Page 45 of How to Lose a Pack in 10 Dates

Aimee

R eturning to work after everything that’s happened—including a weekend of feral heat, campfire singalongs, and the kind of full-body cardio that only comes from being repeatedly and enthusiastically wrecked by three alphas—feels… surreal.

I smell like fabric softener, my curls are still a little wild, and I’m sore in places I didn’t know had nerve endings.

Still, I walk into the office with my head high, a coffee in each hand, and the kind of emotional hangover you only get from nearly bonding in the woods, crying during marshmallow toasts, and being held like something precious by the people you least expected to love you back.

Rachel glances up as I step into her office, waving me in with her usual sleek efficiency and just the tiniest smirk of someone who knows exactly what they did.

She taps her tablet screen. “You look… alive.”

I drop into the chair across from her and groan. “Barely. Do you know how many pine needles were in my underwear this weekend?”

“Sounds like a you problem.” Rachel doesn’t even blink. “But congratulations. Your article’s gone viral.”

“Wait—the real one?”

She smiles. “The one I found in your drive, with about seventeen unsaved versions and an accidental sentence that just said ‘fuck .’”

“That was a panic draft,” I glare at her. “You know I wasn’t ready—”

“Well, you were wrong,” she says briskly. “Because it’s the best thing you’ve written for us. Ever . And the readers agree.”

I open my mouth, then close it.

I try again. “You knew I didn’t ever intend to publish that one.”

“Sure,” she says. “And I also knew it was honest. It was messy, and vulnerable, and brilliant . That’s what landed. That’s what people are connecting to.”

I stare at her. “So… You’re not mad that we didn’t debunk scent-matched tech after all?”

Rachel laughs. “Mad? Aimee, I want to make you our new ‘How To’ girl. ‘ How to survive scent-matching hell’. ‘How to emotionally recover from a heat nest in the woods’. We’ll finesse the titles.”

“...Seriously?”

She nods. “We’ll tailor it to you. Keep the voice that made the article blow up, but give you space to dig into the real stuff. People want that. We want you. ”

“I mean, it sounds amazing, and I’m honored. I just…” I fidget, suddenly sheepish. “I think I want to write stuff that’s a little more… authentic . Less clickbait, more actual connection, you know?”

Rachel’s gaze softens, which is so out of character I almost fall off my chair. “We can evolve the format. Let the ‘How To’ be the hook, but the substance can be all you.”

I sit with that. I can’t deny that it sounds almost fun: the thought of turning chaos into something real, the chance to keep telling the truth—even the ugly, hopeful, romantic parts of it.

She leans back in her chair. “So… did it work out?”

I glance down at my bruised collarbone, my sore thighs. “I think that it’s just getting started.”

Rachel’s grin is razor-sharp. “Then write me a follow-up. One last column. Call it closure, call it part two, call it ‘How to Fall for a Pack in Ten Very Questionable Decisions.’ Whatever. Readers are dying to know what happened next.”

I smile. “You sure you’re ready for the answer?”

“ Please ,” she says. “After what you just survived, I’m expecting a group knotting and at least one emotional breakthrough.”

I snort-laugh. “Done.”

*

I barely get through the front door of the noodle place before Lex shrieks, “She lives!”

“Barely,” Zara adds with a smirk. “You look like you got steamrolled by a lust demon.”

“I feel like I got steamrolled by a lust demon,” I mutter, dropping into the booth and immediately stealing one of Lex’s dumplings.

Lex squints at me. “Wait. Is that… is that a bite mark on your neck, or did you lose a bar fight with a particularly horny vampire?”

“That’s not a vampire,” Zara says flatly. “That’s Wes. I can smell him.”

“I’m sorry— what? ”

Zara takes a sip of her drink, not even blinking. “I went to see them last week.”

“You what ?”

“I was worried,” she says, giving me a pointed look. “You weren’t texting back, and you sounded… I don’t know. Kind of out of it. It didn’t feel right, so I went to the source.”

“You intervened ?” I ask, torn between mortified and moved.

“I panicked ,” she corrects. “You never go dark like that. And when I got there— god , Aimee. They looked like someone had kicked their bond in the teeth. Cam was the one who let me in, and I swear he almost apologized just for existing. Wes had a little more of an attitude. And Jace… poor guy looked like he hadn’t slept in three days. ”

“Okay, well now I’M emotionally compromised.” I cover my face with both hands. “You didn’t threaten them or anything, right?”

“No,” Zara laughs. “It wasn’t necessary. Apart from Wes, they didn’t really have the bite for any of that. I swear, Cam looked like he wanted to either burst into tears or make me a friendship bracelet. Maybe both. Anyway, he’s gorgeous. ”

“I’m sorry, are we dating the cast of a tragic romance?” Lex laughs.

“I think we might be,” I whisper, pressing a hand to my chest. “And I think I’m in love with all of them.”

Zara smirks. “Well. About time.”

“Okay, your life is officially a fanfic.” Lex narrows her eyes at me like a detective in a very inappropriate rom-com. “Start talking. And give us all the details.”

Zara gives her a look. “Lex.”

“What? She’s glowing . That’s not moisturizer, that’s post-knot radiance.”

I snort-laugh dumpling into my throat. “Okay— fine . You want details? I went into heat.”

Lex slaps both palms on the table. “I knew it .”

“It came out of nowhere,” I continue, coughing a bit. “And it hit bad . Like, chew-the-cushions, bark-at-the-wall, dangerously-close-to-humping-the-coffee-table kind of bad.”

Zara winces sympathetically. “And you were alone?”

“Unfortunately. I mean, I had just blown up every genuine romantic connection in my life.”

Lex raises her chopsticks in mock-toast. “To your chaotic little detonation. May the debris be sexy.”

“ Anyway ,” I say, laughing as I ignore her, “I tried to handle it solo. Maxed out my suppressants, locked all the doors, buried myself in my nest—and still nearly combusted.”

“So how’d the cavalry arrive?” Zara asks gently.

“Wes kicked my damn door in.”

Lex gasps so hard she nearly inhales a chili flake. “He WHAT ?!”

“ Kicked. It. In, ” I grin. “Like a hot, furious, slightly feral firefighter.”

“My god ,” Zara sighs. “That’s so romantic.”

“Mmhm. He literally growled at my thermostat, then came to my makeshift nest with Jace and Cam and wouldn’t let me out.”

Lex fans herself. “Okay, I know it was a crisis, but I’m just saying: if someone doesn’t write erotica about that exact moment—”

“They were incredible ,” I sigh. “They brought water and food and towels. They helped me through the worst of it and held me the entire time. Cam kissed my ankle while spoon-feeding me painkillers, Jace was pressing cold flannels to my neck constantly, and Wes… I wish I could describe it enough to do it justice. He looked like he’d never forgive himself for not getting there sooner. ”

Lex is nearly vibrating across the table. “Okay but did you sleep with them all or not?” she asks. “This is vital to my mental health.”

I smirk. “...Repeatedly.”

She screams.

I throw a napkin at her despite laughing uncontrollably.

“Details!” she says, waving her hands around wildly. “Details, details, details !”

“What do you want me to say?! That they passed me around like a s’more with too many hands at the bonfire?!” I shake my head as I wipe away stray tears of laughter. “I don't even remember who was in me half the time, but I do know I was having a great time.”

Zara blushes. “I mean, I’m glad.”

“ Then ,” I continue, “we went camping.”

“What the fuck?” Lex snorts as she drops her chopsticks again. “You took your heat to a campsite? Who are you; some kind of hormonal Girl Scout?”

“I didn’t take it there, okay?” I protest, laughing. “Cam suggested the weekend away once I was stable enough to walk without grinding on doorframes, and it sounded… funny , I guess.”

Zara presses her fingers to her temples. “This story just keeps getting better.”

“We drove up in Jace’s SUV. I was high on pheromones and the delusion that this wasn’t going to destroy me.”

Lex leans in, wild-eyed. “And?”

“And it was... perfect. Stupid and messy and funny and hot. But perfect.”

Zara tilts her head. “What made it feel different?”

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “I think maybe because they weren’t just trying to get me off; they actually took care of me.

They listened and they laughed with me. They cooked—badly, but still, the effort was appreciated—and every time I got overwhelmed, they were there.

Like… Like somehow I was worth it. That I was something important. ”

Lex sighs. “Ugh. This is why I don’t trust emotionally stable men. You never see it coming when they show up with snacks and aftercare and turn your whole life into a movie with orgasms.”

Zara’s watching me closely. “So… what now?”

“I’ve been staying back at the pack house, so I’m going back there tonight, and I’ve decided… That’s it. I’m telling them.”

“Telling them?” she presses.

“Mmhm. No more steps, and no more plans. Just… me. And them. All of it. All of us. ”

Zara’s eyes soften. “Good. They deserve to know you’ve chosen them.”

Lex sniffs dramatically. “You’re going to get claimed, aren’t you? I swear, if Jace’s knot is finally involved, then I want at least a group chat update. Preferably photos. Diagrams. Maybe a post-claim playlist—”

“Lex.”

“Aimee. I’m your best friend. I have a right to know if someone finally bit your throat in a good way.”

Zara smirks. “She’s not wrong.”

“Yes, well. About claiming,” I say, swallowing thickly. “They said they want me to be sure. That they won’t do anything until I ask.”

Lex wipes a pretend tear. “Wow. Respectful, communicative, and sexy. Are you sure they’re actually human? Are they clones?”

“I’m sure,” I laugh. “And… And I think I love them,” I admit, blinking fast. “I think I have for a while. I just—needed time to catch up.”

Zara reaches over, squeezes my hand. “I’m glad you did.”

“And I’m glad you showed up,” I say to her quietly. “You didn’t have to, but I know why you did. And I appreciate it: a lot.”

“They were wrecked,” she shrugs. “I couldn’t leave it alone.”

“Jace tried to fold my hoodie into a swan,” I mumble. “I think he was having a breakdown.”

“I know. I saw.”

“Well, it all worked out in the end,” Lex smiles, then raises her drink. “And with that, I say: to chosen family, door-kicking alphas, and omega brain rot.”

Zara smirks as she clinks. “To best friends who finally admit they’re in love.”

I raise mine last.

“To making questionable decisions… and somehow finding your pack in the middle of your own personal dumpster fire.”