Page 26 of Pack Rivals, Part One

My skin is flushed pink and covered in a fine coat of sweat. Yet, I don't smell bad, if anything I smell really damn good.

I roll my neck.

Omega? Me?

I can't wrap my head around it. My world already tipped upside down the day Karl left me standing at the altar. Alone. Now I realize that was a minor earthquake. Nothing but a tremble. Because now I feel like someone grabbed hold of my world, flipped it upside down and shook it hard, shook it hard so all the loose parts broke free.

What I thought I knew about myself, who I thought I was, it's all wrong. It's always been wrong.

Six months ago, I assumed my destiny was to be a housewife back home in quiet Naw Creek. Just a beta like everyone else. Happy with my quiet life.

Today I have a man who owns a yacht knocking on my door wanting to … what? Get to know me? Knot me?

I stare down between my legs. A knot. I mean, I know what one is but I've never seen one before. Some of the girls at school used to google them and giggle about it. I never looked. The idea grossed me out.

It still does, but it also has my insides tingling with curiosity and temptation.

Oh god!

I slam on the shower and stand underneath the cool water.

When I emerge fifteen minutes later, I feel more like my old self.

People receive new medical diagnoses every day. I'm nothing special. This doesn't have to change me or my life if I don't want it to.

Back to the plan.

Find a job.

But first get rid of the two brick-houses guarding my front door.

I march to the counter and pick up the business card the alpha who carried me home last night left behind.

Silver Boston.

The card smells like the sweater I was wearing earlier and I have to resist really hard not to lift it to my nose and take a super deep inhale.

Because damn, it smells like the earth.

I shake my head and concentrate on the numbers running below his name. I punch them into my phone, disappearing into my tiny bedroom so I can't see Aunt Julia and Courtney's faces while I make this call.

"Silver Boston" a deep voice answers after three rings. A voice that has my skin tingling in a ridiculous way.

Is this what being an omega is going to be like? My body ruled by all these involuntary reactions.

"Oh, hi." I clear my throat. "This is Bea. You, errr … you helped me home last night."

"Bea," he says, my name seeming to purr around his mouth. I swallow a whimper. Where the hell did that noise come from? If I can't even talk to an alpha on the phone without turning into mush, how will I handle coming across one face to face? "How are you feeling today, baby girl?"

Baby girl! What the hell? Did we … did we do something last night? I rack my memory. Everything is a hazy blur. But Courtney said my new friend Ellie had been glued to my side and looking out for me. I think I'm safe.

Then again, if he called me baby girl to my face, in my hormone-drunk state last night, I'm not sure I would have been able to help myself from … what exactly? Humping his leg?

I rub the back of my hand along my brow. Jeez, it's hot in here.

"I'm fine, thank you," I reply in my best customer voice. Thank goodness all those years working in the diner proved good for something. "Except not very happy about the two men you've placed outside my door. I'd like you to remove them."

"They're there for your protection."

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