“Anyway, he’s someone I never met before, but he’s from Red Sky Pack,” I explained. “His nameisJohn.”
“Johnwhat?”
I blinked, suddenly feeling stupid. “I don’t know. I didn’t catch hislastname.”
Markus slapped his forehead. “You really are a piece of work,Vince.”
“Don’t help me then,” I growled, turning back tomywork.
“Okay, okay, don’t have a cow. I need something else besidesJohnto work with here. What does helooklike?”
I pictured John in my mind. “Average omega height, blue eyes, dark hair… Soft cheeks, cute face. Kind of nervous looking but funny and snarky at thesametime.”
Markus smirked as I was listing things off. “Uhhuh.”
“Do you need anything else?” Iasked.
“I think I can work withomega who Vincent is head-over-heelsfor.”
“That is not what I said,” Igrowled.
“That is basically exactly what you said.” Markus leaned off the counter and cracked his knuckles. “Alright, let me find out what I can about this John of yours. Catch youafterwork.”
“Seeyou.”
Markus took off to go bother the other employees, who were all his friends and fellow gossip mongers. I had to give Markus some credit at least for helping me. I was never the kind of alpha who could walk into a room and charm everyoneinit.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about his nagging words, calling me head-over-heels for an omega I hadjustmet.
There was no way I was in love with a man I’d only spoken with for tenminutes.
* * *
Markus couldn’t findanything out. Apparently I’d been searching for information on the pack’s biggest enigma. The most he could gather was that John lived up the street from the adoption centre in theapartments.
After work, I decided to start there. I camped out by the first apartment complex on the street, sitting there for a few minutes while trying to figure out what the fuck I should do. Was it too creepy to stand outside someone’s apartment waiting for them? I didn’t even know if thiswasJohn’s apartmentornot.
I scanned down the street, watching every main door. A few families exited and entered, but no signofJohn.
Suddenly I realized that these were pack-assigned housing units, usually for new alpha and omega pairs and their children. My heart slipped and skipped a beat. Did that mean John was already in a relationship with analpha?
And if he was, why did the thought make me feel soterrible?
As the cars drove gently by and families continued to walk past me into their homes, I started to feel more and more out of place. It didn’t help that I got a few scared glances. Maybe a big scary looking alpha like me shouldn’t have been stalking people outside theirapartments.
I got up and wandered down the street. I was frustrated with Markus for not finding out any more useful information, but I knew in reality I was actually frustrated at myself. What kind of idiot doesn’t ask someone’slastname?
Without thinking, I had walked to the adoption centre doors. Dazed, I looked up at the inviting pastel pinkandblue.
The possibility that John could be inside crossed my mind. I quickly entered thebuilding.
The receptionist - I think her name was Martha - greeted me the same way she did yesterday; confused and a littlenervous.
“Hello there,”shesaid.
Then I realized that I could ask her about John, since he would have had to greet her yesterday to get inside theplayroom.
“Hi,” I said, shuffling my feet. “Is, um,Johnhere?”
