Chapter 6
Sofia
I’m a little drunk as I sit down heavily on the stool beside Asher. She grimaces at me but returns her stare to her beer she’s got between both of hands. I can almost sense the volcanic eruption brewing.
The dark-wood theme runs throughout the pub.
It’s got about twenty tables and stained-glass windows.
The red carpet is something I dream about sometimes.
I associate it with home. The vibe of rich warmth reminds me of when Dad would bring us down while he filled in shifts.
There were always people laughing. We’d sit at the table in the corner and draw on coasters and sip cola until Mum came to get us.
It was exciting; we always felt so grown up, and the adults were so happy and would talk to us like we belonged.
“They are so grumpy!” Asher mutters for the hundredth time. “Ugh. How could I be with a pack that doesn’t know how to smile?”
I rub her back. “Of course, you don’t have to.”
The alpha with the scowl had grunted at Asher and refused to speak even a single word to her, so I don’t blame her for her frustrations.
“Mine are all tourists. They aren’t even staying,” Felix mutters. “Ah, why do the love gods hate us?”
Cordie just smiles. “Mine was a no-show.”
I gape at her. “How dare they!”
She giggles. “No joke, right? But who cares? Dodged a bullet there.” She pats me hard on the arm and rocks back on her stool. “Do you remember the day you snuck into Devon’s birthday party and got caught by Sebastian?”
I shudder. “I try not to remember that.”
“Or the mooning she did over Mack before you got the courage to ask him out.”
“I was fifteen!” I protest hotly. “He was smart and wonderful.”
“Mmmhmmm.”
Asher laughs. “What about the party where you kissed Elijah? Spin the Bottle, wasn’t it? Except the two of you both went out to the beach and made out until the sun came up.”
I wince. “Yes, yes, and then he went home for the summer. Where are you going with this?”
“You lucked out, girl. Those three are one big happy family pack, living in your house.”
I shrink in my seat; the mortification returning. “Across the hallway.”
Cordie shrieks. “No!”
I duck my head and nod. “Four feet of separation.”
“You could just sneak on in and-”
“No!” I protest. “That’s my mum’s house, with my dads and Sebastian.” I shudder.
Cordelia narrows her eyes, tapping a long red fingernail against her teeth. “Yes, that buzzkill remains an issue, too. Overprotective turkey vulture,” Cordelia spits.
I side-eye her because I don’t know that I’ve seen her this irritated with anyone.
Imogen came and got Danger a few hours ago, but there’s this niggling unease with being away from him.
I’m having a good time tonight, though, but I just want to call Imogen and get her to video call with Danger so I can see he’s okay.
Which is ridiculous because I was fine with him being with Devon, Elijah, and Mack.
I slam my head on the bar. All my thoughts keep circling back to them.
I could think about sauerkraut, and, in seconds, I’d find a connection, somehow.
Like the time Mack was eating coleslaw on the beach, and he got some mayo on his jumper and took it off.
He was very pale, but he was Mack. Ugh! There I go again.
The song changes to one we’ve been playing on our video calls.
“I love this song!” Asher, Cordelia, and I shriek together.
Felix rolls his eyes, but we pull him up, dancing around the tables. I tilt my head back, laughing and swaying to the music. Stacey, who is manning the bar, turns the music up and dances while she packs up for the night.
Asher leans up against me, singing along, her eyes closed. She’s got a beautiful voice, and her caramel-coloured hair looks so pretty when it’s down.
I spin and spin, falling into Cordie, who laughs. I find myself clinging to her and Asher. My whole world can spin out of control, but Asher, Cordelia, and Felix are my constants.
“I missed you guys so much.”
Cordie smacks a kiss to my cheek. “You should have come home sooner.”
I’m still dancing when I catch sight of him out of the corner of my eye. And like a compass, all my attention centers on my north.
“Mack.”
“I’ve been sent to bring her home.” Mack points to me, grinning in that easy way that gives me butterflies.
“Oh, what about us?”
Mack points behind him, and I find my brother and dads lined up.
“Let’s go, dancing queen,” Mack murmurs as he steps close to me.
I make a rude sound and twirl around him, but he catches me and draws me up against his chest. I freeze, staring up at him.
“You've changed, Mack. I wouldn’t even recognise you now.”
“I’m the same person I always was.”
“Oh, yeah? Prove it.”
He boops my nose. “I still knit.”
“You do?” I ask, disarmed because my Mack, the fifteen-year-old boy, was always knitting.
“Yes, but now I donate the clothes I make to animal rescues.” He straightens his shoulder and winks at me. Winks! I think I just died a little.
“Oh, that’s not fair!” Cordie shouts. “He’s like the perfect alpha, look at him. Knitting little vests for penguins. Pathetic.”
“Jealous much?” Mack teases.
She takes a step towards him when Sebastian must lose the last shreds of his temper. He picks her up, hoists her over his shoulder, and turns away. When she protests, he slaps her ass, startling everyone.
Including Cordie.
“Did you just?” she seethes, pushing up and trying to twist around to see him.
He does it again. The smack echoes around the empty bar. I am really glad of the scent suppressant misters in the room right now. I would hate to be mixed up in whatever it is that’s brewing over there. Seb and Cordie both look like they could kill each other.
“Sebastian!” Pops snaps. “That is not how we treat anyone and especially not an omega.”
“She likes it,” Sebastian says evenly.
Cordie blushes and ducks her head.
“And besides, she’s not an omega, she’s Cordelia Lake, my sister’s pain in the butt best friend who never knows how to behave herself.”
“Sebastian Sol, you put me down right now, or I swear to go-”
Crack.
His hand spanking her butt has silenced her in shock that morphs to outrage. I can see my dad’s getting riled up, and apparently, so can Sebastian. With massive strides, he abruptly leaves, disappearing with my best friend.
“That was weird,” I whisper to myself.
I gape at the spot where they disappeared, but Mack swings me up and carries me bridal style to the exit. I turn and find Asher and Felix wandering off with my dad and pops chatting to them animatedly.
“So, you really knit clothes for animals?” I ask meekly.
“I really do. Not just clothes. I build enclosures and kennels, anything that they need.”
I sigh and rest my head on his shoulder. “What do you do for work?”
“I am a carpenter.”
“Wow, I’m impressed. I would have thought you’d be a computer analyst or something. But it makes sense, the building. You always did care about the environment and animals. I remember the kitten you saved in fourth grade.”
“Do you remember that? That was a long time ago. She was adopted by a family and lived a long, happy life.”
“Not so long ago,” I murmur, looking up at him and trying to find the boy I knew. “I think you are amazing.”
“Do you?”
“Yes. I can’t fix anything,” I say forlornly.
He gets to our street and walks up the hill, not even breathing hard.
“What happened in the city, Secret?”
I shake my head. “It was just one bad choice after another.”
“You’re going to be okay now.”
The serene confidence on his face makes me desperate to believe him.
“How do you know that?”
“How? Easy, you’re home. You have a whole town full of people on your side. And you have me. And Elijah and Devon.”
His words warm me when I know they shouldn’t. This is, after all, fake dating. Still, when he opens the door to the house and carries me up the stairs, I don’t protest. Danger is curled up on my pillow, sound asleep, and I breathe a sigh of relief to see him.
Mack is so gentle when he sits me on the edge of the bed and kneels before me.
My heart beats fast as I reach out and brush his hair back.
He freezes and waits while I pat him, but I pull back, remembering abruptly that this is not appropriate.
He helps me get my shoes off but stays kneeling in front of me.
Rain on warm concrete and cinnamon seeps into the air, reminding me that this is an alpha. This calm feeling emanating out of him, this safety, it’s his aura. He stares at me, not pushing one way or another, just waiting, while I struggle with myself.
“Go get changed. I’ll stay until you get into bed.”
I don’t even question it. I should, but instead I find myself in my pajamas staring at my flushed and stunned face in the bathroom mirror, almost too scared to open the door. Eventually, I creep back out.
His eyes drift down over me, and I feel like I’m wearing something much sexier than my sleep shorts and tank top. He lifts the cover of the bed.
“You know this is really weird, right? Tucking me in?”
“You’ve been drinking, and everyone deserves to be taken care of sometimes. I want to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, and it gives me a few more minutes to be with you.”
How can I argue with that? I lie down, staring up at him, unable to look away as he leans over me. I think he might kiss me, I really, really want him to, but he doesn’t. He simply draws the blanket up and tightens it around me, tucking me in.
The action stuns me. I lay there with a ball of warmth spreading through my chest. For the first time in years, I’m going to go to bed feeling safe. I want to kiss him.
“Mack?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you sure you’re okay with all this?” I ask.
“With the match?”
I nod.
He smiles. “Yes, I’m very happy with it.”
He leans down and kisses my forehead, and then he stands up.
“Sleep well, Sofia. If you need anything, anything at all, I’m just across the hall.”
I stare at him.
Where did he come from? There’s no alpha like him, I’m sure of it.