“Alright, here’s the next question—how do you take your coffee?”
“With seven sugars, seven creams, and a shot of caramel syrup,” I deadpanned.
“How do you actually take it?”
“Sweet, but not like that,” I said, sending myself into another fit of giggles. I rubbed my cheek back and forth on the carpet I was lying on. I wanted all the soft things right now.
“What about this one—favorite flower?”
“Oh wait! I have a real answer. I love peonies.”
“Me too!” Clementine said. “So, hopefully, you’ll get peonies and coffee so sweet it kills you. Next question: favorite book genre?”
“Mechanical engineering manuals,” I said with a smirk.
“Excellent. Who doesn’t love a bit of light reading?”
“Is this seriously what alphas want to know?” I whined, trying to crawl my way back onto the couch, but my limbs were not cooperating. “There’s nothing on there about actual compatibility, like where we want to live, if we want to have children, or our values and beliefs. Because I don’t get to have a say in any of that—the alphas do.”
“Do you need help?” Clementine asked, interrupting my tirade with an amused expression as I tried again to pull myself onto the couch.
“This couch is my Everest.”
“We could add mountain climbing as a hobby,” she suggested.
“Then they might actually try to make me climb a mountain,” I said, finally pulling myself onto the couch. “Although look, I did it! Maybe I would be an excellent mountain climber.”
Clementine giggled. “I’ll skip the mountain climbing for now. We’re almost done. Favorite movie?”
“Hmm… my actual favorite movie isPride and Prejudice. But put downSilence of the Lambs.Maybe if the alphas think I’m too creepy, they won’t want to bond me.”
Clementine shot me a skeptical look. “Unfortunately, I highly doubt that. I hope you know you’re a real catch. You’re funny and beautiful and deserve a great pack. I’ve met the alphas Amirah mentioned, and they seem really nice.”
I sat up abruptly. “Wait, you know them, and you’re just now telling me?” I screeched, suddenly feeling completely sober.
“Sorry! I just got a message from Amirah saying they’ve confirmed they’ll be there tomorrow. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure.”
“Well, what are they like?” I asked, my heart racing so fast it almost made me lightheaded.
“I don’t know them really well. I met them at a function last year. Their names are Cam, Theo, and Ben. Cam and Theo were more reserved, while Ben was more outgoing. I didn’t talk to them beyond basic introductions, but they’re, like, really hot. And rich. Not that it matters, but if you have to be stuck with a pack, it might as well be one that can buy you copious amounts of terrible coffee.”
“Is there anything else you can tell me?” I pleaded, hating how desperate I sounded.
“I don’t know any more right now, but I’m going to try to get more information to you before you meet them, I promise,” Clementine said apologetically.
I nodded, sipping more of my wine. The reality of the process was sinking in again.
“I know this sucks,” Clementine added softly. “Everything about the Designation Laws suck.” The depth of the sadness in her eyes took me off guard. I wondered how Clementine had been affected by the laws. I wanted to ask her more, but I understood not wanting to share painful memories.
“Oh wait, there’s one more question on here,” Clementine said, breaking the silence. “Boxers or briefs?”
“What, will they switch out their underwear to match my preference?” I sorted.
“Who knows,” Clementine said, laughing. “What will it be?”
“Definitely commando.”
I looked around, realizing we’d been at this for two hours and had finished two bottles of wine.
