Page 24 of Power Shift

I don’t want Greg, and once I saw the huge, yummy-smelling alpha, it became clear that I was only with him for the pack I’d dreamed of having. It’s pathetic that I even entertained the idea and, honestly, makes me feel like a terrible person. A user.

“I know,” I say on an exhale. “I’m back at the starting line now.”

“Maybe not. You could be taking a break halfway through the race instead.”

“No false hope, Clover. I’m too tired for it.”

“All you need is one moment, sweetie. One heated look or sniff of someone delicious.”

“Honestly, at this point, it feels like too much work than it’s worth. Scent matching is what fairy tales are made of, but I guess I just wasn’t expecting it to be so impossible to find mine,” I say, a bit embarrassed to admit that. “My mom met her pack when she was young and didn’t struggle with any of this.”

Clover rubs my hand. “They tell us it’s rare for a reason. Your mom’s situation was one in a million.”

“This is all her fault. If she hadn’t found my dad’s, I wouldn’t have grown up wanting to find what she had so badly,” I grumble.

“But if she hadn’t, you also wouldn’t have had the life you did growing up. You’ll find your pack, Briar. I know you will.”

There’s a soft knock on the door that steals our attention. The wide, almost scared hazel eyes staring at me through the crack in the doorway have me lurching forward in my seat.

“Sadie?” Clover asks, jumping up to greet the omega.

“That’s me,” Sadie whispers timidly.

I shove my issues to the back of my mind at the first whiff of her charred scent. My best friend slowly opens the door and welcomes Sadie into the meeting room. It takes her a few moments to step inside.

“It’s nice to meet you, Sadie. I’m Briar,” I introduce myself, keeping my tone light.

“And I’m Dr. Clover Jones, but you can call me Clover or Dr. Clover, whichever you prefer.”

Sadie swaps her stare between both of us, nodding several times. The arm that folds across her swollen belly has my heart tugging.

She’s small, shorter and far thinner than I am. The round belly she’s sporting looks like it could tip her over at any moment. Her clothes are baggy, at least two sizes too big, as they droop over her delicate frame. That doesn’t stop her bump from making itself known.

“You can take a seat anywhere you’d like. I’ll go get you something to drink. Do you like tea?” I ask, already out of my seat.

She watches me move, only speaking once I’ve gone still. “I like tea.”

“Great. Clover will get you situated while I’m grabbing that.”

My best friend smiles at Sadie and keeps a few inches away as she finds a seat at the table and sits. I don’t think too much into her choice to sit on the furthest end from where Clover and I will be for the meeting.

Sadie’s scent isn’t as burnt as it was. I know that’s all Clover’s doing before even picking up on the subtle spike of brown sugar. She’s calming her without having to risk speaking too much or crowding her.

I slip past them and out of the room. The staff room is across the hall and fitted with a full kitchen, including the fancy coffee machine Clover found on a massive discount a few months back. There’s a tower of cute mugs beside it, and I snag one with red and pink hearts before selecting the hot water option on the machine.

A couple of minutes later, I have a steaming mug of hot water in my hand with a bobbing tea bag inside. Joining the two women in the meeting room, I offer Sadie a gentle tilt of my lips and set the mug on the table.

“Thank you,” she says.

“Of course. I’ve never been one for tea, but Clover loves it. I hope ginger is okay. It’s usually a favourite among our soon-to-be moms.”

Her brown eyes warm. “I love ginger.”

Satisfied with that, I take my seat and wait for Clover to take the lead with our usual introduction. She doesn’t leave me waiting.

“I know you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed right now, and we want you to know that if that’s the case, we completely understand. And if you feel like you need a break at any time during this meeting, please let us know. There isn’t anything too complicated to go over, but we’re not dealing with a simple topic or situation right now.”

“Okay,” Sadie whispers.

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