Page 19 of Claiming the Pack’s Omega (Riverwell Omegaverse #2)

“I love you, Dad,” I whisper, still clinging to him like a little kid.

“Love you too, Rey-Rey. Stay safe, okay? You’ve gotta promise you’re still gonna come home to your momma and I.”

“Of course.”

I take a deep breath, fighting the urge to burst into tears and take a step back.

“Okay, are we headed out now?” I ask the Graylock pack.

“Yup,” Theo says, grabbing my abandoned duffel bag and slinging it over his shoulder.

“Will you be okay? Without me?” I ask my dad, glancing back at him, my brows drawn down in concern.

“We’ll be fine, worry about yourself, got it?” He says, putting on a brave face.

“Your father and family will be just fine. I’m going to get your entire family situated, don’t you worry,” Jess says, flashing me a reassuring smile before turning to my dad. “I was actually going to offer you a job. I hear you’re a mechanic, correct?”

“Yeah, why?” My dad asks.

“Well, one of our shop’s mechanics just retired and we’re looking for a replacement. Are you familiar with pursuit-rated vehicles?”

“You bet,” Dad answers, giving a firm nod.

“Perfect. The job pays six figures and there are benefits like health, dental, and vision for your entire family, there’s room for negotiation?—”

“I’ll take it,” Dad says. He turns to me, a small smile appearing on his lips. “See, squirt? We’ll be fine.”

“Okay, Dad,” I say, smiling back at him. “Tell mom and the kids I love them. I’ll see you guys soon.”

“See you soon.”

Milo opens the back passenger door, holding it open for me as he avoids eye contact and I slide into the car.

“Thank you, Milo,” I say, trying to meet his gaze.

“Oh, you—you’re welcome,” he stutters before sliding into the car next to me.

Theo hands Milo my bag and he places it between us like he’s trying to create a barrier.

Killian and Theo stay outside the car for a little bit, exchanging a few words with Jess and my dad, leaving Milo and I to stew in the awkward silence.

I blow on my hands, grateful to be inside of a warm car instead of outside in the cold.

It’s almost spring time, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a chill in the air.

When Milo looks literally everywhere in the car and out of it, trying to avoid looking at me, I can’t take it anymore.

“Do I freak you out?” I huff, pulling the duffel bag to the floor in front of me and turning to face him.

“Wh—what?”

“Do you not like me or something?”

“N—no, that’s not it at all,” Milo says, his eyes going wide.

His amber eyes finally meet mine. They’re gorgeous. I don’t know why he puts so much effort into hiding them, whether that’s by not meeting my gaze or hiding behind his shaggy, curly, dirty blonde hair.

“Then what is it? Because you’re kind of treating me like I’ve got a contagious disease. I swear, I’m clean, there was this doctor guy who would test all the girls who worked at the club?—”

“No!” Milo says.

Damn. That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard him talk.

He even looks surprise at his volume.

“N—no,” he repeats, going back to his quiet self. “It’s not that. I—I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you, not at all. I—I just?—”

I stay quiet, letting Milo get his words out at his own pace.

“I’m worried you want nothing to do with me,” he whispers, staring down at his hands.

“What? Why do you think that?”

“I mean, it’s no secret you’re pissed at my pack mates and I. We all lied to you. But—but I was the one who spied on you,” His head drops as he starts picking at his cuticles. He picks so hard I see a spot of blood forming at the base of his nail.

“Hey, stop that!” Before I know what I’m doing, I’m reaching over the center seat and pulling his hands into my own.

He freezes.

I freeze.

His cool gunmetal scent thickens as he stares at me, his mouth slack in shock.

Damn, it’s like he’s never felt the touch of a woman before.

I blink.

Fuck, maybe he hasn’t.

I jerk my hands backward. I wouldn’t want to unintentionally take his hand-holding virginity. Not that that’s a real thing.

Milo’s now empty hands flex as he stares at me, that dumbfounded expression still on his face.

It just draws my attention to them. To his strong fingers. Up his forearms.

What the hell am I doing?

I jerk my gaze away from him.

Fuck, look who’s avoiding eye contact awkwardly now.

I tell myself I was just trying to get him to stop hurting himself. That’s why I touched him.

But at the end of the day, I know it’s not the truth. Or at least, not the full truth. I haven’t made it a habit to touch any men when I don’t have to. Especially alphas.

Other than Theo .

Shut up, brain.

Theo doesn’t fucking count because I was forced to spend time with him. He bought my time. The fact that I enjoyed my time with him is irrelevant.

“S—sorry,” Milo finally stutters out.

“No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have grabbed at you like that.”

“It’s okay,” He whispers, staring down at his hands as if he can’t believe I dared touch him.

“For the record,” I say, crossing one of my legs over the other and settling into my seat before glancing over at him again. “I am pissed at all of you?—”

He’s not able to hide his wince.

“—But,” I continue, flashing him what I hope is a reassuring smile. “I’m honestly least mad at you. Like I said last night, at least you didn’t lie to my face. Plus, you seem really sweet. You did help me fix my wifi when I had no clue what I was doing.”

He stares at my face, his expression almost one of… open worship?

I’ve never seen an expression like that on an alpha’s face before, let alone an alpha looking at me .

It’s… nice.

A girl could get used to being looked at like that.

The doors open, and Theo slides into the front passenger seat, Killian not far after him on the driver’s side.

“We’re going to drive to the hospital now, before we show you the pack house, if that’s alright with you,” Theo says, turning backwards from the front passenger seat. “Stone wants to see you.”

I tense up in my seat. For whatever reason, the thought of seeing Stone, the Northside cop—not Obsidian the up-and-coming underground Southside cage fighter—freaks me out more than it should.

Because before all the betrayal, before he got me into this whole shit show, I liked him.

A lot.

I’d never admit it to anyone, but it was nice having someone protect me at work there.

“He—he’s okay, right?”

“Thanks to you? Yes,” Killian says, glancing at me in the rear view mirror as he pulls out of the driveway. “He’ll likely require more recovery time before going back to work, but he’ll be fine.”

“Which’ll definitely piss him off, he’d rather go on an undercover mission for months than take a vacation,” Theo jokes, glancing at me as if he’s waiting for me to laugh.

I don’t.

I just raise an eyebrow expectantly at him. My expression says it all.

“Too soon, then,” Theo mutters.

“Yeah, too soon,” I huff. “I’m still pissed at you guys. Well, not Milo. Milo’s my favorite.”

When I glance over at him, there’s a small smile tugging at his lips. His smile is cute. Really cute.

“You’re adorable when you smile,” I breathe out, unable to keep it in.

His eyes go wide, and a furious blush covers his cheeks, highlighting his freckles.

Theo turns around in his seat, his eyes wide as he stares at the two of us.

“Damn, I think I’m jealous,” he breathes out.

“Then you should try harder at redeeming yourself,” I shrug.

Theo’s lips tug up into a devilishly handsome smirk. Screw him for being so handsome.

“Challenge accepted.”