Page 54 of Impossible

“Oh wow. Is that normal?”

“What? For a pack to renege?”

“Yeah.”

Kennedy is laughing at something Jared said—he’s smirking, but even that half-smile doesn’t reach his eyes. He has a cutting sort of beauty to him, all angles and sharpness.

“It happens more often for pack-born omegas than us. Their birth-packs try to make political alliances using their omegas as bargaining tokens, so it isn’t always love-matches. That’s what happened with Kennedy. She moved in with them ahead of her first heat and two weeks later they sent her back.”

“So she’s already had a heat?”

“Oh yeah. A few. She’s on rotation. Pissed about it too. Now she’s making her move for Anderson pack, as you can see, but they haven’t even bonded yet, so she’s going to have to wait a while.”

Jared isn’t even looking at Kennedy anymore. Bonding seems to be the last thing on his mind. Kennedy is trying to join him in his lazy survey of the commons, but her eyes keep flicking to his. Both of his packmates are watching her though. But they also look to him before and after every word they say. He’s clearly the Pack Alpha, and a forceful one if their submissive behavior is any indicator. It’s a strange portrait to take in.

I see Kennedy in a new light, knowing she’s already had a heat. She seems so confident and at ease, even after Jared’s seeming rejection. I try to imagine her naked, needy and enslaved by her hormones. I flush. I can’t do it.

“Indie! What the hell happened to you?”

Shawn comes jogging over, Jake and another alpha tight on his heels. Cecilia turns bright red next to me when she sees them, locking her eyes in her lap.

“Oh, nothing,” I wave. “Are you Brian?”

The third alpha of Shawn’s pack is cute, with his natural hair adding an extra few inches to his already admirable height. He has the same mischievous eyes as Shawn, twinkling like he’s in on some joke nobody else is.

“That’s me,” he smiles, holding his hand out. “I was in the back of the stampede on Friday, I like to think it was because I kept more of my senses, but honestly I think I’m just out of shape. Anyway, I wanted to get my apology in as well. But what did you do? This wasn’t us, right?” he gestures at the chair and I can’t help but smile.

“No, all me. That hill is not my friend. I just tripped and fell, nothing special. Have you guys met Cecilia?” Cecilia lets out a squeaked choking noise when I gesture to her.

“Hi,” she barks, keeping her eyes buried on her lap.

“Hi,” Shawn grins.

“You’re in pre-calc with me!” Jake grins. “I knew I recognized you. Sorry we’ve never said hi before.”

“It’s fine.” Cecilia couldn’t be any redder if she tried. “No big deal. Honestly.”

“Well, I was on my way over, want to walk together?” Jake points at a building behind him that I’m guessing is where math is.

“I uh, have to take Indie to her first class.”

“No sweat, I’ll save you a seat. You always sit in the front, right? Maybe your attention span will rub off on me and I can actually get an A on a test or something. Get these guys off my back.” He elbows Brian and Shawn good-naturedly.

“Please help him,” Brian deadpans. “I thought pre-calc was horrid enough one time around. Having to re-learn it to tutor his lazy ass is the worst.”

“Oh.”

“Cecilia is super smart,” I cut in, watching her cheeks turn redder than her hair. “She could definitely tutor you, Jake.”

Her eyes go wide, and if I weren’t in a wheelchair, I know she would have kicked me beneath the table.

I can’t help it though; watching Jake flirt with Cecilia is cute. The way Brian and Shawn look on is almost indulgent, but I don’t miss them evaluating Cecilia a little more closely as their packmate expresses interest. Cecilia doesn’t notice at all, her eyes still fixed firmly on her hands in front of her. Her apple orchard scent is sharp and pungent. She’s reacting to them, I realize. I’m unsure what to do; is this a spike, or is it normal? Shawn and Brian don’t seem concerned—I can smell them too. Brian mixes nicely with his pack—something sharp and fragrant, maybe sandalwood. It offsets Shawn’s sandy beach and Jake’s clean air linen.

Jake jogs off, then Shawn and Brian wave their goodbyes and Cecilia and I are alone again. She sags, putting her head in her hands.

“Are you ok?” I ask. Jared and his pack are thankfully gone.

“I’m just… oh my god. Did yousmellthem?”

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