Chapter 12 & 13

Chapter 12

Talya

I awoke with a start and immediately had to catch my breath. There was one frantic moment when the weight on me felt like I was being restrained again. But then I heard Colby’s purr and immediately relaxed.

Everything was fine. I was safe. Colby was here.

“Okay?” he asked.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded and pushed further into him. But as the world around me came into focus, it felt too big. My skin itched as I tried to get even closer. I needed to be surrounded. To be closed in tightly. A shiver skittered down my spine.

Colby kissed the top of my head. “Don’t move,” he murmured before pulling away.

It took everything I had in me not to pull him back. My heart jumped and raced as I watched him sit up. He didn’t move for a minute and then he stretched his muscles, a groan escaping his throat.

My discomfort was momentarily forgotten as concern drew my brows together. “Colby?”

He looked at me over his shoulder and smiled. “I’m fine. I’ll be right back.” With that, he got to his feet. I watched as he moved through the room, opening drawers and doors. From the closet, he pulled what blankets were there and brought them to the bed.

Then he left the room, returning two more times with blankets and pillows. Anything soft and fluffy. I smiled as I nestled them all around me until I could finally release the tense breath caught in my chest. Much better. Not perfect yet but better.

Colby stripped his clothing and disappeared into the attached bathroom before crawling into bed with me again. He pulled my clothes off next, leaving us both in just underwear. We were too tired when we first laid down that nothing had come off. Not even our shoes. But finally, Colby stripped the dampening bracelets and his scent filled my lungs, making me salivate.

“Much better,” he growled, his hand and face burying in my hair.

As much as we both needed the connection of sex right now, and I could feel his heart racing as much as mine was – never mind that both of our scents gave our arousal away – what we really needed was just being together.

Not being watched or interrupted by doctors. No beta nurse judging an alpha and omega with jealousy. No hospital sounds and unfamiliar scents.

It was just us. And with that, we fell into a long, deep sleep.

So long, in fact, that it was late into the next day before I woke. I yawned, stretched, and curled back into Colby as his arms tightened around me.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice filled with sleep.

I nodded. “I feel almost human again. Except I need a shower.”

He chuckled. “Yep. I woke up remembering how many airports and plane seats we’ve been in.”

Even acknowledging that, we didn’t make an effort to move for a while longer. It was nice to just lay here and be. The things I’ve taken for granted over the years seem so small and trivial now. I’ve seen real horror and the worst part is, it wasn’t what happened to me.

Yes, that was terrifying, but nothing compares to feeling Colby’s pain and panic and not being able to get to him. I’ll get over my own trauma in time, but I’ll dream about feeling him in my chest, feeling what he’s going through, and being helpless to do anything about it.

When my stomach growled, Colby decided that was enough lounging around. We likely only slept so long because we’d eaten in the car on the way here. With one demand met, it was easy to let exhaustion overtake us.

We took showers, separately but neither of us left the bathroom until we were clean. Once dressed in what few articles of clothing we were given stuffed in the backpacks, we headed out into the hall.

The house sounded silent. Standing just outside the bedroom doorway, we listened for any sound. But none came.

Colby took my hand and led me to the stairs. I don’t think we were being quiet so that we’d not be overheard. At least, not consciously. But we were strangers here. Surrounded by betas and alphas, the presence of which were not comforting right now. Hell, as weird as it sounded, I think I’d take a house of omegas at this point.

The thought nearly made me snort. I must have let some sound out because Colby looked at me, raising a brow, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. I shook my head. Nothing at all to be concerned with.

Once on the main floor, we paused again. I was far too tired to have paid much attention. I’d be lucky if I remembered names this morning. Hopefully when I see them, I’ll remember. The only thing that I seemed to recall was a gorgeous alpha glare as he stood against the wall with his arms crossed.

Big alpha.

Oh! I hadn’t realized he’d caught my attention in that way.

Colby kissed the side of my head, a low chuckle that I barely heard.

“What?” I asked.

“Your perfume is all over the place this morning,” he commented. “What are you thinking about, omega?”

There was teasing in his voice. A low sultry purr that had me shivering and my panties getting wet. I frowned at him. “Thanks for that.”

This time his laugh was louder. He kissed my temple, pulling me into his side.

Our noise must have called attention to us. The beta who showed us around last night poked his head through a doorway with a wide smile. “Hi!” he said, his dark eyes flitting between us. “You’re finally awake. Everything okay?”

He was a little excitable. I smiled at the thought. Even as my nerves felt charged. Betas were no longer harmless.

“Fine, thank you,” Colby said. “Just hungry but could probably sleep for another three days.”

“I was thinking a week,” I said, looking at my alpha.

He met my eyes, a smile stretching across his lips. “Whatever you want.”

Kasen stepped out of the room. He was still smiling, his gaze constantly moving between us. “I’ll bring you to the kitchen.” He paused, his brows furrowing. “Unless you’d rather go on your own? I can stay here. Or… we can order food if that makes you more comfortable.”

“Kasen.” He jumped at his name, shifting to look with wide eyes at the alpha who stepped out of what I was sure must be the kitchen. He wore an open white button down over jeans and had one of those classically handsome faces. Lohtus, I thought, squinting. As if squinting would make me sure of his name.

“Relax, beta.” He looked at us, a soft smile on his lips as he moved from the kitchen to wrap an arm around Kasen. The beta sighed. “He just wants to make sure you’re not uncomfortable. Please forgive his rambling.”

Kasen nodded. “Sorry.”

I smiled, squeezing Colby’s hand as I looked up at my alpha. He was looking between the two thoughtfully, a subtle nod as he did. “No worries,” he finally said. “And the kitchen will do just fine. Please.” He gestured in the direction that Lohtus had stepped out of.

Lohtus’s lips twitched as he tried to keep his smile from growing. He nipped at Kasen’s ear before letting him go. I knew that gesture. Slight reprimand. It made them more human and relatable. I smiled a little easier.

Kasen’s smile was a little sheepish now as he gave us a shy smile. He awkwardly gestured for us to follow him and turned for the kitchen.

Now Lohtus let his amusement show as he shook his head. He moved to allow us to follow and then took up step behind us.

The kitchen was modern but filled with the same colonial charm as the rest of the house. And like the outside, it was primarily black and white, sleek lines with warmer wood tones at the table and a farm board covered wall behind the long counter.

“Um,” Kasen said, his gaze darting between us before turning back to the kitchen. “We have leftovers – casserole. It was good. Or there’s lots of things to make. Something easy like frozen meatballs or chicken wings and pierogies. I think there’s some dumplings or whatever in the freezer, too.” He trailed off as he tilted his head, thinking about it. His gaze flickered to us again and a slight flush tinted his cheeks.

Colby smirked, dropping my hand and wrapping his arm around my waist as we watched the beta’s sudden nervousness expand. He continued to tell us everything that was in the house. Everything. We were even informed that there was another bag of flour since the canister was getting low.

Finally, Lohtus took pity on him and shushed him with a kiss to his lips. “Good boy,” he murmured, and I visibly saw Kasen shiver. “Go see if anyone else wants lunch, yeah?”

“Okay,” Kasen answered quietly. He gave us another shy smile, his cheeks darkening with a blush once more, before disappearing out a back door.

We watched him go before Lohtus looked at us. “You said something last night that made him nervous about his presence around you. Not on his end but maybe that you’re not comfortable with him so while he wants to play host, he isn’t sure if being around him will upset you,” he explained.

Colby frowned. “What did I say? I’m sorry, I’m far too tired to recall the conversation.”

Lohtus lifted his hands. “No, it wasn’t offensive or anything like that. But he got the impression that you might not want a beta around.”

“Oh.” I looked at Colby. “You did say something off hand, I think.”

Colby closed his eyes. “I believe you. The last several days are a blur. I’ll apologize.”

“No, no,” Lohtus said, turning to the freezer and pulling out a large bag. “Not why I’m mentioning it.” He paused and we watched as he continued to pull items from the fridge and cabinets before turning on the oven. Then he stilled for a second, looking at us. “He’s not upset but he’s likely going to fall over himself trying to accommodate you while also going out of his way to make you comfortable and welcome here. He’s a good man.”

“He’s your beta?” I asked.

Lohtus gave me a smile, nodding. “He is. Almost since the day I was dropped here. All feral and pissed and nearly out of control.” He shook his head and busied himself around the kitchen. “His kindness and peace instantly settled me and really, I haven’t let him go since.”

“That’s both the same and not at all how I found Talya. I knew she was mine immediately when we met as teenagers,” Colby said, smiling fondly at me.

I shared his smile before looking back at Lohtus. He’d paused to watch us, his eyes on Colby. He licked his lips before moving back to preparing lunch.

“Sometimes you just know,” he agreed. “But anyway, you can put him at ease if you like.”

Colby smiled. “I’ll do that. I didn’t mean to upset him.”

“Upset who?” Blakely asked as he walked in, the other beta and an alpha on his heels.

I remembered Blakely for some reason but the others were escaping me, which I found funny since my gaze was drawn more to them then Blakely. Or Lohtus for that matter. And both that I didn’t remember their names, beta and alpha alike, were watching me. The alpha was all sorts of sexy and hell, so was the dark-skinned beta.

“Kasen,” Lohtus said.

“Ah.” Blakely looked at us. “I see you were subject to his nervous rapid-speak.”

Colby chuckled. “Yep. It’s adorable, actually.”

I raised a brow, finally tearing my eyes away from the alpha and beta pair to look at my alpha. He winked at me, kissing my forehead. I narrowed my eyes at him, making Colby chuckle.

“He is adorable,” Blakely said slowly. “Glad you recognize that he’s not just being… well…”

Colby laughed. “Not just being a beta.” He looked at the other beta, grinning at him.

The beta shrugged. “I get it but I’m weird. I don’t chase alphas.”

The alpha holding his hand grinned wickedly. “Of course, you don’t. Because you’re caught.”

They shared a look, and I didn’t miss the heat. I liked the easy conversation. How relaxed and companionable it was here. I sighed, leaning against Colby’s side. This is what a pack should be.

“Sit,” Lohtus said, nodding his head towards the table. “We’re relying on premade frozen shit right now for convenience since you haven’t eaten in almost twenty-four hours.”

Colby moved me towards the table and we took a seat. The alpha-beta pair joined us but Blakely moved to the kitchen.

“Where is our beta?” Blakely asked as he washed his hand.

“Since Ronan isn’t inside, I’m guessing he’s hunting down our grumpy bear,” Lohtus answered.

“His grump is just a front,” the alpha at the table told us.

What the fuck was his name?! That question basically slipped away as he turned a smile on me. Even I could smell my perfume spike. I took a deep breath through my mouth to focus on him. But not focus too hard that I acknowledged his nostrils flaring. Or the funny way the beta’s scent changed. That was curious.

“I’m pretty sure Ronan is a marshmallow,” the beta said, his voice low with a strange edge to it. He swallowed, pressing his lips together as he looked at his alpha.

The alpha laughed quietly, shaking his head. He turned to me. “Are you familiar with designation fluidity, Talya?”

I tilted my head a little. “In passing. Why?”

“Emerald is designation fluid. Meaning he’s biologically a beta but those markers are fluid. He has moments where he can go any which way – beta, alpha, or omega.”

I stared at Emerald (also glad to have a name for one of them) with surprise and interest. His dark skin prevented me from seeing a flush but based on his expression, I was sure he was.

“When his scent shifts like that, he’s responding to you in a way an alpha might. I’m explaining because I know it can be confusing and I want you to know that he’s not doing it on purpose.” He shrugged. “We’re all slaves to our biology to some degree and while he can mostly resist the urge one way or another, Em hasn’t had much call for the alpha side of him.”

“Have you the omega side?” I asked, leaning forward.

He smiled uneasily. “More so, yes.”

“With your alpha,” Colby said. It wasn’t phrased as a question but more a guess.

Emerald shook his but shrugged. “Yes, in the beginning when I first met Ainsley, it was hard to make that stop but I learned to. I don’t want to be wanted for something I can kinda, sorta be. I want to be me.”

“Arguably, you’re still being you when you’re presenting as an omega since it’s a unique part of being designation fluid,” Colby said. “You’re not acting or pretending or anything.”

“I’m not,” Emerald agreed. “And… I never thought about it that way.”

Ainsley (finally the last name!) grinned at Colby, nodding his appreciation at Colby’s words.

But Emerald was looking at me. “If you could switch off being an omega for a day, would you?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “No way. I like being me.”

He smiled, nodding. “I guess that’s the problem with me. I am a beta. So I kind of feel like I’m wearing another skin that doesn’t quite fit right when those pieces inside me shift.”

“But when you’re doing it without thought, that’s different,” I argued. “If my whining suddenly stopped working and I produced a purr instead, naturally in reaction to a situation, that’s different. It would still be me. However,” I paused, studying him, “I understand what you’re saying. It might feel a little… unnatural.”

Emerald smiled again. He reached across the table, covering my hand with his for just a second. In that second, the faint lemon of his scent bloomed brightly. My eyes widened, making his smile flash his teeth. “Very unnatural,” he agreed. “And a little startling at times.” He pulled his hand away, but the lemon remained pungent in the air. “That’s why I haven’t gotten it under control yet. I don’t have much experience with the alpha traits so it’ll take me a little while to get used to it enough to predict them and tame them.”

This time, I reached out and touched him. And when his lemon blossomed again, it was like a citrus tree was struck with lightning. “Don’t fight it on my account,” I said, my voice a little breathy from the scent suddenly surrounding me and making my hyperfocus on him. “I don’t mind. Only work on it if it bothers you.”

I didn’t miss the way either Emerald or Ainsley looked at me. And while Ainsley had managed to keep himself level, now his scent spiked, too. All sorts of yummy woodsy flavors and a hint of vanilla had me swallowing because my perfume just burst, too.

Beside me, Colby chuckled. 

Chapter 13

Colby

Maybe it should have bothered me the way this alpha and beta were interacting with my omega, but for the first time ever since we had begun interviewing packs, I watched as my omega just clicked with someone.

When we were looking at packs, the presence of betas wasn’t always a big deal. Just based on Talya’s experience with them, she tended to shy away from packs with betas. But having betas in a pack also spoke to the personality and character of an alpha. There was a balance we considered when looking at packs.

But that was all behind us now. We would not be accessing Pack Listing. In some ways, this was our last chance at a pack. And yet, they weren’t ours. That’s not why we were here.

Talya leaned back just as the wall of grouchy man stepped into the room with Kasen in front of him. They both stilled. Ronan’s nostrils flared wide at the suddenly more potent scents now hanging heavy like a fog while Kasen lifted his face into the air. His eyes darted around the room before he moved closer to Lohtus and Blakely.

“I can help?” Kasen asked.

“Turn the oven off,” Ronan said as his long legs took him across the room in a few quick strides. “Grill. We can start now.”

Lohtus did as Ronan instructed. Blakely shifted his attention to resealing the bags of frozen meat and sliding it down the counter towards Kasen. He waited while Ronan took out a bunch of glass containers that appeared to be marinated meats.

“Open the glass?” Ronan asked the table we sat at.

Ainsley nodded and slid from his chair. I watched, impressed, as the entire side of the kitchen opened up. Large panels of glass and wall accordioned together and pushed in either direction, leaving us a wide open view of the fields and closer, an impressive outdoor kitchen.

“Wow,” Talya said, looking at the landscape with big blue eyes. My chest gave a pang. I was so close to losing her.

Ronan headed outside as I turned to see what the others were doing. Emerald hadn’t left the table with us. He watched Talya with a soft smile though I was sure he didn’t realize he was staring. Lohtus, Blakely, and Kasen had shifted their cooking intentions as they rehomed some items in favor of others.

“We were planning to barbeque tonight,” Blakely said, looking up to meet my eyes. A smile touched his lips. And then his tongue did, too. “Thinking you’d be starving.” He pushed a plate towards Kasen and nodded in our direction.

Kasen froze for a second when he had the tray in his hands. He chewed his bottom lip before taking a breath and turning to look at me. His footsteps still hesitated but then he visibly made the decision to bring the plate. He set it carefully on the table in front of Talya and I before giving me a timid smile and hurrying back to the counter.

Yep, maybe I’d have to put him at ease. I watched him for a minute further before I looked at the plate. Talya had already picked up a cracker with spread on it and was munching away. My stomach gave a lurch. Shit, I was hungry.

For a moment I lost myself in stuffing crackers into my mouth while still making sure that Talya had plenty. When the plate was almost cleaned, I paused. Blinking at it.

Emerald laughed. “Eat the rest. There’s plenty of food.”

I wavered on that before ultimately, I finished off the plate with Talya. Kissing the side of her head, I picked the plate up and left the table, heading towards the kitchen.

Kasen paused when I got close, his cheeks heating again. I watched him, wondering if his alphas had it wrong. Maybe he wasn’t worried about what I’d said – whatever that had been. Maybe he was afraid. After all, I was an unknown alpha in his house.

Blakely guided him towards me with his hand on Kasen’s hip. The beta took a breath and approached, his hand out for the plate. I didn’t let go when he took it, and his eyes met mine.

“I was too tired to remember what I said last night but you can relax around me. I’m not going to bite,” I said. I’d both meant it as reassuring and teasing.

His eyes widened and he swayed before sucking in a breath and nodding. “I interpreted that betas aren’t always the better option,” he said. “So, I wasn’t sure if maybe my presence made you uncomfortable.”

“Ah.” I nodded, trying to remember what that conversation had consisted of. By the time we’d made it to a room, I’d barely heard what he was saying. Just his quiet, smooth voice that lulled me. Reminded me how very tired I was. And something about it said that I was perfectly safe to sleep with my omega.

But for all the effort, I still wasn’t sure what little bit I must have managed to say. And what I should say to alleviate it. Because no longer were betas safe. Not anymore.

I leaned closer, watching as Kasen’s expressive dark eyes widened again. He sucked in a breath, his patchouli and myrrh scent turning suddenly sweet like a spiced cake. Which only made his eyes wider. He took a step back, still not letting go of the plate.

Despite myself, I smiled. “I trust that you’re not going to hurt me or my omega, right?”

If his eyes got any wider, they’d bug out of his head. Besides us, the alphas paused, likely at what I asked.

“No!” Kasen said, shaking his head adamantly. “Never. I would never-”

I waved my free hand, calming his words. “Right. So then there’s no need to be worried about my comfort. You and I, we’re perfectly fine. Alright, Kasen?”

He swallowed and I could almost visibly see the questions bubbling in his eyes as he stared at me. He wanted to ask but even if I wasn’t supposed to ever speak about it again, it was far too soon. So for now, that’s all I was willing to say.

I released the plate and it nearly tumbled from his grip. My reflexes made me catch it as Kasen jumped, cringing away from it almost crashing to the ground. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

Chuckling, I offered it to him again. When he took it – with both hands this time – I let it go. He didn’t walk away as he studied me and then offered me a small smile. I smiled in return and watched as he slowly backed away before turning around the counter and breaking our eye contact.

Both alphas were smirking into whatever task they were doing. I leaned against the counter but looked over my shoulder, surprised to find Talya outside with the other three. She was standing close to the barbeque, close to Ronan, her arms wrapped around herself.

She was cold, I thought. I pushed off the counter and paused. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought Talya must be cold. But I was surprised when it was Ronan who shrugged out of his long sleeved shirt and draped it around Talya’s shoulders.

“Grumpy, indeed,” I murmured.

Behind me, the alphas chuckled.

“We’ve been wondering what it was going to take to draw Ronan out of the dark places in his head,” Lohtus said.

I watched for a few minutes more as my omega smiled shyly at Ronan. I caught the movement of her lips as she thanked him and the gruff alpha watched her with intense, dark eyes. But there was something soft in his expression, too.

“Just an omega,” I noted.

“Just the right omega,” Lohtus corrected.

I turned back to them, watching as they moved over chopping vegetables, cooking noodles and potatoes, mixing something in bowls. Kasen moved between the two of them, bringing them what they needed without being asked and taking things away, either to hold in the fridge or set aside for later. Both glanced up at me, relaxed, handsome smiles on their faces.

For a few minutes, I just watched them. Admired how the three of them cohesively moved through the kitchen and around each other. Sharing small touches, quiet words, and flirty banter. Never forgetting that I was there, but also not hiding what they are from me.

And what they are is together. The three of them.

I’m surprised at the tight feeling in my chest as I watch the way they interact. When you’re visiting packs, it’s always that they’re presenting a certain way. You can see it. In an effort to appeal to the visiting omega, they’re putting on a front.

These three aren’t pretending in the least. There’s nothing hidden or secret about how they relate or connect. The quick moments aren’t because they’re trying to keep it quiet in my presence but because they’re busy yet still need to stop for that little bit.

“What has you so deep in thought, alpha?” Lohtus asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

I shook my head. “Reflecting, I suppose.”

He smiled and was it… flirty? “Yeah?”

“Care to share?” Blakely asked.

“We’ve been searching for a pack for a long time but since Pack Listing was our only resource and the packs that sign up only want an omega, not an omega already bonded to an alpha, as you can imagine, those weren’t always positive experiences.”

The three of them watched me with the same expression. Surprise.

“Why?” Kasen asked.

I shook my head. “The stories I could tell you. But my reflection was more in watching you three together. Natural environment. There’s no ‘best behavior’ shit. You just are. And it made me think that if this was how packs actually presented to an omega instead of putting on a show, how much more smoothly would it go?”

A smile grew up Blakely’s lips. “You’re saying you’d choose us for your pack, alpha?”

He was teasing and yet, part of me was willing to say yes. Impulsive, perhaps. But when I glanced back at Talya sitting with Emerald as they watched Ainsley and Ronan, my omega with a smile on her face and relaxed… yes, I thought I would.

“There’s a lot of sick packs out there,” I answered instead. “A lot of disgusting alphas.”

“And betas,” Kasen said.

When I looked his way, he was spraying cooked pasta with cold water, cooling it down, so I wasn’t sure if his remark was something internal or directed at whatever comment I made last night. But I nodded anyway. “Yes, and horrible betas,” I agreed.

He flashed me a quick smile over his shoulder and already, I could see he was a little more relaxed. Taking a breath, I turned my attention back to the alphas. Once more, there were smiles on their faces as they worked.

“So, what’s the deal out here? Do we work? Get jobs in the town? How do we pay for necessities?” I asked.

Lohtus shook his head, but it was Blakely that answered. “Nah, we don’t do anything official since being a legal employee somewhere would make us easier to find. Having a paper trail and accounts of our presence. We work the land and sell for cash only. Most of our basics are provided for from those who dumped us here. They also take care of the employees who work the farm.” He gestured behind me towards the outdoors. “We oversee them but have very little interaction. Whatever we make from side jobs or selling what we harvest, we use for whatever we want.”

I nodded, narrowing my eyes. There wasn’t one thing about that explanation I liked. Whatever expression I gave them made Lohtus laugh.

“Yes, it takes some getting used to,” he said. “For more immediate necessities, I think you and I are probably similar in build so I’m happy to lend you clothing. I’ll show you to my room later and you can have at my closet.”

Did I watch the way he licked his lips after the offer? Yep, sure did.

“And Kasen is the smallest of us so he’ll be happy to lend some clothing to Talya until we can get her a wardrobe,” he said.

“I’ll wash them first,” Kasen offered. “So she doesn’t have to wear my scent. I know how itchy it can be wearing a stranger’s scent after… Uh, finding yourself in a new place surrounded by people you don’t know.” He stopped and tensed. Then blew out a breath, pausing as he set glasses on a tray and began pouring lemonade in them. “Sorry. I’m really conscious of saying something wrong now.”

“It seems that we’re all here with a common background, even if the event that brought us here isn’t the same,” I said. “So it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“No, I know that.” He picked up one of the glasses and looked at me. “It’s just… it’s been a while for me. It doesn’t ever go away but I know when I first got here, any little reminder kind of- made me fall again.”

I tracked him as he came around the corner and set the glass in front of me. Being careful not to startle him, I rested a hand on his forearm before he could back away. His eyes trained on my hand before he met my eyes.

“Thank you for that consideration, Kasen,” I said, rubbing my thumb against his skin. His breathing stuttered. “And while I think you’re likely right and there’s going to be something that triggers a reaction inside me, you don’t need to walk on eggshells for me. I’m alright. Talya’s alright.”

He chewed his lip and my eyes dropped to the motion. Letting it go, his tongue slid over it before the corner of his lips pulled up a little. Somehow, I managed to force my eyes to his.

“Okay,” he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper. “I can do that. Probably.”

I grinned, letting my hand slide down his arm to his hand where I squeezed briefly before letting him go. Kasen didn’t move for a minute, but then he took a quick step back as if he forgot what he was doing.

Giving me a smile, he moved into the kitchen and took the tray of glasses outside. I watched him. Watched as he smiled down at Talya and offered her a drink. And Emerald. Then moved on to the two alphas.

“He’s a good man,” Blakely said quietly.

I nodded as I watched him talk to the four outside. There was a difference in their interaction than that between him and the alphas in the kitchen. It occurred to me that they may be pack but pack meant something specific here. It wasn’t a complete share. Yet, there was fondness and family there. Deep caring for one another.

Exactly what I imagined a pack should be.

“He seems it,” I said. Which is a little funny to me. I never thought I’d look at a beta with anything other than loathing again in my life. But here we are. Loathing was far from what I was feeling.