual. His eyes were wide and dark, his breath sweet, and I found myself nodding. “Five minutes?” I said, and he smiled, white teeth sinking into his full lower lip.

“Five minutes. Furthest bathroom. Fuck, Britt, I can’t wait.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

Conall

I would knowthat scent anywhere.

“Do you–”

“Why the fuck–” Adrian said, then stopped. I’d steered us away from the bar where Britt was trying to work, and now we sat together in a booth watching the alphas on the dance floor flirting clumsily with the omegas in attendance tonight.

Including, apparently, Beau.

“You feel it too,” I said. “What is he doing here? He should be home. Resting.”

Adrian gave me a flat look. “While we’re here with Britt? Sure.”

Fuck. He’d told us to leave, that he’d be fine, but maybe we’d miscalculated. Adrian and I should have gone to a different bar, maybe, or to a movie or something. Not here, where Britt was.

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