Chapter 5
Devon
Seeing the Sunshine Omegas together again is doing all sorts of weird things to me.
It’s reawakening these possessive, obsessive feelings that I’ve buried for a long time.
I want to scoop up my little Rebel and take her home, lock her in the nest that we’ve prepared and wait until she sees the light of day.
Or convince her. I’m good either way as long as she’s where I can see her.
Sebastian claps a hand on my shoulder. “Shall we get this over and done with?”
I glance at Lorelei, wondering if by some miracle she’s paired us with her daughter. Life wouldn’t be that easy, though, would it?
Sebastian fist bumps a couple of alphas and swans on past, leaving me alone, but he’s the golden alpha of Sunshine Cove, while I am, at heart, its bad boy.
It was always me who led him astray. Cutting school, smoking, drinking.
Organising the parties up at the lighthouse.
Getting in trouble, right up until Sebastian and the Sols took me under their wing.
My reputation has been difficult to escape.
The Sandy Heart Café has its bifold doors open, and all the elegant chairs that are normally inside are out, facing the street. They are all occupied by Pack Makers. I bite my bottom lip as I look them over, trying to work out how they are going to play this.
There’s a crowd of single people standing on the street, milling around, but I think everyone feels the pressure of their calculating expectations. All the other shops are temporarily closed. Everyone seems disgustingly excited for it.
I can’t say no to Lorelei Sol, though. She saved me and opened herself and her family to me not once, but twice.
What would she say if I were to pursue her daughter?
Would she hate it? No, she put us in her room; she’s made comments over the years.
I’m sure she knows how we feel. At times, I’ve wondered if she’s been subtly pushing us towards Sofia.
Sebastian will blow up over it. But I’m not going to let him stop me. This time.
My gaze is drawn back to where Rebel, Cordelia, Felix, and Asher have their heads together, whispering furiously as they glance at the Pack Makers. No doubt they are catching Sofia up on what’s going to happen.
She’s like a flame, a bonfire on a cold night.
Like warmth, one can’t help but to turn towards her.
She laughs too loud, too freely, her smile is unfiltered, her eyes dance.
Sofia Sol is a free spirit with more passion that anyone has a right to have.
If she’s close, I have never been able to look away from her.
I sidle up beside her. She looks up at me and blushes; the colour is enchanting. I ignore Cordelia’s laughter and nudge Danger, who lets out a tiny little yawn that turns Sofia’s suspicion instantly to adoration.
One day, she’s going to look at me like that.
She takes him into her arms, cooing. I get this sudden and violent image of her holding our child, and it leaves me reeling.
“Are you all right, Devon?”
I blink my way free of the image and find Felix and Asher exchanging money, with their eyes on me.
“Devon?”
“Mm?” I refocus on Rebel.
“I was asking if you were okay?”
“I haven’t been for a long time, but I think I am now,” I murmur and reach out, stroking the puppy. He woofs at me, and while she’s distracted, I brush her hair behind her ear. Her eyes snap up to mine, wary and full of interest.
“She’s about to start,” Mack says as he stomps over. He runs his fingers through his hair, a sure sign he’s stressed. Elijah pushes up close to us, needing the contact to ground him.
Both of them focus on Sofia, and I notice that Elijah reaches out, almost touches her hand before withdrawing. Our omega looks down at his hand and opens her mouth, almost like she’s going to say something, but, at the last minute, she turns away.
I turn my attention from Rebel to her mother. She’s wearing a deep red dress with a sweetheart neckline and white hearts all over it. A sure sign that she’s prepared to go to war over this event.
“As all of you know, my name is Lorelei Sol, and we are the Pack Makers.” She indicates the other omegas and betas.
The first in line is a steel-haired, whip-thin omega who is in a pack with her retired police officer alpha.
She’s in her sixties and has two adult alpha grandsons she’s trying to find packs for.
Her name is Betty Houstan. Kylie Frame is a late forties beta with an obsession with romance.
Her blond hair has been cut into a short bob to match her pink sundress.
And the final member is the serious and more logical Sara Vine, who is the local teacher. She’s got grey-streaked hair and has been with her alpha since they met at fourteen. She might look fierce, but she’s got a heart of gold.
“Kylie, Betty, Sara, and I have decided to take things into our own hands and help the town of Sunshine find love.”
There is a collective groan from those of us who are single. I think everyone here was roped into it via bribes, blackmail, nagging, or just trickery.
“Smitten Knot Bitten is our Valentine’s dating event.
Every single person here will be matched with a pack or single, via our cute little painted stones.
There will be one for each side, and then you will go on three dates that we will organise.
And on Valentine’s Day you can decide if you want them to be your Valentine or not,” she says with a wide smile.
“Easy peasy. So, let’s get everyone up here. ”
Sebastian stomps up there muttering under his breath. He gets handed a stone the size of his palm. He doesn’t look at it, just stomps back to his spot, crosses his arms over his chest, and glares.
People file up towards them and grab their stones.
I get in line and grab ours. I look down at a heart with a paw in the middle of it.
The stone is beautifully painted, and I look across to see our local artist; Khione.
She’s slipping away quietly, and I bet no one thought to enter her into the event. She is painfully shy.
The Sunshine Omegas go up together, while Mack takes possession of the puppy, and each one of them is given a rock. I thought for certain Felix and Asher would be together, but apparently not.
They turn, and I catch a glimpse of Sofia’s painted stone. My world stops. It’s the wrong colour. It’s got a starfish. We haven’t been matched. No, I won’t let this happen.
“Elijah,” I hiss.
“On it.”
I hear the shriek of a bird and forget about everything but scanning the skies for the threat. “Take cover!”
It calls again, even closer than it was before. That horrible shrill sound sends people into a panic.
I see the white wings of destruction and whirl, following his trajectory.
Sofia remains standing, confused and oblivious to the incoming evil.
Elijah calls her name and slams into her.
He covers her with his body as the seagull dive bombs them.
It lands on the café sign and puffs up its feathers, looking, for all intents and purposes, like some feathered evil dinosaur.
To be fair, the destruction this tiny creature has caused wouldn’t be out of place in the Jurassic.
Danger barks, glaring up at the seagull like he’s going to single-handedly take it on.
“What is that?” I hear Rebel ask.
“That’s Sergeant Sully, Sunshine’s vicious attack seagull,” Elijah snaps, glaring at the bird.
Rebel’s not the only one on the ground. Danger lunges at the gull from Mack’s arms, and it launches up, spitting out another strangled caw as it floats on the wind currents.
Felix and Asher get to their knees, reaching for their stones, but Elijah’s hand darts out, seizing one. Asher looks at him for a long moment and then sits back, scooping up the starfish.
Elijah shoves the stone into Sofia’s hand, and I let out a breath of pure relief.
“Here, you don’t want to lose this.”
He braces himself and turns to Asher, who is watching him in amusement. She shakes her head, a tiny knowing grin on her lips. I let out the breath I’m holding as Elijah turns back to Sofia.
Mack curses and rolls his shoulders as he lets the little pup down and walks towards her.
Elijah helps her up and grabs Danger. “Oh, you are such a good boy, aren’t you?” The puppy dissolves into wiggles and licks, perfectly happy to be adored again.
“Is everyone all right?” Lorelei asks.
Asher holds up her stone and smiles as she flashes it at Lorelei. There’s a moment of panic before Lorelei erases it completely. Will she say something? She opens her mouth and then sits back, her eyes finding me.
Don’t hurt her. The message is loud and clear. I incline my head, showing I’ve heard her demand, and I will do my absolute best.
“Now that everyone has stones…go find your match.”
People ask us, but I shake my head, not taking my eyes off her as she looks around nervously.
When I get close, Elijah and Mack stand side by side. I hold out my stone. She looks at it, and her eyes get wide. So wide.
“What?”
She holds out her stone.
A perfect match.
How. Very. Surprising.
“Well, would you look at that?” I purr.
She gulps and brushes her hair back with a shaking hand. I catch sight of Lorelei frowning, but when she goes to say something, Franco and Milton whisper in her ear. She shakes her head, and I brace myself for a fight I refuse to lose. Minutes pass, and, finally, she slumps in defeat.
“Has everyone found their pairs?” Lorelei calls out, casting furious glares at her mates.
No one looks terribly happy. Sebastian is standing with a quiet omega who has just moved to town. Felix is ignoring his alpha matches, and Asher is glaring at a mountainous alpha, who is glaring back just as grumpily.
I don’t think they did anyone any good with these pairings.
“Congratulations. We’ll all see you for the first date. I’ll send information via text, and don’t worry about a thing; just show up with you and an open heart.”