Page 50 of Pack Rivals, Part One

The three alphas lumber out of their seats and wait for me on the sidewalk.

As I climb out of my seat, my gaze sweeps over the three of them. I can see what Courtney means. It would be hard not to enjoy sex with men like these. Men who, despite everything I've heard about alphas, seem determined to please me.

My own hot appraisal is matched by their own; three pairs of eyes sailing down my figure and heating every inch of my skin. I have to stop and pinch myself because it seems pretty incredible that men like these – three men who have every female and several male gazes trained their way – would find someone like me attractive.

As if he's reading my mind, Silver takes my hand in his and shakes his head.

"Jesus, Bea but you are fucking beautiful."

And I'm tempted, severely tempted, to throw caution to the wind and follow all these omega wants and desires. To tell this alpha here and now to take me to bed. To have some fun and forget all about Karl.

But I know deep down in my battered heart that I can't do it. This heart of mine is too fragile. And as much as I wish I could, I can't separate the physical from the emotional. Take me to bed, shower me in kisses, tell me I'm beautiful and my heart will be yours.

I've always been that way and it landed me with heartbreak and humiliation.

I need to be more careful. I need to take this slowly.

"This has been lovely," I say as we stroll along the jetty and to the promenade that traces the curve of the beach, "but I have to be honest with you. I just got out of a horrible break up and then landed plum in all this omega chaos. I'm not ready to rush into anything new."

To my surprise, Angel plunges his hands into his pockets and says, "That's fine, sweetheart. You need time and space, we can give that to you. But," I peer up at him and those uncanny eyes, "I'm telling you now that this pack is interested in you." The others nod. "That isn't going to change."

"You hardly know me," I laugh.

"Doesn't matter. We know enough."

"Hmmm …" I peer out towards the horizon. Out there the sea isn't calm, it's alive and crashing with waves. "I might never want to date. I might decide I'm happy on my own."

Angel shakes his head. "No, it's not in an omega's nature to be alone. They crave company, touch and sex."

All three words have my stomach growling as if my body agrees and I'm hungry for all those things.

I shrug. "I guess we'll find out."

I halt and turn to watch the waves some more. There is something mesmerizing about it. The calm waters leading to the choppy.

"I understand now why people talk about the sea luring people to their deaths. It looks so inviting, doesn't it? But that riptide out there is lethal."

"It is," Hardy says. "You know about the ocean?"

"Today's the first time I've seen the ocean. Up close."

"You never swam in it before?"

"No."

"How do you know about riptides then, sweetheart?"

"Geography was my favorite subject at school. It would have been my major if I'd gone to college."

"Why didn't you go to college?"

My hair dances in the slight breeze that's blown up as we've walked further around the beach. I sigh and smooth my hands over it.

"Karl," I say.

"The ex-boyfriend?" Silver asks.

"Yes. He had a job straight out of school working for his dad's firm. If I'd gone to college, it would've meant moving away. I didn't want to leave him. He didn't want me to go. Stupid decision now in hindsight."

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