Page 28 of A Pack of Pumpkins
That gets all three alphas turning to look at me. Jack takes a pot off the burner before giving me his full attention.
“What’s up, Apple?” he asks.
“Well… remember how Winnie—the girl behind the counter at Dandy Stuff—said she’d see me this weekend?” I ask, trying to ease them into it. Judging by their expressions, I’m not doing the best job. Lots of forehead furrows and frowns.
“Vaguely,” Dagan signs. “I was a little busy making sure my omega was alright.”
My omega.
It’s what he calls me every chance he gets and I don’t hate it. Honestly, it sends a little thrill up my spine every time.
“Well, she’s a very good friend of mine. My best friend, really. And she’s a little concerned about everything that’s happened here. With my new place.”
“With the weird alpha and the scent stuff?” Bram asks.
“No, more like… with me getting roomed with four stranger alphas, and then finding out we’re scent sensitive and living together.”
“Ah.” Bram nods.
“She’s not the only one, either. My whole friend group was pretty freaked when I told them. Not to mention my cousin. He’s one of the alphas that owns the café I work at. He’s pretty upset too. Offered to have me move in with his pack instead of staying here.”
Jack growls at the stove and Dagan bares his teeth.
Bram stays calm, holding up a hand to silence the other two. “What do you want to do, Clara? You didn’t exactly sign up for this when you moved in.”
I look from him, who’s watching me with steady confidence, to Jack, who looks like he’d hug me but would be devastated if I left, to Dagan, who looks like he’d fight anyone who might try to take me from this house.
“I want to stay,” I confess.
They all sag in visible relief.
“But this town,” I go on, “these girls in my book club and their packs… they’re my family. I don’t want them to worry.”
Bram nods slowly. “What do you think we can do to reassure them?”
I take a deep breath. “They kind of already decided they’re coming for a barbecue this weekend.” I grimace a little and hurry on. “But if you think it’s too early for that, or you just don’t want to, I can always put them off for a couple weekends.”
A muscular arm wraps around my waist and pulls me against a hard chest. Dagan has me wrapped up in him and nothing in me can muster the fury to mind. I breathe in his pumpkin and nutmeg scent. He runs the tip of his nose over my cheek and down the curve of my neck before planting a soft kiss at my pulse point.
“I agree with Dagan,” Jack says. “We’re happy to assuage your friends’ fears. It’s only fair, since they don’t know us and this is a different kind of situation.”
I look to each of them. They all give a united, certain front.
“Okay. If you’re sure,” I say.
They smile. Jack continues cooking something that smells like a Michelin-star meal. Bram goes back to a book thicker than my thigh, and Dagan turns to me.
“Tell me about your day, Mine.”
I narrow my eyes, unsure if I got the last sign right.
“Mine?” I both sign and say.
He smirks and it’s a dark, possessive thing. “Mine,” he confirms.
“Your roommate?” I sign back, smiling despite myself. Dagan has been the fastest one to jump on the scent sensitivity train. But I’m not sure how I feel about such a possessive nickname.
“No. Mine. My omega. My mate. My future. My everything from the moment I saw you. Mine.”
