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ten

. . .

Finn

I ’m contemplating whether to mix up my coffee order when something catches my eye. As the enforcer of the group, it’s always been my job to watch for potential threats. I’m hard-wired to detect even the faintest hint of danger.

What I see immediately puts me on alert.

Justin is lurking outside the café, trying to appear casual as he bops his head to the music in his earbuds. But every few moments, his gaze flicks back to Mia. But as she turns toward the window, he ducks out of sight.

He isn’t waiting for her. He’s clearly spying on her.

My hand tightens around my empty mug. Something isn’t right. Justin has always been a jerk, but this is a deviation from his usual behavior.

And that troubles me.

“Hey, Finn, can I get you a refill?” Mia stops by my table to collect my empty plate and mug.

I look up at her- she’s so innocent and unaware of the danger.

“You take too good care of me,” I say, forcing a chuckle. I don’t want her to see my worry. Mia laughs and walks off to retrieve my items. For the rest of her shift, I split my attention between her and the scummy boyfriend.

Just as Mia’s shift ends, I slip into the night to follow Justin.

And so I do, night after night. Every day, Justin shows up at the café, watching and waiting for something to happen. He appears increasingly agitated, which I find worrisome.

Each night, I follow him, though I return with no answers. He either drinks with buddies at the local pub or comes home to rot on the couch with his video games.

Still, I fear something is brewing. So, I go to Kane.

“I’m worried for Mia,” I say as I step through the door of the townhouse on the fourth evening.

Kane looks up from his book and glass of brandy. He’s dressed in an Italian suit, not a lapel out of place. Even his cufflinks gleam, and he doesn’t seem concerned about my proclamation. He already thinks Mia is ours and is waiting for Mia to break up with Justin.

“Is this a new worry, or has Jace’s impatience worn off on you?” he asks.

I kick the door closed behind me and wander over to the wet bar. For a moment, I consider taking a drink, but the worst part of my role in this pack is the need to always keep my senses sharp.

I turn back to Kane.

“Justin is up to something. I don’t know what exactly, but he’s begun watching her while she works,” I say.

Kane puts down his book and rubs his chin. “I don’t like it.”

“I know. Me neither. That’s why I think you need to keep an eye on this yourself. Meet Mia and assess the situation firsthand.”

His eyes darken. I know he doesn’t like to be questioned or nudged, but I’m past the point of caring. Justin’s erratic behavior means trouble.

Finally, he sighs and puts down his glass of brandy. “You’re right. I’ve held off long enough. I’ve just...” He trails off.

“What?”

“I’ve been trying to consider this from all angles, to have everything in order. I want to do this right. Because she is ours, but I want that to be her choice as well. She doesn’t seem to be breaking up with Justin anytime soon.”

I nod, understanding. We all want what’s best for Mia, but the situation is complicated at best.

“So, you agree then. We need to move this forward,” I say.

Kane sighs and gives me a small nod. “Contact her. Set up a meeting with her.”

“Okay, we’ll go somewhere casual so she doesn’t think anything is up,” I say, immediately texting Mia.

Hey Mia, do you want to grab dinner at Charlie's on Jefferson? Jace will be there, and I think my friend Kane is also coming.

Mia

Idk Finn. I've been kind of busy lately.

She’s scared, and it makes sense. She doesn't know us well, and she has little reason to trust men.

We're new in town and looking to make some friends. You were so welcoming to us just figured I’d ask.

I watch as the three little dots bounce on the screen, indicating that she’s texting back. They stop and start several times before a response flashes on my screen.

Mia

Ofc, I'll be there. What time?

I text her the time and grin down at my phone.

Mia is ours, and once Kane sees her for himself, he’ll stop dragging his feet and make a move. She will finally be our omega, and we will mark her.

Mia

“Hey Justin, I need to talk to you,” I say, sitting next to him on the couch after my shift at work.

“What?” he replies with a sigh, not taking off his headphones as if I were a waste of his time.

“I think we need a break,” I say, twirling my fingers in my lap. That gets his attention.

“Say that again,” he says, removing his headphones and turning to me.

“A break,” I repeat, my heart racing. Justin’s face turns red, and his jaw tenses. I haven’t even found a place yet. Is he going to kick me out right away? But he wouldn’t. I pay the rent.

“Why would you want a break?”

I stare at him incredulously. “You beat and yell at me. You’re not good for me at all, Justin. I’m getting tired of it.”

He stands up from the couch, his face turning even redder.

“You’re the problem, Mia,” he says, as usual, turning the issue around to me. “You constantly nag me about a job, and you know I’m trying to find one. You won’t stop gaining weight and have stopped taking care of yourself.”

I bite my lip as I listen to him rage on about me.

“Stop it, Justin. I get how you feel about me,” I say quietly. “I don’t need to hear all this. But is it okay if I live here until I find a place? ”

“Fuck,” he says, running his hands through his hair in irritation. He hisses out a quiet ‘yes’ and then walks out the front door, slamming it shut violently behind him.

“Oh my god,” I whisper as my hands shake. I expected the breakup to go like this, but it was a little better than I thought.

At least he didn’t hit me.

Getting up, I walk to the bedroom and sit on the bed, feeling numb. Tears don’t come. I’ve already exhausted all my tears in this relationship. A flicker of hope blooms in my chest as I search for places to live on my phone.

An hour later, I stare listlessly at the contents of my closet, trying to find something flattering. Should I be so focused on looking good tonight? Probably not. I feel weird and empty inside.

It would be easier if any of my clothes were flattering. Ever since Justin started complaining about my weight, I’ve stuck to loose, frumpy clothes, trying to cover up the flaws he sees in me.

Right now, it’s no different. Justin’s disparaging comments swirl through my head. His words weren’t always so cruel, but these days, it’s like all he ever wants to do is tear me down. He hasn’t come home yet, and I’m starting to wonder where in the hell he went.

Shaking my head, I try to refocus on the upcoming dinner.

I can’t deny the excitement I feel, but I remind myself that this is just a simple dinner. Finn and Jace are new in town and looking for friends. I don’t have any friends except for Justin, so it feels strange to talk to other people.

My phone pings with a text.

Finn

Do you need a ride this evening?

I wince and text back quickly.

No, that's alright. But thank you!

This is just a dinner among friends, of course. But Justin wouldn’t see it that way, especially if one of them were to pick me up. The last thing I want is to give him the wrong idea. I don’t love the idea of hiding this from him, but fuck him.

As I put my phone back in my pocket, my eyes catch on a dress at the back of my closet. I haven’t worn it in ages, but I remember it used to make me feel confident. It’s a simple green wrap dress with a low neckline that reveals a hint of cleavage.

Taking it off the hanger, I slip it over my head. It might be too tight, and I’m sure it will be, but I just want to try it.

When I step in front of the floor-length mirror against the far wall, I’m taken by surprise. The dress is a bit snug, sure, but it hugs my curves in a way that makes them look... sexy. I shimmy in front of the mirror, trying to find something to nitpick, but the dress is genuinely flattering.

Still, I feel a flutter of nerves. What if it isn’t nice enough? What if I’m seeing what I want to see right now?

I shake my head and smooth out the dress. It will have to do- insecurities and all. There’s not much time left to get ready.

Once I’ve fixed my makeup and styled my hair into a half-updo, I open a ride-share app. Typically, this would be an expense I couldn’t justify, but with the mysterious money I’ve suddenly acquired, I've got a lot more wiggle room.

As soon as the ride arrives, I quickly leave the house and get into the red car, feeling guilty .

The whole way to the restaurant, I fidget with my purse strap. The music on the radio is a new pop song that plays at the café all the time, and I mumble the words under my breath as we get closer to my destination. Even though I broke up with Justin, I feel weird.

Charlie’s is a casual dining restaurant. Nothing that should make me so nervous. But as the car pulls up to the establishment, my chest tightens. Should I be doing this?

The driver turns back to me, expectant.

“This is your destination, correct?”

“Yes,” I say hastily as I step out of the car. “Thank you.”

As I walk to the door, I shove my hands into my coat pockets.

It doesn’t take long for me to spot Finn and Jace standing outside the restaurant, their eyes meeting mine as I approach.

Finn is wearing a black hoodie and matching sweats, his black hair falling over his eye as usual.

Jace is in a graphic t-shirt paired with jeans.

“Mia,” Jace greets. “I was really glad when Finn told me you’d be joining us.”

Finn offers a smile and envelops me in a warm hug. “It’s good to see you again. You look stunning in that dress.”

Their warmth eases the knot of anxiety in my chest, and I return the smile.

“Thank you,” I reply, looking down shyly. I never wear form-fitting clothes, and I can feel all my folds showing in this dress, but I try not to dwell on that.

When I look back up, I catch Finn and Jace exchanging an inscrutable glance. There’s an intensity on their faces that I haven’t seen before, and it piques my curiosity.

“I think Kane is already inside,” Finn says. “Shall we?”

I nod. “Lead the way.”

As we step inside, light jazz plays from the speakers, and the crowd is thinner than I expected. It probably gets busier on weekend nights. Disco lights shine over the circular red tables.

Then my eyes lock onto the table in the corner. I don’t know why, but I’m certain this is the friend Finn mentioned. Kane . My breath catches, and I swallow past a suddenly dry throat.

Because this man is handsome.

They were all attractive in their own way, but Kane looks like he belongs in a magazine.

I follow Jace and Finn to the table, suddenly feeling nervous all over again. But there’s something else there. Intrigue. Something about this man draws me in, and I want to know everything there is to know about him.

“Mia, this is Kane. Kane, Mia,” Jace introduces.

Kane looks up from his phone, his piercing gray-blue eyes meeting mine. “Mia, it’s a pleasure. Please sit.”

Now that I am closer, I realize just how gorgeous he is.

His thick, dark brown hair is neatly combed, and his broad muscles fill out his expensive suit. I could lose myself in those eyes, and part of me imagines falling into those strong arms.