We had settled into a new normal, me attending classes and spending time with my pack. They guarded the Garnetts and spoiled me rotten. I had thought it would take a few weeks to get comfortable, but I had settled into a routine quickly.
“Me personally?” Chase said, coming up behind me and wrapping his arm around my waist, kissing the top of my head. “Far too many.”
“Can I see?” I asked, turning back to him with a grin.
“You want to watch us?” he probed, his excitement unmistakable.
I nodded.
He pressed a warm, wet kiss to the side of my cheek before scampering off, no doubt to find his laptop.
“Did you watch?” I asked Spencer, who was chopping vegetables at the kitchen island.
“Princess, weallwatched,” he said, his eyes locked on mine, a hungry look on his face. “In fact, I’m certain we all watched itseveraltimes.”
“Creeps.” I laughed, sticking my tongue out at him.
“Or just obsessed with you.”
“I can handle that,” I declared, striding forward to plant a kiss on Spencer’s cheek. He paused what he was doing to kiss me back, deepening our embrace. My hand was just starting to wander when my phone started to ring on the counter.
“I should probably get that,” I sighed pulling back. “Hold that thought.”
“I’ll hold it until after dinner,” he added with a smile that made it very clear what we would be doing after we had eaten.
Yes, please.
I picked up the phone, quickly checking the screen before answering.
“Summer! How are you? I’m so sorry I’ve had to move tutoring sessions so much.” I had been delaying all tutoring sessions, giving her vague reasons. I’d hated brushing her off, but I had been so distracted over the last few weeks.
“Don’t you dare apologize! The whole campus knows what that creepy fucking TA did. You need to rest and recover. I wish I could have kicked that sick fuck in the balls for you.”
“My pack did give him a good beatdown.”
“Yourpack?”
I hummed in agreement. “Yeah… I have a pack now. They work in security. We met because of this situation. Actually, one of them is the alpha from the club.”
“I’m so happy for you! Where are you living now?”
“Closer to campus, in the same building as those hockey players.”
A low whistle escaped her. “That’s a swanky place. I’m so happy for you. I… I’m calling to check in, but I also wanted to let you know I won’t need tutoring anymore.”
My brow furrowed, and to my left, Spencer cocked his head at my confused expression.
“Are you sure? You know you don't have to pay, right? I'm happy to just help a friend.” In the past, when she'd insisted on paying me, I accepted because I was broke, but now that I was part of a pack, I really didn't care if she paid me. I had more than enough, and she had a child to support.
Summer sighed, like she was trying to decide what to say next. “I think I'm dropping out of college. Now, before you say anything, I'm at peace with the decision.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I signed up for a matchmaking service. Let's be real, I'm drowning in debt, trying to get this degree, and look after Milo. Putting him first is the most important thing for me, and he doesn’t have any quality of life right now.”
“You’re talking like an arranged marriage?”
“Yes. They’re willing to look after Milo and provide for him, too. We’re going to be comfortable. It’ll be an adjustment, for sure, but I am happy with my choice. So don’t you dare try to talk me out of it.”
