Chapter Sixteen
Altan
She asked me out. Yelled it from the store into the street where I was walking.
Our omega asked me out for lunch.
And then I had to go to work and try to focus on cases that were mostly instances of wrong place wrong time and “get your damned foot off the accelerator so hard.”
Court took for-damn-ever.
Finally, around eleven, I tore off my tie and made my way to the sandwich spot. There weren’t very many places to eat in Pleasant, but I was glad she hadn’t chosen the diner. I would be worthless the rest of the day after a burger or something equally as hearty from there.
When I arrived, Hema was already there and had secured a table for us. A table for two.
What a lucky bastard I was.
I sat across from her and found she’d ordered us two peach iced teas, a specialty of this place. “Thank you for ordering this. How has your day been?”
She bit down on her bottom lip. “Interesting. Some people came in for flowers, but mostly I made a fool out of myself and now everyone knows we’re on a date.”
I snorted. “Are you realizing that Pleasant gossip is passed on like a bad rash?”
“I’m getting the gist. I’m nervous,” she blurted right before the waitress came over. Our omega shook her head. “Forget I said that.”
“Nonsense. Let’s order, and then I’m asking all about it.” We got sandwiches, and I took a note of her order. An Italian sandwich on basil-and-tomato focaccia with extra cheese and fries on the side. Lots of ketchup.
“Have I done something to make you nervous?”
She shrugged. “Not you specifically. Alphas in general.”
“Want to share with me why?”
She twisted her mouth up in the cutest pout. “My pack before. There were alphas and regular shifters there. But when my designation became clear…they said there was no place for an omega at that time.”
Her jaw ground back and forth. “Whatever it was, you didn’t deserve it. Whatever they did to hurt you makes me want to pummel them but it was about them, not you.”
“I didn’t even tell you what they did.”
“It may be a conversation for another time. Maybe in a more private space.” Several patrons, people I knew and some I didn’t, were listening in. We were the latest couple or pack dating, and they all wanted the scoop, but I had to protect her from the gossip as best I could.
Some was normal and preventing it would be impossible, but this telling of her past could wait. “Oh. Thanks. I’m not used to all the ears.”
“Mostly they are eager to know you better and they would be happy if… Well, if we were together, but some things should stay private, don’t you think?”
She nodded. “Well, tell me about you and Sovann and Orin. How did you meet? How long have you been a pack?”
“We met right after college but before I went to law school. We were at a graduation social. We met and hit it off, and our wolves formed the bond. It clicked. We belonged together. As a pack. I love them. They are my family.”
She nodded and dug into her sandwich wholeheartedly. Lettuce was sacrificed to the plate. She had oil on the corner of her mouth. Adorable omega. She didn’t take delicate bites meant for a rabbit. The woman was committed.
I could watch her eat all day.
Maybe that was creepy.
“I didn’t realize this was a mess.”
I chuckled. “That’s okay. Means it’s good.”
“And you’re a lawyer, but what about Sovann? I know Orin runs The Alibi.”
“Yes. Sovann works from home, editing books. Works his own hours and the other times, he handles so many things around the house. He really keeps our pack running.”
She ate some more and then nailed me with a stare. “And you’re the alpha of the pack.”
My wolf wanted me to shift and show her his form. The big, bad wolf needed her to know that her alphas could protect her. Animal. He wanted to preen in front of her. Show off.
“I am but it’s only because my alpha is a bit stronger than theirs. I can’t name one time I’ve ever had to use my bark on them or override anything. We work as a team.”
“Oh. That’s really different from the pack I came from.”
I wished we had more privacy so she could tell me. She would one day. I had a feeling it would reveal all the reasons she didn’t date shifters.
Except she’d broken her rule for me.
“We run our pack like a family.”
We didn’t talk much for the rest of the meal but as we walked toward the flower shop, I took her hand in mine and she let me. Hand-holding was intimate. It wasn’t naked, but the bond sparked between us nevertheless.
She had all of me. One date.
“Before we go back to work, I wanted to ask you something.”
She turned, key in her hand. “Ask away.”
“We would like to take you on a date. All of us.”
Those blue eyes widened to the size of saucers. “Even after I kept turning you down?”
“Yes, Hema. A date. With all three of us. Dinner? You name the day.”
“Tonight.” She slammed her lips shut. I would bet her wolf had just spoken for her.
“Tonight it is. We’ll pick you up at six. Is that okay?”
“Seven,” she corrected. “The shop closes at six. I need time to get dressed.”
“Give me your phone number, please.”
I texted her so she’d have mine, and, when I was out of her view, I called my pack. We officially had a date with our omega.