Chapter 5
Grace
C ade, Spencer, and Beck were everything I could have dreamt up in a pack. The alpha was intense, which meant the two betas were the perfect way to round him out.
Cade was a free spirit. He laughed easily and the way he was impulsive kept me out of my head. His hair was a dark copper color and his freckles, though lighter than mine, were similar. We were both pale, making Beck order us out of the water to apply sunblock.
“I’ll handle hers,” Spencer said with a grin, plucking the sunblock out of his hand and coming over to me. “May I, freckles?”
Warmth spread through me at the nickname. It was cute and sweet and as unique as the beta himself.
“Sure,” I offered in a voice that was overly husky. He just grinned, swirling his finger in the air to tell me to turn. I did as he asked, letting my eyelids flutter closed at the first brush of his warm, sunblock coated hands over my skin.
He took his time running his hands over my body. There wasn’t a spot of exposed skin he missed.
Each gentle touch had a shiver of pleasure coursing through me until my arousal scented the air.
“Fuck, you’re killing me, freckles. Are you sure you want to wait? We could make you feel so damn good.”
“I have no doubt you would. But then, it would be too hard to put space between us,” I argued, gentle but firm.
Hurting their feelings wasn’t something I was willing to do but I was reminding us both that there was a clear expectation between us.
A boundary that I stupidly set.
Though, I didn’t truly regret it. Hailey’s wedding had to come first and they deserved me at my best.
Needing distance, I hurried back to the edge and dove into the water. My body sliced through the cool lake surface, plunging underneath and chasing away any heat he had burning through me.
When strong arms pulled me close, I spun in his hold. Beck wasn’t who I expected, but I melted as the alpha held me close, brushing his lips over mine under the surface of the lake.
He didn’t pull me back when I pushed off his chest and broke the surface.
“You’re even cute when you’re soaking wet,” he teased as he joined me. “This bikini is going to get me through the long days until we get you again, sweetheart.”
I hated to admit but I was going to struggle as well. They were already growing on me. That pack compulsion to be close, to touch them, to taste them, was insane.
A sharp whistle had us looking over to see a woman dressed in a pencil skirt and scowl glaring at us.
“Did it say no swimming?” I asked with a laugh. “She looks pissed off.”
“I don’t give a fuck if it did. We have the whole place for the weekend, I think she’ll manage.”
“What?” I asked, confused. “This is a whole venue and vacation spot. There’s no way.”
“Where there’s a credit card, there’s a way,” he countered, giving me a wink.
Damn, it was hot as hell seeing him throw his power around like that. Some omegas might have trouble spending their alphas’ money, but I was all for being spoiled. I loved receiving presents.
Plus, I had plenty of money of my own to spend, too. My online design business was always busy, but I’d scheduled time off for the week of the wedding, and a recovery week after. Self-care, and all that.
When I reached the ladder on the dock, Cade reached down and pulled me up, tucking me in his side.
“She’s scary, save me,” he hissed. His lips were pressed together so he didn’t smile or laugh.
“Is there a problem?” I asked, crossing my arms. I didn’t like her attitude at all.
“Yes. I was told to be here for a meeting with my client’s Maid of Honor and Best Man, and no one has approached me,” she said in a huff. “I assume that’s you and one of these men?”
For a woman our age she was tense.
“As far as I knew, there was no set meeting or time,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “My sister would have said if there was. Did plans change in the last hour?”
“Well, no,” she admitted with narrowed eyes. “But I don’t have all day.”
Her eyes shifted to my pack that was only in sopping wet boxers and a low growl echoed out of me.
“We will meet you inside. And I’ll be sure to clear this up with Hailey as well,” I said. My tone was sharp and icy, something I’d never use normally.
She gave me one last look over before turning on her heels and trying to stomp back to the lodge. Her heels sank in the soft grass, making it look awkward instead of snobby.
“What was that, muse?” Cade teased as he ran his nose over my cheek and neck, making goosebumps form on my skin.
Now that I was out of the water, the early summer breeze was making it chilly, but I knew that was the close proximity of my new pack.
“She should keep her eyes at a respectful level,” I said with a grunt. “That and her attitude is bullshit. What is her problem?”
“Jealousy,” Spencer concluded. “Here is this sexy, little omega with three shirtless men. I’d bet she’s packless.”
“Three powerful men,” Beck corrected with a cocky smirk. “I’d wager she knows who we are.”
“Way to sound like a tool,” Cade snorted. “Come on, let’s get our shivering omega changed and warmed up.”
I frowned down at the bikini I was wearing, realizing I had an issue. “This is what I wore under my dress.”
“Guess you’ll have to go commando like we will,” Cade said as his eyes burned holes into my body as they slowly drifted down every inch of me. “That’s going to make this a long afternoon.”
“It’s already going to be long if we’ve got wedding planner Barbie in there to spend it with,” I laughed.
“I’ll request someone new if she has an issue,” I said as I stalked inside, ready to face whatever she had planned.
This was for Hailey. I could handle some attitude.
“We have to make sure to keep flirting to a zero. I want no one to know,” I reminded them as I walked ahead of them.
I heard some grumbles but ignored it as I walked inside and snatched my clothes and purse, heading for the nearby restroom. I slid off the bikini and put on the flowy sundress, glad it at least had some coverage.
My phone was ringing before I even walked out and I dug it out of my purse, letting out a sigh at Hailey’s name.
“I know, I know. You can handle it. But some bitch just called complaining you missed the scheduled appointment that I never even made for you. Just confirming she’s wrong?”
“Yeah,” I explained. “Me and the groomsmen arrived around the same time and it was hot, so we explored the grounds and took a dip in the lake. I guess she didn’t like that.”
“It literally says we have access to the lake on the paperwork I have,” Hailey growled. “Was she rude to you?”
“I’ll handle it. No need to worry,” I promised.
“Well, I told her that you had full control for now, so if she’s a bitch, kick her ass off my wedding,” she said firmly. “I’m paying way too much to let some uptight planner that’s not even the one I agreed to, drag it down. I owe you for handling all this for a few more days.”
“I’m going to run out to the car for the portfolio you gave me now. Then I’ll handle her.”
“I know you will,” she reassured me. “So, tell me, how are the guys? I heard the pack joined Beckett as well.”
“They’re nice,” I said easily, and by some small miracle I managed to keep my voice casual.
“Aren’t they so down to earth for billionaires?” she laughed. “They seemed so normal when I first met them.”
“Excuse me? Billionaires?”
“Girl, they are the pack behind PackSense! That’s why we’re doing the scent blend party favors,” she explained. “I just hoped that wasn’t just them trying to impress me.”
“They’ve been great actually. I could see us being easy friends,” I promised.
“Good, because Beckett, well, I guess all of them now, is staying for the weekend, too, to help in case you need any heavy lifting, and really, to keep you safe. I didn’t like you being alone and Nolan reassured me that he was already there for that reason.”
“We’ll be fine. Promise. I’ll call if I need anything but I have to go before she freaks out again.”
“Put her in her place, Grace,” she said before saying a quick goodbye and hanging up.
When I got back to the lobby they weren’t around and neither was she, so I slipped out to the car to grab the portfolio, finding the guys talking to her outside.
From the scowls on their faces, she was causing more issues.
“What’s the issue now?” I asked, my frustration making my voice even sharper this time.
She turned around, face red, ready for a fight.
“Lisa here is saying that we are in charge of compiling the centerpieces and favors because they are not authorized to handle chemicals,” Beck said. “We were simply told to deliver it. Nolan said your team already agreed.”
“Whatever was agreed on was by a former employee who was let go and this is not part of our contract,” she said, standing firm.
“Then we’ll handle them tonight, we’re here anyway. Do you think you guys can manage to clear us a space to use and store them like they agreed on?” I challenged.
She looked taken aback that I was problem solving, but nodded. “That will be fine. We have a conference room inside. I’ll make sure it’s ready.”
Lisa practically ran back inside and we all watched her go, shocked by her attitude.
“For a top wedding venue this is not going well,” Beck said as he pulled out his phone. Spencer stopped him by grabbing it.
“Wait. You know if you call Nolan it’s going to set off a whole disaster. We can handle this, like Grace said. We’re here for the weekend anyway. No need to bring more people here early.”
Beck’s dark eyes trailed over to me and I gave an encouraging smile. “Plus, apparently, you are some hot-shot scent dealers. Show me your fancy scent beads,” I teased.
“Ha!” Cade shouted, starling us all. He did a little shimmy in place before taking my hand and twirling me in a circle. “I told them you didn’t know who we were. If this was a bet, I won.”
“Well, it wasn’t, so you win nothing,” Beck said in a dry tone that had me laughing.
“You win a night sorting scent beads with me, lucky you,” I shot back as I booped him on the nose.
Cade buried his face in my neck, running his nose over my skin and marking me like he’s done at least five times since we met. “I’m going to make the perfect scent just for you to complement your natural one.”
“Oh, pack omega perks are already starting?” I said. “Sign me up. This omega isn’t afraid of being spoiled rotten. I’ve waited for you long enough. Just be prepared to be smothered. I’m clingy.”
There was a hint of vulnerability but not one of them called me on it.
“Except for this week,” Beck added. That took the steam right out of me and I deflated, a frown forming on my lips.
He was right. How the hell was I going to pretend we were just friends? Touching them and flirting was too easy.
“That doesn’t exist this weekend except when doors are closed,” Spencer said firmly, not letting the mood take a sad turn.
“You’re right. Let’s get this meeting over with, because I’m starving.”
Of course, Lisa was nowhere to be found, but the receptionist was a breath of fresh air.
“Lisa said you need the conference room,” she said with a smile. “I’m Ally. Follow me and I’ll get you set up. And if you need anything don’t hesitate to reach out. Hailey’s main planner is Darcy and she said to help with whatever I can.”
“Tell me, Ally. Why is Lisa working with us? Is she on Hailey’s team?”
She winced. It was subtle, but I saw it before she put on her smile again, though it didn’t reach her eyes.
“She’s one of our planners. Lisa replaced our beta who is out on maternity leave,” she admitted.
“I’d like her removed from Hailey’s wedding. She has been combative, disrespectful, and frankly, if you weren’t so great I’d have half a mind to have my sister move this wedding completely. So, if you could pass that on to whoever is above her, I’d appreciate it.”
“Oh, of course,” she said. I could tell with the way her eyes lit up that this woman lived for gossip.
“I’d also love a list of delivery options,” Beck added. “We’re going to need fuel.”
“Our chef is here for you, and probably bored at the moment, he can make just about anything,” she promised. “I’ll bring in a menu and have him stop by in fifteen to take your orders.”
With that we were left to carry in the boxes and get started. It seemed me and these mason jars had to go another round.
Maybe Hailey would let me smash them like a rage room when this was all said and done.