Page 18

ROWAN

I was already sitting at the same table as yesterday when I spotted Skye and a friend walking towards me. They walked slow, casual, taking time to absorb the outdoors.

Skye was wearing a yellow sundress, with my brown jacket over her shoulders. The look was casual, but clean. Around her neck was a green and purple paisley scarf, the corners knotted at her throat and drifting down her front like a necktie.

Walking with her was a beautiful woman who was already staring past my aura, past my skin, and observing the quality of my marrow. Seems I’d have to pass the best friend test this afternoon.

I got to my feet for polite introductions.

“Hello again,” I said.

“Hi. Halo, this is Rowan. Rowan, this is my alpha, Halo.”

I held out my hand and Halo took it with a firm shake. Her hand was soft, and the thought that she was possibly the softest alpha alive crossed my mind. I could tell that under that softness were plates of iron. Her green eyes were like fire, burning through the best foot forward version of myself.

“Pleased to meet you,” I said.

“A pleasure,” Halo answered.

I didn’t expect Skye to bring a guest so the table only had two seats. I pulled the empty chair out for Skye, then offered my chair to Halo.

“I insist,” I said.

Halo accepted my chivalry and I got the feeling that she was used to such offerings. Not just because of her beauty but also on account of her being a rare female alpha. I grabbed an empty chair from an unoccupied table and sat between the two women.

“So,” Halo began after we were all seated and ordered our lunch. She rested her chin on her perfectly manicured hand. “Skye tells me you’re a barista at Fair Grounds.”

“I am,” I said. “Pretty uninteresting. But it keeps a roof over my head. What I really wanted to do is get into healthcare, but the timing was never right.”

“What do you mean?” Halo asked.

“Just, life gets in the way, you know?” I knew it was a vague response, but a lunch hour first time meeting wasn’t the right moment to trauma dump. “It’s a lot of education, expensive, too.” I shrugged. “I feel like I missed the boat on it.”

“You’re still young,” Skye said. “There’s plenty of time.”

In response to her encouragement, I gave her a tight grin and a nod.

I didn’t tell her that none of us knew how much time we really had, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend mine on 36 hour shifts among the sick and wounded.

Not anymore. I had, once, but recently I didn’t know what I wanted to do with myself.

“Maybe you’re right,” I said. “What do you two do?”

“Halo is a fashion model,” Skye answered. “I’m, well, freelance could be a word for it. I’m usually her personal assistant.”

“Really? So you’re probably well traveled.”

“I suppose so,” Skye said. “I think the farthest we’ve been was Paris?” She looked at Halo, who nodded. “We just moved here a couple of months ago. How long have you lived in Port Haven?”

“A few years.” The waitress brought our food and I sipped my soda. “Been thinking of relocating, though.”

“Oh?” Skye sat up a little straighter and tilted her head. A swirling lock of golden red fell over her shoulder. “Why?”

I couldn’t tell her, not really. I couldn’t admit that whenever I drove along Chariot road, all I could hear was the unmistakable scream of crashing metal and feel road rash grinding like a cheese grater up my thigh and the heat of sparks and the spray of–

“Wanderlust, probably,” I answered. “I mean, you two know. You travel.”

“Just as we’re getting to know each other,” Skye said. “That’s too bad.”

When she put it into words like that, it was all so surprisingly unfortunate.

“So, how did you two meet?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.

Skye brightened at the question. She was one of those girls who loved to tell the story of how she met her pack. It was common among loved and treasured omegas.

“I was assisting my aunt Charisma at a fashion show when Halo and I caught each other’s scent,” Skye said.

“I smelled her, and her two packmates' smell in her hair.” A dreamy, sweet look glimmered in the omega’s blue eyes at the memory.

“It wasn’t an easy road, but my other two alphas accepted me, and the four of us became a pack. ”

Halo smiled at the dainty omega, and Skye returned the smile, her fair cheeks brightening a little.

Then, Halo slid her cool, aloof gaze in my direction. “How about you?” she asked. “Are you in a pack?”

My aura threatened to flare and I reeled it back, forcing it tight to my body.

“No. No pack, or bonds.” Sometimes I forgot the present, and still placed myself in the recent past. Under the table, I gripped my thigh with my hand, nails pressing through the denim and scorching the mostly healed wounds there.

I was reasonably sure that Halo, at the very least, sensed something about me and my damage, but if she did she kept it to herself. Maybe the two would talk about it in the privacy of their own home.

A quiet awkwardness followed, conversation having died.

“Oh,” Skye broke the silence. “I brought your jacket back, just like I said I would.” She rolled one bare shoulder out from under my coat. The memory of her scenting it before the car drove her out of sight played in my mind.

“Keep it,” I said.

Skye froze, her one hand gripping the right lapel of the jacket as she prepared to peel it off. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” I said. “You know how to style it better than I do.” I offered a half-grin.

She cocked her head to the side a little, more wavy golden-red strands falling over her exposed shoulder, tying the entire image together. I was surprised only Halo was the model, Skye could certainly give the lady alpha competition.

The table vibrated as Halo’s phone buzzed. She checked it, and stood, clearing her throat. “Excuse me, I have to take this.” She rose with more grace than should be legal, and strode off the patio, her heels clicking on the stonework floor. Skye watched her go, then looked at me.

“Thank you for the jacket,” she said, bringing her hands up to fiddle her fingers, the over-sized sleeves swallowing up her hands. “I like the way it smells,” she admitted.

“I can imagine it might have been scary, waking up with a stranger, then being sent off on your own.”

“Yeah. Or, it should have been, but I think your jacket made me feel safe on the car ride home.” Skye replied, thoughtfully. “Besides, it’s not the scariest thing I’ve been through this year.”

“Oh?”

Skye paused, and recovered with a polite smile. “Maybe I’ll tell you on our next lunch.”

I grinned. “You want a second lunch?”

She went back to toying with her fingertips. She was twisting a braided ring on her right ring finger. Wasn’t that where wedding rings were traditionally worn? “If you do.”

Halo returned and the three of us chit-chatted. Mostly Skye and me. The waitress cleared our dishes and asked if we wanted dessert.

“Apple pie and ice cream,” Skye said.

Halo looked at Skye, and Skye returned the look. “...Please?”

With a sigh, Halo said, “One apple pie and ice cream. Two forks. We’ll share it.”

“Make it two,” I added. “And coffee.”

“Two teas,” Halo said.

With a friendly smile, the waitress jotted down our order. “I’ll be back with that in a few minutes.” Then, she hurried off.

“Now it’s my turn to excuse myself,” Skye said, pushing her seat back. “Lady’s room. I’ll be right back.”