MACKENZIE
Mackenzie
“He’s absolutely gorgeous,” I whispered to Theo, not taking my eyes off the alpha lounging across the pool. His skin was sun-kissed gold, and his dark swim trunks rode low on his hips in a way that should have been illegal. He matched it with a bowling shirt he left completely open, showing off his endless abs. Even from here, I could catch hints of his scent, something dangerously spicy that made my head spin.
“I hadn’t noticed,” Theo said, sinking lower in the water.
I snorted. “Right. That’s why you’ve been pretending not to stare at him for the past twenty minutes.”
“Fifteen at most.” He ran fingers through his hair and shook off the excess water. “Fine. It’s the thigh tattoo.”
I splashed water at Theo and turned my back on the gorgeous alpha. “Shut up before I flood the pool with slick. Why are thigh tattoos so sexy?”
“I know. All I can think of is…”
“Can you read it from here?” I joined Theo at the edge of the pool for better viewing.
“‘Redemption’ maybe?”
“Well, well. What do we have here?”
I startled at the unknown voice, turning to find an alpha squatting down right next to us. He was older, maybe mid-fifties, with carefully styled silver hair and a gaudy gold chain.
“Two unmated omegas all alone?” He smiled, showing too many teeth. “That hardly seems safe.”
I pressed closer to Theo, who just rolled his eyes.
“We’re fine, thank you,” I managed to say, but the alpha just chuckled.
“Come now, little one. Let me buy you a drink. A pretty thing like you shouldn’t be without real company.”
“I believe they said they’re fine.”
A beta in a crew uniform had appeared beside the alpha, her professional smile not quite masking the steel in her voice. “Sir, would you like to be escorted back to your chair?”
The alpha’s face darkened, but he pushed away from the pool edge. “Just trying to be friendly,” he muttered as he walked away.
I let out a shaky breath. Across the pool, the dark-haired alpha we’d been watching earlier leaned forward, saying something that made his crowd of admirers titter and preen. My stomach clenched with an odd mix of jealousy and desire. Those omegas knew exactly what they were doing, how to catch and hold an alpha’s attention. I’d never had to be good at that. Daryl had always been there.
“What kind of alpha are you looking for?” I asked Theo, mostly to distract myself from how pathetically out of practice I was at this whole thing.
“I’m not really picky,” he said, trailing his fingers through the water.
“Liar.” I adjusted the clip holding up my messy bun. “Everyone has a type. Big pack or small pack?”
He ducked his head, but not before I caught his blush. “I don’t know. Either would be fine.”
“Theo.” I bumped his shoulder.
He was quiet for a moment, chewing on his bottom lip. “Big,” he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’d like a big pack.”
“Yeah?” Something in his tone made my chest ache. “Tell me why.”
“I just…” He shrugged, still not meeting my eyes. “I enjoy taking care of people. A big pack would mean more people to cook for, to fuss over. More movie nights and pack dinners and…” He trailed off, like he was embarrassed by what he wanted.
“What about other omegas?” I asked gently. “Some alphas don’t like having more than one omega in their pack.”
“That might be nice, actually.” His voice got even softer. “Having someone who understands. Someone to nest with during heats, maybe.”
He glanced at me quickly, then away, like he’d said too much.
“Someone who sees me,” he added finally. “Not just what they want me to be.”
The raw honesty in his voice made my chest ache. I attempted to pull myself up onto the edge of the pool, kicking my feet and struggling until Theo gave me a boost.. “That’s not too much to ask.”
“Isn’t it?” His laugh was hollow. “Most alphas see male omegas as convenient. Fun for heat but not pack material.”
“Those alphas are idiots.” I meant it. In less than twenty-four hours, Theo had become more precious to me than anyone since Daryl. Maybe more than Daryl. “You’re definitely pack material.”
“Yeah?” The hope in his voice broke my heart.
I slid back into the pool and wrapped my arms around him. “Absolutely,” I whispered.
Across the deck, the alpha stood up. Those thighs. He stretched, all lean muscle and casual grace. Several omegas actually whimpered, and honestly, I couldn’t blame them. Then he turned, and his eyes locked with Theo’s.
The blush that spread across Theo’s face was adorable. He turned his head, but not before I caught his pleased little smile.
“Oh, my god.” I couldn’t help giggling. “He totally caught you staring.”
“Kill me now.”
“Never.” I grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the stairs. “Drinks. We need drinks if we’re going to survive alphas with thigh tattoos.”
I glanced back, but the alpha was gone.
“More drinks it is.”
I didn’t mention how my heart had stuttered when that alpha’s gaze had swept past me on its way to Theo. Some things were better left unsaid. Jillian wanted me to have a rebound fling, but what if I couldn’t? What if no one wanted me?
“I’ll get the drinks,” Theo said as we reached the deck chairs. “You dry off.”