Page 17 of Pack Giroux

"Did you have a say in the matter?" she questions gently.

"No," I tell her without hesitation. "We did what they told us to do. There were punishments, otherwise."

A hardness falls on her features. "Well, you're no longer in that place, Marnie. You are free and free to be who you want to be."

"I know," I tell her. "I remind myself of that every day."

This brings a smile back to her face. "You're a strong woman. I think you're going to do really well here. Considering the circumstances, I need to ask, did they give you sex education classes?"

"Umm," I start. "We took biology, and I guess that's the same thing."

"I know you kids these days literally have the world at your fingertips with the internet, but would you like more information? Things they may not have deemed important enough to share with you."

"Yes," I practically beg before she's even done speaking. I've done some research, but sometimes not knowing exactly what you're looking for is like a needle in a haystack.

"Great," she says. "I'm going to gather you some things to take with you, and you're more than welcome to come back at any time. Appointment or no appointment, okay? And if it's anemergency, Olive—at the front desk—can get in touch with me if I'm not here."

Having someone listen and not judge is the balm I didn't know my soul needed. Coach was right.

"Thank you," I tell her, trying not to choke up.

Before she can reply, her phone buzzes on the desk in front of her, and she reaches out to silence it, but not without reading what the screen says. Smiling softer than before, she looks up at me and asks, "Would you like to meet someone with me? It's okay to say no. I just think you'd really get along with them, and sometimes all we need is a friend."

They've been right on so many levels thus far, which is why I'm not going to turn her down, saying, "Sure."

"Let's go gather some stuff up for you, and we'll walk out together," she says standing and coming around the desk.

As I stand, I pick my bag up off the floor and think about trying to find a way to bring the hoodie with me. Knowing my luck, it's there for the sole purpose of keeping people calm when they're in here. It probably works on everyone. I wouldn't want to take that peace from anyone else, which is why I give it one last sparing glance before turning for the door.

It takes us roughly ten minutes or so to gather all of the stuff she's wanting to give me, fitting it all into a little reusable bag with the North U logo on the side. By the time that we're walking back out to the front door, I'm feeling tired, but better. The more people that know what's going on there, the better it seems to make me feel. Maybe I don't have to spend the rest of my life hiding from it.

Olive gives a quick wave as we walk past her desk, and I give her that and a smile in return.

That's when a familiar voice has my head whipping toward the door. "Sorry if I bothered you, Mom. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to bring my hoodie all the way tothe city tonight."

The word ‘tonight’ drags out as he spots me, and the scent clicks into place. One of the alphas that's been front and center in my thoughts lately.

"HI," I announce to him.

He does this thing with his lips like he's holding back a grin, but it breaks through anyway as Kinkaid repeats my word, "Hi."

"Marnie, this is Kinkaid, my son," Grace says, making introductions not even aware they're unnecessary. "Kinkaid, this is Marnie. She's new here. You should be a peach and show her around the city sometime."

"Nice to meet you," he says, playing along like we're total strangers.

If he wants to play the game, then so will I. "You, too."

"Want to tour the city sometime?" he asks, smiling wide.

"Sure," I tell him. Not knowing how much longer I can hold the façade since I'm a terrible liar, I give Grace my thanks and promise her that I'll be back before heading toward my escape. I hear Kinkaid behind me giving his mother a kiss on the cheek and thanking her. For the hoodie or for roping me into a date with him, I guess we'll never know. But I haven't even gone five steps before he's behind me, then jumping in front to open the door for me.

He waits until we're outside and the door closes behind me before he starts talking. "What are the chances that out of all days I decide to bring my mom lunch, forget my hoodie, I’d find you here?"

"The odds do seem to be in your favor, if you consider those good chances," I tell him, smiling as I glance over at him.

"Oh, they're in my favor alright," he brags.

"It's crazy that I met your mom and don't even know your last name," I tease.

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