Page 4 of Their Knotty Pack
Taking a shuddering breath, I shake my head. I have to stop thinking of her. How would another omega even help me through my heat? I'll need knots or locks, neither of which she'll have.
Maybe I can get them to sedate me. At least that way I won't have to fuck anyone I don't want to.
Prologue 2 - Kieran
Four Months Ago
Gods, I fucking hate Christmas.
I'm just glad I found a bar that's still open on Christmas Eve, available to me to wallow in self pity. I'm only two drinks in, but I plan on getting wasted by the time the night is done.
I'm not sure what I thought would happen when I decided to stay in Starbrook City after my sister's trial, but sitting alone on Christmas wasn't it. I mean, it's not like things were ever the same after she left home to go live with Nana, but it wassomething.
To be fair, Hannah did invite me to come have dinner with her pack and Pack De Lucca.
But I don't belong there. I'm not sure I belong much of anywhere.
Apparently, that counts the road, considering I almost hit someone with my motorcycle when I was pulling into the parking lot.
Someone. Too general of a term for the fierce little slip of a woman who wasn't looking before crossing the road. Sure, she hadprobably had a few drinks, considering how her friend with purple hair had pulled her out of the way as she unleashed her tirade on me. I'm not sure who hurt her to make her react like that, but my fingers itch to meet the flesh of the fuckers.
Then a small smile pulls at my lips. She had reacted so aggressively as I pulled my bike to a hard stop and held up my hands in apology, even though she was the one who stumbled into the middle of the street. Her pale-blue eyes had flashed with so much anger, it startled me.
"You fucking alphas think you just own the whole world, don't you?"
Her cheeks had been flushed, and she had been wearing an ugly Christmas sweater that read,"Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal",her long black hair falling around her in loose waves.
I had been so caught off guard by the reaction, it wasn't until she made it across the parking lot with her friend that I pulled off my helmet and called an apology out after her.
Her hand, on the passenger side door handle of whatever ride share they had ordered, lifted, and I thought she might wave back. Laugh and say it was okay.
Nope.
She had scowled at me as she raised both arms in front of her and flipped me off with each hand. Then, she oh-so-eloquentlystuck her tongueout at me.
What a little ray of sunshine.
"One more, Bernie," I hold up a finger at the old bartender, who only grunts at me before fixing up another neat whiskey and sliding it over.
"Kieran? Is that you?" A vaguely familiar voice pulls me out of my own self pity, and I look over to see Brody Benson, the lawyer who helped my sister with her case this last fall.
"Hey man," I reach out for a handshake, and his grasp is firm as he takes it, "didn't expect to seeyouin a bar on Christmas Eve."
He takes the seat next to me, raising his chin at Bernie. "Hey Bernie." The old bartender, without a word, slides over a glass of scotch on the rocks. "I come here a lot these days…since I left my pack."
Fuck, right. He left his pack after he found out what they were planning on doing to Cady De Lucca.
I'm here, drowning my sorrows because I don't have anyone…but I'veneverhad anyone. Brody had a pack and lost it. From what I remember of what Hannah told me, this'll be his first holiday without a pack.
"How're you holding up?" I ask, nursing my glass. Usually, I hate it when people sit right next to me, or try to talk to me while I'm drinking. With Brody though, it feels weirdly natural. Like we're two old friends catching up after not seeing each other for a while.
"It is what it is." He shrugs, swirling his drink around. "I've mostly been pouring myself into work, and your sister has been a huge help in funding other lawyers to come work for me." That's right. After leaving his pack, he also left their law firm and started doing work for omegas pro-bono, which is how he ended up representing my sister to begin with. "Speaking of your sister," he drawls, "is there any particular reason why you're here, drinking, instead of with her and her pack?"
"They invited me," I shrug, then down the rest of my drink, "I just couldn't bring myself to be submerged in a happy pack when I'm feeling like this."
"Like what?" he asks, but I can tell by the look on his face that he already knows.
I say it anyway. "Like something's missing."
