Page 117 of Pack Rivals, Part One

Ha. That is going to be us.

The day's a scorcher, haze hovering over the sidewalks, sun high and hot.

I call the omega as I drive through the sweltering city.

"How's your day going, sweetheart?" I ask her, when she answers. "Missing our run?”

"Yes," she admits. "Axel won't let me go on my own and I haven't been able to convince any of his pack to come out with me."

I smile to myself. One point in our favor.

"I'll take you out running as soon as I've moved you into your new place. I'm heading over now. Going to show you all the details. You're going to love it."

"You're coming over here?" she says, clearly unsure about that idea.

"Yeah, that's not a problem is it? Pack York won't mind, I'm sure."

Her voice drops a tone and when she speaks it's like she's a school teacher telling off her naughty student. Fuck, seems I like that. "I think you know they will."

"Why? They keeping you a prisoner up there in their tower? Do I need to come rescue you, princess?"

I practically hear her eyes roll. But she doesn't like the idea of us alphas curtailing her freedoms. I have a feeling someone tried that gig before and she doesn't want it to happen again. Fine by me. I'm not one of these dudes who's interested in locking up their omega.

"I'll come meet you at the coffee shop at the bottom of the building," she says.

"I don't want you walking around on your own," I tell her, as I stop at a red light, drumming my fingers on my open window. A woman in the car next to me catches my eye and smiles. I look away.

"I can catch the elevator to the bottom of the building on my own without any harm befalling me," she says.

"Silver thinks whoever broke into your apartment was a professional. Someone smart. Someone devious."

"What?"

"We're going to need you to be extra vigilant until we get this sorted for you." She's quiet for a moment and I let her soak up that information. "I'll call you when I'm there, okay?Thenyou can come down in the elevator."

She agrees and ten minutes later I'm waiting for her in the lobby building. I tap my foot. I don't know how long it's going to be before some security guard tries to throw me out. I'm not exactly welcome in Pack York's building.

Luckily, the doors slide open a minute later and she comes skipping out. The sun streams through the lobby doors and frames her in a golden light, her amber eyes ethereal. She looks otherworldly. Something I'd find it hard to capture with my hand. Something I'm doubly sure I'd never want to chain up or pin down.

"Hi there, sweetheart. Looking beautiful."

She's wearing a summer's dress. All light and floaty and flimsy as hell. The thing wouldn't last two seconds in my hands. I lean down to kiss her cheek, sucking in her sweet scent.

"Hi," she says back.

I take her hand in mine. "I was thinking it's too nice a day for coffee. How about milkshakes?"

There's a place around the corner, somewhere I won't be frogmarched out of.

"Sounds good. I haven't had a milkshake in forever."

"They're the proper ones." I swing our arms as we walk together. "Made with real ice cream. Not that gloopy shit you get in the fast-food restaurants."

"We made all our milkshakes with real ice cream back at the diner."

"Glad to hear it. I wouldn't have been able to see you again otherwise."

She giggles, the sun catching the strands of her hair. "You have high standards."

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