“But I have a test tomorrow and my bio professor is kind of a hard ass.” I poke a finger into his abdomen, laughing when he hooks an arm around my middle and taps my nose.
“Good point,” he muses. “Maybe he’ll stay up late watching movies with the gorgeous little brat from next door and be too tired to give the test.”
His eyes sparkle when he teases me, and I decide I could get used tothis side of the grumpy professor. And with enough time, who knows?
Maybe I’ll even fall in love.
“Well if it isn’t my favorite little Georgia peach, alive and well after abandoning her best friend!” Lainey’s teasing tone makes me squeak from surprise, but then I’m wrapped in her arms and I don’t have a chance to reply before my face is being squished into her boobs. “I’ve missed you, honey! How are you? How are things going with your neighbors?”
I’d laugh if she wasn’t suffocating me. I pat her ribs and she releases me with a gasp. “Sorry!”
“It’s good to see you too, Lainey loo. I have so much to catch you up on.” It feels like it’s been ages since I last saw Lainey, with me missing class for my heat and then her going MIA for a few days. She texted me after I got home from my date with Jude asking to meet up before our English class this morning, and I’ve been dreading it. Once I realized who Jude was it felt deceitful to talk about the pack I’m…dating? Courting? Friends with? And not tell her the truth about who they are.
We take over a small bench in front of our class and I’m grateful no one is around to witness this conversation. “Okay, tell me everything. What happened with Mack? Did you finally meet the neighbors?”
I nod slowly, nerves halting my words. “I, um. Yeah, McKenzie and I have been on a couple of dates, and I even went to his game theother night.” A blush creeps over my cheeks when I think about how that night ended. “But I actually need to talk to you about that. After I met the twins, I accidentally met the final member of their pack.”
Lainey squeals, gripping my hands and bouncing in her seat. “And? Is he as hot as I think he is? Tell me everything.”
I can’t help but cringe at her question and she notices, her excitement dimming. “What is it?”
“Do you know the other members of Pack Madden?”
Her eyes widen. “I didn’t even know Mack was part of a pack. I only know of him because he’s practically a god on campus and a frequent topic of the gossip mill lately.”
“Mhmm.” I clear my throat, wringing my hands together and trying not to notice how sweaty my palms are. “McKenzie is in a pack with three other alphas. Twin brothers Paxton and Parker who are sophomores here. And an older PhD student.” I pause to see if she’ll put it together on her own, but she looks confused. “Who is also teaching an intro level biology course while he finishes his dissertation.”
Lainey’s jaw drops. “No. There is absolutely no way you’re talking about… that would be crazy.” She pauses, sadness etched onto her features. “Jude must have already been living with his dad when he met the guys. We didn’t really have any contact until he moved here for school, and even then it was minimal. I never knew…”
“Jude is the mystery alpha in their pack.”
“Oh my god.” She looks shell-shocked, and I’m not sure if anything I say will make this better or if I can only make it worse. I don’t know a lot about her feelings about Jude except that they aren’t close and he feels guilty for leaving. “Posey…”
I prepare myself for her to try and forbid me to see him, but I’m stunned when she tears up and throws her arms around me instead. “We’re going to be sisters!”
“I thought you would be upset,” I gasp, relief making it feel like a thousand pound weight was just lifted off my chest.
“Upset?” Lainey’s answering laugh is watery, a couple oftears escaping down her cheeks. “This is the best news I’ve ever heard! I get a new sisterandI’ll have a chance to get to know my big brother? And I get three other pseudo-brothers to torment!”
Her enthusiasm makes the bridge of my nose sting. Images of future big family gatherings with my alphas, Lainey, and our families flit across my vision with startling clarity. “I was so scared you’d be angry or feel like I was trading you in for your brother.”
She scoffs, checking her nails. “As if. I’m a goddamn delight. He’s scrooge with better clothes.”
I have to fight to hold back my laughter, but it’s difficult. “He’s different with me. Sure at first I would have agreed, but then something changed and now…” I sigh, melting into the wall as I think about our date. “I think beneath the gruff exterior he’s a really sweet alpha.”
“Alright alright I don’t need details. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
My alarm goes off and we quickly gather ourselves before walking arm in arm to our shared class. I feel light as a feather now that everything is falling into place. I have a supportive family, an amazing best friend, and four incredible scent matches that bend over backwards to make me and each other happy. I’m not sure what could make life better than this.
My last class of the day is a mandatory weekly biology lab. Mckenzie texted me earlier for a full breakdown of my class schedule so he could take every opportunity possible during the day to see my cute face.His words, not mine.So I save a seat for him in the back row.
The big guy told me the other day he feels guilty sitting in the front of a classroom because he’s so dang tall, so anytime we’re in class together I make an effort to find us seats in the back. Today, though, I’m surprised to be the only person in the classroom. The administrators office emailed me a schedule change last night, so this is my first time in bio lab at this day and time. Maybe it was a clerical error?
Mack saunters in with a smug expression on his handsome face, instantly making me suspicious. He only ever looks like that when he’s gotten away with something. “Hey pretty girl. Fancy seeing you here.”
My arms cross over my chest as I lean back in my chair. “McKenzie Madden, what did you do?”
He staggers like I’ve physically wounded him, clutching at his chest. “The full name? Not even my mom uses my full name. Except for that one time I broke a window throwing a ball in the house, or that time I got caught streaking around the bases at our local field, or I guess that time?—”
