Page 31 of A Pack of Cozy

"Hmm?" he hums, clearly settling in to fall asleep.

"Where is your family? I know Connor and Seth's family background. But where are yours?"

"Oh, they're an alpha and an omega, single pair no pack, retired to Florida," he says. "They actually don't live far from Seth's sister. They used to live in Lansing, and I went to Michigan State University where I met the guys. When I graduated, my parents moved. I'm an only child, so there wasn't a reason to stay.

"I moved up here with my pack. Then Clara moved up here when she was looking for work. Her mom is my mom's sister, so I agreed to give her a job and let her live above the Café. The rest is what you know." I snuggle into his side. This is something I love about Bax. He's so straightforward and earnest. It makes me feel safe. Soon, he's snoring behind me and I happily follow him into slumber.

Calliope

Brunchwiththegirlsis as easy and enjoyable as our book club. It's been days since my date with Bax, and I still feel the lingering euphoria.

Everyone's chatting about everything that's happened since book club two weeks ago. Sunny is apparently being harassed by a corporate group that wants to include the land where her bee farm is located in their plans for a new luxury hotel. She's determined to resist their offers, even though the numbers they present make my head spin. To emphasize her point, she bangs on the table. It's the first time I've seen Sunny angry, but when she gets up for a scone, Clara confides to me that she can be pretty scary when she's mad, and that no one should get on her bad side.

Clara has finished a new manuscript and is working on editing it. Winnie brought in a new order of animal-themed kitchen tools to her shop in preparation for spring tourists. She's incredibly proud of a sloth cheese grater. Rose lost one of her marketing clients because they decided to go with a marketing firm. Down one income stream, she asks us to keep our eyes peeled for opportunities. We say we will, and cover her portion of the bill when she isn't looking. She tries to protest when she discovers us, but Sunny tells her tough shit. Sunny is in rare form today.

It's my turn to share, and I recap my dates with Seth and Bax. Everyone squeals, and it feels good to have positive news. Sunny and Clara had apparently filled Rose and Winnie in about my changed courting status, because they aren't surprised. I enjoy the positive attention for a minute, but I have some thoughts that have been nagging me all day. If I don't express them to these girls, who I now consider my friends, I'll never stop thinking about them.

Ever empathetic and perceptive, Winnie is the first to notice my hesitation. "What's the matter? Didn't you like the dates?" she asks.

"I did! I loved them, actually. It's just… I moved here four weeks ago, and ended my engagement with my ex three weeks before that. So, it hasn't even been two months since my breakup, and I've only been seeing the guys for twoweeks. Does that make me a horrible person for moving on so quickly?" I feel a knot in my stomach at the thought of my mother's response. She'd definitely think it's wrong, and I can hear her disapproving voice asking what I'm thinking. But I'm not asking her this time. Mom has good intentions, I think, but doesn't understand omegas and isn't open to learning. It feels like she can't ever grasp why I'm so different from her, which worries me.

Winnie takes my hand, her grip gentle, as if trying to ground me in the chaos of my thoughts. "I understand why you feel that way," she says softly. "Being scared is okay. It's a normal reaction." Her voice wavers, filled with understanding. "If this were just a normal situation, I'd tell you to tread carefully, to watch out for rebounds and fleeting emotions. But Cali." She pauses. Her gaze becomes more intense as her eyes search mine. "They're not strangers. Not really. They're your scent-sensitive matches. Your mates."

Tears sting the corners of my eyes as I absorb her words, the gravity of that statement settling over us like a heavy, soft blanket.

"No pace is too fast or slow when mates come into play, and everyone knows it," Winnie continues, her voice steady. I can feel her strength and unwavering support wrapping around me, even as I wrestle with my fears.

"That's my opinion as a totally unbonded omega," she jokes, and we both let out soft chuckles, breaking the tension.

Rose has lowered her phone, but it still remains in her hand. She looks directly at me, which is my clearest sign that she cares. "You have to do what you and your omega feel is right. No one else's thoughts or opinions matter." I smile at her. That's excellent advice, though it seems a little unusual coming from a beta who doesn't have an omega internal psyche. Maybe she found it online?

Aannndd, she's back to typing on her phone. I really like Rose, but she works too hard. I remind myself that everyone has stressors that others don't know about, and she did just lose a client. What matters was that she cares enough to participate and always shows up for her friends, like when she came to scrub the graffiti off the Library.

"Thank you," I say.

Winnie and Rose nod while Sunny and Clara smile. Connor's red hair appears behind the café counter. He smiles and waves, and I wave back. He takes that as an invitation to come over and say hi. Bending down and kissing me soundly, the girls make little chittering noises in the background. His scent encircles me, cinnamon and sandalwood highlighting my lovely morning.

"Hi, ladies," he says. "Who's hosting book club next week?" I'd told the guys about the book club, and they've been supportive. My ex had told me I couldn't be in a book club because he felt they were ridiculous and took too much time away fromus.

"It was supposed to be me," Winnie says. "But I wanted to talk to you all about something. My roommate has been ridiculous lately and has banned any guests… ever." I cringe at her words. I hated having roommates. Nothing can make you dislike someone more than living with them. "She might be over it by next week, but I'd rather not take the chance. Who knows how she'd react? So, I hoped we could choose someone else's place instead."

Before anyone can say anything, Connor interjects. "You guys could do it at our place." We all turn to look at him. He's smiling and seems completely serious.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Yeah, we have plenty of space. You could use the study or the living room. I can whip up an amazing charcuterie board." He winks dramatically as if he needs to bribe us to use his gorgeous home. I glance at the other girls, who're nodding vigorously. I guess having the book club at a big house in the woods sounds like a good idea.

"Okay, thank you, Connor," I say, smiling up at him. He grazes my cheek with his fingers before one of the baristas calls his name, and he reluctantly heads back to work.

"Wow," says Clara. I turn back to them, and they stare at me.

"What?" I can feel my face flushing.

"He just clearly adores you. I've never seen him, or any of the guys, like that with anyone."

I try to hide my pleased smile by ducking my head and sipping my frappuccino. The guys won't let me pay for drinks here anymore. When I'd tried my first day after I'd been snowed in at their house, the barista informed me that the owners had shown everyone who worked there my picture, and that they were not allowed to charge me. They told me they'd lose their job, which was a little extreme, so hopefully an exaggeration.

"They showed everyone my picture?" I'd asked.

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