Page 67 of The Packaged Deal
Hazel bursts into laughter. “All right, this might be more fun than I thought. Scarlet was right when she told us to suspend our judgments.”
I peer at the omega and silently thank Scarlet for giving me a chance. The black-haired alpha has really done me a solid here. Not sure if I can work this in my favour, but at least I’ve got some room to move.
I realise that I want this desperately for Kandi. For her to have her friends, this family she’s created. I don’t want her to have to choose between us. But, god, do I want her to choose me.
So, I force a smile on my face. “So, Hazel, how did you meet your pack?”
Hazel gets into the story, which morphs into Onyx telling her story. I listen in confusion and growing awe.
As Onyx wraps up, I glance at Grayson and shudder. He’s one hundred, thousand percent not someone I would want. He’s too stuffy. All at once, I feel this pang inside me.
“What is it?” Kandi whispers to me.
“I miss Adrian and Sven.”
She laughs.
Grayson parks the car, and I trail after the foursome, still feeling like a fifth wheel. Kandi glances back often, her eyes shining.
I try to muster a smile for her, but this is not at all like shopping with my pack. We go into a dress store, and when I see the price tags; I wheeze.
“Kandi, I can’t afford this,” I whisper, my cheeks flaming with heat. My skin prickles, and I wonder if there are any liquids that I might accidentally spill. Please, let them have omega proofed it!
“You can.”
“No, I really can’t. Let’s just go somewhere else.” I tug at her arm, but she refuses to move. I ignore everything she says until she finally grunts and stops talking.
Kandi pulls out her phone and mutters something into it. A moment later, it’s shoved into my hands.
“Baby, let me do this for you. Let me buy you a dress and show you off,” Adrian purrs. “Please?”
The cool and reassuring tones of my alpha calm the panic in my chest. He’s so dreamy. I look up and spot myself smiling faintly. He wants to take care of me. I feel giddy. He wants to give me pretty things? Like an alpha looking after his omega?
He wants me. I close my eyes so I can feel this whole feeling with no distractions.
“But-” I try to protest.
“I don’t have anyone to buy presents for. and I don’t want to go to this dinner alone.” Adrian’s voice lights a beacon of joy inside me. I tremble slightly.
“You’re being really impossible, Adrian.” I murmur, but I’m secretly thrilled. My alpha wants to buy me a dress and take me out. That is sooo swoony. I let out a soft giggle and bite my lower lip as I glance at Kandi.
My beta winks at me and holds up a gold dress.
“I know, but I really want you with me. and I’m prepared to use underhanded methods to get it.”
“Alpha,” I whine.
“I know, baby, but come with me, see the packs. Maybe you’ll meet someone you really want. You can at least be certain this is real.”
I stiffen, my blood turning to ice inside me. The joy, the happiness vanishes so quickly I get whiplash. The disappointment is nauseating. “Is that what you think? That this isn’t real? That I’ve imagined this? What is your doctor’s opinion? That it’s a trauma response? Maybe I don’t know my own mind? Perhaps,” I bite out, “I couldn’t recognise my scent matches when I met them?” My words come out sharper than I mean them. and I blink rapidly to clear the tears from my eyes.
“It’s the best chance to show you off, see if we can find you a big pack to love you,” Adrian says reasonably. “I’m not saying you have to, I’m just saying to try.”
Why can’t you love me? I shout in my head, but I don’t say the words. Instead, I grind my teeth and try not to bawl.
“Okay. Adrian, I’ll come with you. and I’ll meet the packs and find someone else.” I hang up the phone before Adrian can answer me.
“Jade?”