Page 121 of Pack Rivals, Part One

"It was very kind of you letting us stay last night," I begin, "but we can't impose on your hospitality indefinitely. We need our own place."

"So you're not happy to accept my hospitality, but you are happy to accept Pack Boston's?"

"It's not like that," I explain. "It's their aunt's place and it won't be costing them anything. In fact, I'll be sort of house sitting the place for them."

Axel snorts. "Bullshit."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm saying that's all bullshit. A story to get you to move into their apartment."

"They won't be living there."

"It'll still be theirs," he says, those gray eyes turning dark like storm clouds.

"They said it used to belong to their aunt."

"They're lying to get you to move in," Nate repeats.

I scowl at him. "Like you lied to get me to that party last night."

He opens and shuts his mouth; his biceps flex against his chest.

"If you want your own place.We'llrent you somewhere," Connor intervenes. "Somewhere close by in case you need us."

"I don't need babysitters. I don't need …" I can feel my temperature creeping upwards again and I peer at Courtney in alarm. "Maybe we should just go back to our own apartment."

"Nope," all three men say in unison and I stare at them in dismay.

"Then what am I meant to do here?"

"I might have an idea," Courtney says, eyes flicking around the four of us in amusement.

"Really?" I ask hopefully. I need to work out what I'm going to do about this coming heat and I can't do that when they're lined up in front of me like some sex-god Buffet.

"Uh huh. Aunt Julia has a beach condo she said I could use if I ever needed to–"

"A beach condo," I murmur, the idea already appealing to me.

"I never took her up on the offer because it's a drag into the city. But I'm sure we could manage."

"It doesn't sound safe," Axel says, shutting it down.

Courtney grins at me. "It is. Aunt Julia's an omega. It's set up with an alarm system, security cameras, the lot."

"I don't like it," Axel growls.

Which pretty much makes up my mind. I don't belong to these men. I don't belong to anyone and I sure as hell don't want to give them the impression that I do.

Besides, it's on the beach!

I could run along the shore every morning.

"Well, I do," I say, ignoring three sharp scowls, "will you ask her, Court?"

* * *

An hourlater we're riding out to the beach, Aunt Julia driving us all in Missy. It seems Pack Boston were also unhappy about our move out to the beach. And, though both packs offered to drive us when I made it clear I wasn't backing down, Courtney and I decided Aunt Julia would be a more rational choice of transport.

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