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THIRTY-FIVE

“Not as many people showed up today,” Sam quips, looking over the sign up sheet.

I give an almost inaudible laugh before whispering to him, “We expected that, though. It’s raining, the basketball team is off for two away games.

” I give him a pat on the shoulder. “Regardless, there’s a few people here who needed help and we were able to provide it. That’s what this is all about anyway.”

He smiles then, nodding tersely. “You’re right. As long as we help some people, the number itself doesn’t matter.”

There’s chatter from the tables around us, frat brothers of mine sitting with open textbooks as they converse with other students, discussing statistics and U.S.

history and memorizing methods. Everett talks unintentionally loud while going over physics with a redheaded freshman.

Dax and Kendall are laughing quietly at him from another table, chilling as they wait for more students to show up.

This is one of my favorite proposals of Sam’s from the beginning of the year.

Most of us meet every Friday in the library, offering tutoring services to anyone who needs the extra help, whether it be for a test coming up, essay writing, or techniques on how to study.

I thought it was genius. We stick to the subjects that we’re confident in, and we help whoever needs it no matter their designation or schedule. And it’s all for free.

Thatcher Cowan comes up behind me and gives my shoulder a strong pat before stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Did Uriah have band practice today?”

I nod. “He probably needs to come as a tutee instead of a tutor, honestly. If it’s not music, he doesn’t give a shit.”

If people think Uriah is grumpy, then they should meet Thatcher. He’s stoic most of the time, even when joking around. He’s helpful on the ice, and is the first to volunteer if someone needs help, but his cold exterior is such a contrast to his kind actions. He’s an enigma.

He’s also Sam’s best friend. I’m pretty sure they’re pack mates, but they more than likely won’t know until they meet the rest of their pack.

Kendall and I had a strong intuition that we’d be pack mates, but the bond didn’t click in until we each met Uriah and Ciro.

It’s such a strange way for our beasts to operate, like there needs to be every puzzle piece before the full picture forms.

“Well, shit. I probably shouldn’t be here either, to be honest,” Thatcher replies.

Sam gives a small laugh and shakes his head. “You have your strengths, Thatch.” Something catches his eye over my shoulder and whatever he sees makes him smirk at me.

“Your girl is here,” Sam whispers. They both walk away as I turn and, sure enough, Stacia is heading toward me with a few books in her arms. Her hair is in a messy bun and she pulls her cardigan up because it keeps falling off of her shoulder. She looks freaking beautiful.

Our eyes catch and she smiles widely, putting a bit of a rush in her step to get to me.

“Hey angel.” I lean in to give her a kiss. When I pull back, her eyes are wide before looking around the room. The pink on her cheeks makes me smirk. “Is my omega acting shy?”

She narrows her eyes at me, giving me that attitude that I wholeheartedly crave.

“I’m just not used to PDA, is all,” she says through gritted teeth. She eyes Sam behind me for a second before meeting my gaze once more.

“Are you uncomfortable with PDA?” I ask, and she shakes her head. “Okay. As long as it’s just a case of you getting used to it, then I’m sure all four of us will have a good time making it a habit for you.”

She’s surprised by this, clutching her books closer to her chest. It makes me notice how comfy she looks in a t-shirt dress and sneakers. Her oversized cardigan—again—hangs off one shoulder.

I point at her books. “You here to study?”

She looks down at them before trying to shrug casually.

“Ciro told me where you two were, so I thought I’d stop by…” She lets her sentence linger. I quirk my brow at her and she gives a deep sigh. “I’m not doing so hot in biology.”

Ah, our omega is bad at science. Kendall’s going to love this.

“So you came for tutoring, even though it was going to be from a bunch of frat guys.”

She rolls her eyes and gives me a soft slap to the shoulder. “Sam is a genius, I’m sure there’s a few of you that’s capable of teaching me some proper memorization techniques.”

Kendall comes into view in my periphery. He leans down to give Stacia a kiss, too, which makes her balk at us.

“You all share a singular brain cell, I swear,” she huffs, which causes Kendall to laugh.

“Have you been teasing her, At? She seems a little frustrated.”

“I am frustrated, because all four of you are neanderthals.”

He looks at me with a confused smile, trying not to laugh. I shrug before whispering, “She’s not used to PDA, so kiss her every time you see her.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He goes back to kiss her again, but she smacks him with her textbook.

“Just point me in the direction of someone who understands anatomy so I can get this over with.”

“You’re here for tutoring?” Kendall’s eyes widen with delight. “What subject?”

“Biology,” I tell him, which makes him beam even brighter.

“Sick! You’re with me then.”

Stacia rears back at him. “You’re good at science?”

I laugh and mutter ‘ if you can believe it ’ under my breath. Kendall punches my shoulder hard.

“Come on, sweetheart. We can make it fun. I offer serious services to everyone else, but with you, I might be open to a bit of roleplay.”

She laughs. “And you’re the professor in this scenario?”

“It’s always a bit fun to mix things up from the status quo.” Kendall looks around before leaning forward so only she can hear. “Besides, we both know you like it when I take control.”

Her face becomes beet red as she glares at Kendall. She puffs out a frustrated sigh. “Now who’s teasing me?”

The smirk on his face is diabolical. “Always, Omega. Let’s go.”

I watch them scurry off, and I feel a mix of emotions. Stacia makes me, and my pack, so unbelievably happy. But I’ve also been feeling guilty ever since she opened up to us about her relationship with Derek.

The night I smelled her for the first time was the same night her world turned upside down.

I should have told my brothers about it, I should have looked for her.

Maybe I was deep in denial because I was afraid of being wrong and hurting my pack in the process, but I wasn’t .

I was only wrong to not do anything about it, and now it’s months later and our scent match has a ton of shitty memories and trauma to work through all because I couldn’t do my job as a prime and get my shit together.

I’m not sure how to move on from that guilt.