Page 13 of Pack’s Pledge

“Given my understanding of the situation,” she groaned, and slumped against the passenger seat. “Which was incomplete.” She huffed out a laugh. “I guess Adrian and Conall knew what was going on instantly, and what, Adrian went for the car, Conall waited in the wings?”

“Got it in one.” I shook my head. “This is the best way to manage these… incidents. It’s less dangerous,” I said. “No confrontation.”

“Between alphas,” Beau clarified, as she opened my mouth, her expression indignant. I knew what she wanted to say:No confrontation, my ass.It was always a confrontation, even if it didn’t devolve into a fist fight.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have–”

“No.” It was Conall, the first words he’d said since we’d felt Beau’s signal and, with a nod, we’d scattered to our positions: me to the car, him to the sidelines, where he would be there in a split-second if Beau needed him. Mostly, Beau could protect himself, and preferred to. I respected him for it. “Don’t apologize,” he said, and the roughness in his voice surprised me.

I felt over our bond, seeking him out, knowing already what I would find: that same intense desire from the bar.Who was this woman?I quirked an eyebrow at him. I knew he couldn’t read my mind, not likethat, but we’d been friends and roommates and shared a bond via Beau, for long enough.

“She’s just as I remember,” he murmured to me, and I knew she heard, because I saw her sharp intake of breath out of the corner of my eye.

The atmosphere in the car went from fire to ice as she turned to face forward in her chair.

“That’s right,” she said. “I’m not the one who changed. I never was.”

CHAPTERELEVEN

Britt

The car wasquiet as they drove me the blocks to my apartment complex. Adrian followed my instructions without question, and soon we were leaving the glossy high-rises behind and returning the comfortable grit nearer to Ardor. I’d called the club, letting them know to keep an eye out for a trio of alphas asking for Britney, named Ronan, Jack, something like that.

“Lemon,” Beau had said. “Patchouli, I think, or something earthy at least. And…” he had scrunched up his nose, remembering. “Smoke? Charcoal?”

I hadn’t even thought of that,I’d realized, and nodded gratefully before relaying the information. Between the names and the scents, we had enough–more than enough–to cross reference with the Heat Center. They wouldn’t be bothering any omegas any time soon, not atmyclub.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said, as we slowed to a stop. “It was nice meeting you all.” I squeezed my eyes tight for a moment.Nice.What a meaningless word. I pushed open the car door and hopped down, then looked back at Adrian. He was looking at me intently, an unidentifiable expression on his handsome face.

“It was nice to meet you, too, Britt,” he said.

I barely noticed that Conall was beside me on the sidewalk until I heard his car door slam shut.

“Britt.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his dress pants, and for a moment, he looked so much like the slightly-awkward boy I’d known that my heart ached: his straight brows and serious mouth were stony, but in his eyes was a hint of the sheepishness I’d thought I’d seen from him, back then. When we’d been alone, on occasion, and I’d fooled myself into believing that maybe, maybe, this would be the moment, the time he would finally kiss me… “It was nice seeing you again.”

I wanted to laugh. And also cry.

“Yeah,” I said, crossing my own arms. “Nice seeing you.” I hesitated, then shrugged, letting my hands fall to my sides. “You have a good pack. Take care of them.” His mouth twisted. “Bye, Conall.”

“No, wait, Britt,” he said, and his hand clamped around my wrist, pulling me to a halt. His skin on my felt searing hot, and I flinched before turning once again to face him. He let go slowly, deliberately. “I know it’s been a long time, but… Come to dinner with me. Please. Tomorrow night?”

“I can’t,” I said. Friday night was my biggest night of tips. “I have to work.”

“Oh,” he said, like he had forgotten where he’d found me. At my job. That I did for money. Money he clearly had, based on the luxury car he drove, the watch at his wrist. He’d really grown into himself, Conall.

“Yeah.”

“Then… Well, when’s your first night off? Or, do you still like caramel macchiatos?” His smile was tentative, hopeful. I did–I chugged down the black swill in the staff room only begrudgingly–but I didn’t want to admit it. “I can take you for coffee, if you’d prefer. But I don’t mind waiting for dinner. I know you have to work a lot of nights, but we could go on Tuesday for all I care, I just–” he caught his breath, clamped his mouth shut. “I want to see you. Please. If you can find time for me.”

I knew I shouldn’t. I didn’t know this man, this Conall with the watch and the pack and the car and the–theomega.

But I’d always been too soft when it came to him, so I nodded.

“Sunday,” I said. “I’m off Sunday.”

The smile that lit upon his face was so,soConall, and my heart skipped a beat.

“Thank you,” he said, then, “Seven?”

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