“Just teasing.” Arlo looked so damn pleased with himself. “From what I’ve overheard, she’s weird about dating because she hasn’t decided if she’s staying or not.”
Panic shot through my body. “Not staying? Where would she be going?”
“She’s been accepted to half a dozen law schools all around the country. I can see how it would be hard to turn down Harvard or Yale. We’re pretty sure we can convince her that UCLA is the best choice, but she wants to keep her options open. She can go wherever she wants, obviously, but Meadow would miss her, and while she might be a pain in my ass right now, I know I would miss her too.”
Law school was intense. Getting accepted was a huge accomplishment, let alone to multiple schools of that caliber. That meant she was wicked smart and had a work ethic that would make most people cower. Someone like her could put Parker in his place when he needed it, and I didn’t give a shit how often he said he wanted a docile sweetheart, he’d be tired of that inside a month. Clover was an omega who needed a safe space more so than one who provided one to others. I could be wrong about that, but everything I had learned about her told me it was true.
How was I supposed to stomach the idea of her moving away? Who would ever compare?
“All those schools were okay with her not starting right away?”
“Sure seems like it,” Arlo said with a shrug. “I haven’t really asked about the details, but I can only assume they understand that someone like Clover doesn’t come around too often.”
I never thought I would have so much in common with an educational institution, but I was already coming to that same understanding. We all wanted Clover. The problem was that she didn’t seem to want us, beyond what we had already given her. We wouldn’t have long to convince her we were worth it, and this new information from Arlo lit a fire under my ass.
It was already spring, and come autumn, Clover could be out of reach. I caught Logan’s eye and his subtle nod. A silent agreement, then.
We couldn’t let her leave without showing her what a life with us could be like. The ball might be in her court, but the game was fucking on.
Chapter 22
Clover
“Idid something dumb.” I flopped into Meadow’s nest, where I’d found her having a cuddle with Forest. The gifts Parker had bought him were scattered about here and in the nursery, though I’d just told Meadow I’d gotten excited and not that one of the alphas I was sleeping with had dumped all this generosity on my sapling.
I’d been wallowing and mostly avoiding the outside world. What had started off as simple fun had gotten infinitely more complicated, and the easiest way to deal with it all had been tonot.
Except, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about any of the men who’d rocked my world, and it was getting annoying.
“What happened?” Meadow asked, offering me her baby, who I readily gathered into my arms.
“I slept with a pack.”
Meadow blinked. “And that’s bad? You don’t like them?”
“It wasn’t on purpose,” I clarified. “I mean, the fucking was on purpose, but I didn’t know they were a pack for most of them. Turns out, all my one-night stands live in the same damn house.”
Meadow cackled, sprawling next to me. “That’s some pretty intense serendipity. I’m still not seeing what the problem is, though.”
“Because it’s dumb. Now I can’t have a fun, casual time withanyof them.”
“Why not?”
“You really think a pack that’s all into the same omega is going to be chill about keeping it casual? I have to manage everyone’s expectations.”
“And the expectations are…?”
“Doesn’t matter. I could be gone in a few months. What would be the point in letting anything evolve?”
“Long distance exists.”
“Girl, I’m barely going to have time to breathe, let alone date during law school. They weed out the weak, and I refuse to let anything distract me.”
Meadow hummed thoughtfully. “Okay, but it’s pretty nice having a pack. Even a part-time one could still be enjoyable.”
“Meadow…”
“I’m just saying. I want you to be happy, and prior to you becoming a hermit after your last date, it seemed like you were. Why are you hermiting, anyway? I was trying to give you space, but since you’re here…”
