Page 13 of Golden Omega

I did. Just in time to see Orin and Sovann emerge from a curtained doorway in the back wall. “Are you kidding me? They must be following me.”

“And here they come.”

“Hi.” Sovann gave me that easy smile that melted all my bones. “If we’d known you were coming tonight, we’d have reserved a better table for you.”

“If you knew…how would you have done that?”

Orin slid into one of the two empty chairs at our table. “Because this is our place. Mostly mine, but packs share everything. Didn’t we tell you that we own The Alibi when we discussed the flowers?”

“No. You were all secret-secret and chose to keep most of the details from me in the interest of the bride not finding out.”

“Right.” Sovann flushed a little. “Sorry. We really should have mentioned the venue I suppose.”

“You didn’t have to, since you were picking up. I was just saying I’d be happy to deliver so I can see the flowers in this space.”

“Absolutely.” Orin nodded. “Just add the charge to the total.”

“No. I don’t even charge delivery on bigger orders.”

“On this one, you do.” Sovann was still standing and he reached for my hand. “Dance?”

“No. I don’t date shifters. I said that, right?”

“It’s not a date.” Jenny slapped my arm. “I’m your date tonight, and here come the whiskeys. I’ll guard them while you dance. Don’t be such a stick up the butt.”

“How could I resist when you’re so complimentary, friend.” But I let Sovann take my hand and off we went to dance. Orin danced the next one with me and when I looked back at the table an hour or so later, Jenny was gone and the glasses were all empty.

“She’s dancing.” Orin pointed across the floor. “Same guy since about five minutes after we came out here. They drank all your whiskey.”

“That’s okay. I don’t drink much.” And I was having fun. No law against that, right?

Chapter Twelve

Sovann

I couldn’t have torn my gaze away from her if I’d wanted to. Which I did not.

Earlier, our day had been all but made and ruined all at once. We’d met our fated. Our omega. Our scent-match and soul mate.

And then she turned us down flat for a date.

Downtrodden and on the verge of giving up, I found some hope when we came out and saw that she’d arrived at The Alibi with the friend from the diner.

Now, she danced with Orin in the center of the darkened bar. A slow jazz tune resounded low, just loud enough to be able to dance to and carry on a conversation at the same time.

She laughed at something eh said and then they sat down at the table where she and her friend were once having drinks. Her friend was still dancing.

A few minutes later, her friend and the man she’d been dancing with left together.

That was the second time the friend abandoned her. Not judging, but also judging.

I promised myself that I would give her one song to rest and then it was my turn. The thought of my woman in my arms was almost too much to bear. The bar counter was cleaner than it ever had been, thanks to my taking out my extra energy on its sheen.

While they talked, I served drinks and, eventually, Altan went to sit with them as well. Even under the dim red lights of the bar, I could see the heat in her cheeks as she laughed at something they said.

Her scent was more potent than ever. As midnight passed and we entered the wee small hours, the customers filtered out, followed by the staff, until there was no one there but the four of us and Orin’s bartender. But soon, he winked at us and left for the night, not even muttering a goodbye.

“I think it’s time for me to go,” Hema said, and my stomach clenched.