“Blow, please,” I say with a wink.
Riley snorts, Sage straight up omega growls, and Vee narrows her eyes at me. Brooks is frozen, looking between Sage and me.
“Shit,” I say, immediately realizing what I did. “I wasn’t trying to flirt, Sage. I’m so sorry, that was really shitty of me. I would never, and especially after you’re freshly bonded, oh my god. That was not okay?—”
Sage waves both hands in front of her as though to clear the air, meanwhile her face is more red than pink now. “No, it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sorry I growled. I don’t know why I did that.”
“Your omega was staking her claim, as she should,” I say. “I have no interest in Brooks, for the record. He’s all yours.”
Brooks scoops Sage into his lap, and she settles against him as the rest of the pack relaxes.
“I’m really sorry. If you don’t want to continue, we don’t have to.”
“Sage?” Vee asks. “Brooks? You two want to stay or go?”
“I’m good to stay,” Sage says, and Brooks nods, turning back to me.
“Okay, let me reset. Get any of that negative energy out of here.”
After I cleanse the deck and shuffle again, I hold it out to Brooks once more. “Please blow gently across the top.”
He does so, then rests his chin on top of Sage’s head. It’s so cute I could puke. I go through the motions of spreading the deck, and he stares intently at the cards, reaching a hand out as he decides which to pick.
I’d love to sit in an alpha’s lap like that. To be held and cared forand?—
Brooks pulls a card out, then passes it to me. I flip it over to reveal the Ace of Cups.
“Ah, another good one. Ace of Cups signifies a new beginning.”
They all smile and perk up as I continue.
“This is a sign to continue to follow your heart, and a reminder to open yourself to new, deeper connections with those who are important to you.”
Brooks nods solemnly, wrapping his arms tighter around Sage as his gaze moves to Riley, and then Vee. His hands twitch, like he wants to reach for them too, but he doesn’t move.
“Okay sassy beta. You next.” I swipe the cards up, reshuffle, then fan them out in front of Riley.
“You know what to do.”
They blow, although I think it was part huffing laugh, and I fan them out in front of them just as I did with the other two. My thoughts drift to Aury, the beta I’ve had a crush on from a distance for months now. I thought I was going to pass out from horniness when he took out Josh the other night without even raising a finger. It was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
Riley closes their eyes, hovering their left hand over the spread, and my gaze sweeps in the direction of the community center where Aury teaches Thai Chi. I looked it up after the other night, wanting to know what that move was he pulled. I knew he taught martial arts, but not what type specifically. I wonder if I should register for a class? Maybe I can convince the omega gardening club to sign up with me so I’m not a weirdo showing up there alone.
Riley’s nimble fingers flutter over the cards, up and down the line, pausing here and there before backtracking until they finally stop. One finger is placed on a card near the middle, and they push it toward me.
“This one,” Riley says.
I take it out and flip it over. “Wheel of Fortune. I need you all to start pulling for me,” I say with a laugh.
“Oooh,” Riley says, leaning forward to admire the artwork. “It’s a good one too?”
I nod. “This card says that positive changes are on the horizon. You’re about to experience expansion and growth. Does that mean anything to you?”
Riley glances left and right at his pack, then shrugs, going for dramatic nonchalance. “I guess you could say that.”
I smile, letting them off the hook. It’s an emotional day, it’s okay if they don’t want to dig into the deep stuff with a stranger and an audience.
“Okay,” I say, sweeping the cards into my hands and repeating the ritual. “Last one.”
