“I was planning to tell him. I would have. Eventually.” I set down my wine glass. “It’s just… I don’t really know what to say. ‘Hey, brother I haven’t talked to in six years, I’ve been back home for some time and also bonding with your best friend and his pack’?”
Josie’s laugh is a little watery. “When you put it like that…”
“Yeah.” I pull her into a hug, feeling her relax into me. “It’s fine. Really. You probably did me a favor. At least now he knows I’m alive.”
“He was really worried about you, Willa. We all were.”
“I know.” The guilt sits heavy in my chest. “I’m going to fix it. I’m going to talk to him. I promise.”
I keep holding her, and something in my chest finally starts to unclench. Pearl joins us a moment later, her arms wrapping around both of us, and Buttercup loses his mind with excitement, barking and jumping at our legs.
“Young love,” Pearl says with a knowing smile. “Never gets old.”
“Stupid dog,” I mutter, laughing and crying at the same time.
“Good dog,” Pearl corrects, pulling back to study my face. Her Omega senses are sharp—sharper than most—and I know she can read every emotion I’m trying to hide. “How are you doing? Really?”
I sink back into the settee, Buttercup immediately reclaiming his spot on my feet. “I’m good. Really good, actually.”
My mind flashes to the hotel room, and my heart stutters. I haven’t told anyone besides Josie about Felton and the APBRA, but Pack McCrea’s interest—and my downright failure at pretending otherwise—is common knowledge by now.
“Are they taking care of you?” Pearl asks with a wink, settling back into her chair with the ease of someone who’s spent decades reading people.
Heat creeps up my neck. “They’ve been… yeah. They’ve been taking excellent care of me.”
“We can smell them all over you,” Josie says, grinning now. “Very thorough.”
“Josie.” I grab a throw pillow and launch it at her head.
She catches it easily, laughing. “What? I’m just saying, for someone who’s been off Alpha for years, you’re coming around really well.”
“I’m not—” I start, then stop, because the denial dies on my tongue.
“Not what?” Josie grins wickedly. “Not absolutely glowing? Not smiling like you have been thoroughly”—she makes a ridiculous middle school gesture that has me burst into laughter—“by three very attentive Alphas?”
“Not pregnant by Christmas?” Pearl finishes with a knowing smile. “I’d bet good money you will be.”
My face flames. “Pearl!”
“What? I’m just saying.” She tops off my wine glass with a look that says she’s enjoying this far too much. “The way those boys look at you… I give it three months tops.”
“I’m not pregnant,” I protest weakly.
“Yet,” Josie adds. “But you will be. You’re a fucking babe, and I bet they won’t leave you alone once winter break sets in … you know, snowed in, nothing to do, power goes out, only one bed?” She makes a little explosion gesture with her hands.
“Oh my god.” I bury my face in my hands, but I can’t stop the smile. “Can we not talk about my reproductive future?”
“Why not? It’s exciting!” Josie bounces slightly in her seat. “Little Omega babies with Willa eyes!”
“Stop.” But I’m laughing now, even as my face burns hotter. “You’re both terrible.”
“We’re both right,” Pearl corrects. “And you know it.”
A light-as-air feeling races around my chest, and a little voice whispers, “Yes!” at the thought.
“I can’t think about that right now,” I say, taking a long sip of wine. “One life-changing decision at a time.”
Pearl and Josie exchange knowing looks, and I groan.
