Page 21 of Pack Giroux

The city is a whole new level of amazing. I'd seen it a bit driving through from bus stop to taxis, but I wasn't in the right mind to actually enjoy it. Plus, there's something more magical seeing it at night.

Kinkaid drives for another twenty minutes or so before he pulls into the parking garage underneath a really tall building. We get out, and I take a look around, noticing all of the new shiny cars. I spot Grady's a couple places over. Then we take the elevator up to the floor that's only three away from the highest. It feels like the elevator goes on and on forever, never stopping. Until it does and we're stepping out into a lavish hallway with four doors. Grady leads us over to the one on the left and opens it for us. Stepping inside is like something out of a magazine. The entire wall ahead of us is glass, showcasing the wonders of the city that I was admiring from the ground. I pass the bright kitchen to the right and the glass dinner table next to it and walk straight into their living room with couches, chairs and a big TV placed around the big space.

Looking out the window, I'm entranced by the lights of the city just outside of it. There's hustle and bustle going on in the streets. Lights in the tall buildings as far as the eye can see. The stars that weren't visible from the street, are from this high up.

Arms snake around my middle, bringing with them the scent of allspice. "Pretty incredible, huh?" Kinkaid says softly, laying his chin on the top of my head.

"Breathtaking," I answer him honestly, rubbing my hands on his arms around my belly. In the dark with my back turned, it's easier to admit the truth. "Where I grew up, it was nothing but houses and farms. We weren't allowed to go into the city like this. Our small community is called a compound, and there arevery strict rules."

He doesn't say anything, letting me say as much as I feel that I'm ready to. It takes a few moments before I can speak again, having tripped myself back into that world. "Growing up, you don't suspect anything, because you're young and life is perfect. You make mistakes and get disciplined, that's just the way of life. You don't know any better. As you get older and see the world from a more mature set of eyes, you notice things that just aren't right. Like the way everyone is born a sinner and must spend their life repenting. Even if you never do the slightest thing wrong. Or the way the Reverend chooses his wives, saying that they are God's gift to him for leading the flock."

I stop for a second, gathering my courage before confessing. "Omegas are highly revered there, but only for what we can bring to the future for the packs. We aren't given a choice in anything. They choose where we live, what pack we join, when and how we get any kind of freedom. I was two months away from my pack date when I ran away. They probably already chose who to give me to, but they pretend it's a fair matching system the day of. I don't know who they are, and I don't care. I'm never going back. Ever. There's a word for what they are, for what I escaped. I just didn't know it at the time. Acult."

Turning in his arms, I look up to his face that doesn't hold a single bit of pity, making my heart beat harder for him. "I am little bit of a weirdo. I don't understand some social cues, and there's a lot that I definitely don't understand about the world."

"Then we'll just have to teach you," he says quietly. "I'm glad you left. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you from going back."

Going up on my toes, I press my lips against his, loving the way they feel. He hugs me tighter and deepens the kiss, slipping his tongue into my mouth. We're both breathing hard in the quiet of the room when we pull away from each other.He kisses my forehead and steps back, showing me that neither Grady nor Raine left us. The latter is sitting on the arm of the couch right next to Grady who's in the same pose as he was on the bench with his arms on his legs. Only this time, his gaze is at the floor. When he hears us moving, he glances up. They never turned on the lights, letting me enjoy the view without them, but it's still easy enough to see their expressions. I find the same worry etched on their features as Kinkaid wore, but not pity like I expect.

I should be more embarrassed at our open display of affection since that was always a huge no no at the compound, but yet, another thing that must be different here. Because neither appear to have minded sitting on the sidelines watching Kinkaid kiss me right here in the middle of the open.

Both of them move almost at the same time, standing and walking over to us. Grady is the one that reaches out and pulls us all into a hug with me at the center. With him at my left elbow, Kinkaid at my right and Raine pressed against my face and chest, I feel better than I have in a long time. I shared one of my darkest shames, and they didn't go running. On the contrary, chose to embrace it as a pack like they've already accepted me and my problems into it.

When they finally step back, I try to hide the tear that slips out of my eye. Raine catches it, rubbing it between his fingers before covering the spot with his lips. I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling of his skin on mine. Then his long hair has to go and rub across my nose, tickling me. I laugh, pulling away to rub the spot.

Backing away, I apologize, making them laugh, "Sorry, it tickled."

"Come on," Grady says, taking my hand. "Let's take a quick tour of the apartment and show you where you're sleeping."

The others follow behind as he takes me around. When we'd first come in, I'd been so distracted that I hadn't noticed the two long hallways on either side of the room that lead opposite directions.

The one now to our left is where he takes me first. He opens doors and flips lights on as he goes along. The first one to the left is his. If he hadn't told me, I would've been able to guess anyway because it smells just like him and one hundred percent his personality. It's bright and open. Mostly white, but with dark-grey color splashed in with a rug, some pillows, and the stormy cloud pictures above his bed.

The next one is Raine's, not as discernible as Grady's because his scent is more subtle, and definitely not a style I would've seen for him. He went with white for almost literally everything except a khaki tan in some places like the small sofa against one of the walls and his desk next to the door.

At the end of the hall is what he calls his studio. It's kind of a jumbled mess in a couple places, but he calls it organized chaos. I'd love to go inside and explore what all the gadgets in the room do, but he says we'll save it for another time. Gives me a reason to come back, he says. Little does he know, I've already been hoping they'll invite me back because I'm low-key obsessed with their home.

On the other side of their hallway is a huge bathroom for this side of the apartment to share. As we stroll to the other side, I see that there are three rooms and one bathroom on this side, too. Kinkaid opens the first one, letting me know it's his. The first one out of all of them I've seen so far that likes actual color. His walls, comforter, and pillows are all a dark-hunter green. It really sets off the dark tone of his furniture, and I love it.

They tell me that the last one belongs to the twins, but they don't like anyone in there while they're gone.

"Why do they share?" I ask. "Especially when you haveanother room right here?"

Kinkaid opens the middle door as well and walks in like he expects me to follow him, which I do. Someone behind us flips the switch on the wall, and I stop, looking around. The room has an all-natural feel to it in soft, muted tones. All of the furniture is a brown color that goes right along with the beige of the walls, bedspread, and chair in the corner. The bed is massive and takes up a lot of the room against the right side of the wall. Across from it sits a mirrored dresser. By the door there's a small desk with an even smaller chair. Then in the corner is the comfy looking chair. In my head, I can see where the furniture would look better if I were to be the one decorating, but it's not my room. Or so I think. Kinkaid proves that theory false.

"Like your room?" he asks, spreading his arms wide. "Whenever you're here, it's yours."

Glancing at the others, Grady has his arm stretched reaching the top of the doorframe and leaning against it. Raine has his arms folded across his chest resting his back against the wall. Both of them smile at me.

I swallow hard to keep tears and panic at bay before I tell the three of them. "It's perfect."

After kisses on the cheeks from them, they let me know to make myself at home and if I need anything to let them know. They leave me alone to get some rest, and I immediately miss their presence. I walk around the room and find the secret door that leads into the closest. It's wider than it is long, but there's still enough room to walk in and hang more clothes than I could ever hope to own.

Honestly, my favorite thing about the entire room, besides the giant bed with all of its fluffy pillows, is the wall of windows. Every single room that they showed me was the same with the whole back wall being one big window. They'd explained that there are four apartments on this level. The oneon the opposite side of the building has pretty much the same lay out. Then there are two other smaller ones tucked between them. Each apartment has one side of the building. I'd have never thought there would be homes like this.

It's flashy and speaks of pride and greed. Both of which I was taught are sins. If being here and feeling the way that I do when I'm with them is a sin, then I'll gladly take my place in hell. I didn't think to ask any of them for something to sleep in, so my dress it is. Taking off my jacket, I hang it on the back of the desk chair and leave my shoes right next to it. I contemplate leaving my tights on but know I'll get too hot in them, so they come off as well.

Crawling into the bed, I get buried amongst all of the pillows when I crawl under the blanket. I'd flipped the light off beforehand, but even when I try to close my eyes and go to sleep, I can't. I don't know how long I lay alternating between staring at the back of my eyelids and the ceiling before I finally sit up. Glancing around the room, I don't feel comfortable enough to go to sleep. Yes, it's the biggest and nicest room that I've ever slept in, but it feels so empty. That feeling may have something to do with knowing that Kinkaid is right on the other side of my wall. This room doesn't even smell like them, and I don't like it for some reason.

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