Page 7 of Pack Apollo

It's contagious, and I can't help but join in a bit before admitting, "He was my ride home from work all weekend. Turns out he's the best around.You guysknow each other?"

Palmer smashes his lips together with a grin, and slowly coming of out of his bewilderment, Professor Brent answers, "We're pack mates."

Seems like we're all full of secret surprises tonight.

"Ohhhh, small world. So, are you the one who likes these movies?" I ask Palmer.

He bunches his nose in disgust. "No way, man. That is definitely Jake. We're all forced to watch them every now and then when it's his night to pick the movie, but I do not enjoy it. Not the way he does anyway."

"That's fair," I reply with a quick nod. "It does seem to be an acquired taste. You either like it or you don't."

"You should come over some time and watch some with us," Professor Brent suggests.

Palmer is already nodding before he finishes. "For sure. I'm sure Jake would love to meet another Troma fan."

My eyebrow lifts questioningly as I ask, "Aren't there some kind of rules against fraternization, Professor?"

"Please call me Brent outside of the classroom Ms. Bardot," he replies, adding, "and there are loopholes around the rules."

Palmer does the smirk thing with his lips again, flicking his eyes down to the blanket. Curiosity gets the best of me.

"What does that mean? What kind of loopholes?" I ask.

Even in the dark I notice his cheeks pink a bit, and he stumbles on the first word, "Umm, well, if an omega is being courted by a pack, it negates the teacher-student rule as long as the omega is of age."

How is this something I never knew? Likely because I never wanted a pack and never even considered it. That also brings us tothatcurve in the road.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I confess, breaking it to them easy without admitting that the last thing I want is to answer to a pack of alphas and not being able to make decisions for myself.

Brent nods with a quick dip of his chin and turns facing the screen, but Palmer looks like I just kicked his poor floof. "Why not? We're a good pack. Not like the bad ones that everybody talks about all the time. Good standing in society and nice. Well, most of us. Roz and Cordell can be kind of jerks sometimes, but I think that's mainly because of their jobs. Jake is only an ass when he gets super stressed, but he just gets real quiet and shuts us out."

It kind of breaks my heart a little to hear him defending his pack so vehemently, knowing they aren't even close to being the problem.

"And I don't know if it helps or not," he adds, "but we smell pretty good, too."

I can't help the laugh that bursts from my lips, and I try to hide it with my hand.

His grin pops back onto his face. "I mean, with our scents, you know."

Hands gesturing between himself and Brent, he carries on, "I've had all sorts in my car and met tons of people at the fancy parties Roz drags us to. I'm just saying that not all scents mesh well together."

Even put that way, it still makes me giggle a bit, and a small smile creeps across Brent's face.

"I never would've considered that you or your pack might stink," I tell him, fighting another laugh.

"Sorry," he apologizes sheepishly. "I've never really been around an omega. I thought the scent thing was a big deal."

Brent lowers his head into his hand, and I try my best not to do so much as smile as I tell him, "It is, but that's nothing to do with why I'm saying no. I'm not looking for a pack right now. I want to stay focused."

Face lighting up instantly, he says, "That's it? Because maybe our version of courting is different from everyone else. It doesn't always mean you're wanting to be stuck with us forever. We can be courtingfriends."

I honestly can't even fault him for trying the angle, and I don't see how anyone would be able to deny the sad, little puppy dog eyes he's giving me as he says it.

"Fiiine," I tell him, dragging the word out playfully.

He pumps his arm with an exuberant but quiet, "Yes! So, plan for dinner and a movie Sunday. It's Brent's turn to cook all day, and he always makes the best food."

Holding his fist out for a bump from Brent and then jumping to his feet, he reaches down to grab Sherlock's leash. "Time to get this good boy home before his dog parents start to wonder where we've run off to. See you Thursday night."

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