Page 84 of Pack Choice
“What happened to your arm?” Guy asks.
“Erm, car accident.”
“Are you okay?” Hans asks with obvious alarm.
“Yes, it’s just a scratch. You should see the one on my scalp. Five stitches from falling out of a tree.” I point to the back of my head and the alphas glance at each other.
The waitress arrives, doing that flirty thing girls always do when confronted with a pack of alphas and seemingly oblivious to the fact these men are on a date with me. Hans orders for us all as I straighten my fork, then decide it looked better wonky and move it back.
A long silent pause proceeds once the waitress leaves and when I look up at the pack, they’re all glancing at each other. They’ve probably already decided I’m a no go. There’s probably little point in proceeding. Should I just cut this date short?
“Ava says you’ve just started a new job,” Hans says. He’s obviously the friendly one, the one with the best social skills.
“Yep at Rock Publicity.”
“What are you doing there?” Chris asks.
“I’m a personal assistant to the CEO,” I say with a little pride. It does feel good to have a proper job with a proper title.
“To Colten Turner?” Chris asks.
“Yes, that’s right,” I say, which prompts more of those glances. “What do you folk do?”
“We run our own accountancy firm,” Guy, one of the ones with the glasses, says proudly, puffing out his chest. “Our firm employs over two hundred members of staff and last year our turnover was over $300 million.”
“Is that so?” I say, unsure if he’s just stating facts or trying to impress me.
“It’s how we met,” Hans intervenes, “at college. We all majored in accountancy.”
“I never went to college,” I say, fidgeting with my fork again, “I wanted to but then–”
“Go to college?” Chris scoffs. “Why would you bother with college?”
I look up at him. “Why not?”
He chuckles in that way he did earlier, only this time it’s clear he thinks I’m the dumb one. “You’re an omega. You don’t need to go to college. You find your pack and …”
And? Live happily ever after? Yes, I know that’s how it’s meant to go.
“We’re very clear that our omega will never need to work. She’ll be well looked after. Free to raise our family,” Guy says, and Jude, the other one in glasses, nods along.
“We want lots of children,” Hans says, leaning in close again.
“You do?” I ask. “How many exactly?”
“Six at least,” Guy says confidently.
“I’d like eight.” Chris smiles widely.
“Eight?” I say, feeling a little sick.
The waitress arrives with my soda, plonking it on the tabletop and flashing the alphas another smile. They all smile back politely which, though I know it’s stupid, irks me. Ford wouldn’t do that. Nor would Colt or River. If I was on a date with any of those alphas, I’d have their full attention. Hell, River had an entire crowd of adoring fans out there on the street this afternoon and he hardly glanced their way. He gave me all his undivided focus.
“Ava also said you like to bake,” Hans says as I sip my cola. “In fact, she said you bake the best cookies this side of the Hamilton mountains.”
“Ava is very sweet,” I say, which has all the alphas nodding enthusiastically. My feathers ruffle. Okay guys, I know my best friend is every pack’s dream, but do they have to rub it in my face? “My cookies are pretty good, but hardly worthy of praise like that.”
“I’m sure they are,” Hans says, “I’d love to try them sometime.”
