Chapter 13 North
North
The bell over the bakery door chimed and I poked my head out of the back, arms loaded down with trays of fresh-baked scones, to greet the customer. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of Jack standing there.
Like it always did. He walked in the room and he had all of my attention just from existing.
He was gorgeous as always, his dark hair curled and shining in the warm, morning light, his eyes bright again, unlike the way they had dimmed yesterday.
“Am I behind, or are you early?” I questioned, knowing I’d only been open for twenty minutes. This man shouldn’t be awake for hours yet.
He rolled his eyes at my teasing. “I’m early.”
“Is everything okay?” I hedged, starting to worry now. My best friend was always confident and calm, but right now he looked so unsure.
I wasn’t sure what to do with that.
“Did everything go okay talking to your brother last night?”
I busied myself putting the scones in the bakery case while I waited for him to answer.
“Actually, yes,” he said. “Apparently, we were both just being stubborn assholes. He’d reached out more than I realized, and I didn’t want to see it.
There’s a lot more hurt in him than I thought but we’re working on it.
I had a lot to let go of and come to terms with last night. I haven’t even slept yet.”
I could’ve told him that if he’d listened to me. I was hurt, too, when Cole left. We were all friends. I assumed we’d be a pack someday with how close we all were. Our personalities complemented each other, and they both made me feel so safe and protected.
Then it fell apart.
“We met in the middle and I think it’ll get better now,” he continued, moving closer to me and making my heart pound against my ribcage. I tried not to look but couldn’t help it. “He said something that stuck with me, North.”
The way he said my name had me freezing in place. I watched, eyes wide, as he slowly walked around the cabinet. His scent was strong now, peppermint and mocha teasing my senses, the rich chocolate and cool peppermint blend I’d always adored strong and enticing, making my mouth water.
My cock twitched in response, like it usually did, and I had to do everything I could to stop it from springing to full attention.
Jack took the tray from my hands and set it aside. I let it go willingly, so stunned I didn’t know how to react.
It was hard to think when he was this close, overwhelming every one of my senses. I swear, everything about Jack when he was like this, cool and confident, made me want to fall to my knees and worship him.
Something I’d definitely picture later while using my hand to get myself off.
“What… what did he say?” I finally managed to breathe out.
He was closer now, so close that all I could do was look up into those gorgeous, brown eyes of his. I swear I could drown in them.
“That we’ve been dancing around each other for years,” he said quietly. “That you’ve been in love with me since high school. Is that true, North?”
I swallowed hard, every instinct screaming at me to back away, but I was frozen, unable to fight the pull of Jack Hawthorne.
“Yes.” The word left my lips before I could even stop it.
For a moment, horror washed over me, until his lips tipped up into a smirk.
“And here I thought I was the only one that felt that way. I was trying not to ruin our friendship, North. Tell me I shouldn’t, and I’ll walk away right now.”
“Please don’t walk away.”
It was all I could manage, ending on a whine at the idea. A desperate plea for this man to finally give into the fantasy I’d built up over the years.
Then his lips were on mine, one hand gently caressing my jaw as our bodies moved close enough that I could feel his cock was just as hard as mine.
Holy shit. I was kissing Jack Hawthorne.
And he felt the same.
He wanted me.
Me.
And here I was, in my head, trying to ruin the moment. Until Jack gave my hip a squeeze, a soft chuckle escaping him.
“Always overthinking, aren’t you?” he teased, his breath fanning over my face, his lips brushing mine as he spoke.
Then he was kissing me again, deeper this time. His plush lips molded to mine, tongue teasing over my lips and asking for entrance.
I gave it to him. I’d give this man anything.
A pained sigh escaped me as my hands wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer, holding him to me as if I was afraid that if I let go, this would all disappear, a hallucination in my mind.
But Jack was real. Very real.
A soft groan escaped him as he backed me up, pushing me into the counter and rubbing his cock against mine through our clothes. His kiss was hungry now, devouring me, and warmth flooded every inch of my body.
He was exactly as I imagined he would be: dominating, consuming, fucking perfect.
When he finally pulled away, my fingers lifted to my lips as I tried to fight the disbelief.
“Did that… truly happen?” I breathed out on a terrified whisper. So many questions and fears were wrapped up into those words.
“Kissing you is everything I thought it would be,” Jack said, leaning forward and nipping at my lips, teasing my bottom one between his teeth.
“I’d get down on my knees right now and show you how much I want you, North, if I thought it wouldn’t give you health code violations.”
I whimpered, an actual needy little omega sound, before slapping a hand over my mouth. One kiss and I’d lost all sense of filters. Fuck, I was in trouble here.
Jack’s grin was sinful. He loved it.
I swear I had to be part omega. I was practically melting for this man, my skin too hot, sweaty enough that it could be mistaken for slick.
The things this man did to me.
“Tonight is mine, North. Don’t make any plans. I’ll pick you up after work.”
And just like that, he turned and walked out, leaving me in stunned silence.
Holy. Shit.
Somehow I couldn’t make myself move until I smelled something burning. Cursing, I rushed to the back, pulling out the last batch of scones and tossing them into the sink to cool down. They were charred little chunks of charcoal.
That had never happened in all my years of baking.
My mind was still reeling, and I needed another confirmation that it really happened. I snapped a picture with my phone and sent it to Jack.
Me
look what you made me do.
Jack
It would’ve been far worse if I’d stayed. Consider that an appropriate casualty.
Me
RIP scones.
Jack
RIP to my blue balls.
Me
We can always fix that later.
Jack
Oh, I intend to.
Letting out a shocked laugh, I covered my face. I didn’t know where I found the boldness to text him that, but his response did not disappoint.
Jack never did anything by halves, and now that his head was on straight, I hoped he and Cole really could work things out. That we could be the pack I’d always imagined, with Aspen at the center.
I’d talked to her about him. Opened up about my feelings for Jack. I still couldn’t believe I’d done that. I never opened up to anyone but them. Yet, that omega was mine just as much as she was theirs. She was perfect.
Now I was picturing her between me and Jack.
Fuck, I had to get it together.
I’d always been reserved and quiet. Jack was the outgoing one between us. Yet she was drawing me out of my shell as much as he always did. I never had to be anything but myself with him and I knew she’d be the same.
I truly couldn’t wait to see what became of our pack.
Forcing myself to get out of my head, I busied myself with a fresh batch of scones. Cranberry and orange, something that reminded me of Aspen.
Maybe I could bring her a batch after work. She told me she had a sweet tooth.
“Boss!” Judy demanded, exasperation thick in her voice. It was clearly not the first time she’d said it. I’d been so focused on my task that I hadn’t even noticed that she came in for her shift.
My cheeks burned as I looked up at her. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were here.”
She snorted a laugh and shook her head before tying on her apron. “Clearly. I called your name a few times. Is everything alright?”
“Well… I found an omega. And Jack just kissed me,” I said, my voice almost unhinged as I admitted it.
“Shut up!” she squealed. The omega could get loud when she wanted to. “Are you kidding me, North? I’m so happy for you!”
Her enthusiasm had me smiling, too. “I’m in shock, I think.”
“What are you doing here, then?” she demanded, looking at me like I’d lost my damn mind. Maybe I had. That kiss was still tingling against my lips like it just happened.
My eyebrows drew together in confusion as I glanced around the bakery. “I own this place. I have to be here.”
She rolled her eyes and I just knew her answer was about to be another hard truth. “No, you don’t. I’ve been your shadow for three years, North. I was asking for extra hours. This is your perfect opportunity. Trust me with some extra time.”
“You know what?” I said, sliding my apron off and gesturing to the scones already rolled out, ready to cut into triangles. “You’re right.”
She squealed again, loud enough that I winced and backed away. She hopped into the spot I vacated and got to work. She was an expert at this point. Judy had been around two years watching me hover and correct her work until everything was perfect. She handled my level of insanity with a smile.
She was more than ready.
Maybe she was right. Without another word I hurried to my office to close down my computer. My phone rang and I pulled it out, shocked to see Cole’s number lighting up the screen.
“Hello?” I answered.
“I’m going to take it from the smug-as-fuck look my brother had on his face when he walked back in that you two finally had a chat. Are you guys doing something together tonight to work things out? Should I get Aspen out of the house?”
“Is it wrong of me to say yes?” I questioned. “I don’t want her to feel like I’m prioritizing him over her, because I’m not.”
“She’s not the type to take it that way. We spoke a little about it last night. She’s here for it. I think she’d rather you guys work it out so we can all get along. She’s big on not having tension in the pack. I don’t know what she’s mentioned about her past pack, but they were dicks.”
“We’re going to be different,” I promised. “Give me tonight to talk to Jack and get us right, and then maybe we can plan something tomorrow for all of us.”
“What about the shop?” he asked, just as shocked as I was that I was handing over the reins to Judy..
“Actually, I’m leaving now. I’ve had an omega working with me for a few years, and she’s been begging for me to trust her with more work. She suggested this would be the perfect time, and I think she’s right.”
“Good for you, North. This is a busy time of year, but I’m sure she knows what she’s doing by now. And I know damn well you’ll still be in that shop off and on while we’re getting to know our omega.”
“I made sure she was,” I agreed.
Cole let out a sigh. “I’ve been away too long. I’ve barely had Christmas since I left home and I want this year to be perfect. We’re going to start with cutting down a tree.”
“Actually, could we do that tomorrow?” I questioned. “I’d love to be a part of it.”
“She would love that. Maybe I’ll take her shopping in town to pick out some decorations, then.”
“You should check out Secondhand Treasures. Bailey said she got a huge shipment of vintage ornaments.”
“See? You’ve got this omega thing down already. She’s going to love that. I’ll take her out to lunch and we’ll check it out. Go get your alpha, North.”
“That’s the plan,” I said, my smile growing as I thought about him.
“He just walked in and Apsen and I will be walking out in about thirty minutes.”
“Perfect,” I said. “That’ll be enough time for me to run home, shower, change, and go find him.”
“Good luck, North. Have your moment so we can give this pack thing a real try. We have an omega to court.”