Chapter 6
Hunter
Monday
Alric is in fine form this evening. He’s always been a grumpy bastard—even in college, he had a permanent frown. The poor guy takes everything so seriously. Tonight, though, he holds his whiskey glass so tight his knuckles are white and I worry that the glass is going to shatter in his hand.
“Alric, buddy, you gotta relax. You’re going to add even more gray to your hair. You already look old as hell. No one is going to believe we all went to school together.”
“I’m fine.”
He doesn’t even bother to look up at me, just keeps staring at his phone as if it has personally offended him.
A very long text thread that he sent takes up the whole screen.
I can’t see what it says, but it doesn’t look like the person has responded to the novel he’s penned.
Zachary and I make eye contact and he just shrugs, no more bothered by our friend’s attitude than I am.
We meet every Monday night at one of Alric’s upscale alpha lounges, The Bergamot. Besides my Saturday night dates with Sophie, this is one of my favorite nights of the week.
There are a few omegas here, dates or bondmates of members, but for the most part, it’s an alpha crowd.
The tables are all dark wood and the air has the lingering scent of cigar smoke.
The walls are painted a deep green that matches the large plants potted in golden planters.
Here, the lights are kept low and somewhere, a beta pianist is playing softly.
There’s a hefty yearly membership, but more business deals are done within these walls than any conference room in the city.
There’s a rumor that it once belonged to the mafia before Alric bought it, and I was incredibly disappointed to learn that he just lets alphas believe that so he can sell the most expensive glass of scotch in town.
“How’s the app going?” I ask Zachary, since Alric appears to be a useless conversationalist tonight.
“Man, I’m so ready for this trip.” He glances at Alric. “I think we could all use some time away. NourishNow has hired all the best people. I trust my team to have the perfect app by the time we get back and we’ll be all ready for launch next week,” Zach says confidently.
We started this business collaboration last year.
Alric had come to Zachary with an idea. Alric owned all these restaurants and a chain of successful upscale, health food supermarkets.
He wanted a way for his customers to be able to place online orders and have food delivered.
A one-stop app for everything he owned. Zachary immediately jumped on board for all the technology stuff.
We announced my partnership today, which kicks off an extensive marketing push for the next two weeks.
Of course, food delivery apps already exist, but they’re all evil mega corporations that charge extra fees and have poor service.
With our app, NourishNow, busy professionals and families will be able to get their groceries delivered and all the best restaurants would be at our customers’ fingertips.
Employees are paid a living wage with generous benefits, and there is strict identity verification to ensure safety.
They brought me on a little bit later as the face of the app. I’ve been hinting at it for months on my social media, which reaches millions. My new food line of nutritious premade lunches, custom protein shakes, and health bars that actually taste good will be sold exclusively through the app.
Alric already has all leftover foods from the restaurants and stores delivered every night to homeless shelters throughout the city so nothing is ever wasted, but we’re going to be partnering with local charities in the app, too.
Staffing is nearly complete and we can finally take a break. Which is why all of our bags are packed and waiting in town cars downstairs. We leave as soon as our pilot tells us the jet is ready. There was some sort of issue with the tower earlier, but hopefully we can leave soon.
Alric nods. “The contract to complete our pack are being looked over by our lawyer and we should be able to sign it once we finish our final pack test run this week. They need a final pack name, though.”
“And an omega,” I joke. “I actually have the perfect one. We can—”
“No,” Alric says, looking up at us for the first time. “The omega I’m seeing is the only one I’ll consider for this pack.” He returns to glaring at his phone. “She’s everything we need. Sophisticated. Demure. Classy. Fantastic taste in everything.”
“Yeah,” I laugh, “except alphas, apparently.”
Alric flips me off, but for the first time tonight, there’s a small smile there. I love making that brute laugh. It only happens twice a year.
Zachary stares off into the distance with a smile at the word omega. “Sounds like you’re describing a luxury car. We need an omega who can relax, someone chill and fun, like Emilie.”
“Madeline is fun!” he argues loudly.
“You’re the least fun person I know,” I tease. “I seriously doubt you’re with her because she’s fun. Now Sophie, she’s a thrill!”
A growl slips out of Alric, any amusement is now gone. “Madeline is everything to me.”
Everything? Damn. He’s got it bad. We’ve all been friends for years, but he’s a pretty private guy. Sure, he’s mentioned in passing that he’s dating an omega, but this is the first time he’s ever said her name. He’s always happiest on Fridays, so I’m assuming that’s when they see each other.
The Madeline.
Oh yeah, he’s definitely got it bad if he’s naming his restaurants after an omega he’s not bonded to.
“This wouldn’t happen to be the omega not messaging you back, is it?” I ask, just to antagonize. I love annoying this giant alpha.
He glares at me, clicking his phone off. “There’s been a misunderstanding,” he says, the words colder than the ice in his drink.
“Listen, the omega I’m seeing is divine. Sophie is super awesome! So sweet, loves sports, into health and fitness. Stunningly beautiful. The whole damn package.”
“This is our final test before becoming a pack and I think we’re failing it,” Zachary interrupts.
“Sounds like we’re all with wonderful omegas.
How about when we return, and after the launch, we can have some sort of group date with each of them?
We let them know that we’re starting a pack and we would love to discuss the possibility of us getting to know them better.
Separately, of course. Doesn’t need to be a big formal thing, we can each invite one omega to an event we’ll all be at.
” An arrogant glint enters his eyes. “My Emilie will win, of course, but I’d love to meet the omegas who are doing the charity work of dating you two. ”
Alric and I both flip him off at the same time.
I’m sure Madeline is a doll worthy of naming a whole damn restaurant after and Emilie is an adorable little nerd keeping Zach happy by wearing elf ears in bed for him, but none of them could possibly be better than Sophie, and that’s why I need to make sure that they meet her first.
They just need to meet her and they’ll feel what I did from the moment I met her.
Sophie is our omega and I’m going to make sure they know that.
I slip out my phone and text my girl, tuning out Alric and Zach as they debate the endless reasons Madeline is better than Emilie.
Hunter:
Hey, how would you like to go on a five day, all expense paid vacation to Santorini?
We would take a private jet, spend a few days on the sandy beaches, award-winning chefs cooking every meal.
You wouldn’t need to raise a finger, babycakes.
It would all be sunbathing and pampering.
I of course will provide more of that really great shower sex I’m known for. ;) What do you think?
You would have your own room too, so no pressure on my end.
I want to see you happy on a beach in a bikini.
What’s your favorite cocktail?
The texting bubble appears and disappears a few times before she texts back two glorious sentences.
Sophie:
Sex on the Beach. When do we leave?
I want to jump out of my seat with how ecstatic I am at her response, but it might tip off the guys that I have something planned.
This is going to be perfect. I’ll say that I can’t leave tonight and will fly out tomorrow morning.
Once I pick up Sophie, we’ll fly to Alric’s vacation house.
The guys and I have some work to do, but she can relax.
I can make the introductions and they can spend the whole week getting to know her, falling for her like I did the day I met her. Sure, Alric and Zach might be a little mad that I sprung this on them, but once Sophie is ours, it will all be worth it.
Then she wouldn’t just be my sugar baby, she’d be my real girlfriend, and then maybe one day if I’m beyond lucky, my bonded mate.
I’m practically giddy with the thought. My business is thriving, I’m about to start a pack with my best friends, and the omega I’ve had feelings for nearly a year could be at the center of it all.
I need to do more than pay her rent and see her once a week when she’s not traveling. Getting to wake up near her every single day, pack dinners together every single night.
Vacations.
Date nights.
Lazy Sunday mornings with brunch in bed.
We’re going to give her the perfect life.
All of our phones chime at the exact same time, the group chat with our pilot popping up.
Ethan:
Everything’s ready for takeoff.
Oh no, I need to think of a reason to stay behind. They finish their drinks and stand, Zachary already messaging the driver that we’re ready to leave.
I grab at my stomach, maybe a little too dramatically. “I’m actually not feeling good.” I hunch over. “I don’t think I can fly right now.”
Zach looks up from his phone. “If you’re not feeling well, we can wait.”
“You can use my office’s private bathroom,” Alric says with actual concern in his voice.
“No, I need to go home, I have medicine at my house.” I wave them off. “Please go. I’ll still meet you in Santorini. I’ve gotten there by myself plenty of times. I’ll leave in the morning once I feel better.”
“We can delay the plane,” Alric insists. “It’s not a problem. My staff is expecting our arrival tomorrow, but we didn’t say what time.”
Both of these alphas are such genuine guys, I need to remember to tell them that one day when I’m not lying to their faces.
“Please don’t modify your plans on my account.
I think I just need to go back home for a little bit.
I need my own bathroom.” I rub my stomach rapidly.
“I’ll fly out first thing tomorrow morning.
I’ll only be twelve hours behind. We don’t want to be up in the air with only one bathroom at this state. ”
My best friends each make an identical face of mild disgust, realizing that yeah, it is probably a bad idea to travel with someone in a very tight space with any potential illnesses.
I jump up. “See you guys tomorrow.” I clench my butt cheeks together and waddle to the bathroom as if I’m barely keeping my bowels in check.
“Good luck in there!” Zachary yells after me with a laugh and I wave my hand in the air, not looking back.
I hide in the stall and send a message to Sophie with the address to the private airport.
Hunter:
Be here by 7 a.m. tomorrow morning, pack every bathing suit you own.