He blinks at me, a little taken aback. My eyes close in sheer embarrassment.
“Did you need it?”
Unlike Hudson and Nate, this alpha is all command, sharp edges and dominant with the scent of a freshly opened new book hitting my nose. His words penetrate my brain fog of humiliation, and I open my eyes. One sharply defined brow is curved expectantly, and shame curdles my stomach as I nod.
“Well, then.” He nods. “We’ll say no more about it.”
Axel shifts into view, and my hands drop to the hem of my sweatshirt before I realize I’m not wearing it. I’m missing the comfort it offered, swallowing me up and hugging me in his scent. Axel’s eyes follow the movement of my hands, creasing at the corners.
He’s just as big, if not bigger than I remembered. Whilst Nate is sleek, Hudson stocky and Cade broad, Axel is a freakingmountain. Blonde hair pulled up once again into a messy knot, the celtic-looking tattoo that curls around his arm flexes as he crosses them, keeping his distance as he nods.
“Glad to see you again,” he says. His words are soft, and I swallow as I take them all in.
Axel. Cade. Nate. Hudson.
This close, it’s no wonder the waitresses goga-ga, as Veronica described it.
The combination of their closeness and the tantalizing mixture of scents is threatening to weaken my knees, and I force myself to breathe through my mouth, locking down the urge to offer my neck in submission.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” I whisper, keeping my eyes on the floor.
Gentle fingers appear under my chin, nudging up my face.
“That’s better,” Nate says with a smile. “Don’t hide that pretty face from us, kitten.”
The faintest edge of a purr lingers on the edge of his words, and I’m fairly sure I hear a faint growl as my whole body shivers.
“Enough.” Cade’s tone snaps me out of my embarrassing omega overload. “Everyone needs to tone it down.”
“Gabrielle,” he says, his tone a little softer as he turns to me.
“Would you care to have lunch with us?”
I think my hearing might be defective, because I blink at him until those brows drop down in confusion.
“Gabrielle?”
“Say yes,” Nate urges softly. “Have lunch with us.”
I glance between them. “Why?” I ask, confused.
“Because we want to get to know you.”
My stomach flips over at Cade’s quiet words.
“And,” he adds with a small smile, “I think Nate might combust if you don’t.”
Nate nods his head vigorously, and I bite back a small laugh.
“I can’t,” I whisper. “I’m working.”
Hudson intercedes, his arms crossed where he’s leaning against a wall. “Your boss says it’s perfectly acceptable to take your lunch now.”
They wait patiently, and I get the feeling that if I say no, they’ll back off.
Biting my lip, I consider what I want to do.
And… I do want to know more about this pack.
