“Pub?” Candy asked with a wide grin.
“Meetcha at the Cumberland,” I replied.
“Holy fucking man meat, Batman,”Spider said when we all filed up to the bar, his eyes finding my mating marks with ease. “You look like the girl that got all the bones and then they used you for a chew toy afterwards. You OK, or do I need to call the pound to come collect?”
“I’m good,” I replied with a smug smile. “This is my pack.”
“And you’re a fucking omega,” he said, then waved his hand at my chest area. “Either that or you had a plastic surgeon pump them titties up with helium, because damn.”
“Gin and bitter lemon,” I said, then, “and whatever everyone else is having.”
“No, nup, nuh-uh,” came his reply. “No more bitter old spinster bullshit for you. It’s girly froufrou drinks all the time. I’ll make you guys some piña coladas with lots of pineapple juice in it. Drink enough of it, and all that spoof you’re guzzling will taste as sweet as honey.”
“How do you know it’s not already?” Haze asked, settling his body against mine. “How do we taste, love?”
“Perfect,” I replied and kissed him.
“Fuck this…” Spider grumbled, starting to mix cocktails for us and pouring himself a big glass of bitter lemon sans gin and taking a sip. He winced, his mouth forming a pinched little circle. “Looks like I’m drinking this shit now, because I’m the fucking bitter one.” His eyes flicked up to the guys. “Got any other hot packs full of alphas looking for a beta to plunder? Because I can fit my fist right up my—”
I reached across and slapped my hand across his mouth, right up until he fucking licked my palm.
“Ew! I do not want a sample of your DNA, thanks, though maybe we should.” I turned to Candy. “Surely there has to be some kind of genetic glitch going on here.”
“Fuck, you’re never going to stop. Look, you overly analytical robot, it’s now time to celebrate! You got the guys and the job and we kicked Evan’s fucking arse! Riley.” She gripped my arms now. “You did it.”
And that was the moment it became real, my brain finally accepting what I knew to be true. We did do it, together, and when Spider put fancy cocktail glasses of piña coladas out, everyone grabbed one for a toast.
I was ready for my happily ever after.
Chapter 49
A year later, in New York.
“Where are we at with Janine’s ovulation results?” I asked as I paced back and forth across the floor of the plush hotel room.
“Just pulling them up now,” Colt said, tapping away on his laptop. “All right, lemme scroll through…” He nodded then, drawing my focus, making me finally stop still and wait with bated breath for his answer. “Looks like the Collins pack’s tests are back. Everything is looking normal.” He glanced at me and smiled. “All that tainted blood bullshit is exactly that. I’ll send them the results when you’re speaking.”
“Awesome, now…” I spun my finger in a small circle, indicating he needed to speed up.
“Miller pack… Joneses… Ah, here we are.”
My heart was in my throat as Colt started reading. I wanted to snatch the computer off him, but we worked on this as a pack now. Gideon had been more than happy for us to bring the guys into our business unit. Not as scientists obviously, but as Fen had said, they weren’t stupid. They were amazing at client relationship management, about going out to communities and introducing us as an institution to the different packs. Problems, inconsistencies and genetic quirks often came out of the woodwork as my guys started talking to other alphas, but Colt? He was right back where he was before—at my side, helping me with my work. It was great having an assistant that was so closely attuned to me. The fact he was smoking hot was just a bonus.
“Fuck…”
His voice jerked me back to the here and now, my heart sinking as a result. Janine and Blue had been trying relentlessly to have a child, and the experience was starting to break them down. We’d had more than one sad moment in my office where the two of them cried, Blue pulling his Neen into his arms. We’d offered tissues and a quiet place to grieve as they experienced another setback in their dream to have kids.
“No…” I whispered the word. I’d been so sure that this therapy would’ve worked. I wasn’t disappointed for us, but for them. I couldn’t go back and tell them that this wasn’t successful. I just couldn’t.
But I didn’t have to.
“Yes,” Colt said, eyes jerking up and meeting mine and holding them as a slow smile spread across his face. “Yes. She fucking ovulated.”
“Are you serious!”
“What’s going on?” Blake asked, walking into the room and handing me a lunchbox full of yummy smelling food.
“Janine ovulated,” Colt said with a broad grin.