Page 35 of For the First Time

I wanted that so badly.It felt wrong to accept the claim, even knowing that Adam wasn’t going to stop with me.Even knowing how much Atlas craved his independence and how much Everett and Oaks wanted to care about someone else.It felt like I was inviting hurt into their life.

And yet, with all those reasonings, there was something illogical about my connection to this pack.From the first moment, they were sweet with me.They touched me, and cared for me, and talked to me.The four of us just ...clicked.Like puzzle pieces from different designs somehow coming together to match up perfectly.Like the sweet and sour taste of a chocolate covered orange.

Like Atlas’s firewood scent, Everett’s syrup, Oaks’s honeyed cracker, and my chocolate.We complimented each other on a biological level, even if my scent wasn’t as strong as theirs.

I had no idea what it meant to be a part of a pack.Especially one that didn’t want me for my beta tendencies.There wasn’t a role for me to fit into.No guidelines for me to follow.I wanted that freedom.

I’d spent so much of my life doing exactly what I was told.By my parents, by the OC, by societal rules.I did what all betas did.I wasn’t in the way.I was mindful of the other designations.I never imposed myself on packs.I properly revered omegas and had a respectful fear of alphas.I did all of that, because I thought it was what was keeping everyone safe and happy.

But it was all wrong.Society was wrong.The institutions were wrong.

I didn’t want to be one of many betas.I didn’t want a love and marriage easily broken by a ring quickly taken off.

I wanted to be me.Eve, whoever that was.Packmate to Atlas, Everett, and Oaks.Our souls forever bound together.

“Yes,” I finally agreed.“I would love to be courted by pack Wilder.”

Chapter Ten

One month later

The sound of a phone ringing while we were at dinner was made even stranger by the fact that it wasn’t Everett’s.His was the only one that truly went off when someone had a question or was asking him to come in or something.

Atlas got up in a rush, trying to find his phone.“Not me,” he yelled.

That got Everett up and since we seemed to all be checking our phones, I did the same.It wasn’t impossible for it to be me.Hannah could be calling to rant about something, or I might have finally been hearing back from that lawyer I’d reached out to.I was requesting a meeting, and technically, they should be responding with an email, but my number was on the application.Albeit it was after normal working hours.

I was just as shocked as the others when it was, indeed, my phone.My first thought was that it was Hannah, but as soon as I saw the name on the screen, I answered it without thinking.“Mama?”

“Yes, I’m calling her now, if she’ll pick up.”

“Mama, I’m here.”

“What was that?”

I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes.She was literally answering me yet not actually answering me.All of my alpha moms liked to take charge of everything, which usually meant a lot of eyes and hands and voices on a single project.Even if that project was something as simple as calling one of their daughters.“Mama Mary!I’m here.”