I smile at all three of them.
How did I get so lucky? We spend the rest of the day getting to know each other.
When did I become a girl who dates? A tour of the school with Nash and Holden and dinner with Roman at my apartment. My life is turning into something I never imagined. A life with a pack that’s mine.
Chapter 43
Holden
“We keep our eyes on her at all times,” Nash barks at me.
“It’s not like I was planning to let her out of my sight,” I sneer.
I get how he’s feeling. We’re taking her into a place that is one hundred percent out of her comfort zone. She’s expressed her fear of people staring at her, and we understand that. All I want to do is stare at her, not because she has a scar on her face, or the ones on her body that others won’t see, but because she’s absolutely gorgeous. When she came out yesterday with shorts and the shirt that showed the edges of her Arcane bond, I was so proud of her. It was a huge step.
“Holden,” Henry says my name as he gives an awkward wave.
“What’s up?” I ask him, colder than I would’ve done before. He helped us find River, but it’s still hard to forget his involvement.
He lifts his hand, rubbing the pack of his neck. “How’s your omega?”
“As good as can be expected.” Nash barks, glaring at him.
“Good. Umm…I just want to say I’m sorry for everything. I should’ve listened to you, but I just wanted so badly to be partof a pack.” He clears his throat. There’s nothing I have to say in response. I tried to warn him. “I wanted to tell you goodbye. I’ve withdrawn from school and I’m moving back home. I need to make some changes, and I don’t think I can do them here.”
“I hope you do make them,” I tell him, then Nash and I walk away.
We make our way to the parking lot. Roman should be here with her any minute.
“Do you think she’s going to go back on the suppressants?" I ask.
“I don’t know. She hasn’t mentioned it, but we haven’t all talked about her next heat either. I know her appointment with the doctor is coming up in a few days. Maybe we should see if we can go with her and have that conversation.” “We can talk to Roman and see what he thinks. See if he has a good way to go about asking her that might not upset her,” I suggest.
As we’re standing there, Jessica, a beta that’s been chasing after Nash, starts sashaying her way over to us.
“Nash,” she calls in a high-pitched voice, waving her fingers at him. “What are you doing out here?”
My stomach churns. “Get rid of her,” I say sharply, seeing Roman’s truck pulling into the parking lot.
“What do you want, Jessica?” Nash asks, backing away from her as she tries to step closer to him.
She giggles annoyingly, clearly not getting the picture that Nash wants nothing to do with her as Roman pulls up to the curb. I’ll leave him to get rid of her while I get River.
I step up to the truck and open the door. She’s gazing at Nash and Jessica, a hurt expression on her face.
“She’s nobody. He’s trying to tell her to fuck off without being a dick,” I tell her, reassuring her that it’s nothing.
“Maybe I should just go back home.” Her voice is low, her bottom lip quivering.
“No,” I rush out. “Let’s go rescue him. Nash is excited to show you around,” I tell her as Roman glares at me.
“Thank you for bringing me, Roman.”
“No problem, sweetie. Call me when you get home.”
“I will,” she tells him, blushing. She takes my hand, and I help her out of the truck. She doesn’t pull away, so I keep holding it.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her.
