Page 16 of Puck Your Neighbor

Leo and I glance at each other. He needs to know that we found our omega, but he also needs to know her history, so that he doesn't go to her right away. "We need to talk after getting ready."

We need to come up with a game plan to court her while also keeping our careers in mind.Perhaps, if we're lucky, she'll want us in the end, too. We can only hope and take things slow.

Chapter 9

It's been a day since the email, and I'm finding it hard to gather the will to leave my nest. I know I need to eat, drink water, and work, but the flashbacks won't stop. Not even when I sleep. It doesn't matter that I know, in the back of my mind, they're in prison and can't hurt me.

Our Alphas would keep us safe. Go to them.

I wish I could block out my inner omega. She doesn't get it. Doesn't get how hard it is to even comprehend letting someone, let alone three people, in.

A soft knock sounds at the front door. Sitting upright, my heart hammers. I'm not expecting anyone, and that's not the Landlord's knock.

It could be our Alphas, coming to comfort us.

Hope rises within me, and I squash it down. Why would they do that? They barely know me. Even if they figured it out, that doesn't mean anything has to happen between us.

Another soft knock. "Anya, it's me."

Leo's voice carries through the small apartment, and my omega takes hold of the reins. It's close to my heat, and that means she's close to the surface. Once it starts, I'll only have my suppressants to give me some semblance of control.

With how she's been acting the last few days, I'm scared of what will happen. What if she's able to take over and break through the locks I'll have in place? There will be no stopping her from letting them in or going to them. If she begs them for help, then it will all be over, and I will once again be at the mercy of a pack of alphas.

Even as my feet carry me forward to the door, I regain control before she can undo the lock and let him in. I look through the peephole to find Leo on the other side, standing back from the door. He's a good distance away from it.

I wish I could yell through the door and ask him what he needs.

With the chain still in place, not that it could stop an angry alpha for shit, I crack open the door and peek out.

His blue eyes meet mine, and he grins like a kid who's been told they're going to Disney World.

"Hey. Just wanted to check on you, and my pack and I wanted to give you these."

He motions to the floor, and I glance down to see a vase of flowers and a bag next to it.

"We got you some food but weren't sure if you eat meat, so we got you a veggie option as well. You don't have to eat them if you don't want to or do anything in return. We just want to make sure you're okay. I'll head upstairs now."

Before I can sign anything in return, he turns and jogs up the stairs next to my door. I hear their door click shut. I glance around the small area that makes up the lobby of the building. There's nowhere for anyone to hide, so they are not planning to jump me if I open the door all the way.

Bring in our gifts, our alphas are caring for us!

The urge to see what they got for me to eat is strong, and the flowers are gorgeous. Unchaining the door, I open it fully and grab the items quickly before I close and lock it again, putting my two deadbolts back in place.

I carry them over to the counter and smell the assortment of colorful flowers. I like that they didn't get me just roses, but the full rainbow. The bag of food smells good, too. I untie the knot and open it up.

On top of the two takeout containers are three envelopes. Each one has my name in a different scrawl. I take the top one and open it.

Pulling out the letter, my heart picks up its beat again as my eyes travel across the page. The penmanship isn't the best, but it's still legible.

Dear Anya,

We didn't formally get to meet today, but my name is Maverick Gregor. I'm the pack leader of your upstairs neighbors.

We're aware that we're scent-matched with you, but I want to let you know that we don't expect anything. The ball is in your court. If you want to see where this can go, we're open to it, and if you want nothing to do with us, then we'll respect that as well.

I thought I would tell you a bit about myself and then ask you some questions. My number will be at the bottom of this letter if you want to text me, and we can get to know each other better. If you want to, that is. By no means do you have to.

Jeez, I'm really not good at writing things out, so hopefully, you don't hold that against me. Anyway, I'm 27 about to be 28. I was born in Kansas, but we moved around when I was a kid. My parents were a bit eccentric and always needed to be starting over somewhere new.

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