Building a Pack is Ruff, Part 1 (The Pack Pets Omegaverse #2)

31. Kelly

Chapter 31

I t still embarrasses me thinking that Garret almost walked in on me and Sam earlier. Just a few minutes before, I was sprawled across the bed with no pants on. That would have been awkward. Leading him back into the living room, we pass the stairs and the bathroom to the door that leads down to the basement. It has one of those dual light switches, so I can turn it on at the head of the stairway or at the bottom, and I flick the switch before leading him down.

We reach the bottom, and the shock is clear on his face as he takes in Sam’s man cave. I don’t really think that it should be called a man cave—I totally want to hang out down here. Maybe once he gets the shelves put in for books, he’ll let me store my manga here. I still need to get back to my parents’ house and get the rest of my clothes and stuff, but there isn’t a hurry. It would probably be a good idea for me to call them and check in again anyway with all the snow. They might get upset if I don’t let them know I’m alive and not “dead in a ditch somewhere” from the storm.

When I open my fingers to let go of Garret’s hand, he tightens his grip. Ok, so we’ll keep holding hands, that’s fine. I curl my fingers back around his and he relaxes slightly, but now he’s the one leading me around the room. He takes in the video game setup, and then the bar off in the corner and pool table. Finally, going back to the chairs in front of the TV. I can’t stop the blush that heats my cheeks thinking about what I did with Teddy in those chairs. Or that fact that I’ve been secreting away boxes of condoms around the house in handy places, at least until I get to my doctor’s.

When I went upstairs earlier, after Sam licked me so hard I saw stars, I grabbed a couple boxes of them and stuffed them in Teddy’s room in case the need arises again. Similarly, when I had to run upstairs during our movie this weekend, I grabbed some of the regular and alpha sizes and put them behind the bar. The guys’ll probably think I’m nuts if they come across random boxes of condoms scattered around the house. But better to be safe than sorry, and I don’t know when or if I’ll be ready for kids in the future.

While I’m zoning out, Garret turns towards me. He steps in close, removing almost all space between our bodies. His hand that isn’t holding mine comes up to cup my cheek. The movement too intimate for complete strangers, which we very nearly are. The look in his eyes is so sad as he stares at me.

“I need to apologize again. I know that nothing I say will make you not think of me as an asshole for how I behaved earlier. But I am sorry. I’ve been so stressed lately but that’s not your fault. It’s not even a good excuse. But still…” He trails off and I look up, wrapping my free hand around the one holding mine.

“Do you wanna talk about it? Why you’re stressed? Is there anything I can do to help?” His body sways towards mine until I can feel his breath against my forehead. I hear him take a deep breath and his whole body shudders.

“No, Kelly, I appreciate it. You’ve done enough, and thanks for showing me where I can sleep.” He tries to pull away, but I don’t want him to. And when his eyes meet mine, I feel an overwhelming need to help him feel better. It’s not quite the same feeling I have with Teddy and Sam of being home, but it’s not completely different. Almost like he could be part of my home if I let him in.

Still holding his hand, I lead him over to the chairs and set him down in one, plopping myself down in the one beside him with my feet under me, and turning so I can face him. “Ok, open invitation didn’t work, so now I’ll demand. Garret, what’s stressing you out? You’ll feel better if you talk about it.”

That at least earns me a small smile, but he sounds hesitant as he starts talking. “I didn’t want to come on this trip.” He stares intently at my face. “No, that’s not…Ugh. That’s not the whole thing, and it’s just. Shit…let me start over from the beginning.” He takes a deep breath, running his hands down his face like that’ll help him line up his thoughts.

“I’m not sure how much Teddy told you, but we grew up together. We were inseparable since we were little—he’s like my brother. But as we got older, it became apparent that he felt differently, at least he and Steve…um…they were still kids, but they didn’t feel the same way about each other that I felt about them.” He swallows hard and stares at me, willing me to understand the simple concept that his brother and Teddy fell in love.

I can’t stop my small scowl. “Yes, I know. Teddy loves him. I got that part. Continue.”

He lets out a sigh of relief. Maybe he’s just embarrassed talking about it. “Ok, so, yeah. We went from a trio of best friends to a two-way love interest and the tag along twin. As you can imagine, it kinda sucked. So, when we got a call from Teddy saying his designation came in and he was an omega, Steve was thrilled. He said everything was great. We could still start a pack with just the three of us.” He pauses the story, and his eyes meet mine, pleading with me to see the problem. Of course, being the odd man out is never fun. I get that.

Heck, even with Sam and Teddy, I feel that way sometimes because they’re alpha and omega, and I’m just the clueless beta. They don’t do it on purpose, but sometimes it’s like they already have a connection I’m not part of. But we haven’t been together for very long at all, so I hope it’ll get better in time. That being said, if I’m understanding Garret correctly, this was going on for a while. Poor guy.

“Of course, Dad was mad. He told Teddy’s parents in no uncertain terms that he would never be a part of our pack, and we needed a female omega to produce heirs.” He sighs again, staring down into his lap. “Like having kids should be an entire fucking life goal. Jeez.” His eyes flicked up to mine. “Sorry, if you want kids, that’s cool. Great, even, for you. Not all of us want that. I’m not against it, but it’s not my goal in life to produce children to take over my dads’ company. I don’t actually know what I want to do, but I know that isn’t it.” He sighs again.

This man is gonna hyperventilate if he doesn’t stop it.

“Anyway, as you can imagine, Steve was inconsolable. We didn’t even hear from Teddy again after he called to tell us he was an omega. Dad blocked his calls, he wouldn’t let us see him. It was a mess. Moreover, as we got older, Dad started demanding we visit different omega centers and try to meet a female.” I couldn’t hide my wince at that. It’s no wonder Teddy broke down crying earlier, or that he was so…enthusiastic on the couch.

“It’s been almost nine years of us going to college, trying to meet someone, going to omega centers, trying to meet someone, Dad constantly harassing us to try to settle down...and meet someone. It’s exhausting and repetitive and we were never going to meet anyone that we could agree on, anyway. It’s been a huge waste of time.” My confusion must show on my face because he smiles before he continues, “Steve’s gay, Kelly. Like, Full six on the Kinsey scale. He says he can find women aesthetically attractive in a subjective way, but nothing about the female body appeals to him sexually. And, quite frankly, I don’t like dick. I mean, I have one—it’s nice enough if I do say so myself—but I don’t want one from anyone else.” I can feel the blush in my cheeks and ears.

Garret smiles at me again, reaching out to cup my jaw. “But you, Kelly, you are so fucking beautiful. I knew from the moment I saw you in the store that you were mine.”

My eyes go wide, and I can only try to explain. “No, that’s not…You, both of you, smelled Teddy on me—he smells like a snickerdoodle. Like an omega. I’m just…” I trail off, not sure how to explain any better than I did with Sam and Teddy that I’m a beta, and therefore can’t be his.

His smile is soft. “But you, Sweetness, you smell like lilacs. You smell like mine.” His hand slides behind my neck, fingers winding through my hair.

Gently, giving me plenty of time to resist, he pulls me forward into a kiss. My toes curl under me and I moan against his mouth, giving him the opening to slide his tongue along my lips and barely dip inside. His other hand comes up and wraps around my back, pulling me closer, over the arm of the chair and into his lap. I settle against him, and he’s already hard underneath my butt. I wiggle around and he groans into me. His hand on my back tightens in my shirt while the other one comes down to grip my hip, grinding me against his erection.

It’s too much, too fast as his hips thrust against me, and I pull away from his kiss, gasping for breath. He tries to follow me, leaning forward, but he looks startled, and stammers out another apology. “Shit, Kelly, I…I’m sorry. Again. I feel like I’m always saying that to you. It’s no wonder you don’t want to—” I silence him with my fingers against his lips. I just need a minute to think. These alphas and omega are really turning my world on its end.

“No, Garret, you didn’t do anything wrong.” I meet his eyes, and he looks worried. “You feel really good. Too good, in fact. I’m just…how do I say this? Betas aren’t built like alphas and omegas. We don’t see someone or scent someone and suddenly know.” His gaze ping-pongs around the room, looking anywhere but at me. “No, listen.” I take his face in my hands so he has to meet my eyes. “I didn’t say I don’t want you. It’s all just really fast, ok? I just met Teddy and Sam this weekend and already...well…you know. I’m just having a bit of an attack of conscience because I thought I was gonna either be alone my whole life, or meet a nice beta guy.” His sudden snarl doesn’t even faze me after dealing with Sam and Teddy.

“The point is…” I rub my thumb between his eyebrows, smoothing out the scowl. “The point is, this is all new for me. So just please be patient while I get myself sorted out. We know where we each stand now, yeah? I know how you feel, but I need to sort out how I feel. Still, something about you does feel like mine too. Not as much as Teddy and Sam. Not yet. Give me some time? Please?”

He pulls me hard against his chest and murmurs against my hair. “Take all the time you need, Kelly. I’ll be waiting until you get tired of me and tell me to get lost, or decide you want me.” I can feel his small sad smile against the top of my head, but the only answer I have is to hug him back.