Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“Oh my god!” I stare wide-eyed at the indoor ice skating rink. Outside the rink's acrylic walls, I can see the shadowed seating where some people sit watching the skaters. I’ve never been to one before. I’ve never even seen one. This place is enormous. “The outfit you picked makes more sense now.” I chuckle, and Quin blushes.
“I wanted to make sure you were comfortable.” He shrugs, pulling me over to him and under his arm.
When he suggested I wear a pair of white tights and this flowing pink and blue skirt with a tight long sleeve pink shirt, I was confused. Then the massive winter jacket he pulled out confused me even further. I was also given matching ear muffs and gloves.
Every item is new and fits me perfectly. A gift from Quin. I look cute, and I feel cute, but best of all, I really enjoy the way the guys are watching me. The way that the skirt swishes around my thighs draws their eyes right to my ass.
I left the puffy white winter jacket unzipped, so they can see the tight pink shirt under it.
Quinton wore dark gray sweatpants that are cuffed at the ankles, a black t-shirt, and a fleece-lined, black jacket over the top. His curling black hair is held back from his eyes by a dark gray beanie, and matching gloves finish off his look.
Lachlan is wearing a similar outfit but with black pants, a navy blue top, and gray jacket.
Caelum decided to go with jeans and a long sleeve black shirt with a black jacket.
They all look handsome as hell.
Their scents are so strong and intoxicating that I almost think they're wearing enhancers.
I still haven't gotten my hands on scent blocking spray, and I'm starting to think I never want to.
Dangerous thoughts.
“I'll go rent the skates, you Omegas go sit,” Caelum says, pressing a kiss to Quin's head and then one to my cheek before walking off.
“Come on, you two.” Lachlan leads us to the row of bleachers and cubbies so we can sit and change our shoes.
“Whose idea was it for the pack date to be at an ice skating rink?” I ask, trying to contain my excitement. This is so thoughtful. Honestly, the pack date can be anything from dinner at a restaurant to going to the movies. But this is cute as heck.
“Cae's,” Quin says as he grins back at me. I'm a little surprised that it was the Alpha's idea to bring us here, he never really struck me as a romantic type. Despite our tentative makeup, I've been cautious.
“Have you ever done this before?” I ask them both, but they shake their heads.
“This will be a first for all of us,” Lachlan admits, and for some reason, I really like that.
I like that these men have saved something like this for the four of us to share.
Cae returns shortly with four pair of skates, and we all make ourselves busy putting them on. The guys' skates are a black material that look more like the kind you would expect for hockey. Mine are a white leather with little pompoms on the laces.
“We have to walk on the rubber mat until we reach the ice,” Cae explains, taking my hand so he can help me to the ice.
“Oh, this feels odd.” Quin chuckles as he follows close behind us.
I'm only just stepping on the ice when I slip and almost fall. Thankfully, Lachlan catches me with firm hands on my waist.
“Don't worry, Omega, I've got you.” The way Lachlan growls the promise in my ear sends my heart racing. I'm only an Omega, and my instincts scream that I should accept the Alpha’s help. I really want to. This pack feels like mine. Especially now, after everything that we've been through. Not just for today, but always.
“Here, take my hand,” Quin says from my other side. I look up at the male Omega and smile.
Cae is in front of us, making his way further across the ice on shaking legs. It's clear that he's unsteady, but he's trying. It's cute, actually, to see him struggle to do something. Normally, he's good at everything he does, with that swagger of a confident Alpha. Which can be obnoxious to witness when you want him to suck.
I don't think I feel that way about him anymore. The resentment and pain that colored my view of him shifted when he confessed his mistakes. I think there will always be a wound, but it’s healing.
Cae might not have been my best friend at the time, but he was someone that was always there.
With Lachlan’s hands on my hips, and Quin’s hands in mine, I feel equally pulled to both of them.
Even to Cae. That doesn't mean that I can't still mess with the Alpha, though.
The idea that is running through my head causes my scent to spike between me and the two other men. Quin notices first and groans, as Lachlan’s grip on my hips tightens.
“Help me tease him,” I murmur to Quin. He stares at me with slightly wide eyes, but then the shock wears off, and now he's grinning at me.
“Absolutely,” Quin agrees easily. “What would you like me to do?” We're all sort of wobbly on our feet, which makes it even cuter when Quin manages to get in front of me and pull me into his chest.
His back is to Cae, but I see the Alpha glance back over his shoulder at us. He stops, eyes wide as he stares. It's a good thing that this ice rink seems to have a scent suppressant pumped through the air filtration system. Otherwise, all the other people here would be getting a face full of our scents.
“So naughty.” I hear Lachlan chuckle as Quin pulls me in for a kiss.
It's sweet and soft…just like Quin and every moment spent with him since the day I lost my job.
I shiver just thinking about that morning.
About everything we did. Cae missed the entire thing. What would he have said if he had walked in on us?
Why was I so disappointed that he didn't?
Of course, I know that answer. It's the same reason I'm trying to put on a show for him right now. A small part of me wanted to make him jealous, but an even bigger part of me just wanted to know he wants me too.
His caramelized scent hits us, and I moan against the kiss. I'm lifting my hands up to wrap them around Quin's neck when a sharp smack against my ass cheek causes me to yelp.
“This is our pack date, remember? Not the Omega date. Though I'm sure we can arrange for some fun activities once we get back home… We haven't finished off that box of chocolates yet, after all,” Lachlan says as he passes Quin and me, while he makes his way over to Cae's side and pats him on the shoulder.
“We are really going to have our hands full with those two, huh?” Cae shakes his head at his best friend, but the smile on his face makes me think he's up for the challenge.
He actually looks quite excited. Something that makes my instincts go a little crazy.
They all truly want me, and it seems like they want me just as badly as I want them.
Can this really happen? Can the four of us make this work? Without anyone getting hurt?
Without my heart getting crushed in the process?
I'm barely pulling away from another soft kiss when I hear a thud. I gasp, snapping my head to the side just in time to see Caelum on his ass.
There's a long moment of silence as we all stare at the fallen Alpha, lying backward on the ice, fanning his arms out like he's gonna make a snow angel.
He grunts, shaking his head. “Well, that was super embarrassing. Can one of you, or maybe all of you, help me up?” Cae chuckles. “The guy I rented the skates from said that we could use one of the children's skating guides after I told him that none of us had ever skated before.” Cae sits up and reaches his hand out to both Lachlan and Quinton. I actually wanted to offer my help as well, but I'm well aware that I would probably just make the situation worse. “I thought he was just fucking with me. But I see now that he was probably right.”
I can't help but giggle as I try to imagine Cae holding onto a skating guide. Especially when I watch a little girl who can't be more than six years old skate past us, holding a blue penguin one herself.
She looks very confident and very comfortable. She's giggling and laughing as she chases her mom, who effortlessly glides in front of her daughter.
“I think I would be more comfortable using one, at least for a little while…” I murmur. It's slightly embarrassing, but I also don't wanna fall flat on my ass like Cae did.
“I'll grab one,” Lachlan offers before glancing back at Cae. “Maybe I'll grab two,” he adds, making us all snort.
We spend the next hour and a half skating on wobbly ankles and trembling knees. The adorable guide helps a lot, but skating takes serious muscle tone and a skill level of balance I do not possess.
It seems that none of the men I'm here with possess this skill either.
By the time we're putting our shoes on and heading back out to the car, we all are significantly worn out. My legs are shaking with fatigue.
This date with Pack Baker was the most fun I've ever had. We laughed the whole time, teasing each other relentlessly.
I didn't fall at all, not for lack of trying, but mostly because anytime I wobbled a little too much, three sets of hands reached for me at the same time.
Quin never strayed too far from my side, but Cae was struggling just to stay upright. Lachlan was the most daring of the four of us, but at best, he was able to skate next to us slowly on his own.
He never managed to pick up much speed, but it was pretty impressive watching him focus so hard on learning.
We picked up some ice creams on the way home, which is why I completely miss the new art piece hanging on the wall above the couch in the living room.
It's not until Quin clears his throat and nods to it that I even look up.
“Oh, fuck!” I gasp, shocked to see the painted image of my breasts hanging in the middle of the apartment living room.
There's really no denying exactly what you're looking at. As far as I can tell, the only change Lachlan made to the painting was to frame it.
“When Lachlan said he wanted to hang some of his art here, I didn't realize that was what he wanted to hang. I thought it would be one of his landscapes, something more family appropriate…” Cae snorts as he stands in the living room with his arms crossed over his chest. He's staring at the painting intently.
“Don't look!” I put my ice cream on the counter and rush forward with my hands raised. My intention is to cover his eyes so he can't see any more than he already has, but the second I get close enough, Cae grabs both of my wrists.
I'm tugged against his hard chest as he wraps one of his arms around my waist, securing me tightly in his hold.
“Why, Fireball? Are you worried I'll like what I see?” Cae's hold on my waist tightens, our scents both rising to fill the space around us.
“Fuck me, you two smell insane together,” Lachlan groans like a starving man, and I blush furiously.
“I'm just going to go change, try not to have too much fun without me,” Quin teases, and as he passes, he presses a kiss to my cheek.
I'm practically a puddle on the floor for these men. Between Quin's sweetness, Cae’s confidence, and Lachlan’s playfulness?
I'm fucking weak.