“Harriet,” Sara said as I was setting the jug of water on the table, and I was caught so entirely by surprise that she had spoken to me that I almost knocked the jug over.
“Yes, Alpha Sara?” I asked, giving her my attention.
“I apologise on behalf of Pack Sandstorm for the behaviour you experienced earlier today. The member involved is youngand nearing maturity. Her parents believe she will experience her first shift any moon now,” Sara told me. “It may provide some context for her lack of control, but her lying is inexcusable; she is being punished.”
“Thank you,” I said. I hadn’t expected any apology.
“Still,” she continued, “what happened this morning was exactly the type of disturbance that I was concerned about when you arrived here.”
“My omega isn’t the issue. Alan and Patricia should never have allowed the girl in that condition near an omega,” Cole interrupted.
“Your omega can’t be supervised and secluded every minute of every day,” Sara replied.
“The situation couldn’t have been engineered to happen more perfectly,” Cole said with a bark to her voice. “Take the most instinct-driven adolescent alpha on the cusp of their first shift and tell them they are below an omega; then leave them alone. What would you predict would happen in that situation? She would never be in a situation like that naturally.”
“You’ve kept her away from the Pack, and the only time she interacts with someone outside of leadership, immediately there is an issue,” Sara countered.
“Harriet could come with me to the full moon party tonight,” Darren said, interrupting before Cole could reply.
“What?” Cole asked.
“Yes,” Sara agreed, sharing a look with Cole.
“Mum’s right. Harriet’s been here for a week, and all she’s done is work and sleep. She hasn’t had a chance to interact with anyone properly, socially. Let her come out with me; either you’ll see she’s capable of functioning within Sandstorm or an omega brings down the whole Pack,” Darren explained, finishing sarcastically.
“An omega couldn’t bring down Sandstorm,” Sara told him.
“I can’t allow my omega to go to a full moon party unaccompanied,” Cole said.
“Do I get a say here?” I asked.
Cole’s frown silenced me.
“You can come along. You’ve been too moody, even for you. You need to relax,” Darren answered Cole.
Cole gave Darren an inquisitive look. “Tomorrow night?” she asked.
“Heaven’s Bar,” Darren answered.
Cole nodded.
“I guess not,” I mumbled to myself.
Ophelia laughed.
Branden gave me a sympathetic look.
“It would be good to see how her presence affects social gatherings,” Sara said.
Cole didn’t pay me any attention for the rest of dinner.
Not until she said good night to the others at the table and stood to leave.
“Harriet,” she said expectantly as she walked around the table and towards the exit, stopping to turn back to look at me.
I considered reaching for another serving of pasta.
“It’s time to leave now,” she offered calmly, giving me a look that felt like a dare, like she was begging, “Push me. Please.”Like she wanted me to.
