Seeing the confusion on my face, Violet smiles. “I’m sorry. We have a friend who’s resisting forming her pack.”
“Yeah, she’s being a stubborn bi—” Izzy stops herself mid-word, peering at the kids in the next room. “Let’s just say she cares more about her business right now than being a part of her pack.”
“Even though two of her Alphas recently relocated here just to be closer to her.”
Izzy huffs. “One of them is my brother, so…”
My eyes must be bulging comically, because the two of them laugh at me.
“Sorry, girl. It’s a small town with small-town gossip.” Izzy grins. “So, why don’t you tell us about your pack? How’d you meet?”
“And how long did it take for you to realize you were fated?” Violet adds.
I give a nervous chuckle. “Well, you both know my uncle passed away and left me the sanctuary.”
“We are so sorry for your loss,” Violet says while Izzy gives a solemn nod.
“Thank you, really. I appreciate it.” I clear my throat. “I lived in L.A., but I never took suppressants that inhibited my ability to scent because I grew up in a pack. We all knew what was safe and what wasn’t from generations of trial and error.”
Izzy gapes at me. “I don’t know why I didn’t put two-and-two together. You’re a part ofthePepper pack.”
“Oh, wow,” Violet breathes. “I kind of thought they were a myth.”
“We’re real.” My voice is flat, maybe a bit angry, but I don’t care. I feel a sense of safety with these Omegas. “For better or for worse. But anyway, that upbringing made it so that I’d always know my scent matches right away. And I’d made a promise to Uncle Jim that I’d hold tight to my mates once I found them.”
“And you’re making good on that promise now.”
I nod at Violet, then look into the living room where my gaze collides with Jasper’s. He looks way more serious than usual, but when he realizes we’re looking at one another, he gives me his big smile.
“Knock-knock!”
A voice sings from the entryway, and I turn to see two men entering the house, one of smaller stature with blond hair, the other tall and thin with dark hair.
“Hey, guys!” Violet calls. “Come on in. Meet our newest Crescent Lake pack.”
The introductions go around, and I learn the blond is an Omega named Sam, and the dark-haired Alpha is Steve. They’re a monogamous scent-match, both also from Los Angeles.
“How’s my girl?” Steve asks, dipping down to kiss the top of Violet’s head.
She groans, rubbing her huge belly. “I’m ready for these two to get the hell out of me.”
“Twins?” My voice may be a little louder than I meant it to be.
Violet laughs. “Yep. You couldn’t tell?” She waves an arm at her belly like a game show model. “And after this, I am so done. No more.” Her head shakes, and she suddenly looks very tired.
Vaughn joins us, standing behind Violet and rubbing her shoulders with tender care. “We all decided that this pregnancy would be our last. Even before we knew my little brood would be twins.”
Violet hums as she pats one of Vaughn’s hands. “Always an overachiever.”
“What can I say? I have impeccable aim.”
I can’t help my laughter, and I’m not alone.
Later, I learn all about Izzy’s pack, and how they own and run Rekt Competition Games, and that their company co-authored the sanctuary’s donation app game. Izzy also designed the logo for Springer’s Sanctuary, the most adorable illustration of my girl’s smiling snoot. Apparently, Adam took photos of the few old Polaroids I’d left out.
I don’t think I stop thanking Izzy for all of her amazing work until she gives me “the look.” You know, the one that says, “Enough already.”
Sam is seated beside me, and Steve sits beside him instead of joining the other Alphas in the living room with the kids. He whispers something to Sam who rolls his eyes and insists, “I’m fine, really. Why don’t you go hang with the guys?”
