Page 124 of Pack Rivals, Part One

"I can't choose!" I blurt out.

"You can't choose what to do or–"

"I can't choose between them." I peek over the rim of my cup at my aunt and cousin trying to read their expressions.

"Rewind. Who exactly are we talking about here? Because you know with a pack, you get to keep all of them, you lucky bitch."

"No," I chew my lip, "I can't choose between the packs."

Courtney collapses back against the sand. "That's such a nice problem to have."

"No, it's not," I shriek. "I don't want to be a Suzy Floozy."

"Why not? Being a Suzy Floozy sounds a lot of fun."

"Courtney! Help me. What am I going to do?"

"Hang on," my aunt says, "you've decided that you would like one of these packs?"

"Maybe … possibly … at least for my heat. Then I could see where things go next. But if I spend a heat with one pack that will pretty much blow my chances of ever getting together with the other."

"Why?" my cousin says. "Couldn't they all be persuaded to get along?" My aunt nods as if that could actually be a possibility.

"Courtney, you were there when Axel found out who had organized our new apartment, right? Do you seriously think they'd ever get along?"

"No." Courtney shudders. "Yeah, maybe you're right."

We're all quiet for a moment. I wiggle my toes into the white sand until they're completely buried under the cool grains. Is it possible that I already miss the presence of those men? Their company, their comforting presence and their mouth-watering scents.

"You must have a preference?" my aunt finally says.

"No, not really."

At breakfast I'm convinced Pack York is the sexiest bunch of men alive. By lunchtime, I know it's Pack Boston. But when tea time rocks up, I'm back to Pack York all over again.

This isn't me. I'm not a heartbreaker. I'm not a man-eater.

I've been with one man and one man only all my life.

Yet, here I am dreaming about six.

"How did you choose?" I ask my aunt.

She lowers her wine glass, balancing it on her thigh.

"I didn't."

"Oh my god," Courtney gasps.

"No," my aunt shakes her head and waves her hand. "That's not what I meant. I meant, it wasn't a choice in that I met my pack and boom."

We're quiet again. Then Courtney repeats slowly, "Booom."

"Yes, boom. And that was that."

"You …" I hesitate. "You never wanted to find another pack after you lost them?"

"No," my aunt says resolutely. "They were my one and onlys, my forevers, my soul mates. It was them and only them."

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