Page 9 of Pack Coffey

"What does?" I ask, still confused.

"Lawrence is one of my packmates," he explains. "The baby of our family."

The way that he speaks of him makes me smile, but it also makes me realize and whisper to myself, "That definitely makes sense."

"What?" he asks.

"Nothing," I all but shout at him. How do I explain to him that I've now been attracted to both him and his pack mate in less than twenty-four hours? Let's don't and say we didn't. I know it's supposed to work that way with packs, but I can't be doing this with them. Especially Saint in the situation we're in.

"You must be the reason he was so keen on being at the station last night," he tells me, grinning.

"No," I tell him. "Dante said he was to train me."

Saint chuckles. "Dante always trains the interns. Lawrence probably had to bribe him for the privilege. Explains why he's missing drinks tonight to be there."

This surprises me. "Today is supposed to be my first night alone."

"Don't be surprised if you're not," he tells me, still smiling. "Want to give him his own little surprise?"

I won't pass up good surprises, especially when the idea alone makes Saint as happy as he appears. "Let's do it."

Chapter Four

I'm an hour into my airtime when Lawrence shows up. I tried for the first little while after Dante left to do some class work that's due next week, but that only lasted for about two songs before I gave up. I haven't made it to the forty-five-minute mark before I'm already feeling that loneliness that he spoke of. Not because I'm necessarily missing people. I can sit in my small house for days without leaving or feeling uncomfortable, but that's my space and it's more closed in. This building is so open and new to me that it almost feels wrong. Plus, it doesn't help that I spent my morning with Saint, and it's still so fresh on my mind. Though, that's the very last thing I want to be thinking about while I'm sitting here alone. Saint had said that Lawrence would be here, but maybe he was mistaken, and his plan was for naught.

To cheer myself up, I tell the listeners that they're being treated to one of my favorites. After I push play on the list and the song starts, I realize what a huge mistake I just made. Though the song is referring to being misunderstood and internal struggles of wanting to break free from the norms of society, the reuse of the phrase psycho killer is in extremely poor taste for what we're facing right now. I promise myself to not use it again on air. Personally, sure. On air, never.

What's done is done, though, so whether or not I may have just doomed my disc jockey career, I decide to dance it off. Now, Darci Levine is the best dancer on campus...said no one, never. I flail my arms around and shake my hips back and forth, trying to loosen up the knots that seem to have taken root in my shoulders and back.

I close my eyes and enjoy the music until it stops. Thankfully, I've already got another one lined up and ready to go, but movement out of the corner of my eye jerks a squeaking noise from my chest as I back into my chair. I slam my handagainst my racing heart as Lawrence tries to hide his smile by rubbing a finger across his lips.

"You just scared ten years off my life," I accuse him, moving to cross my arms over my chest.

"I'm sorry," he says in that deep voice, not looking it in the least.

I have to clear my throat and pretend I didn't know he was coming. "What are you doing here? This was supposed to be my first night by myself."

He shrugs and moves into the room to take the seat next to mine, subtly filling the room with his beta latte scent. "I told you that it can get lonely in here at night. Just wanted to swing by and check to see how you were doing."

I narrow my eyes playfully at him. "Are you sure you weren't sitting out in the parking lot for the past hour, waiting to come inside?"

Holding up his hands with a lopsided grin, he confesses, "You got me. I really did just want to stay close in case you needed something. Dante is a very ‘hands on’ and ‘throw you to the wolves’ kind of trainer. I didn't want you to feel like we just abandoned you after just a few hours learning the ropes."

"It's fairly simple," I remind him, taking my seat and spinning it to face him. I decide to let him off the hook since I'm not being fully honest knowing he was coming tonight. "I was starting to feel kind of weird being here by myself, though."

He nods. "I called Henry several times the first time I was here by myself. It gets quite boring sometimes. I was surprised that you applied for the position. Elated, but shocked to say the least."

"Why's that?" I ask, turning back to the computer and clicking the next couple songs before spinning back to him.

"Most omegas I've ever met don't like being alone for long periods of time," he states plainly.

"Met a lot of them, have you?" I ask with my stomach rolling at the thought.

His lips press into that thin line when he smiles, and this close, I get a good look at his hazel-colored eyes that squinch just a bit with it. "Not really, no. More what Henry's made me read than anything."

"So, your packmate likes to read?" I ask, his words putting my jealousy at ease.

He huffs out a short laugh. "I'd like to see someone try to stop him. He writes, too. He's a journalist for the city paper."

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