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Crew shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “We’d have to discuss it as a pack, but there’s private sector jobs we could take in security. Less risk, better hours.”
“I think it’s definitely worth a discussion,” I agreed. “I mean, let’s face it, they’re never going to let Jude back in.”
Jude’s injury was the end of his career. The bureau had been trying to phase betas out of the agency for years. They’d make sure Jude never passed the physical needed to go back into the field. He’d be relegated to a desk or given early retirement with partial benefits.
Crew nodded. “I know, and I’m not comfortable letting Martin or the Director assign a new member to our team.”
I bared my teeth at the thought of them trying to insert a new member to replace Jude.
I’d given up a lot for my career, but I knew I’d give it all up in a heartbeat for Jude and the little omega upstairs.
“Kellan will be heartbroken,” I deadpanned.
Kellan had been the most vocal of us about quitting the FBI ever since the new director had come in and started making changes.
Crew cracked a smile. “Yeah.”
We all loved our jobs, but we loved each other more. We were a pack, a family. We’d stay together, no matter what happened next.
I rubbed my chest, an unfamiliar ache settling behind my ribs.
“You feel it, too,” Crew murmured.
I gave him a questioning look.
“She’s already part of our pack,” he added. “She’s part of us.”
I sighed and nodded. “Forty-eight hours ago, shit seemed so much simpler.”
“Want to go back?” He smirked at me.
To a life without Hazel’s sweet scent filling my nose and her warmth in my arms? “Hell no.”
There was no going back. Not now, not ever.
33
Hazel
Something wasn’t right.
There was no question Calla and her mom had picked everything. They’d gone for vibrant jewel tones—ruby, emerald, and deep purple—that I’d always gravitated toward as a kid. These were colors they knew I would’ve picked for myself, and the mixture of fabrics was an absolute dream.
Standing back, I surveyed the mountain of blankets and pillows Jude and I had unpacked and dragged up the stairs. We were both out of breath and looking a little uneasy. I wasn’t aware how out of shape I was, and I felt like a jerk for letting Jude do so much.
But something was still missing, and I couldn’t dive into the nest the way I craved until it was perfect.
Pushing off the wall, Jude came to stand beside me. His breathing hitched as he tried not to pant from the exertion.
“Please sit down,” I begged, grabbing his hand to pull him toward the bed.
Resolutely, Jude shook his head. “No, we need to get your nest set up.”
“You were shot,” I reminded him.
As soon as Rhett had announced the arrival of someone new, my anxiety had skyrocketed. Instead of letting myself be paralyzed by fear, I’d channeled my impulses into something constructive. Or so I’d thought. When I’d started unpacking the boxes after the others had left, it was out of nervous energy that I needed to focus somewhere. But now my energy and focus were waning, infiltrated by new feelings of uncertainty and a bit of frustration.
Jude’s hand brushed mine, snagging my attention. “What’s up?”
