Chapter 19
The second I make it back to my office after my far too arousing appointment with Camille, I send a hasty text to our pack group chat.
Ambrose: We have a problem.
Jackson: Oh shit. What kind of problem? Are you okay? Please tell me you’re not dying.
River: He wouldn’t tell us he’s dying via text.
I hurry to finish my reply before Jackson gets impatient and asks more ridiculous questions, opening up the bond I usually keep muted during work to let them know I’m not upset about the problem, just anxious.
Ambrose: Camille came into the clinic for an appointment. I tried to play it cool, but it was intense seeing her again. She had the same reaction to me. Nothing happened, but we talked. I told her about both of you, and how we want to court her. She agreed to try.
There’s a burst of excitement through the bond from Jackson that matches the high that I’m still riding after Camille said she was interested in us.
It’s hard to feel past the beta’s intense emotion, but I push through to find the undercurrent of River’s reaction.
He keeps his bond locked down during the workday too, but he’s letting us in.
River’s happiness is so faint that one wrong move could extinguish it. But it’s there. I beam down at the phone screen, hoping he can sense how proud I am of him for allowing himself that sliver of hope.
Jackson: HOLY SHIT DUDE!!!
Jackson: I just squealed so loud I woke Dolly up.
Jackson: And got paint all over my arms, but it’s fine.
Jackson: Fuck yeah, man. I knew you had it in you! Why didn’t you tell me you had an appointment with her today?
River: Probably because he didn’t want you to be way too excited and psych him out.
Jackson: I wouldn’t do that!
There’s a brief pause before Jackson’s next message.
Jackson: Okay, fine, I would’ve.
River: That’s amazing news, babe. I’m proud of you for being brave and talking to her about this. I would’ve been too terrified to bring it up if I’d were in your shoes.
River’s pride skates across my skin like a gentle caress, and I send my love and appreciation back to him.
Jackson: Yeah, tbh I would’ve fucked it up by coming on way too strong.
I snort at his assessment. Maybe I would’ve assumed the same thing, but I saw how good he was with Camille during her heat. Even though they were strangers when the heat began, they had such an easy rapport that surely will extend to outside it.
Besides, it’s impossible to dislike Jackson. That doesn’t keep me from seizing the opportunity to tease him.
Ambrose: You? Come on too strong?
River: Impossible.
Jackson: Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want. All I care about is that I get to see her again without risking my job to steal her phone number.
The nerves in my stomach flare back to life at his mention of seeing Camille.
Ambrose: That’s the problem. I may have panicked and invited her over tonight after work.
I only work half days on Fridays, so I’ll be able to head back home after my next appointment, but I’m sure River can’t leave work to come help, and it sounds like Jackson is busy painting.
Ambrose: I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ll call her and reschedule.
Jackson: NO
River: Don’t do that.
There’s a spike of alarm from both my packmates, and I shake my head in amusement at their adamance.
Ambrose: Are you sure? I’ll be home in about an hour, but I know you both have things to do.
Jackson: Dude, nothing matters more to me than making this work with Camille. I’m already looking to see what we have in the fridge to make for dinner. You think she’ll like steak and roasted brussel sprouts?
Jackson: Wait, no, those might make us gassy and I don’t know if she eats meat. Can you text her and find out what she likes to eat? I’ll make her whatever she wants.
The speed at which my beta packmate texts when motivated is truly impressive. I’ve started and deleted my reply multiple times as he keeps up his flurry of messages.
Ambrose: I’ll ask her. Thank you for taking care of dinner.
Jackson: Of course. There’s no way I’m letting you cook. I don’t want her to run away screaming.
Ambrose: Hey, I can cook some things. Like spaghetti.
Ambrose: Or eggs.
River: Your impressive culinary prowess knows no bounds.
I laugh as I read River’s message in the droll tone he uses to tease me.
Sure, I’m not a great cook, but I’m not as bad as they say.
Last time I made us grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, they turned out great and not burned at all, if you don’t count the test one I threw out before anyone noticed.
River: I have to stay late tonight at work, but I’ll come home as soon as possible. Let me know what kind of dessert she likes and I can pick it to try to compensate for making a bad first impression by not being there when she arrives.
I don’t need our bond to know that River is nervous. He’s already anxious about meeting Camille and worried she won’t like him. Springing a last-minute dinner on him instead of giving him time to prepare was a dick move.
Guilt makes me begin to type a message that I’ve changed my mind and we need to pick a different time, but River messages before I can.
River: I’m okay, Ambrose. You don’t need to cancel.
River: This way is better because it’ll give you both some time to reunite before I get in the way.
Jackson: You’re not going to get in the way. We talked about this. She’s going to love you. How could she not? You’re a total catch.
Jackson: A certified hottie.
Jackson: A grade A alpha.
Jackson: 10/10, would bang.
Jackson: If I were her.
Jackson: You know what I mean!
Jackson’s deluge of compliments makes me shake my head, but I don’t miss how River’s tension through the bond eases.
He may be ridiculous, but there’s a good reason Jackson’s part of our pack. He can get through to River with his enthusiasm and confidence in a way I can’t, which makes me love the ebullient beta and his silliness.
Ambrose: He’s right, love. There’s no question about if she’ll like you. Also, she’ll be as nervous about meeting you, so you’ll be in the same boat.
River: You’re right. I just worry because you’re both so excited, and I don’t want to ruin that.
Ambrose: If it’s not a good fit, it won’t be your fault. It’ll be because it isn’t right. Camille expressed a similar worry about entering into an established pack and hurting our dynamic.
Neither of the omegas we’ve courted acknowledged the risk their joining us posed to our pack dynamics.
Yes, things need to change and adapt when an omega—or anyone new, for that matter—joins an existing pack.
But they assumed that we’d throw away our love and care for each other to cater to their whims, and that’s not possible for us.
Camille has no experience with pack life or even being an omega, but she seems to understand that me loving River doesn’t reduce my capacity to care for her. That love is an abundant resource, and our pack will only be stronger for sharing love between us in whatever ways feel right.
Jackson: I’m not surprised. She’s special, Riv. And not just because she’s got fantastic tits and a pussy that made me see God. Though, fuck, dude, when you get a chance to experience that firsthand, you’ll die.
He’s not wrong, but I scowl at his crude words.
Ambrose: Stop talking about her like that. We’re taking it slow and getting to know each other, not objectifying the poor omega.
Jackson: Sorry, Daddy. I’ll be a good boy.
I sputter as I read the sarcastic message, my already swelling dick giving a small twitch of interest despite my embarrassment. River’s amusement is bright and happy through the bond, so I resist sending back a reply, telling Jackson to stop calling me that. If it brings River joy, I’ll endure it.
River: Jackson likes to pretend that all he’s thinking about is sex, but you know he’s really making a list of all the questions he wants to ask her. Try not to exhaust her before I get home, okay?
Jackson: I’ll be chill, don’t worry. I know how important this is and I’m not going to screw it up by talking too much. Though, maybe we could have a signal to tell me to shut up if I am?
Ambrose: I can glare at you.
River: I doubt he’d notice that. We’ll need to throw something at his face or poke him. Even that might not work.
Ambrose: Cattle prod it is.
Jackson: You guys don’t actually have one of those, do you??
The man asks a lot about our sex life for someone who claims to not want to know anything about it. I almost tell him we do, just to fuck with him.
Jackson: Nevermind, I don’t want to know.
Ambrose: In that case, why don’t I say something about Dahlia looking like she needs water or to go out?
Jackson: Oh, perfect!
Jackson: Crap, I hope she likes dogs. We can’t do this if she doesn’t like dogs.
River: That’s your dealbreaker?
Jackson: Yes! Dolly’s a part of our pack, and there’s no way I’m getting rid of her. Sorry Ambrose.
I hadn’t even considered that, but he’s right. Jackson adopted Dahlia after her previous owner—some douchebag from the law firm he worked at—was going to have her put to sleep when she injured her back. There’s no way he’d give her away, and I’d never ask him to.
Ambrose: I’ll make sure she’s not allergic or a dog hater when I’m asking about her food preferences. Anything else I should ask?
River: Do you think she’ll want to spend the night?
My stomach flips at the thought of having Camille in my bed. I told her I’d reward her for being good during her appointment, but I don’t want her to feel pressured to do anything. Or River to feel pressured, for that matter.
No, we need to take things slow. Give everyone time to get comfortable.
Ambrose: I doubt she will. She’s nervous and new to all this, and jumping into bed might be too intense for our first night all together.
River: Okay.
I can’t tell if what I feel from him through our bond is relief or disappointment. Jackson, on the other hand, is calm.
Jackson: Agreed. Though, if things go well, we’ll need to think about a nest. None of our beds are big enough for all of us, and she’s going to need a space that’s hers.
River: We’ll need to get a bigger place. I found a few listings the other day that might work.
My mouth falls open at his casual mention of looking for a new home before he’s even met Camille.
Ambrose: You were looking at homes?
River: Well, yeah. We already wanted to get a different place that was more accessible for Dahlia, so why not make sure that place also has a nice nest suite?
The way he words it is meant to be casual, but it’s a huge deal that River is incorporating Camille into plans for the future.
God, please let this work. If not for me or Jackson, for my wonderful mate who is opening his heart to possibility even after being hurt so many times in the past.
Ambrose: Let’s keep that to ourselves for now. We can look, but Camille isn’t like a lot of other omegas. If we talk about her living with us on our first date, she’ll run.
There’s a knock on my door, and I startle, glancing at the clock on my phone to see that it’s time for my next appointment.
Ambrose: I gotta go. We’ll talk more when I’m heading home.
River: I’ll be in meetings for the rest of the day, so I might not reply. But whatever you two decide is fine with me. I trust you.
Jackson: Gonna give Dolly a bath, so she looks her best. Talk to you later!
I set the phone down and head out of my office to go see my next patient, knowing I’ll probably look a little deranged with how I can’t stop smiling. But I can’t help it. I’m floating on a cloud at the prospect of seeing Camille again and showing her how well she’ll fit with our pack.