Page 122 of Pack Rivals, Part One

Which, given the way my stomach keeps cramping and my temperature spiking, has turned out to be a sensible decision.

It also gives me a chance to work out what I'm going to do next. And when I say what, I mean who.

"Doctor Hannah says my heat's approaching quickly now," I tell both my aunt and cousin as we leave the city's metropolis and join the freeway out towards the coast.

"Obviously," Courtney says. "You reek, Bea. No wonder those men weren't keen to let you go."

Although they had, hadn't they? An act I thought alphas were meant to be incapable of? I thought they were all contained arrogance, dominance and violence. I thought they were meant to rule their omegas with a fist. I thought their word was law.

Not these men though. They've been respectful, kind and patient – if you don't count the little lies.

So much nicer than Karl ever was to me – and a billion times sexier too.

"Doctor Hannah also says I need to make arrangements."

My aunt tuts her tongue. "I've been telling you that for weeks, Bea."

"She hasn't been ready," Courtney says, resting her hand on my shoulder. "But are you now, Bea?"

Am I? I've been reeling off this long list of reasons why I can't date, why I shouldn't see these men, why I should endure my heat alone. Now I'm wondering if the real reason – the one deep down that's been holding me back – is fear.

I'm frightened. Frightened of being hurt again. Frightened my life will come toppling down all over again. Frightened my heart can't take a second battering.

"I think," I say, wishing I sounded more confident, "it's time I threw caution to the wind and embraced this whole situation."

Maybe it's about time I let the wind carry me where it wants, too. About time I let the omega inside me have her way. About time I follow my heart. Because I'm falling for these men. I've tried my darn hardest not to. It's happened anyway.

Is it any wonder? These men are like gods stepped down from Mount Olympus to sweep me off my feet.

I'm only human, only mortal, and their scents, their charm, their dazzling eyes, are all too much for me to handle.

Every moment I'm with them I'm weakening further, finding it harder and harder to resist their powers.

"Brilliant," Aunt Julia says. "That is a relief. I really couldn't stomach the idea of you going through your first heat alone and especially at such an old age."

"Thanks," I mutter, then peer from my aunt to my cousin. "But …"

"But what?" Courtney asks me with suspicion as Missy rumbles down a track and stops outside a small bungalow with a view of the beach and the sea.

For a moment all three of us stare transfixed as the foamy water tosses against the white sand, sending spray high into the sunlit sky.

Then I swallow.

"There's still a problem."

A very big problem. A two-pack shaped problem.

"Let's discuss it once we've unpacked," my aunt suggests, and together we grab the bags and carry them inside. We have two full shopping bags with us too because Nate insisted on donating half the contents of their fridge to us. He didn't want us to 'starve'. Despite my aunt's reassurances, he wouldn't believe there was a market all the way out here.

There isn't much to see in the cozily decorated condo, so when we're done unloading, Aunt Julia insists on taking us down to the beach with a bottle of wine and a packet of chips.

"It's so beautiful out here," I murmur, entranced by the pull of the sea and the sun low in the sky, painting the crests of the distant waves golden. The breeze smells of salt – no gasoline and drains out here – and tastes fresh and untainted. "I don't understand why you don't live here permanently."

"I've been tempted," my aunt says. "But I'd miss my friends and city life too much."

"I don't think I would," I confess.

Courtney knocks her shoulder against mine. "I thought you were all for the city life. I thought you were loving it."

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