“I’m so glad we ran into you. Are you coming tomorrow? We hadn’t heard anything,” Josie said, pulling Westin into a hug.
“Sorry about that,” Westin said, “I haven’t felt up to doing much, but I’m planning on coming.”
I held back my groan. Josie and her friends were doing a self-defense class graduation where they would do a fight simulation. I’d been dreading it all week.
“Do you need a ride home?” Josie asked.
“I called an Omega Taxi. I think that’s them,” she said, gesturing at the red Honda pulling up next to us.
I bristled. “Is that safe?”
The driver looked to be a beta woman, but you couldn’t be too cautious these days. Josie had told us about this taxi service that started about a month ago to help omegas move around more freely since the driving ban hadn’t been repealed yet.
“I’ve taken it several times,” Westin said, grabbing her groceries from her cart. She wobbled a bit, and I lunged forward to grab the bags out of her hands. She gripped the side of the cart and took a deep breath.
“Sorry, I’m fine. Just got a bit dizzy there.” She met my gaze with an unconvincing smile and went to take the grocery bags back. I scowled, turning to load the bags into the trunk for her.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Josie murmured, taking Westin’s hand. “You can come home with us if you need to.”
Westin just shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m fine. I have something I need to do tonight, anyway.”
Josie looked like she wanted to argue but thought better of it. “Text me when you get home. And maybe we can catch up more tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” Westin said with a small smile.
Josie waved as the car pulled away. I grabbed Westin’s cart before it could roll into the parking lot and held out my hand to my omega.
“Her life just seems so lonely,” Josie said, curling into my side. “Like mine, before I met you.”
The words I wanted to say caught in my throat.You saved me from my loneliness.
I leaned down to kiss her forehead.
“I love you,” I murmured.
She met my gaze with a radiant smile, holding my hand tightly as we walked into the store.
ChapterSixty-Two
Cam
The energy at the gym was celebratory. The self-defense class had moved to the actual gym, no longer practicing in secret in the basement. Josie had worked for weeks to set up this graduation event and all the women were chatting excitedly, but I noticed that most of the alphas looked as tense as I felt.
Ben, Theo, and I stood next to Poppy’s alphas. They gave us a curt nod before focusing back on their omega. I didn’t blame them—I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Josie. She moved around the room easily, greeting everyone and hugging her friends. A goofy smile spread across my face as I felt her happiness through the bond. Her eyes met mine, and she smiled and waved across the room. I had to suppress the urge to run and sweep her up in my arms. Ben put his arm around me.
“Can’t believe she’s ours,” he said, not taking his eyes off her.
I grunted my agreement.
Luc clapped his hands and the room fell quiet. I noticed he was standing in front of a slight woman sitting in a wheelchair. I couldn’t get a good look at her, but I bet that was Charlie.
“I won’t make this long, but I want to welcome everyone and thank you all for being here. I want to especially thank Josie for all her work organizing today. This self-defense group wouldn’t exist without her persistence.”
Applause and cheers broke out in the room, and my mate blushed. She looked fucking edible.
“Today is about allowing our class participants to do a real-world self-defense simulation. My pack mate, Paulo, will act out the simulations today.” Luc gestured to an alpha dressed up head to toe in padding. Paulo gave us all a friendly wave. I hated him on sheer instinct.
Luc continued, reading off a notecard now. “It’s very important that any alphas watching remember that this is not real. Your omegas don’t need saving, and if you disrupt the simulation, you will face their wrath.” He looked up from the card. “Josie told me I had to say that word for word.” My little mate beamed at him and Ben snorted beside me.
