Chapter 1 Kady #2
I snort. Only Sabs could make me laugh in a moment like this.
“What about your dad?” Faye asks.
Before I can answer, my phone starts ringing. I don’t even need to check the caller ID to know it’s him. It’s like he has a weird sixth sense and knows we’re talking about him.
Delilah eyeballs my phone warily in the same way she watches the microwave whenever Sabs tries to cook something.
As much as I’d love to send Dad’s calls to voicemail, that’ll only make him send Warren after me to check if I’m okay. I need to rip off the Band-Aid and get the conversation out of the way.
“Dad.” I answer the phone with the usual air of formality that clouds all of our interactions.
I’ve seen how other people interact with their families, and none of those relationships come close to resembling what I have with my father.
Sabs’s and Laz’s conversations with the Mavericks are filled with banter, love, and chaotic laughter.
I’ve watched Delilah lovingly unpack wellbeing baskets from her parents every month.
Faye and her gram are so close that the two of them can almost communicate purely through looks alone.
Yet my father doesn’t even know the meaning of warmth.
Our conversations are to the point, ticking topics off a list like we’re working through an itinerary.
He’s a businessman who treats me like another one of his assets to manage, and right now, I’m a problem he wants solved.
“Kady.” Dad’s voice is cold and stiff. “I trust that Warren delivered the letter?”
“I received it this morning.” Not wanting to worry my listening friends even more, I speak with an impassive tone, sounding almost robotic.
“You left me no choice,” Dad states, like matrimony is an inevitability. God forbid an omega makes her own choices, or worse, chooses to live alone. “Timothy is a strong choice. He’s even happy for you to remain at SVU until graduation.”
“How very generous.”
The only positive to our communication style is how it’s taught me to maintain a poker face under stress, which will definitely help me in becoming a kickass lawyer one day. Keeping calm on the surface while my inner rage bubbles underneath is one of my special talents.
“It is.” He chooses to ignore my sarcasm. “Not many alphas would permit it.”
Am I supposed to be grateful that one of my future husbands would allow me to continue my education? No one would tell an alpha how to live their life, so shouldn’t I be afforded the same privilege?
“Timothy has a well-established pack, each of them from respectable families.” As Dad continues, I imagine he’s reading from a script in front of him. “I know you’ve made your opinions on weddings clear in the past, but—”
Contrary to his belief, I don’t have a problem with weddings as a whole. What’s not to like about a party with cake and pretty dresses? However, I specifically haven’t enjoyed any of his weddings. Since Mom died, his three subsequent marriages have been a total farce.
Before he can give me one of his infamous lectures, I cut him short. “I’m not marrying the Oakwood Pack.”
Sabs punches the air in solidarity while Delilah squeezes my knee, and Faye chews her lip, deep in thought.
“You have to be sensible, darling.” I clench my fists at the way he patronizes me, speaking to me like I’m a child who doesn’t understand how the world works.
“You’re a Sinclair. You have responsibilities.
I know you’ve been picky about potential suitors in the past, but you’re twenty-two and still unbonded. Do you know how risky that is?”
I bite my tongue to resist reminding him that he isn’t bonded to my current beta stepmom who’s only a few years my senior. My mom was the only person he ever bonded with. If he deems it unnecessary, why can’t I?
“You’re a target,” he presses on. “The sooner you bond, the safer you’ll be.”
Sometimes I wish I was born into a normal family. One that didn’t come with lofty expectations or pressure, where I didn’t grow up with half the world hating me or kissing my ass just because I’m a Sinclair. Maybe things would have been different if Mom were still alive.
“I’m well aware of the potential threats that come from being an unbonded omega.” I sigh deeply. “But I can take care of myself. You’re the one who made me take Jiu-Jitsu, Hapkido, and Karate classes, remember?”
Sabs gives me a thumbs up.
“The Oakwood Pack can provide you with the security you need.” Dad keeps talking like he didn’t hear me. Typical.
“Well, I can’t marry them!” I huff, teetering on the edge of losing my cool before tempering my anger again. I can’t lose my shit. Not with him. I need to play smart and stop my emotions from getting the best of me. “I’ve already found a pack.”
The words tumble out before I can stop them. Next to me, Sabs splutters, Faye’s eyebrows shoot up, and Delilah’s forehead wrinkles in a frown.
“What?” My father coughs, like he’s choking on something. “I think the line is breaking up. What did you say?”
A crazy plan springs to my mind. I have no idea if it’ll work, but I have to hope it will, because there’s no way I’m going near Timothy Oakwood’s cheesy knot.
“I said I’ve already found a pack.”
“B-b-but…” I stifle a smirk. Dad is rarely lost for words. “You d-didn’t tell me—”
“I don’t have to keep you informed of every single detail of my life, Dad.” A victorious adrenaline rush floods through me. For once, I have the upper hand. “Plus, I wanted to make sure it was serious to avoid disappointing you.”
“Well…” he harumphs, collecting himself, probably already panicking about how he’s going to break the news to Timothy. “That changes things.”
“Yes, it does.” My voice stays firm. “And my new pack isn’t interested in marriage. Bonding is enough for them.”
“You’ve bonded?!”
There’s a crash in the background, as if he’s fallen off his chair or knocked over a heavy object. I can’t remember when I last heard my father so rattled.
“Not yet,” I reply vaguely. “But it’s on the horizon.”
“Who is this pack?” Dad demands, followed by what sounds like him banging a fist on a hard surface. “What are their names?”
“You’ll meet them soon,” I reply. “After you’ve made arrangements to cancel the wedding.”
With that, I hang up, leaving Sabs, Faye, and Delilah gawking at me like I’ve lost my mind. Over Delilah’s shoulder, I spot Laz’s face pressed against the house window, watching on.
“That was brilliant, Kady. A sheer Oscar-worthy performance!” Sabs claps her hands. “But you know you don’t have another pack, right?”
A grin breaks over my face. “He doesn’t know that.”
While my brain works one thousand miles an hour, desperately trying to piece this jigsaw puzzle together, I recall the campus rumors Sabs mentioned earlier, and everything clicks into place. Yes, I think it’s the perfect plan. Or it will be...
“You’re a genius, Kady, but you can’t conjure up alphas out of thin air.” Delilah puffs out her cheeks then exhales slowly. “I don’t think even Faye can grow them in the greenhouse.”
Faye shrugs apologetically. “I would if I could.”
“I don’t need you to grow me a pack because I’m going to find one.”
“But you don’t want a pack,” Delilah points out.
“Keep up, Del! Not a real one.” I roll my eyes. “I need to create a ruse. One good enough to fool my father.”
“Are you going to use a pack for hire service?” Sabs chews her lip. “I’ve heard mixed reviews about those.”
I wave my hand dismissively. “Dad would see through that in a second.”
Sure, hiring a pack would be the easiest option, but my father is far too well-connected for that to work. He’ll run background checks and order his minions to dig into every aspect of their lives. The only way my plan will work is if I find a real pack and make it look believable.
“I need to find a pack who is desperate to have an omega.”
Delilah groans, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I don’t like where this is going.”
“Sabs mentioned that there’s a rumor going around about a pack trying to rig a speed scenting event, right?”
Speeding scenting events are run by SVU’s matching service, for alphas and omegas looking for a partner.
It’s extremely popular with students but not something I’ve considered doing.
Just the thought of being trapped in a room and forced to sniff people’s sweaty gym clothes and dirty socks to decide if I like their scent makes my nose wrinkle.
However, if one pack was desperate enough to try to rig the results to find a match, then they’re surely going to be desperate enough to pretend to be my fake boyfriends. Well, at least for long enough for my father to cancel the wedding.
“It’s only a rumor,” Sabs says. “And we don’t know who the pack was!”
One thing I’ve learned through working as a writer for The Valley Voice is that there’s no smoke without fire.
“Would you really want to pretend alphas like that were your pack?” Delilah quirks a brow. “They’re probably assholes.”
“Delilah’s right.” Faye nods. “There must have been a reason why they were trying to rig the matching.”
“Any pack would be better than having to marry Timothy. Besides, it’s not like it’s real. It would all be for show.” I throw my hands up. “Who cares if they’re assholes?”
Delilah’s head sways side to side. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“Come on, Del.” Sabs nudges her in the ribs. “We can’t let Daddy Sinclair marry Kady off.” Sabs salutes in my direction. “If you find a fake pack, I’ll help. I can make fake social posts, and we can stage a whole love story.”
“I’ll track them down.” A fresh wave of energy rushes through me at the prospect of a new challenge. “The Valley Voice is bound to have had some leads on what happened at the event.”
From the worried looks Faye and Delilah are exchanging, it’s clear that they’re skeptical.
“Isn’t there another way?” Delilah asks. “A fake pack seems a little… dramatic. Can’t you just talk to your dad and tell him how you feel?”
“My father doesn’t do talking. Or listening, for that matter,” I scoff. “This is the only way. Trust me.”
Delilah grimaces then sighs in defeat. “Fine, I’ll support you, but you have to promise to be careful.”
“Packs can be dangerous.” Faye’s floral scent sours as she wraps a long strand of hair around her finger, pulling it so tightly that her fingertip turns white. “If you need any backup, Damon and his security buddies can help.”
Faye knows better than anyone how dangerous packs can be because of what happened to her parents. Meeting the Silverwood Pack has helped alleviate some of her fears around alphas, but it hasn’t erased them completely.
“I’ll be fine.” I dismiss her concerns. I’ve spent my life surrounded by alphas, so I’m used to them swinging their knots around in pathetic attempts to appear dominant. I can handle myself. “But if it makes you feel better, I’ll keep our group chat updated on my progress.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Sabs offers.
I shake my head. “This is something I’ve got to do alone.”
Bringing Sabs to The Valley Voice office would be asking for trouble.
For a college paper, we get a surprising amount of juicy gossip tips sent to our inbox—some of which are far too salacious to print or post on our socials.
If Sabs caught wind of any news, it’d spread around campus like wild fire because of her loud mouth.
“We’re here for you, Kady.” Delilah takes my hand and squeezes it. “Whatever happens.”
“I’m sorry for ruining your breakfast, Faye.” I jump up from the picnic blanket then wipe myself down to get rid of loose sand. Thankfully, I’m ahead on all of my assignments, so I have free time to chase the story and find myself a fake pack.
“Don’t worry, there will be plenty of other breakfasts,” Faye insists. “All that matters is that you’re all right.”
“I will be.” I grab my purse. “After I’ve found my fake pack.”
I march across the beach toward the waiting golf cart that we drove here in—they’re the quickest way to get around campus. I hop behind the wheel then speed away. There’s no time to waste when I have to find a fake pack before Dad forces me down the aisle.
I’m an omega on a mission.