Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Kiara
“Oh my god, Kiara! Stop it! We’re not talking about Luci anymore!” Ruby’s cheeks flush as she ducks her head to look at the dress she was admiring, and I bite back a laugh.
I’ll admit I’ve been laying it on a little thick since meeting Lucifer, but that’s what she gets for hiding him from me. As if I wouldn’t know how she feels about him as soon as I saw them interact.
Not that Ruby’s ever tried to hide how she feels about anyone until right now.
I glance at Allison to find her biting back a laugh of her own.
Yeah, we’re definitely having way too much fun at Ruby’s expense.
But it’s been a nice distraction from the mess still waiting for me at home.
My phone’s been going off the entire time we’ve been gone, and when our food arrived, I’d had enough and shut it off.
I know Crew has to be freaking out, but I just can’t bring myself to talk to him.
Allison and Ruby have been doing a good job of not only distracting me but also convincing me that maybe this isn’t the worst thing in the world.
I’m still not a hundred percent sold on the idea that Mason and his pack are into me. I can kind of see it with Alexander and Davis, but they’ve always flirted with me.
And if Mason isn’t interested in me like that, then there’s no future with me in the pack—in Crew’s pack.
“Oh, hell no.” Ruby’s hands land on my shoulders, and she gives me a firm shake. “You’ve been doing a damn good job of staying positive. I’m not going to let you go back down that road again.”
“Whatever.” I try to shrug her off, but she’s really strong for an omega.
Allison joins her omega, resting her head on Ruby’s shoulder as they stare back at me. “I thought we were done wallowing? Didn’t we decide that there’s no reason to freak out until after you’ve talked to Crew?”
“Yes,” I grumble. “But it’s not like it’s that easy to just turn off my mind.”
“No? Then what was all that bullshit of you giving me a hard time about Luci?” she asks, lifting her eyebrow. She’s definitely calling me out on my bullshit, and I can’t blame her.
“Fine, but if you want me to keep my mind off of it, you better distract me.” I glance around the store, frowning when I realize there’s not a damn thing in here I want to buy. “And maybe find a store that has clothes I’ll actually wear.”
Ruby wrinkles her nose. “It’s not my fault you live in leggings and oversized shirts when you’re not in scrubs. You should let us do a full fashion overhaul of your clothes.”
“Yeah, no. We’re not doing that. I’m comfortable, and that’s all that matters.”
“But—” Ruby cuts off when Allison elbows her. “First, ow. Second, that was rude. Third, let me grab a few things, and then we’ll head to somewhere more your style.”
She twirls, grabbing the dress off the rack. As she makes her way toward the checkout counter, she grabs a handful of other dresses, skirts, and tops.
I just shake my head because I’ve never understood how she can take the most random pieces of clothes and work them together like she does. I’ve always been envious of Ruby’s style, but I really just don’t want to put in that much effort.
I’ll let her dress me up from time to time, but I really prefer my clothes to be about my comfort.
“All done,” she announces, dumping everything onto the counter. “Now, what to distract you with.”
She taps her chin with her finger, sliding her card and not paying a bit of attention to the total of her purchases. We really are so spoiled, not having to worry about money.
I haven’t taken money from my parental pack since I graduated, but I know if I needed money, they’d give it to me. I’m just not someone who feels the need to spend money just because it’s there. Probably because I didn’t grow up rich, unlike Ruby, who’s never known anything else.
“Oh! I know!” She grabs her bag before linking her arm with mine and heading toward the door, leaving Allison to trail behind us. “It seems you’re not the only one returning this summer. Do you remember Harper Murray and Emmy West?”
“Of course I remember them. Pack Bryant are my neighbors.”
Ruby waves me off. “Right. I forgot. Well, they finished up their last semester at OUTN, and they’re taking a month-long tour of Europe, paid for by the Murrays.
Apparently, they’ve become attached at the hip with another omega, so she’s with them.
I don’t remember her name, but it’s not really important.
The two of them are coming back next month, and they’ll be teaching at the middle school this fall. ”
“That’s nice.”
I’m not really sure how else to respond.
It’s not like we were ever close with Harper or Emmy.
They’re three years younger than us, so we had a year of school together.
Pack Bryant used to be the Murrays—Charlotte and Rhett and their three kids when they met Charlotte’s scent-matched omega, Avery.
Even though he was only Charlotte’s scent match, he bonded with both alphas, and Pack Bryant was born.
Charlotte and my stepmom are close, so Harper and I were often at the same parties. She’d always drag her best friend, Emmy, along. We were friendly but never close. It’s hard to be with the three-year age gap.
Back then, three years felt like a huge difference. As a senior, I was less than a year from designating, and as freshmen, they were too busy being worried about boys.
Now, three years seems like nothing.
“Maybe we can invite them out for a girl’s night after they settle in?” I offer, sighing in relief when Ruby leads me into the next store, which is much more my style.
“That’s my girl! That could definitely be fun. I always remember them being nice—not too stuck up.” Ruby nods, releasing me when I move to the table of leggings.
Allison snorts out a laugh. “I don’t know about that. All you rich girls seemed pretty damn stuck up to me.”
“You take that back!” Ruby spins around, frowning at her beta. “I’ve never been stuck up.”
I don’t bother holding back my laughter. “Yeah, okay. If that’s what you want to believe, Rubes.”
“Wait. I was stuck up? Seriously?”
I snicker as Allison shakes her head. “Babe, it’s not like you were maliciously stuck up and excluded anyone because you thought you were better than them. You just…expected things to be a certain way, and you weren’t always happy when they weren’t that way.”
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting things a certain way,” she argues.
“No, you’re right. Except when you’re mad because the bathroom at the hotel isn’t big enough. Or when our teacher wanted us to carry around an egg baby for a week.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I just didn’t understand the point. We could’ve had those stupid dolls that act like babies. Why an egg? They’re so small and so…breakable.”
“That’s kind of the point.” Allison loops her arm around Ruby’s waist. “Your rich privilege just shows from time to time, that’s all. Nothing wrong with it.”
“I don’t like the idea of people thinking I was stuck up,” she admits. “I don’t want to be stuck up.”
Now, she’s pouting, and I feel a little bad. Ruby’s always wanted people to like her, and she never looked down on someone because of how much money they did or didn’t have.
Allison snuggles into her. “Don’t worry. You’re much better than you were when we first met—even though I think we have more money than your parental pack. I’m actually not sure. We can ask Christopher.”
“I don’t care if we’re richer than my parents!” Ruby pushes her pack mate away. “Oh! I almost forgot! Wesley is also coming home.”
“Wesley Holland?”
She nods. “Yup. I still keep in touch with him from time to time. He and his omega will be here in a few weeks. I don’t remember the exact date he said, but they just got hired at Bryant and Duncan.”
“What’s Bryant and Duncan?”
“Oh, right. You weren’t here when they opened—it's a law firm that opened, what? Three years ago, Ally?”
She nods. “That sounds about right. It was just after you visited after you graduated, Kiki.”
Ruby nods. “The Bryant in Bryant and Duncan is Astrid Bryant—she’s Avery’s twin sister, but she’s an alpha. They also have an older sister, Willow. They moved to town just before Astrid and her partner opened the firm. Willow works at Hilford University, and she’s an omega like Avery.”
Hilford University is a private college that sits just outside of Champagne Falls. It’s where Mason, Alexander, and Davis all went to school.
Hell, if it wasn’t for Crew, I would’ve gone there too. It’s a good school if you can afford it.
“So, is Wesley a lawyer?” I frown, trying to remember the last time I talked to him.
He’s a couple of years older than me and Ruby, but he ran in the same crowd. He was a good guy—someone I definitely considered a friend.
I’ve been terrible at keeping up with people I was friends with in high school. I’m not big on social media, but I still have all the apps. It’s just been a long time since I’ve been on them.
Ruby’s the only one I’ve really kept in contact with. I don’t even know who all still lives in town.
“He’s not. He’s a legal administrative assistant, and his omega is a paralegal.
Since Bryant and Duncan is the only law firm for at least an hour each way, they’ve been doing really well.
Apparently well enough to hire an assistant and a paralegal.
” She shrugs. “They’re who we used for our pack agreement when we bonded.
Everyone uses them, honestly. Why would we drive to a big city when there’s someone here in town?
Either way, I’m glad he’s coming back, and I’m all for more omega friends. ”
“Because your beta best friend isn’t enough for you?” I stick my tongue out at her.
She just rolls her eyes. “Don’t be a brat. I like having friends of all designations, thank you very much.”
I give another glance around the store, finding nothing of interest, before sighing. “I’m really not in the mood to shop, ladies.”
“Are you finally ready to go home and talk to Crew like a big girl?” Ruby mocks me, and I shoot her a glare.
She’s fucking lucky she’s my best friend, and I love her. Otherwise, I wouldn’t put up with her bullshit.
“I wouldn’t say ready is the right word,” I admit, moving toward the door. “But I need to rip the bandage off. I know the longer I stay away, the more I’m hurting Crew, and that’s not what I want to do.”
The two of them surround me, looping their arms through mine as we head back toward the car.
“Well, if you need anything, just let us know. We’re here for you—day or night.” Allison lays her head on my shoulder for a moment.
I love that my bestie’s beta and I get along so well, and I know it’s a relief to her.
By the time we make it to the car, my hands are shaking, and I kind of feel like throwing up.
I’m really not ready for this conversation, but I’ve put it off long enough. Crew deserves better than this.