Chapter 32
Ariana
Day to day life with the Coates pack comes naturally. In a way, they become my sanctuary.
I’m never without company. They patiently make space for me in their lives. It’s not like my scent matched pack, where I was thrust into the role they wanted me to play. I can be just Ariana the person here, instead of Ariana Hale, the accessory.
I do ask about my scent matched pack one day, out of morbid curiosity. That’s the way I’ve begun to think of them. Or sometimes I call them the Hale pack. It doesn’t feel right calling them my pack anymore.
Sebastian tells me they’re aware of where I am, but the Office of Omega Affairs has given me permission to stay here despite the mark on my neck. I don’t pry further. I don’t wonder if they miss me, or if they’re trying to bring me back to their home.
Once, there’s a pull at the bond inside of me. It’s alien to me. I’m used to being the one doing the tugging. Instead of wrenching me towards them like before, the bond feels more like a frayed rope. My heels dig into the ground, not giving in to the tug of war.
At Nico’s insistence, the pack starts taking up strolls again.
We don’t pass through Scentral Park, nor by my old apartment.
We go the opposite way without speaking about it.
Sebastian ushers me into the car one afternoon.
When we come home, I’m armed with a prescription and an expedited order for two pairs of glasses.
It’s odd to think of the Coates pack’s place as home, but it feels like it.
Evan and Nico try to teach me how to cook, though I’m still a bit hopeless at it.
No one says that to my face, but it’s hard to ignore.
My dishes sit on the table next to the alpha’s more immaculate recipes everyday, showcased front and center.
Jason’s making a valiant attempt to eat the blackened waffles I’ve prepared for breakfast today.
Unable to let him break a tooth in good consciousness, I dive across the table and grab onto his wrist before he can take a second bite.
Despite his attempts to disguise it as a cough, Evan’s laugh is unsubtle.
“Don’t worry,” Nico reassures me. “It takes practice.”
Jason looks from his wrist to me kindly. “If you ignore the texture, it has a charming charred flavor,” he observes seriously.
Groaning, I let go of his arm and sink back into my seat. His well intended attempt at finding something nice to say about the near hockey puck only makes Sebastian join in Evan’s now unconcealed chuckling.
It’s a Saturday, but Jason and Sebastian have to go into the office, much to my disappointment. When I ask if that’s the norm for them, they vehemently deny it. They’re occupied with some mysterious, secretive business at the moment, apparently. When I ask about it, I get a wink from Sebastian.
“You’ll see soon,” Jason says ambiguously.
Evan stands shortly after they leave, announcing he’s taking a shower. Nico and I remain at the table. I pull out my phone and click on the contacts app, a newfound habit of mine. Should I put in my scent matched pack’s numbers? Or reach out? At least to Cole, maybe.
I don’t consider it out of fondness as much as I do for the sake of almost ten years.
Each time, I search for a desire to speak to them.
Staring at the opened new contact form, I seek it out now.
Like always, the sight of the elevator doors closing in front of their infuriated faces conjures into my mind instead.
Lost in thought, the sound of Nico’s voice makes me jump. The phone drops out of my hand, contact form abandoned unfilled.
My head snaps up towards him. “I’m sorry, pardon?”