Page 36 of Pack Deception: Part Two

We walk down the hall together, her side pressed right up against my leg in the most adorable and comforting way. Already switching into protector mode. Hudson is at the front counter, sliding his credit card when we join them. “All set?” he asks, putting the credit card back in his wallet and pocketing it.

“Yep. You?” Nala sits at my feet when we stop at the counter. Not even needing a leash. Though, I will get her one and a collar. Just in case.

“Yeah. Let’s get this lady home. We’ll have to stop at the pet store first.” The door chimes behind us, and a beta couple walks in. I glance at the clock on the wall. We’ve been here an hour. Which means they’ve been open for about thirty minutes. We finished up just in time. The couple walks up to the counter, and the woman loses her footing briefly, stumbling into my side and mumbling a quick apology.

But Nala growls at the lady and stands between us, making my eyebrows jump in surprise. The young beta woman who bumped into me takes several steps away from where my dog is growling at her.

“It’s like she knows she’s yours already,” Hudson chuckles in quiet surprise. I just drag a hand down Nala’s head, telling her it's okay until she settles down.

“That’s because she is. Sorry about that,” I murmur to the couple, who shrug it off with wary smiles. “Let’s go home, Nala.” Understanding exactly what I’m saying, she trots out the door of the shelter and hops right into the backseat of the truck when I open the door for her.

Settling into the front seat next to Hudson, he takes my hand, plants a sweet kiss on the back of it, and we drive off.

I can’t remember a time when I felt as happy and content as I do now.

Everything feels soright.

Famous last words, I guess.

Sixteen

Summer

We endedup getting way more than a collar and a leash at the pet store. In all the excitement of finally getting the puppy he’d been asking for for years, Hudson went a little overboard. The store allows you to bring your fur baby inside with you, so Hudson suggested we let Nala pick her own toys. Except any toy that she sniffed for longer than a passing glance, he picked up and put in the cart. Twenty-two toys. I counted each one that was dropped in.

Toys, leash, collar, dog food, dog bowls, and an overwhelming number of treats later, Hudson has decreed that wemightbe set. We’re almost home with a happy dog hanging out the half-opened window when my phone vibrates in my back pocket at the same time Hudson’s lights up with an incoming text. A message in the group chat.

“It’s from Mason,” I say out loud since Hudson is driving. I tap on my screen to see what it says. “It’s a screenshot. Mason, thank you for your interest in our Landscape and Wildlife Grant for emerging and unknown photographers. We have reviewed your portfolio and are pleased to announce… No freaking way! He got it!” I holler and turn to Hudson. His face is lit up, a blinding smile stretching across it as I reach over and smack his shoulder several times out of excitement. “He freaking got it! This is the best day ever. Oh, my Goddess. We need to celebrate. What’s his favorite food? Why don’t I know that already?”

“Take a breath, pretty girl. It’s probably a tie between Maverick’s chicken piccata and a nice steak and potatoes dinner.” He’s mocking me, chuckling at my excitement, but I couldn’t care less. Nothing is dimming the pride I feel for my mate.

“Well, seeing as how I’m not Maverick, let’s just do steak and potatoes. Can we make a quick stop at the grocery store? You’ll have to stay in the car with Nala while I get the food.”

“Uh uh. No way am I letting you go in alone. You stay in the car with the new guard dog. I’ll get the food.” His face is stern, daring me to argue.

“We both know Houston’s been tailing us since we left the house. I wouldn’t be alone, but fine. I’ll stay with Nala while you run the errands. Twist my arm.” He winks at me, not rising to my bait, and more than happy to do the shopping, it seems. Something Jade, but especially Connor and Brody, would not have been caught dead doing.

An omega’s duty.

The car is whipped into a spot close to the grocery store doors, and Hudson instructs me to lock the car behind him as he jogs inside, leaving me with Nala. But, just as I knew, a familiar black SUV pulls into a spot a few places down moments later, and the driver doesn’t get out to go into the store. I wave at Houston to let him know he’s not that sneaky, but the window is too tinted to see his response. Wells would have rolled the window down and made some silly face back at me, but not Houston. Something tells me I’ll never crack open his shell. That steel exterior that gives nothing away. Even if they’re employed by Pack Whitlock for a year, he’ll remain a mystery; I’d bet all the money in my now apparently sizable bank account.

Twenty minutes later, Hudson throws a dozen bags in the backseat with Nala–way more than we need for a steak and potatoes dinner–and we pull out of the parking lot to head home. On instinct, my eyes snag on the side mirror to watch Houston pull out behind us. But the SUV doesn’t move right away.

My brows furrow.

Weird.

We get all the way to the light where we’re turning onto the main road before I see the tail lights illuminate and the vehicle pulls out of its spot.

Only Brooklyn’s car is in the garage when we pull up to the house. Maverick texted to say he was taking Mason out for a few celebratory drinks before dinner, so it’s just the three of us until then. Well, four, if you are counting our new furry pack member. Excitement courses through me at the idea of introducing Brooklyn to Nala. A giddy sort of happiness that makes me want to let out a little scream or shake off some of the feeling.

I hop out of the car and open the back door. “Come on, Nala,” I coo, “Let’s go see your other mom.” When I reach in to grab some of the dozens of bags of food and dog supplies, Hudson stops me.

“I’ve got these, pretty girl. You go find Brooklyn. She’ll be more excited about a dog in her very clean house if you’re the one telling her.”

My head whips around to see if he’s serious. The grin on his face tells me I have nothing to worry about, but all of a sudden, nerves wrack me. What if she really isn’t happy with having a dog running about?

No part of me is capable of giving Nala up now that I’ve met her. Now that we’ve already bonded. So when we get inside, and I head through the house in search of my alpha, I turn to Nala trotting beside me and whisper, “You have to be on your best behavior, okay? No going to the bathroom in the house, no chewing up expensive pillows, or peeing on priceless rugs. Capiche?”

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