Page 48 of All Packed Up

Griffith curled his lips into something of a grimace and directed Wendy to one of the rooms. As he pointed out the bathroom access and told her more about the house, Nic narrowed his gaze.

Griffith’s hand warmed Wendy’s lower back, and she had his full attention as they talked about… something. But all Nic could focus on was that hand.

Nic squeezed his fingers around his backpack strap, frozen with his back to the wall. He watched as Wendy peeked her head in each room, finally deciding with a happy sigh for one with an east facing window. While the stoners whispered about their placement, Nic lifted his gaze to the last alpha, confusion searing through him.

How was Griffith so casual right now? So friendly?

After everything that happened?

Griffith’s voice was low and velvety as he spoke to Wendy. His door was open anytime, he said. She was welcome to come get him for anything she needed, he claimed.

Was Griffith being so nice because he thought Wendy was pretty?

Well, he’d be stupid not to, since she was perfec—

That’s it.

The revelation hit Nic with all the subtlety of Wendy’s Taser, and he wanted to palm his face.

It was easy to imagine Griffith deciding he was ready to settle down, tired of wasting time. Finally admitting he wanted an omega, like Nic had told him for years.

Wendy was probably the first omega he’d encountered in a while, and Nic had just delivered one on a platter. She could be his last chance at finding an omega partner.

“I’ll go get the rest of the bags,” Nic interjected, and turned his back without another word. Their gazes were heavy on him, but he ignored it as his booted feet pounded down the stairs.

He sighed as he pulled open the trunk and leaned his head between his arms, palms curled around the mouth of the trunk.

And you can’t do a damn thing about it.

Not that he should.

Nic knew Griffith was a good guy, and Wendy was a sweet, perfect omega who deserved someone who would be good to her.

It would solve both of their problems. If they bonded, the alphas after Wendy wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing to refute it, and Griffith wouldn’t have to worry about going feral.

“Fuck me,” he grumbled and grabbed his small bag.

He hoisted the bag over his shoulder and took hold of Wendy’s. One trip or die.

Next he grabbed the cat litter pan, freshly cleaned, with all of Knuckles’s items tucked inside.

“She was there for two whole fucking days. How did she get this much stuff already?” he grumbled.

“She’s an omega, you think she won’t get what she wants?” a deep voice asked.

Nic jolted, startled by the sudden presence of the alpha, and steadied Knuckles’s haul. “Warn a guy next time,” he grouched.

Griffith, with a smug little smirk on his face, only stared at Nic. His dark gaze dipped to his feet before trailing back to his face.

“Need some help?” Grif’s voice was warm and deep, and it had a different inflection than when he’d been speaking to Wendy.

Before Nic could decipher if it was a good thing or a bad thing, Grif reached for Nic’s carefully balanced pile.

“Sure,” Nic answered lamely and dumped the cat litter box and other items in his arms.

He slammed the trunk shut and walked around the alpha, heading toward the house. It was a long, awkward moment before he heard Griffith’s boots hit the gravel behind him.

Nic winced, then buried it before Grif caught up to him. The alpha didn’t speak, and Nic didn’t offer any information.