Fuck. Westin couldn’t help but stand out with her silvery white hair and supermodel looks. I rubbed the back of her hand with my thumb in a way I hoped was soothing.
“So, you’re all bonded?” he asked, still staring at her.
Poppy hesitated for a moment. “The two of us have packs,” she said, gesturing to me.
“And you?” the officer asked Westin, openly leering.
“I’m ineligible,” she said, lifting her chin slightly.
“Doesn’t mean you’re ineligible for a good time,” he said, licking his lips.
Officer Tucker, who had been standing back, cleared his throat. He looked almost embarrassed by the other officer’s behavior. “We just need to see your identification.”
We all reached in our bags and got our IDs. I clenched my jaw when I realized I hadn’t gotten a new one since joining Pack Ashwood. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to update my ID until we were officially bonded.
We handed them over to Officer Kennedy. He held them up, inspecting them one by one before fixing his eyes on me. “Your ID doesn’t say you’re bonded.”
“My alphas are outside. I just haven’t updated it yet,” I said, hating how timid I sounded.
“That’s a citable offense,” he said.
“Oh, that’s not necessary, right?” Poppy asked.
She had pulled her phone out of her bag with her ID, and I knew she was ready to text her alphas if needed.
Officer Kennedy pursed his lips, turning towards Clementine.
“What’s a beta doing with omegas?” he asked.
“I work at the Designation Center,” she said, her tone cool and unbothered. “I help facilitate pack interviews for omegas, so that’s where I met them.”
Officer Kennedy was about to say something when his radio went off, a request for backup coming through the static.
“We need to go,” he said, jerking his head at the other two cops. He turned towards me. “Next time, it’s a citation. Fix your ID, omega. You would all do your best to remember the dangers of being out without supervision.”
And with that threat lingering in the air, they left out the back, Officer Lee giving Westin one more hungry look before turning away.
I let out a shuddering breath. My body trembled and everyone in the café was staring at us.
“For fuck’s safe,” Poppy said. “They’re going to have to get used to omegas existing out in the world soon.”
“Poppy,” I hissed, terrified someone would overhear her words as support for the Alliance.
“Sorry,” she mouthed, glancing around.
I’d been in such a good mood since Sam’s visit and so hopeful about life and the world. Now, I felt thrown back into my life before I met my alphas. A life where I was afraid to move around, terrified of being picked up by the police.
“Are you okay?” Westin asked, putting her arm around me.
I glanced up from where my eyes had been fixed on the table.
“Do you want me to get your alphas?” Poppy asked, her voice gentle.
I did want my alphas. I wanted them to cuddle me and tell me everything was okay. But I knew if my guys saw me like this, they would insist on bringing me home, and I didn’t want to let the officers ruin this.
“No,” I said finally. “We need to see if this place is any good.”
Before I could figure out how to lighten the mood, my phone vibrated and I pulled it out of my bag.
