My social interactions over the past few years consisted of my monthly trips to the pharmacy, greeting the grocery clerk when the self-checkout was closed, and the occasional dating app hookup. I’d started to believe I wasn’t made to have friends or a pack or any kind of life.
And now I had people whomissedme after just hours apart.
A loud crunching sound filled the air, and I jolted at the sound. Easton’s arms tightened around me.
“For fuck’s sake, Lars,” Finn said. “You said you’d fixed this.”
“I did,” he protested. “Gavin looked at her last week and said she was running great.”
“What were hisexactwords?”
Lars cleared his throat. “Look, here we are.”
“Lars!” Finn shouted as the alpha put the truck in park and quickly got out.
“Such drama,” Easton said with a chuckle as we watched Finn chase after Lars. “You ready, baby?”
“Where are we?” I scooted out of the truck and gasped when I saw the sign at the entrance: Applecloud Farm. Underneath the name was a list of offerings, including apple picking, a corn maze, hay bale rides, and fresh apple cider donuts.
“Welcome to your autumn paradise, Ms. Harvest,” Easton said.
I snorted. “Maybe I should have let you change out of your suits.” The guys had ditched their ties and jackets but were still wearing their dress pants and button-downs. They’d dressed me in a long-sleeved plaid dress with tights—the corset and thong underneath. With every step, I was reminded of what I was wearing, and it sent little jolts of arousal through me.
“Nah,” Easton said with a stretch. “Now we look like your bodyguards.”
I laughed and grabbed his hand as we headed over to where Finn and Lars were having a heated argument about the drivability of the truck.
I wrapped my arms around Finn and gave him a tight squeeze. “Don’t stress. We got here just fine.” He grumbled something under his breath but returned my embrace.
I winked at Lars, who rolled his eyes and grabbed my hand.
My steps were bouncy as we headed to the entrance. This was going to be a good night. Agreatnight. I thoroughly ignored the itch under my slightly too-warm skin and how my extra-sweet scent kept breaking through the double layer of No-NonScent Deodorant. Tonight, I would show my guys that I could be fun and easy-going, and tomorrow, I would tell them everything.
We approached a wooden stand to get baskets for apple picking. A pretty omega with long black hair, bright red lips, and a cute flannel tied in the front wasthere to greet us.
“Welcome to Applecloud Farm. You’re all dressed for a party!” Then her smile faltered as she did a double take. “Oh, hi.”
My nose wrinkled as my alphas’ scents turned slightly bitter.
After a silence that was a beat too long, Lars spoke. “Aurora.” He lifted his chin. “Didn’t know you worked here.”
She cleared her throat. “Just for the season. My aunt actually owns it and she needed some extra help. How’re you doing?” Her eyes flicked to my face before she quickly looked away.
Tension clawed at my chest. Had the guys been involved with this omega? They clearly knew each other. Easton’s hand closed around the back of my neck, squeezing lightly.
“We’re doing well,” Finn said as he inched closer to me. “We need baskets for apple picking.”
“Oh, of course,” she said. “It’s nice to see you again.”
I kept a blank expression even as my omega was having a meltdown. My body vibrated with the effort of resisting the urge to scent mark my guys in front of Aurora, to prove to her and everyone that they weremine.
But this was exactly the issue—my omega was too feral, too needy. If I wanted to keep my guys, I couldn’t give in to my instincts. I forced a deep breath, trying to let my alphas’ scents ground me.
I could do this. Be cool, calm, and collected.
Nonchalant.
The omega’s fingers brushed against Lars’s as she handed him the baskets. I swallowed down a snarl, feeling very fuckingchalant.
