Chapter 6
Chapter Six
ALORA
I hear Wells and Jordan calling my name, but I can’t seem to tear my gaze away from Finn’s retreating car.
I don’t know what it is about Finnegan Abernathy, but he drew me in.
I mean, I kissed him!
I don’t just go around kissing random men—especially not alphas—without at least discussing it with my pack. I’m not sure what got into me, but I can’t say I regret it.
“Alora, baby.” Jordan wraps his arms around me, and I lean back against him as he crowds close to me. “It’s time to go.”
I sigh, having lost sight of the car. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
He spins me around to face him, lifting my chin with his finger until I meet his eyes. “So, you kissed an alpha.”
“Oh. You saw that?”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “We both saw that.”
“I’m sorry.” I lean in to kiss him. “It’s not like I planned it.”
“Do you think that makes a difference to Wells? ”
I wrinkle my nose, leaning around Jordan so I can see Wells, who’s looking more than a little annoyed as he stands beside the driver’s side door. “No.”
“It’s okay, baby. We’ll talk about it when we get back to the hotel, yeah?”
“Yeah.” I hug him, and my eyes fall shut as his relaxing scent washes over me. Jordan has always been my rock, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. No worry ever seems too big when I’m in his arms.
I let him pull me to Wells, who looks down at me with a frown. I wrap my arms around him and lay my head on his chest.
“I’m sorry, Wells. We’ll talk back at the hotel.”
He sighs, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close. “I was so fucking worried about you, Alora.”
“I know you were, and I didn’t mean to make you worry. It won’t happen again.”
Jordan snorts. “Yeah, like he’s not always worried about you. It’s definitely going to happen again.”
I glare at him over my shoulder before lifting to kiss my alpha. “Let’s head back to the hotel.”
“Yeah. Let’s do that.” Wells opens the back door for me, and I scoot over until I can sit in the middle as he and Jordan climb into the car.
There have been too many arguments over who gets to sit by me over the years, so now if we’re all together, I sit in the back.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who think having brothers in their pack is easier, but I swear Jordan and Wells argue like they’re still children sometimes. I love them with all my heart, but sometimes I want to throw things at their heads.
I think that’s fairly normal in relationships, right?
I sure hope so .
We’re all silent as Wells drives us back to the hotel in Glenmore, the lovely seaside town we decided to vacation in. We considered staying in Glasgow, but decided we didn’t want to deal with so many people.
Glenmore has a population of less than five thousand people, but because of its close distance to Glasgow, it’s used to seeing tourists. The coast of Scotland is spotted with little towns like Glenmore, and we could’ve gone to any of them, but this was the place I wanted to go.
I like the name of the town, and the pictures showed an almost picturesque way of life that I needed to see.
When we arrived, I met a lovely couple in their sixties while we were walking around town. The woman seemed frail, and the man was head over heels in love with her. I couldn’t help staring at them, and when the woman noticed me, she smiled.
They approached us and answered a million questions we had about Scotland and Glenmore. They were the ones who suggested we check out Glenfinnan National Park. The woman, who introduced herself as Fiona, said it was a favorite place of hers—though she couldn’t really visit it now.
We ended up having lunch with them, and they told us all about their son, who moved to America. Fiona said that the national park was a favorite of his as well.
It wasn’t originally on our itinerary, but after hearing her talk about it, I knew I had to see it.
I’m glad I did. I just wish I hadn’t lost my pack in the process.
Then again, I wouldn’t have met Finn if I hadn’t.
Not that I’m likely to see him ever again.
I swipe a hand down my face as Wells pulls into a parking spot at the hotel. He spins around in his seat after turning off the car and glances between me and Jordan. “Food before, during, or after.”
Jordan and I share a look before answering as one, “During.”
“Of course. What was I thinking?” Wells laughs. “No serious conversations without food.”
“Exactly.” I release my seat belt and lean forward to press a kiss to his cheek. “Let’s just head to the bar and order food.”
Twenty minutes later, we step into our room with plates of food. The man working behind the bar was a little confused about us wanting to order food to bring up to our rooms at first, but he just shrugged and took our orders.
I sit at the four-person table, Wells taking the seat on my right side. Jordan sets his plate in front of the chair to my left before heading to the mini fridge and grabbing us some drinks.
As soon as we’re all settled, I look between the two of them as I pick up a fry—no, it’s called a chip here. They really taste nothing like french fries, but it’s the closest I can get here, and I’m not going to lie—they’re kind of delicious.
I’ve been eating a lot of fish and chips while in Scotland. The fish is caught daily, and who am I to pass up fresh fish like that?
Right, back on topic.
“I’m sorry I kissed Finn,” I finally say.
Wells settles back into his chair as he watches me. “Do you regret it?”
“No.” I shake my head. “But I regret doing it without talking to the two of you first. That wasn’t okay.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” Jordan reaches over to take my hand, squeezing it as he turns to look at his brother. “Does she, Wells?”
When Wells doesn’t immediately answer, Jordan purses his lips and narrows his eyes. “Wells! ”
My alpha grunts. “No. You have nothing to apologize for, sweetness. As much as I still hate the idea, we need at least one more alpha in our pack—as we agreed.”
I try not to flinch because I know how much he hates the idea of adding to our pack, but we’ve discovered that having just him and Jordan isn’t enough for my heats. We discussed using a service just during my heats, but I hate the idea of that.
I feel like a terrible omega for needing more than the two of them. Especially since Wells is so against the idea. It’s definitely caused some friction in our pack.
When Jordan brought it up initially, Wells alphaed out so hardcore that it sent him into a rut. But my beta refused to let it drop, especially after Wells ended up in the hospital after one of my heats. He was exhausted and so badly dehydrated that he passed out at work.
The doctor was the one who told us we needed another alpha during our heats because of the pressure it puts on Wells and his body. It’s just too much for one alpha. The doctor told him that until we find another alpha, he has to take an additional week off after my heat in order to recover.
He was not happy about that because he loves his work. Convincing him to take nearly two months off for a vacation and then my heat was nearly impossible.
My upcoming heat will be the sixth we’ve gone through since he ended up in the hospital, but we’re no closer to finding another alpha to add—mainly because of the guilt I feel.
What surprises me most about kissing Finn is that I don’t feel guilty about it. I feel guilty for kissing him without talking to Jordan and Wells first, but not the actual kiss.
I chew on my bottom lip as I consider my alpha. I hate that he’s upset by what happened, but I felt drawn to Finn from the moment I set eyes on him .
Even as upset as I was, I generally wouldn’t throw myself into the arms of a random alpha in the middle of a national park. But that’s exactly what I did with Finn.
It’s like I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Like I knew he’d make everything right. Like he would protect me.
I felt safe in his arms.
And that’s why I kissed him.
“Do you want Finn to be a part of our pack?” Jordan asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I glance at Wells, watching as he grinds his teeth before answering. “I don’t even know if he’d be interested in that. He was just rejected by Bree, and his mom just died.”
“He kissed you.” Wells takes a deep breath. “That means he wants you. Who wouldn’t want you? You’re gorgeous, smart, and genuinely a nice person. If you want him, then he’ll be yours.”
“That’s not really how that works, Wells, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
Jordan laughs. “I mean, it kind of does. It didn’t look like he was in any hurry to pull away from the kiss, baby.”
“That might be true, but even if I wanted that, we don’t have a way to get in contact with him.” I bite into my chip finally, my mind already wandering.
Do I want Finn to be a part of my pack? Is that why I kissed him? Why can’t I stop thinking about him?
Ugh.
It doesn’t matter if that’s what I want. We have no way of reaching out to him.
Wells clears his throat. “You said his mother just died. Do you know when?”
“He said a few hours ago when he told me,” I say slowly, not fully understanding why he’s asking.
“Then he’s here because of her, right? ”
Ohhhhh. Now it makes sense.
I nod. “He left the show because she was dying. He came to say goodbye. So he must be from somewhere around here.”
“Exactly, and I know I haven’t been on board with the whole adding another alpha—and I’m not saying I’m okay with adding Finn yet—but I’m willing to get to know the guy.” He shakes his head. “I hate that I’m not enough of an alpha to satisfy?—”
“Nope. Stop that right now.” I’m up and out of my chair before he can even finish his sentence.
I place my hands on his cheeks, forcing him to look up at me.
“You are more than enough for me. We’ve gone through how many heats together with no problems?
I love you, Wells, and you’ll always be enough for me.
But my heats are getting worse, and it’s taking a toll on your health. I’m not okay with that.
“If you really abhor the idea of adding another alpha to the pack, then I’ll forget Finn ever existed.
” Yeah, like that’s going to happen, but for my alpha, I’ll do it.
“We’ll use a heat service. I’ll get used to it.
I don’t want you to agree to something just because you think it’ll make me happy.
If you’re not happy, then I’m not happy. ”
“And I don’t want you to agree to something you have to get used to, sweetness.
You don’t want a random stranger taking part in your heat.
Hell, I don’t want random strangers taking part in your heat, but something has to change.
” Wells gives me a sad smile. “I’m the alpha, and I have to take care of you.
If I can’t do it on my own, then we need to find someone to help us.
It’s my job to take care of you, Alora. And this isn’t something we can just compromise on.
You have to be comfortable with what we do because it could adversely affect you and your heat. ”
I shake my head and allow my hands to fall from his face. “ I will not ask you to do something that’s going to make you miserable. I won’t do it.”
Jordan clears his throat, drawing our attention to him. “There’s a difference between your not feeling comfortable with a stranger during your heat and Wells’s desire not to add anyone else to our pack.”
“But there’s not!”
“He’s right.” With a sigh, Wells pulls me onto his lap.
“I never wanted a pack because I’m possessive.
I knew sharing would be a problem for me, but you and Jordan?
It was inevitable, and it’s not so bad sharing with him.
This is a me issue, not a biological need, Alora.
That’s why I agreed to your looking for another alpha.
My refusing you what you need is so fucking selfish.
Alphas who love their omegas aren’t selfish, and I’m trying so damn hard not to be selfish.
But that’s also why I added the caveat that we all need to be unanimous in our agreement on whom we add.
I need to be sure it’s not someone I’m going to resent. ”
“This shouldn’t be so hard,” I murmur as I lay my head on his chest.
“It’s not hard, Alora. I’d do anything for you.” Wells presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Even hunt down another alpha so we can get to know him. Does he even live in the States?”
Jordan chuckles. “Wouldn’t it make you happy if he didn’t? But he does.”
“He said he doesn’t live far from the university.” I lean my head back to meet my alpha’s gaze. “You want to get to know him?”
“I think you kissed him for a reason. You’re not someone to just randomly kiss someone. You feel a connection with him, and I think you need to explore that. No, we need to explore that as a pack. Which means we need to figure out how to find him.”
A thrill runs through me at the idea of us finding Finn, but I’m trying really hard not to get my hopes up.
“Does that mean…” I’m afraid to finish the sentence.
“That we’re going to hunt down Finnegan Abernathy so we can get to know him?” Wells nods. “Yes.”
I can’t help the grin that breaks out on my face, excitement coursing through me as I lean up to kiss him. “I love you so damn much, alpha.”
He chuckles. “I love you so damn much too, Alora.”
“What about me?” Jordan asks, and I climb out of Wells’s lap so I can climb into my beta’s as I cover his face in kisses.
“Love you, Jordan.”
“I love you, too, Alora.”