Page 52 of Taken By the Pack

I consider it for a second. There’s nothing to do out here but wait, and honestly, the guy’s not the worst company I’ve had at sea.

“Fine,” I say. “Teach me.”

And he does.

He talks about ecosystems, about how everything in a tide pool works together. He tells me about Dr. Lowe, his supervisor, who “doesn’t trust people who don’t respect the ocean.” And somehow, by the time he’s done, I’ve actually learned something.

Not just about tide pools.

About Ash.

I learn he is actually decent company, and I am actually looking forward to tomorrow.

* * *

I haulin the last trap, shaking off the salt water as I pry it open. A couple of lobsters, some crabs, and—Jesus—two octopuses clinging to the mesh.

Ash watches, eyes wide. “You get octopuses out here?”

“Sometimes.” I pry one off, careful of the suckers, and toss it back into the ocean. It disappears beneath the surface. “Not worth keeping. They’re slippery bastards.”

Ash looks almost impressed. “You always get this big of a haul?”

“Depends on the day. You get enough findings or whatever for your work?”

He nods, scanning his notes. “Yeah. Should probably head back soon.”

I steer the boat toward the shore, the motor humming beneath my feet.

“You ever sell the fish?” he asks after a moment.

“Nope.” I flick some water off my wrist. “Jake does.”

His gaze sharpens like he wasn’t expecting that. “Jake’s your pack member?”

I guess he is now. “Yeah.”

“That makes him your Beta?”

I shake my head. “Jake’s an Alpha. It’s just us and our Omega.”

Ash tilts his head. “Your pack has two Alphas and an Omega?”

“Just Jake, me, and an Omega.”

“Interesting dynamic.”

I shrug, not offering more.

By the time we hit the docks, the sun’s getting lower, the sky streaked with orange. Jake isn’t here, but he rolls in a few minutes later on his bike, smelling faintly of flowers.

I motion to him. “Jake, this is Ash.”

They exchange nods.

“What’d you catch today?” Jake asks. I show him the haul, and he whistles. “Nice. Help me unload?”

Ash stretches. “I need to transcribe today’s readings. See you later.”

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