“I know that.” I looked away.
A lot of the men in our pack were happy with their situation, but I wasn’t. We’d grown up as one, huge pack, and at adulthood—twenty-one—we were ranked and chose who would share our own pack.
I was ranked an Alpha, of course. All three of my brothers were Alphas, the same as my father.
As an Alpha, I was able to choose a Beta and an Omega to complete my family, my pack.
I was lucky. It was an easy choice.
Jay and Taylor had been my best friends from childhood and it was perfectly natural when we built a house and moved in together.
But we were missing our mates and despite how much I loved the guys, we weren’t complete. There was a massive hole missing in my heart, and my life, and even if the other men didn’t feel it as much as I did, it was still there.
The receptionist returned to claim the clipboard full of information. We were left for what felt like hours.
“What’s taking so long?” Taylor asked, as he restlessly shifted on his chair, stood up, and began pacing once again.
We took turns wearing out the floor in the waiting area. There was nothing else to do.
I leaned forward on the cha
ir and watched the white swinging doors that my father had disappeared behind. Over and over they opened and closed.
And nothing happened.
But eventually the doors opened and a woman walked through. One I hadn’t seen before.
I sat up straighter, my shifter rising to the surface.
Who was she? And why did I suddenly want to take her in my arms and kiss the life out of her?
She was obviously a physician, dressed in blue scrubs and wearing running shoes that were well worn.
She spoke to the nurse and headed toward us.
I jumped to my feet. My heart was pounding like I’d run a marathon, my skin itched and vibrated like my wolf was about to spring forth.
“Dexter Monaghan?” she asked, meeting my gaze for the first time.
Sapphire blue eyes clashed with mine and a growl rolled through my chest.
“Are you all right?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at my reaction.
Jay gasped and Taylor went rigid beside me. I could feel them reacting to her in the same way my shifter was, which should have been impossible.
We were meant to have our own mates. And she was mine.
I turned to my pack mates. “Go, wait in the car. I’ll be out as soon as I can.”
Jay nodded and began to back away, but Taylor set his jaw. “No. I…”
I dropped my gaze away from my mate and stared at Jay, willing him to do my bidding.
As the Alpha, my will was law, but I rarely exercised it. I didn’t want blind obedience. I believed that bred insolence.
I wanted loyalty. Love. And that was earned over time.
“Taylor. Go.”