He shrugs. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for some very devious behavior. Now, what’re we going to do about it?”
“You don’t even know her.”
“So? She’s beautiful, she’s sweet, she likes you for some reason. I’m never going to find that again. If we want this pack to work, we need her.”
“You sound insane,” I tell him.
“Whatever. Like I give a shit. You think I’m going to go through her heat and not become obsessed?”
I take a deep breath and look at Jonah, and then over to the bathroom door. It doesn’t matter how crazy and fast this all is, he’s right.
I met Jonah at a bar, both of us looking like shit, and we bonded and became best friends. Jonah made me become a better man, a stronger man, and I couldn’t imagine creating a pack with anyone else. He was even understanding in knowing I had to make sure my brother was included, cause I worried if he didn’t have a pack he’d disappear completely, living like a hermit.
I’d never tell Jonah, because his ego is already so big, but he’s the best man I know. The thought of letting him down, of getting his hopes up and then taking away the one thing he’s ever wanted makes my heart race and my stomach sink to my ass.
How am I supposed to make sure we all get through this unscathed? Maybe a demon truly has taken me over, because for the first time in a long time I feel so out of control and I’m not sure how to make sure everything ends up alright.
“We give her the best heat we can manage, we take care of her, and then when she’s lucid, we offer to take care of her post heat. Maybe we can hold off on giving her back her phone a little longer, make her like us enough that she won’t even consider her ex pack?” I say, more so for my own benefit than Jonah’s. I have to make sure I don’t fuck this up. It’s clearer than ever we need an Omega, and that Shiloh is the only one who’s ever sparked this interest in all of us.
Jonah smiles, which makes him look a little unhinged.
“Now you’re talking.”
Suddenly the bathroom door clicks, Mack has a towel wrapped around his waist and Shiloh has a blanket wrapped around her, clutching it at her chin. She walks over to the bed and unceremoniously plops her head into Jonah’s lap.
He grins and pets her hair, and she just melts into his lap like she belongs there. They look perfect together and it has me wanting to make sure that we don’t mess this up. Jonah’s chest purrs as he strokes her hair, and she looks the most content I’ve seen her since the first time I saw her on the plane.
I nod my head toward the bathroom, making eye contact with my brother. We both head in there while Jonah keeps Shiloh distracted. The bathroom smells heavily like lemon and peppermint. I don’t mind the combination, and don’t feel any jealousy.
Brock was right, I’m so fucked.
“You good?” I ask him.
“Yeah,” he says, clearing his throat. “I see why you risked it all to get her home safe.”
“You think you would be interested in courting her?”
He rubs his chest, taking a deep inhale. “Yeah, I think I could.”
“Alright. Then that’s what we’ll do. I think things with her and her old pack are more complicated than I thought. So it’s important that we make this heat good for her.”
His brows furrow. “Why wouldn’t we?”
I look up at the ceiling. I’m on edge. “You’re right, I just…I’m not sure any of us have felt this before, not even Jonah.”
Mack looks at the door and then back at me. “You know he never slept with any of them?”
“What?” I say with furrowed brows.
Mack shrugs. “Mom said it would be better to just wait for the Omega of your dreams. Something about the rage of knowing your Alphas have been with an Omega before,” he says, referring to Jonah’s mom. We lost ours so long ago. As crazy as Jonah’s family can be, they accepted us as Jonah’s pack immediately. I don’t think I could have asked a more loving family albeit slightly crazy.
I blink at him. “You’re telling me Jonah’s never been with an Omega?” I ask in confusion. Jonah’s my best friend, and he’s also the one who set up all these previous dates.
“No, and neither have I. He clearly wanted an Omega near desperation, but he didn’t want to give any of them the wrong idea and he didn’t want to fuck it up with the Omega we wound up with. Him agreeing to her heat is a big deal, Cole. There’s no going back for him after this.”
Now I feel like the world’s biggest piece of shit.
“Should I tell her that I have?” I ask, and Mack shakes his head quickly.
