“But it’s not too far away,” I say, knowing I can’t come, but knowing he won’t stay home. He needs to be onsite and stay where everyone else is. I refuse to let my neediness be the reason he doesn’t do his job.
“If I could get out of it, I would. Cameron, are you going to be okay?” he asks.
“Do you want to come to New York with Emmett and me?”
I bite my lip, feeling down on myself that I can’t imagine traveling without my Alpha. Fucking pathetic.
“No, I’ll be fine. Dom isn’t going far.”
“Okay, well, if you change your mind, you can call me,” Kelsey says with a smile and I nod.
“You’re sure?” Dom says, knowing me. Knowing how much I hate to be alone for long periods of time. I just nod my head and pull my swim trunks back on.
“Well, now that you’re in the good Alpha category, should we order dinner before you have to go?” Kelsey asks Dom.
He smiles at her, his gaze wandering over her body. It’s just now I’ve realized he is the only one who hasn’t slept with her yet.
“Yeah, let’s all have dinner before I have to leave. Both of you can call me for whatever you need. You promise?”
Kelsey smiles, and I force one on my face and nod. Dom needs to focus, and I can’t let Kelsey see just how pathetic I am. I can get through a few days on my own.
Chapter 22
“Idon’tlikethatI’m not able to come,” Shyla says, her arms crossed over her chest. She’s wearing a sage green pants suit and looks all business. I know this is one of her insecurities. That she isn’t able to be there enough, but her job is just as big of a passion as creating a pack is. I get that, and Kelsey seems to get that. As for Cameron I know he will, and shit, Dom might even see it as an in. He seems to have more flexibility owning his own business.
“I’ll be fine one night by myself and Kelsey has her brother there.”
“Are you planning on meeting her brother?” she asks, looking at the ground. Another chink in her stoic Alpha armor. I feel the guilt of what Kelsey and I aren’t telling her. But Shyla isn’t ready. She needs more confidence in this pack. I’m protecting her feelings. I know that if she knows Meera is Kelsey’s ex she will spiral. Or quite possibly go to her sister’s house and beat the shit out of her. We will tell her. Kelsey will sit down and tell her everything that she told me.
“No, Kelsey thinks it’s best to wait until we get this whole situation figured out.”
“Situation,” Shyla says it with disdain. I think more than anything she sees Dom as what she’s not and can’t seem to understand that it’s a good thing.
“Thinking like that isn’t going to make it any better,” I say.
“I know, fuck. I’ve never felt like this before. I’m finding myself frustrated that Kelsey isn’t as needy as other Omegas.” I wrap my arms around Shyla. I’m just slightly taller than her and my cheek presses against her hair.
“I think between the both of us, we could find ways to be needy enough. You also haven’t spent much time with Cameron.”
“I want to,” she says quietly. It hasn’t been easy with her and Dom not making a truce yet.
“We’ll figure something out as soon as Kelsey and I get back. I’ll call as soon as I get there.”
“You’re sure you’re going to be okay?” she asks, stroking my cheek.
“I’m excited to meet her, and as much as I would like you to be there too, I just know there will be more chances.”
“I’m happy for you, Emmett,” she says, kissing me gently.
“Me too.” Kelsey and I have both been two balls of frantic energy. She’s excited to meet Deja Fox and see her brother, and I can’t wait to meet my cousin and her pack. She’s my last biological relative and I’m not sure why it matters so much to me, but it does.
There’s a gentle knock at the door and I answer it. Shyla had called for a driver to pick up Kelsey and bring her here before we left so she could say goodbye.
Kelsey beams at the both of us before she notices Shyla’s sulking. “Everything okay?” she asks.
Shyla plasters a smile over her face and nods, holding out her arms to Kelsey, which she eagerly steps into. It’s clear that they are both scent marking the shit out of each other. If I don’t put an end to this soon, Shyla’s thigh will be in between Kelsey’s legs and we will never get out of here.
I clear my throat. “Shy, don’t you have something for Kelsey?”