Chapter 5
Chapter Five
FINNEGAN
“ S o you’re some kind of genius?” I ask her.
We’re almost back to the parking lot, and I really hope her pack is there. I need to get away from Alora as soon as possible.
I think my grief is hitting me weird, and it has me latching onto this omega I barely know.
Yes, she’s gorgeous and obviously smart, but she’s not for me.
Now, if I could just remember that, it would be great.
Alora wrinkles her nose. “I hate that word, but yes, technically, I guess I’m a genius.”
“Why do you hate the word?”
“Because it makes it sound like it was easy doing what I did. Because I’m so smart, of course, I finished school early. But I worked damn hard to do it.”
“Of course you did. I don’t think it matters how smart you are. Getting a PhD is no joke.” I offer her a half-smile.
She shrugs. “Yeah. I just… A lot of people said I was just dr ifting through, and it wasn’t fair. It might be a little bit of a trigger for me.”
I hum. “It’s understandable if people gave you a hard time about it.”
“Don’t start psychoanalyzing me.” She narrows her eyes but can’t hide her smile.
“So what did you get your PhD in? What do you do for a living?”
Her eyes light up. “I’m an electrical engineer, which is what my PhD is in. I work for Reinhardt Inc. They basically gave me my own division and told me to go crazy. I make good money, but I wonder what it’s like to have that kind of money.”
I shake my head. “I have no idea, but I’m sure it makes some parts of life easier.”
She sighs. “Yeah. We’re well off, my pack and me.
Obviously, I’m an electrical engineer. My alpha, Wells, is a sports RDN—that’s a registered dietitian nutritionist—for Summit Point University.
My beta, Jordan—he’s Wells’s older brother—is an electrician.
Wells hates it when we get to talking about electricity. ”
“I can imagine. Are they the same age as you?”
“Wells is two years older than I am, and Jordan is five years older. Wells and I were still in college when we met, but Jordan was already making a name for himself in the industry.”
“The electrician industry?” I don’t mean to poke fun at what her beta does. In fact, I think it’s amazing that he’s an electrician. That’s not a job I’d want to do, but it’s just the way she says it that has me biting back a laugh.
Her face turns into a sneer. “Oh, are you one of those people? The ones that look down on the blue-collar workers who the countries are built on?”
“Whoa, no.” I shake my head. “It was just the way you said about making a name in the industry. It reminded me of one of my clients saying something similar, but she’s an actress. I got a lot of that in LA.”
Her shoulders and face immediately relax. “Sorry. That might be another trigger.”
“I didnae mean anything by it. I promise.”
“Yeah, okay.” She tilts her head. “So you live in LA too?”
I nod. “Is that where you’re from?”
“Yeah. I grew up in Northern California but moved to Los Angeles for college. Met my pack and just never left.”
That’s when the university name finally registers. “Ahh, Summit Point University—I remember where that is now. I actually don’t live too far from there.”
“What a small world,” she says quietly, and I find myself nodding as I stare down at her.
I’m not sure when we stopped moving or when I started cupping her cheek, but here we are.
I want to kiss her, but I can’t.
She leans into me, lifting onto her toes, and I lick my lips.
Holy shit.
She’s going to kiss me.
I lower my head, her lips brushing against mine, when a yell has us breaking apart.
“Alora!”
She grins as she spins around and launches herself at the two men now standing at the end of the path. “Wells! Jordan!”
Her pack.
I squeeze my eyes shut, berating myself for kissing her—if you can really count that as a kiss.
Eejit. Eejit. Eejit.
“Who’s this, Alora?” Distrust threads through the man’s voice, and I can’t even blame him.
There’s no way he missed my kissing his omega .
Prying my eyes back open, I offer the trio a smile as I join them. “I’m Finnegan Abernathy. Your omega found me, and I wanted to make sure she made her way back to the two of you.”
“Jordan Harris.” The man who called out Alora’s name offers me his hand. “Thank you.”
I give it a shake, looking over the two men. They’re both attractive with their blond hair and blue eyes.
Even if Alora hadn’t told me that Jordan was the beta, I’d be able to tell based on his light, smoky eucalyptus and lavender scent. That means the man glaring at me as he holds Alora is Wells, the alpha. It makes sense.
While both men are tall—almost the same height as me at six-foot-three—Wells has wider shoulders and waves of protective alpha instincts are practically rolling off him.
I offer him my hand, and for a moment, I don’t think he’s going to take it, but he finally does. “Wells Harris.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” I tell them. “I’m glad you came to the parking lot since you don’t know the park. If you hadn’t been here, we would’ve had to call the rangers.”
Jordan’s eyes narrow as he watches me. “I know you from somewhere.”
Alora lifts her head with a grin. “Finn was on Heated .”
“That’s it.” Jordan grins. “Man, we love that show. Does your being here mean you didn’t get chosen for the pack?”
“Aye, but if you keep that information to yourself until the episode airs, it would be greatly appreciated.”
Alora nods. “He told me and said I could tell the two of you, but that we had to keep it on the down low.”
“That makes sense. No worries, man. Especially not after rescuing our omega.” Jordan turns his head to smile down at Alora. “We were so fucking worried about you, baby. ”
Wells growls. “We never should’ve left her in the first place.”
I agree with his statement, but wisely keep my mouth shut.
Alora frowns. “I’m the one who told the two of you to keep going without me. Yes, I got a little lost, but Finn helped me, and I’m okay.”
“I thought his name was Finnegan.” Wells clenches his teeth, and I realize he sees me as a threat. I quickly take a step back. His alpha instincts were likely going crazy when he realized his omega was missing, only to have her show up with another alpha—an alpha who kissed her.
Yeah, it’s probably best if I make my exit quickly.
“He said I could call him Finn.” Alora shoves Wells’s chest. “Stop being an alphahole.”
Wells’s face immediately softens. “I’m sorry, sweetness. My alpha is just riding me hard. Thank you for helping her find her way back to us, Finn.”
“It was my pleasure.” I offer them another smile, trying not to look at Alora.
With one last wave, I move past them to walk the few remaining feet to the parking lot so I can get the hell out of here.
“I’m sorry again about your ma, Finn. I know it’s hard now, but I promise it will get easier,” Alora calls after me. “You’ll always miss her, and sometimes, the grief will hit you out of nowhere. Just remember she loved you.”
I glance over my shoulder to smile at the omega I don’t want to walk away from. “Thanks, Alora. Don’t leave your pack again while you’re on vacation, yeah?”
She nods, and I have to force myself to turn back to the parking lot.
Why does walking away from this omega feel so much harder than walking away from Bree ?
I’ve known her for like an hour, and I knew Bree for weeks.
Is it because I know I can’t have her?
It really doesn’t matter, does it?
Reaching my car, I unlock it and slam the door shut. I pick up my phone and see a text from my da.
Fuck. I forgot to text him.
DA
Just checking to make sure you’re okay.
Let me know when you’re heading home.
FINNEGAN
I’m sorry, Da. I ended up at the park and hiked up to the lookout.
DA
Ahhh, of course you did.
You both always loved that spot.
On your way now?
FINNEGAN
Aye, I’ll be home soon.
DA
Good. Your kooky aunt is here.
FINNEGAN
Try not to kill her.
DA
I’m trying, but I make no promises.
Get here fast if you want her to live.
FINNEGAN
I’ll be there as soon as I can
Love you, Da.
DA
Love you too, son.
I can’t help smiling as I set my phone back down and start up the car. Aunt Maisie is definitely a little crazy, but I’ve always loved that about her.
My da? Not so much.
They fight like dogs and cats. It used to drive Ma crazy.
My eyes lift, finding Alora standing outside the other car in the parking lot, her eyes fixed on me and my car.
I force myself to smile as I lift my hand, and she quickly returns my wave. I tear my eyes away from her and back out of the spot before heading toward the road.
I can’t help looking in the rearview mirror before I pull away, and I find her standing in the same place staring after my car.
Something tears at my heart, but I force myself to pull out onto the road and start home.
Alora is just another omega who isn’t meant to be mine.
Such is life, and all that jazz.
But why does it feel like I’m leaving a piece of my heart behind as I drive away?