Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Kiara
Iallow my best friend and her pack mate to corral me into their pack SUV as I try not to fall apart again. Ruby joins me in the backseat, while Allison climbs into the driver’s seat and pulls away.
I’m going to lose them all.
“Talk to me, Kiki.” Ruby wraps her arms around me, and I realize neither of us has bothered with a seat belt.
“Seat belt,” I remind her, giving myself a bit more time to figure out what I’m going to say to her as I reach for my own.
She grumbles, but with one look from Allison, she quickly pulls it on.
“There, Mom. My seat belt is on.” She sticks her tongue out at me, a smile tipping up the corners of her mouth. “Now, stop trying to put me off. I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on inside your head.”
“Crew is their scent match,” I whisper, tears slipping down my cheeks. I lift my legs onto the seat and wrap my arms around them as guilt rushes through me.
Crew just met his scent matches for the first time, and I left him alone with them.
Well, kind of.
Pack Hart is with them, and Crew knows them, so he’s not alone. But he doesn’t know Mason, Davis, and Alexander.
I’m so selfish.
All I could think about was getting out of there so they wouldn’t all see how my heart was ripped out of my chest.
I should be happy for Crew.
Not everyone is guaranteed to find their scent matches, but my best friend just found his.
Which, I hate to admit, is my worst nightmare.
Now there’s no reason for him to keep me around.
Did it have to be my stepbrother and his pack?
I knew fate was cruel, but I didn’t realize she was this cruel.
What had I done in a past life to get this unlucky?
Ruby sighs. “Yeah, he is. But who better for him to scent-match with? You’ve been in love with all four of them for years.”
“Maybe, but they don’t want me like that.”
Allison scoffs from the front seat. “Is that what you think?”
“Butt out, Ally.” My best friend somehow manages to wrap her arms around me even with our seat belts on. “Even if you’re right.”
Now it’s my turn to scoff. “You’re both crazy.”
“Mmhm, we’re the crazy ones,” Ruby repeats, rubbing my back. “I think it’s more that we see things you can’t, but that doesn’t matter right now. What matters is you’re hurting.”
I shrug, burying my head into my best friend’s neck and taking comfort in her scent. Since we’re not scent matches or mates, it’s a vague sweet scent that reminds me of Crew’s.
Fuck.
“Where are we going, anyway?” I pull away enough to glance at Allison, swiping away any tears still remaining on my cheeks.
“I figured we’d go grab some food, then do some shopping.” She glances back at us before returning her eyes to the road. “Assuming that works for both of you.”
Ruby nods. “Food and shopping make everything better.”
Snickering, I shake my head. “I’m not sure that’s true, but that’s fine.”
Ruby releases me slowly, resting her head on my shoulder as she twines our fingers together. “It’s going to be okay, bestie. I promise.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I murmur, turning to look out the window as we approach Main Street.
This wasn’t how I expected today to go. I thought we’d get the truck unloaded, then I’d show Crew around Champagne Falls.
I wanted to experience this with him.
Instead, he’s scent-matched to the Mason’s pack, and I’m jealous.
That’s part of why it hurts so much.
The four of them are the only men I’ve ever wanted—even when they were nothing but boys—and they’re meant for each other.
Why can’t I be made for them?
It’s not like betas can’t have scent matches. It’s just rarer for us.
They’ll be the Kennedy pack, and I’ll be…nothing.
I always knew the chances of my last name becoming Kennedy were slim to none, but I always held out hope.
What I just witnessed is proof that I was an idiot for ever giving myself hope.
Alexander, Davis, and Mason were never meant to be mine—they were meant to be Crew’s. Now, they’ll be the perfect little pack, while my heart is broken.
Allison pulls into a free spot, parallel parking like a pro—another thing to be jealous of.
I need to get over this morose bullshit.
Ruby gives me another squeeze as Allison swings open her door, helping her omega out. I slide out the other side, swiping at my cheeks once more. Not that it’ll take much to be able to tell I’ve been crying.
I’m sure I’m still flushed and my eyes red, but here’s hoping no one looks too closely.
“Where are we eating?”
They join me on the sidewalk, and Allison shrugs. “Where do you want to eat?”
I don’t hesitate. “Sapphire’s.”
“Good choice,” Ruby says, rubbing her hands together. “Mr. and Mrs. Winslow retired, and their son—an alpha—took over. Let me tell you, that man is hot with a capital H.”
“Really, Rubes?”
My omega bestie ignores her mate, giggling as she slides her arm in mine and practically drags me down the sidewalk. Allison lets out a dramatic sigh as she follows us.
She can pretend she’s annoyed with Ruby all she wants—I know better. None of Pack Hart would expect anything different from their omega, and they wouldn’t want her to change who she is. They’re all obsessed with her.
As they should be.
As all packs should be with their mates.
Like Mason, Davis, and Alexander will be with Crew.
Fuck me.
Before I can lose myself in my head once again, Ruby pulls me into Sapphire’s. The restaurant is actually called The Sapphire’s Glow, but I can’t remember anyone ever using its full name. It’s always just Sapphire’s.
I let out a sigh of relief when I see it hasn’t changed a bit—even with the new owner. He might be their son, but he could’ve changed it. I’m just grateful he hasn’t.
Sapphire’s is where Pack Owens took my dad and me for our first dinner in Champagne Falls. We went at least once a month—no matter how crazy everyone’s schedules got, we’d get together here.
I’ve missed this place.
Circular, pack-size booths line the walls in black and silver.
In the center of the restaurant are tables and chairs for two to four people.
The lighting isn’t too bright—something omegas often abhor—with each booth having its own set of fairy lights that can be dimmed or brightened at the discretion of the table’s occupants.
There is also a double set of sapphire-blue curtains around the booths to keep them completely separate and to allow the tables to close themselves off from the restaurant.
It’s designed to keep omegas happy and cozy so their packs can enjoy a night on the town with them.
It’s something that doesn’t happen in any of the major cities—or, if it does, it’s rare. First and foremost, because packs have become less prevalent in major cities.
Hell, all over the world.
Too many omegas are staying on suppressants year-round, denying their nature altogether, as they try to prove they can do anything.
They shouldn’t have to prove this because, of course, they can do anything they want. What isn’t acceptable is feeling like they need to suppress who and what they are—their instincts and their behaviors. It’s something I swore Crew would never have to do.
I tried my hardest to make sure he was never pressured at work, but who knows how many times something has been said to him that I didn’t hear and he didn’t tell me about.
We have laws to protect omegas, but the number of people who ignore them sickens me.
“Ruby! Allison! It’s lovely to see both of you.”
I blink rapidly as a handsome man appears in front of me, grinning at my bestie and her pack mate before turning his eyes on me. “You’re new. Ruby, did you add another beta to your pack?”
“Please, Luci.” Ruby snorts. “I love this girl, but not like that.”
“Luci is short for Lucifer. My parents thought it would be hilarious to name me after the devil himself,” he says, tilting his head to the side, his blond curls bouncing with the movement as his vivid blue eyes narrow, and that’s when I realize I recognize him. “Wait a minute. I know you…”
“Kiara Oka,” I supply. “I was a freshman when you were a senior.”
“Right! You’re Mason’s sister—”
“Stepsister,” I correct, forcing myself not to flinch. “We’re not actually related—our parents are just part of the same pack.”
He chuckles. “You know, Mason has told me the same thing. Maybe I’ll eventually get it right. Is it going to be just the three of you?
“Yup.” Ruby grins. “We left the rest of the pack unloading Kiara’s stuff. I guess we’ll have to sit at one of the tables.”
I can practically hear the sigh at the end of the statement—even if she manages to swallow it back.
“Absolutely not.” Lucifer shakes his head. “It’s not like we’re busy right now, and I would never force you or anyone else to sit at a table if they’d be more comfortable in a booth. Even if you and Allison showed up together, I’d still let you take a booth.”
“And this is why we adore you, Luci.” Ruby tugs him down so she can kiss his cheek. “And why my pack puts up with me flirting with you.”
I bite back a smile as the alpha’s cheeks flush. I think he might have a little crush on my best friend.
My eyes meet Allison’s knowing gaze.
Well, shit. Is Ruby about to have another alpha courting her?
It’s clear they’re not scent matches like the rest of Pack Hart, but I don’t think Lucifer or Ruby cares.
Interesting.
And just what I need to get my mind off the mess I left behind at the house.
I fall into step with Allison as Lucifer leads us to a booth in the back, he and Ruby are completely lost in one another.
“This is new.”
Allison shrugs. “Yes and no. He arrived back in town about a year ago. It was clear he was interested in Ruby from the start. Christopher started inviting him out with Tyson and him to watch the game or whatever nonsense they do on Friday nights. Tyson’s the one who thought we should all get to know him better, so he’s been around the pack a lot.
“I don’t think Ruby’s the only one he’s interested in.
But Ruby seems to think she can’t be interested in him since they’re not scent matches.
We’ve all tried talking to her about it, but she just blows us off.
It’s clear she wants him, but she doesn’t think she can have him.
She knows we’d give her anything she wanted, so I’m not sure why she just doesn’t admit how she feels. ”
We reach the table before I get a chance to respond, and the three of us climb into the booth. Ruby avoids my gaze, and I have to bite back another smile.
If she thinks we’re not going to talk about this the minute Lucifer steps away, she’s sadly mistaken.
“Do you need a menu, Kiara?”
“Only if you’ve changed the menu in the last three years.”
He chuckles. “I’ve added a few new items to the menu, but I haven’t taken anything off.”
“Then I’m good. I’ll take the wagyu beef with the truffle mac and cheese, please and thank you. Oh, and a sweet tea to drink.”
You can take the girl out of the South, but you can’t take the South out of the girl.
Wait, that doesn’t make sense. I’m still in the South.
“A great choice.” He turns to Ruby and Allison. “The usual?”
At their nods, he gives us a smile. “I’ll have your drinks right out, and I’ll have Trevor get started on your food. Feel free to close the curtain or keep it open. I’ll announce myself when I come back.
Then he’s gone, and I’m turning to my best friend. “So, Luci, huh?”