Page 48 of In Doubt

“Probably the sex,” I say and her cheeks redden.

“Hmmm,” she answers noncommittal. There’s obviously a lot of sex involved. Lucky bastards. But there’s time for that. We’re in our early twenties. There is plenty of time to settle down with an omega later. Our pack is still fairly new and the dynamics of bringing in an omega could unsettle what we’re working hard to build.

“Have you ever looked for a pack of your own?” I ask her. She must have considered it, seeing as it’s the way her brother has chosen to live.

“It’s … complicated.”

And to my surprise, my heart sinks at those words.

I shake my head, wondering if she’ll ever be able to let go of this bad impression she has about alphas. Wondering where it came from.

“What happened to your parents?” she asks, before adding quickly. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

I stare up at the cloudless sky and let out a huff of air. “Don’t know. Don’t care. They never bothered to try and see me the day I got taken away and I’ve never bothered trying to find them.”

I can feel her looking at me, probably with pity. I can’t stand that. I hate sympathy, but from her it somehow feels different.

I turn my head and meet her eyes, noting the way her thumb traces over a tattoo of a flower on her arm.

“What does it mean?” I ask, sitting up and resting my forearms on my bent knees.

“It’s a lily,” she explains. “My brother’s omega did it for me.”

I nod, impressed. “It’s pretty good.”

“She’s really talented.” She skims her thumb across the tattoo again. “Lily was my mum.”

“Was?”

“She died. Things got pretty shitty after that until Ric stepped in to take care of me.”

I reach out and stroke her cheek gently with my knuckles and she lets me, her eyes meeting mine. They are a brown colour, lightening closer to the irises, turning almost golden like the sea of sand around us.

“I’m sorry.”

I guess we have more in common than we thought. Except she had a brother. I had to find mine.

The noise of the digger deepens and I drop my hand away even though I have a temptation to pull her into my lap. We sit listening to the growling noise until Jake and Dylan return.

“I thought they’d be done by now,” Jake says, peering at his watch. “It’s nearly lunchtime.”

“The ground seems pretty hard,” I tell him.

“I just want to get started,” Giorgie mutters, kicking at the ground with the toe of her scuffed boot.

“It’s going to be too hot,” Jake says firmly.

“I know,” she responds with irritation. “It’s too hot now. I’m baking.”

“How about we go back to the villa for a swim?” I suggest. Inviting her is probably one stupid idea. Wasn’t it my idea to help Jake out today? And here I am inviting the omega to our goddamn villa?

But omegas are prone to overheating and she looks so hot. I don’t want her keeling over.

Another damn temptation. To care for her. To look after her.

“Sounds like a plan,” Dylan offers up.

Giorgie looks severely tempted, if a little unsure, as she runs the back of her hand around her wet brow. However, before she has an opportunity to make up her mind, someone calls her name.