Page 18 of Pack Plus One

“Wonderful,” he says, recovering quickly. “The ceremony starts at two. Do try to be on time.”

As he walks away, the full weight of what I’ve just done hits me. I’ve committed to attending a wedding. With four men I just met. Men who think I’m someone else. Someone they hired to pretend to be their pack omega for the weekend.

I’m so screwed.

Caleb steps closer, his phone in hand. “Now that that’s out of the way…” From the way he’s sneering at Eric as he retreats tells me I could fall in love with this man.

No. No, Leah. Stab that thought and bury it right here, right now.

“I’ve been trying to text you,” Caleb says, his voice low enough that only I can hear. “They haven’t been going through.”

For a moment, I’m confused. Then I realize—he’s been trying to text their hired date, not me. This is my chance to come clean, to explain the whole misunderstanding.

Instead, I catch Eric’s gaze from where he’s stopped inside the building, talking to a group of his guests, but his eyes are on me. My traitorous tongue—fueled by pure reflex—seizes the opportunity to dig myself even deeper.

“Oh, I had to change my phone,” I improvise, hoping they’ll buy it. “Here, let me give you my... new... number.”

Like a fool, I recite my actual number, my heart pounding as I realize I’ve just agreed to see these incredibly attractive strangers again tomorrow. At a wedding. With my ex.

What am I doing?

“We should get going,” Mason says, checking his watch as we head back into the main room. “Early day tomorrow.”

“Right,” I agree, desperate now to escape the awkwardness. “I should head home too.”

“We can give you a ride,” Liam offers immediately.

“No!” I say, too quickly. “I mean, no, thank you. My friend should actually be waiting for me.” I scan the room desperately and spot Zoe near the entrance, no doubt wondering where I am. “There she is now.”

“At least let us walk you out,” Caleb says, his hand returning to the small of my back.

I allow them to escort me through the crowd, acutely aware of the curious glances we attract. Four absurdly attractive men surrounding one omega creates a certain impression, and I can practically feel the gossip spreading through the room.

At the entrance, Jude leans in close. “Until tomorrow, doll,” he murmurs, his lips brushing my cheek in a gesture that’s just shy of inappropriate for public.

Liam offers a more reserved goodbye, squeezing my hand gently. “It was lovely meeting you.”

Caleb simply holds my gaze for a moment too long, his green eyes intense. “Be safe.”

Mason is the last to say goodbye. “Thanks for the interesting evening,” he says, a knowing glint in his eye that makes me wonder if he sees through the entire charade.

“See you tomorrow,” I say, offering a bright, slightly manic smile before practically sprinting towards Zoe.

“Who the hell were those guys?” she hisses as soon as I reach her. “And why were they all over you?”

“Car. Now,” I manage, grabbing her arm and steering her toward the exit. “I’ll explain everything, but we need to get out of here before I completely lose my mind.”

The cool night air hits me as we step outside, and I gulp it down gratefully. Zoe keeps shooting me confused looks as she leads me to her car.

“Are you drunk?” she demands as we buckle in. “Because you have that manic look you get when you’ve had too much champagne.”

“I wish I were drunk,” I groan, leaning my head back against the seat. “That would explain my terrible life choices.”

“Start talking,” she says, starting the car. “Who were those guys? The tall one with the green eyes looked like he wanted to eat you alive.”

“That’s Caleb,” I say, then immediately regret it when Zoe’s eyebrows shoot up.

“You’re on a first-name basis with them? Leah, what happened to ‘show up alone, smile through the pain, and leave early’?”

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