Chapter 40 Places, Everyone
Places, Everyone
Acadia
Iput on my lilac colored dress today. My necklace feels warm against my chest. I do my hair in little twists and flower clips. My appointment at the Institute is soon and I decide to take a car service to it.
The rest of the event went great. My team is there now cleaning it up. They understand me not being there for that. The Meier Protection group left early this morning. I got about six hours of sleep, which I think is pretty good all things considered.
I cannot believe what happened with Oscar. It feels like a dream. I’m not even worried about Mads or Kol. For some reason, it feels like everything is going to work out. Like Fate.
I’m admiring my outfit in my mirror when my handler, Maria, comes into my room. She’s eating a bowl of ice cream and wearing an orange and pink tropical floral dress.
“You look very pretty. What’re your plans today?”
Maria has access to my calendar, and I know she checks it. But she probably noticed something different about me.
“I have my appointment at the Institute. But I’ve been given an initial offer to court by an alpha. I’m going to meet with him and his pack after to discuss the details.”
“Oh my god, Acadia!” she exclaims. She sets the bowl down and comes over to me with open arms. I take her up on the hug. She has a pine needle scent. It irritates my nose a bit, and so I try not to breathe until we part.
“Tell me about him!”
I smile and go back to fixing my outfit in the mirror.
“His name is Oscar. He’s older. Not as old as the Whitehorses. He’s Latin with an accent. He’s so kind. He’s a doctor.”
“Oh my god, that’s enough to make any girl wet.”
Oh, Maria. That’s so much. I do not want to talk like that with you.
“Have you told them about your family?”
I knew she was going to ask that next.
That is the whole reason I am 24 and haven’t found my pack. The reason I wanted things to work out with the Whitehorses. They didn’t ask questions. They didn’t care. They never brought it up again.
My family has a reputation and history in this city.
And it’s not pleasant. Growing up, I was a pariah.
No one wanted to invite me over. No one came to my birthday parties.
When I grew up and got a chance to only go by my first name—things got better.
I made lots of omega friends here in the housing.
I only ever had to bring up my family when courting.
And usually, when an alpha heard who I was, they were out.
The Institute is a different story. They fawn over me there because of who my family is.
I sigh.
Yes, that’s one of the things we will need to discuss today.
“Not yet.”
“Ok, then we won’t get excited until that’s done.” She picks up her ice cream and twirls out of the room.
I pat my necklace. I’ll probably have to take it off before I meet the Soto pack. Is it gauche to wear someone else’s courting gift?
I admire it on my neck. It’s so beautiful.
Wait.
Didn’t Angeline at the Institute tell me the alpha who gave this to me was a Latin man with a mustache? She said he had an accent.
No, that would be a huge coincidence.
She also said they were three alphas, but the Soto pack is three alphas and a beta. So that doesn’t add up. I get a text that my car is here, so I grab my little purple purse and run out of the apartment.
“Goodbye, Maria!” I call out.
I get into the back of the car and we drive out. Something isn’t right. My mind is whirling. The necklace came from a Latin man with a mustache.
Oh my god.
I remember. Angeline said, I shouldn’t be telling you this but they are courting a beta. She said that. Oscar also told me they’d just bonded a beta.
My god.
I gasp, and my hand flies to my face. The driver looks back at me, and I signal I’m fine.
I think Oscar saw me at the soirée. Or someone from his pack did. But they must have missed me. He gave me this necklace. It’s probably what he wanted to tell me last night.
When we pull up to the Institute, I race out. The steps never seemed so severe before. I fly up them to the glass doors and rush in. I go through security on bouncing feet and then rush up to the room I usually see Angeline in. The big glass conference room.
Thank god she’s waiting for me.
I burst through the doors, calling out her name.
“Acadia! What’s going on?” She stands up to match my energy. She’s wearing a yellow dress and her hair is slicked back into a bun.
“Who gave you this necklace?”
There’s a smile there on her lips she is suppressing.
“Angeline, tell me.”
“Why don’t you take a seat?”
I collect myself so I don’t attack her and get arrested for assault. Plus, I like her. I wouldn’t want to harm her.
I sit down. Angeline fires up the display on the large wall and then slides me over a file across the glass table.
“Acadia, I’m excited to show you a pack that meets all your requirements and preferences. Meet Pack Soto.”
My hands coves my mouth.
Soto.