The realization crashes through me like lightning.
Pack McCrae…is Charlie, Jake, and Beau. Beau must have texted them after his ride.
And my Omega wants them, all of them. She is practically in a fit about not having them. The certainty of it steals my breath—not just Beau, but Jake too, and Charlie, steady and commanding… Oh god. The possibility is so overwhelming, so terrifying, so perfect that I can barely process it.
The sheer enormity of what I’m feeling crashes over me all at once.
“I have to go.” My voice comes out strangled, panicked.
I’m in over my head—anyone could have seen us, and the amount of my perfume filling the air around us is downright embarrassing. This is why I take blockers, and I feel a thick wave of shame for nearly letting Beau McCrea rut me against the wall like I’m some desperate Omega who can’t handle herself.
“Willa—” Beau starts, but I’m already scrambling off his lap.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I can’t—this is—” I can’t even form words. Can’t explain that I want this so badly it terrifies me. Can’t face the fact that I kissed Beau McCrae, and my Omega decided it wants his whole damn pack.
Jake reaches for me, his expression shifting to worry. “Hey, it’s okay.”
But I’m already backing away, my face burning, my heart racing, every instinct screaming to beg for more and run for the hills.
The swirl of emotions tearing at my common sense is building into a panic attack. I feel like crying and bursting into hysterical laughter all at once.
I need to go before I do something even more reckless. Before I beg them both to take me somewhere private. Before I completely lose myself to this wanting.
I’m a coward. I flee. There’s no other way to describe it. I literally, without a second look, turn and run, passing familiar faces along the way.
I don’t miss the smug as hell look I get from Felton as I run by. And I don’t stop until I’m out of the arena, off the fairgrounds, and to my car.
Then I’m driving away, my lips still swollen from Beau’s kiss, my skin still tingling with the phantom sensation of Jake’s almost-touch, and an unwavering certainty that not only did I just get myself fired, but whatever chance I had at keeping my reputation out of the mud is gone.
And still, the only thing careening through me is the simple truth that I don’t just want the men I’m running from. I need them so badly I can taste it.
That little truth slides out of the place I kept it locked up since Jake left. I want a pack. A pack that’s mine.
Fuck, that’s terrifying.
TEN
willa
It takesall of three miles before I’m pulling over and texting Josie and Baby. Our group text is named “The No Cowboys Club”—still makes me chuckle, considering we live in probably the one place where there’s nothing but cowboys.
Willa: AHHH!
Josie: Wills… What happened??
Josie:
Willa: I fucked up
Baby: I’m on shift… come visit me
Josie: Are you okay?
Willa: Josie, Salt Lick in 20?
Josie:
Josie: Definitely
