Shiloh’s leg starts bouncing under my hold a little as she gives Axel an irritated look. “How about yourself? No pack?”
“No, I travel too much for that kind of commitment right now,” Axel says, taking a heavy sip of his drink.
“Sure,” Claire chimes in, taking a sip of champagne, and her father, River, takes the glass and downs it himself.
The Sørensen siblings are an interesting dynamic. It kind of makes me glad that I’m the youngest and Cole is my only brother. These three can get into it like dogs and cats.
“You have something to say, Claire bear?” Axel says, turning to face his sister. “We could talk about how you aren’t bonded yet. After all, I’m just a Beta.”
“Jesus Christ,” Jonah mumbles next to me.
“For fuck’s sake, you’re the only one who gives a shit that you’re a Beta. Grow up,” Claire tells her brother, and he glares at her. “Also there’s a difference between wanting a pack and not settling. I refuse to settle.”
“Because you’re such a prize,” Axel says, and I can tell Claire is about to hit her brother’s arm.
“That’s enough,” Elliot chimes in, still not looking over at Claire.
“Is it always like this?” Shiloh whispers.
I remember then that she’s an only child. Cole and I have our arguments, but these three know how to push each other’s buttons like no other.
“Pretty much.”
Axel rolls his eyes and looks back at Shiloh. “Shiloh is an interesting name.”
“I could say the same about yours,” she replies and we all smile.
If he thought he was going to come in here and grill her without some push back, he was surely mistaken.
“Well, my mom met a hot Beta biker and decided to name her son after him. What’s your excuse?” Axel says.
“Oh, it wasn’t as vain as that,” Liv says.
“Wasn’t it?” River says, toying with his Omega.
I will give the Sørensen family credit where credit is due. They do love each other, deeply, and even if they’re slightly dysfunctional, I'd rather be a part of this family than not. Jonah’s parents are a testament to what every pack should strive for. They’ve been together forever and still treat each other so lovingly.
River looks like he wants to scoop Liv up and take her to a broom closet right now.
“I have the best pack ever. Not to mention he was in love with someone else. He was rugged and brave, you could be named after worse people,” Liv says, patting her son’s shoulder.
“I fear I’m named after a stray beagle,” Shiloh says and Liv smiles.
“Dogs are better than people. I think it’s a wonderful name,” Liv says and Shiloh blushes.
I never gave much thought to bonding, but at this moment I wish that we were bonded so I knew how she was feeling. Meeting all of Jonah’s family like this is overwhelming for me and I’ve known them for years. I can’t imagine how she must feel.
I rub my thumb along her knuckles, letting her know that I’m here and she doesn’t have to worry. I’ll worry enough for the both of us. That’s a sign of a good Alpha, right?
Even though I’m not sure how or when we got to this point, I want to be the Alpha Shiloh deserves. I’ll do whatever it takes to figure it out and put my own shit to the side so I can be good for her.
“Fuck, I have to announce the band,” Liv says, Dean helps her out of her chair and walks her to the front of the banquet space.
The crowd goes from loud chatter to hushed words quickly as she taps on the microphone.
“Thank you so much for attending tonight’s Omega Fund Fundraiser. It wouldn’t be possible without our massive team and all of your generous donations. The silent auction items will close in an hour. In the meantime, we have a special guest here to perform tonight,” she says, and she glances down at the card in her hands, clearly not remembering the band’s info. “We’d like to thank Mayor Tomes for inviting our entertainment for the night along with their very generous donation. Please welcome Smash Knot to the stage,” she says and everyone claps.
Everyone except Shiloh.
