Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
I nearly choke on air. “What did you just say?”
Even as the words hit my ears, I know they’re correct.
There’s a new vitality zipping through the air as I look at Dax.
His stunned expression is directed at Jett, but I hone in on the same feeling coursing through me.
Like a wrist shot that flies right past me, I feel it snapping into place in my chest: this deep knowing .
The certainty that Dax and I have been waiting to feel finally settles in my bones, and the presence of it sends a surge of emotion right through me.
We’re pack mates. We were always pack mates.
Dax looks at me, showing me the sheen in his eyes before he looks back at Jett with exuberance. “Holy shit!”
“I don’t know what’s going on right now,” Jett says, his eyes wide. “Why do I feel like I know you?”
“Because we’re pack, man! Oh my gosh, it’s so good to meet you.” Dax’s smile is huge as he pulls Jett in for a hug. Our new pack mate rolls with it, but there’s some reluctance or confusion still lingering on his face .
I cough down my amusement. Dax is very open for an alpha, and that can be a lot for someone who isn’t used to it.
“It’s good to meet you, too. Dax, right?”
“Shit, you’re right. We need proper introductions.” Dax pulls away and laughs, mimicking with his hands that his head is exploding. “This is fucking crazy. But yes, that’s me. And you must be Jett, Everett’s tutee I’ve heard good things about.”
A blush creeps up at that. I may have mentioned Jett to Dax a few times, but I definitely didn’t know it was because my alpha knew we were pack. Jett looks at me and his eyes widen even more when he realizes he feels the same pull of energy with me.
I’m right there with you, man.
Dax looks back at me. “Everett A.K.A. my official pack mate!” he hollers as he strides over to me.
He pulls me into a hug, too, obviously needing physical affection to solidify his excitement.
I squeeze a bit tighter than I should, feeling that rush of sentiment claw back up to the surface.
He lets go and turns to Jett while pointing at me.
“We’ve known each other for over three years.
Ever since training camp our freshman year.
We kept saying our bond would click in sooner or later, but it just never came.
It’s been fucking torture trying to figure out what was missing, but it turns out, it’s you! You were missing! Fuck!”
I can’t stop the smile from taking over my face. Dax’s elation is contagious in every way. It’s hard to allow any type of worry to creep in when my pack mate—my freaking pack mate !—is the most joyous I’ve ever seen him.
Jett finally seems to return Dax’s eagerness. He grins shyly as he says, “Yeah, fuck. It’s a good thing I suck at math.”
I can’t control the laugh that escapes me. He’s really bad at math.
“This is the best birthday present ever,” Dax muses, which causes me to lift my brows because his parents once got him an Armani suit and an Omega watch for his birthday.
“It’s your birthday? Holy shit.”
“Well, this week it is. Since you’re pack, you’re obligated to come to the party. It’s going to be a costume party on Halloween.”
“Halloween? That’s still a few weeks away,” Jett says with both amusement and confusion.
“I know,” Dax sighs. “It’s a bummer, I was so close to being a Halloween baby.”
“Yeah, so close. Two weeks and some days away from being a Halloween Scorpio, but instead you’re an October Libra.” I tsk. He flicks me on the forehead for teasing him.
Dax turns back to Jett and starts to ask him questions. I sit back and watch them, feeling embarrassingly giddy. But it’s only another second before something occurs to me.
Jett has a scent match.
The thought causes a sliver of panic to raise up my spine. My scent doesn’t change enough for either of them to notice, but the anxiety continues to rise.
I think about Rory, about how my alpha yearns for her and her cranberry scent, and what this means now that I know Jett has a biological match that’s meant for him, meant for his pack .
I swallow down a growl at the reality that Rory might not be that match.
“Wait,” I grit through my teeth, but they don’t hear me. Dax continues to speak a million miles a minute, excitement overriding everything.
“Favorite color?” Dax asks.
“Green, I guess,” Jett replies.
Dax huffs. “You do seem like a greener.”
“A greener? I really hope that isn’t a real word.”
To another alpha, or another pack, this quick- fire round of questions may seem less important than our omega issue, but not to me.
This moment is special, and I don’t want to taint it with worries.
We will inevitably have to deal with this as well as figuring out how to intertwine our lives that were once spent apart, but that’s a problem for another day.
My pack mates are happy, elusive to the qualms of tomorrow. I’m going to let that go on even if it’s just a little while longer, because we are a pack . I have a pack .
And it’s the most glorious feeling in the world.