Farrah approached me at the end of class. “How are you feeling? Do you think you’ll continue on?”
“I’d love to. I promise I’ll be better.”
“You’re doing fine,” she promised. “I’m assuming things are new? Scent match?”
“Yes to both.”
“Yeah, you’re definitely doing fine. Instincts get extra wonky when you have those factors. Give yourself a little grace.” Shegrinned. “You could’ve tackled me and you didn’t, so props to you for restraint.”
My cheeks warmed. “Thanks?”
“I’m serious. I’ve seen that happen here, so I’m grateful it didn’t come to that.”
I didn’t want to take the risk of reacting like that. I needed to be chill and the best way I could get more comfortable with Farrah in proximity would be to spend time with her, to teach my instincts how to behave. The words left my mouth before I could think twice about them. “Do you want to come to lunch with us?”
She blinked, glancing at Nathan first, and when he smiled and shrugged, she turned back to me. “I could do lunch. Scarlett has a date, so you’re stuck with just me.”
“Oh nooo.” I laughed. “Stuck with a super cool omega? However will I cope?”
Farrah beamed. “You’re gonna boost my ego. Where should we go for lunch? My cousin owns the most amazing Persian restaurant and would give us free appetizers.”
“That sounds incredible!”
“What’s the address?” Nathan asked. “Our packmates are meeting us for lunch so I need to tell them where to go.”
“You’ll like them,” I added quickly. “Jude runs the Vegas Best of Nests, Leo’s running Night of Knights, and Alve runs the Omega Housing Initiative.”
“Oh, cool. I’ve seen Alve on the news and some of the girls here are on the list for the new building.”
She passed along the restaurant information to Nathan, who sent the address to our pack, and then we followed her car to a snazzy little Persian place. It was cute as hell inside, with black tile floors, black and gold damask wallpaper, and sparkling lights overhead. Alve was there when we arrived and I slipped immediately into his arms so I could huff his scent. I saw Judeand Leo parking, so we waited for them, my pack cocooning me while Farrah looked on longingly. I didn’t get the impression it was for my pack in particular, just how excited they were to see me.
I stuck close to Alve and Leo as Farrah greeted the staff in Persian on our way to a corner booth. The whole place was packed, but this one sat empty with a little sign in what I assumed to be Persian as well, though I couldn’t read it.
“Family booth,” Farrah explained. “They keep it open for Razi’s pack and kids when they visit, or me, but I don’t take up quite as much room.”
She sat across from us but we had space to spread out with how generous the booth was. We let her order what she thought was best and sipped our waters while we waited for food.
“You’re brave going out and about in the world with a fresh bond,” Farrah said gently. “I’d want to be tucked away in my nest if I were you.”
“That would be the ideal,” I agreed, “but the world doesn’t stop turning. Alve’s business partner is on early parental leave, and Leo is in charge of Night of Knights while the owners are on parental leave as well, so we’ve had to adapt and skip a portion of the traditional omega leave. I don’t mind that much. We figured out how I can still spend all day with both of them for work.”
“I love that. Sometimes you have to get creative.” Farrah nodded and turned briefly to Alve. “You’re doing great work with the OHI. I know a few people living in your buildings already and they have nothing but good things to say.”
Alve flushed. “I’m glad to hear it. We strive to do our best for the omegas.”
“Oh mygod! Madison?” The shrill chirpy voice echoed through the restaurant, one of my former clients trotting over to us, her shrewd gaze taking in the table occupants.
“Uh, hi, Jenna.”
“I guess it’s true, then?”
“You guess what’s true?”
“That you left Tyler for someone else. He told everyone you’ve been stepping out on him. I suppose I can report back to the girls that he wasn’t lying.”
I bristled. “I wasnotstepping out on him.”
“Why are you sitting between alphas with fresh bond marks, then?”
