AllFreeNovel
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Being bonded is the pipe dream of every beta growing up in Crawley. It sounds as though I’ve been doing whip-its in the freezer at Mel’s when I say I landed a scent matched set of mates. They’ll probably believe me, but a part of me feels shitty about that too. I get the dream. How is that fair?
These two women who have been with me through all the hard shit in my life look at me with excitement. That’s when I realize that even if I had never met my mates, I would have cheered them on if they found theirs. They want to be happy for me, and I should let them.
“They say I’m their scent matched mate,” I say with a smile. I pull down the collar of my uniform and show them the pack plate charm on my neck.
“Look at the rock on that thing.” Stacey whistles, leaning in for a better look. “Is that part of courting?”
“Yeah. I’ve been getting a gift of some kind for more than a week. It’s totally outrageous.” What could they possibly keep giving me that they haven’t already? It’s wild when I think about it. And that doesn’t even count the other things they’ve done.
Jeanie chokes on her drink. “Shut up! Every day?”
“Yeah. It’s random. I never have any idea what it’s gonna be,” I say, still shocked by it.
“Did you get one today?” Stacey asks.
I nod, my cheeks flaming. “Sure did.”
“It includes naughty gifts too?” My sister howls.
“This morning, I got a leather wallet custom-made by Finn. Thank you very much!” I don’t mention that it was stuffed with the pack’s bank card and gift cards or that one is for a lingerie store. Because seriously, how do I even process all that? It’s already too much.
“I bet it’s beautiful. But don’t even pretend like that threesome you’re in isn’t hot. You have to tell us if what they say about omegas is true!”
“What do they say?” I ask and immediately regret it.
“That once you’ve fucked an omega, you’re ruined for all lovers after.”
“Stop,” I laugh. “Though Finn is so sexy, I believe it.”
“Tell us about them,” Jeanie asks, turning serious. “Are they good to you? Is it a sugar-baby situation or real?”
“Real,” I whisper.
The two throw themselves at me, tackling me to the dock and covering us all in sticky soda. That starts the giggles, and we laugh as we get comfortable in a pile. We lie out in the sun, limbs tangled together, acting just like we did when we were fifteen. It’s nice being with them for something good for a change.
“They’ve claimed me in public. Twice now. And they’re so good with the kids,” I say, turning to see my sister’s face. “You should see it. Ben throws the ball around and talks to Reid about sports. And Finn is over the top but so damn sweet. He bakes cookies with Em and fusses. He has a way of making the world seem magical while Reid makes it feel safe.”
My sister’s eyes find mine, and a lifetime of wishes passes between us. My eyes get teary.
She lifts my hand and clasps it with her own, blocking out the sun. “You deserve it, babes. All of it.”
Stacey sighs.“It sounds incredible.”
“It really is. I get in my head about it a lot. But I’m trying to accept that it’s real,” I admit. “They’re courting me like an omega, like they plan to keep me. They say they want to care for us, and I believe them.”
Stacey sits up, eyeing me. “We sort of thought this was your last house. Am I wrong? Kaci has a friend who needs a job, but it’s yours if you want to keep it.”
I get up with her, helping clear away our mess. “I’ll stay until she comes on, but I’m gonna go down to lunches at the diner if you’re sure you don’t need me.”
“Naw. Get outta here,” my sister says, looking up at me from where she hasn’t moved from the dock. “But if some omega shows up for my alpha and kicks my ass to the curb?—”
“I got a couch you can sleep on,” I promise.
“I bet it’s a fancy-ass couch,” she jokes, holding her hand out for me.
I pull her up into a hug, grateful for the family we made together out of a shit situation. “Love you.”
“Right back at ya.”
