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"This isn’t on you,” I reassured her. “We all know I need some therapy.”
“Don’t we all,” Ellie laughed. “My parents are a fucking mess, you’ve got your ex, what’ve you got, Kat?”
“An unhealthy attachment to my cat and no prospects on the horizon,” she offered.
Ellie snorted at that. “Ludwig is worth the unhealthy attachment. He’s precious.”
“We’ve got work tomorrow,” I reminded them. “I’m fine, we should get some sleep.”
The wine was definitely kicking in now and I couldn’t resist the yawn that took over.
“One more thing,” Ellie said. “I was going to wait to bring it up until later but I can’t wait.”
“You’re pregnant again?” Kat guessed.
“Wedding?” I mused. “Wait, how does that work with all those mates?”
“No,” she laughed. “It’s not quite that epic."
"Spill, woman," I demanded as I downed the rest of my wine.
"The Sulley pack is coming to town for a few weeks. Their boat is getting some major upgrades so they're on shore for a bit. Apparently, they have to pop in at the harbor, so they couldn't fly back home. Which means, maybe you can find yourself a date or two. They want an omega after all."
"Don't threaten me," I mumbled. They laughed before saying a hasty goodbye, leaving me with too many thoughts about mates and dating.
The spinster life doesn't sound so bad anymore.
Serenity
Lockwood had always felt safe. Until now. After being followed by the world’s worst private investigator it was like anytime I was walking around town, I was being watched.
“Good morning.” The greeting came from just inside the open flower shop and the undignified scream that tore from me scared the guy just as much as it scared me. “Okay, maybe not a good morning. I just wanted to say hi. I had the whole speech ready. ‘Hey, my name is Max, it’s great to meet you.’ Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s not your fault,” I promised, my fear turning into amusement at the guy rambling. He reminded me a bit of Ellie when she’s nervous. “Just a bit jumpy today. I’m Serenity.”
“Glad to meet you, Serenity,” he said cheerfully. The strange man paused for a moment and looked around, grinning to himself before pulling a single flower out of the random assortments he kept outside in the sun.
I watched in strange fascination as he plucked a pair of garden shears from his apron pocket and cleaned up the stem and leaves before handing it over.
“White rose, it means several things but more importantly, it means fresh start,” Max explained as I inspected the pristine flower. “You looked like you could use a new beginning today.”
“Thank you,” I said with the first smile I had managed today. He tipped a nonexistent hat before heading back inside, leaving me completely confused.
The rose smelled nice and I found myself bringing it to my nose and breathing it in as I headed down the street toward the grocery store. I’d been avoiding the place like the plague but if I didn’t go now there would be no coffee in the morning since I drank the last cup today.
That would not end well for anyone. I needed my pre-work coffee before I reached Walter’s shop in the morning.
Every corner I turned down had me ready to jump out of my skin. I knew now that he was my mate, that the reason they were looking for me was Evrin, but I couldn’t shake this feeling.
“If I meet them again I’m punching them right in the throat,” I muttered just loud enough the old omega next to me gasped, clutching at her chest and eyeing me with more than a little weariness.
“Violence isn’t the answer,” she said.
“It is if they deserve it,” I countered, walking away before I could scandalize the random people of Lockwood any further.
“Do you often scare omegas in the store?” The voice was familiar, one I’d heard on TV.
“Sulley Pack,” I greeted but the alpha waved me off. “No one but Candace uses those awful names. I’m Isaac. Oaks who you’d know as Rob if you watched the show, and Colt. Two of my betas.”
