Page 18 of A Pack of Cozy

Oh, come on. I want to get to know you, too.

Bax:

You will on our dates, but we need to know you first.

Connor:

What is your favorite food?

This morning they told me a little about what their responsibilities at the Café are. As the group chef and the person in charge of the Café's daily menu, I'm not surprised that's Connor's question.

Cali:

It would be easier to decide things that I don't like. I'm a pretty big fan of good food. I don't like beans, and I do not like olives.

Seth:

I can work with that.

One of the library pages, Amelia, rushes into my office, asking for help with an irate patron. I set down my phone and hurry to assist.

Bax

Isincerelyhopethisdoesn't count as stalking. After carefully explaining to the guys that our omega has clearly experienced an issue in her past relationship that made her skittish, we decided to give her space. However, I find myself waiting for her to leave the Library at closing time.

My alpha is an overprotective asshole, and I found myself walking here instead of going to Dandy Stuff to get some more pens for the servers, like I said I would.

Footsteps behind me have me turning. The footsteps stop dead. Seth.

"You hypocrite!" he yells and points, bouncing on his toes like an overexcited puppy.

"Jesus, Seth, can you not yell," I reply through gritted teeth.

"'Let her be,' you said, 'She needs space,' you said. And now you're here?" His face would be incredulous if I couldn't see the teasing glint in his eyes. Living with someone for five years really gives you a beat on their moods, and Seth doesn't care that I'm here except to give me shit for it. Another set of footsteps to my right. Connor.

"Well, it's good to see that our pack is all on the same page. So much for personal space," he says, shoving his hands into his pockets. The library's side door opens, and Cali strolls out, causing my heart to sink.

I've crossed the space between us in seconds.

She yelps when she hears my footsteps, but when she looks up, her expression softens. A low purr rumbles in my chest, a primal response from my alpha, intended to soothe and draw her closer, while another part of my mind ignites, urging me to protect and defend what is mine.

The others gather around, their soothing purrs encircling our omega. We form a protective circle around her, each of us instinctively ready to shield her from the world outside. I gently tilt her face up, my heart sinking at the sight of the deep red mark on her cheek, and the small bruise beneath her eye. She was clutching an ice pack when she stepped outside, and my breath hitches in my throat.

My voice catches in my chest. I don't want to bark at her, but that's exactly what I'm afraid I'll do if I try to ask her about it.

"What happened, Baby?" Connor asks, his body pressing closely to hers, a silent promise of support. This is what packs do for their omegas. Whenever one is hurt, the others rush in to care for them, ensuring they never feel alone in their pain. If one falls short, the others pick up the slack.

Cali waves it off and tries to smile, but winces since her cheek is swollen. "It was just a patron who comes in here occasionally. She doesn't have a home, so she comes in to get warm. She was upset and confused, and I tried to calm her, but she swung one of her bags, which had something hard in it. It's okay. It'll heal soon enough."

"Did you call the police?" Seth asks. There's no humor in his face now.

"No, Seth, she won't even remember doing it tomorrow. The police can't help her. I had Amelia call the local shelter where she often stays, and they sent one of the volunteer social workers who works with her regularly."

Seth looks like he wants to tear something apart, but he nods. He respects her choice, even though it pains him to see her this way.

I gently cup the back of her neck, tilting her face up to meet mine. "Our brave, kind omega," I whisper, feeling a rush of heat at the sight of her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. My heart stutters. I want to pull her close, to taste her lips, but I hesitate. She needs to know that our feelings run deeper. We aren't just drawn to her beauty. We want to adore and cherish every part of her.

"We get a lot of people with housing insecurity. Most are completely harmless, but this sort of thing can happen. Honestly, I get yelled at far more by the people driving Mercedes and bringing their private school kids in for tutoring."

---