Page 38 of Their Knotty Pack (Starbrook City Omegaverse #3)

Hunter

M aybe we should have gone somewhere less…conspicuous.

The patio of the Italian bistro we chose for dinner is beautifully decorated, with string lights, red and white checkered tablecloths, and tea lights on every available surface.

And it opens right up to the heart of Main St. in Downtown Starbrook City.

Heads turn towards us as my omegas laugh and giggle, their cheeks red from the Bellinis they're sipping on.

Try as I may to relax, my chosen career has drilled into me the importance of being constantly aware of my surroundings.

Even my position at the table is strategically chosen, with my back to the wall of the restaurant so I can easily assess the threats around us.

"Hunter," Bethany's voice has my gaze dragging from the people staring as they pass, "if you were a plant, what kind do you think you'd be?" Her pale blue eyes seem to pierce through my soul as they stare at me, and I find my mouth going dry at her attention.

The rest of the guys have their eyes fixed on me, waiting for my answer.

"What…plant?" I ask dumbly, taking a sip of my water.

"I think…" her eyes roam over me for a moment as she bites her lip, more daring and forward than she's been with me so far, "I think maybe a succulent, or…wait." Her eyes light up, "maybe a dragon tree."

Damien purses his lips. "He gets a damn dragon tree, and I'm a 'fiddle-leaf fig'?"

"At least you weren't referred to as 'Cal the Calathea's evil twin', Miles mutters, but there's no missing the affection in his eyes.

Will they look at me like that one day? Or have I waited too long?

"I like being a lotus," Brody says proudly, looking at his phone, "according to Google, since it emerges from muddy waters, it symbolizes enlightenment and rising above challenges."

That does sound like Brody.

Frowning, I take out my own phone and start typing in the search engine.

"Have you been thinking about these for a long time, sunshine?" Kieran asks, his signature smirk tilting at his lips.

"Nope," she smiles at him, fluttering her eyelashes, "it really just took me ten seconds to realize you're a thistle."

"Prickly and painful?" He raises a brow, challenging her.

"Yes, at first," she concedes, reaching across the table and taking his hand with hers. "But, they symbolize strength, resilience, and protection."

He gives her a real smile then. "I'll be your thistle."

"Boo!" Damien pretends to jeer, but rolls his eyes playfully. "Honestly, Kier-Bear, when did you get so sappy?"

"Ha. I see what you did there. 'Sappy'." Brody chuckles, and then Kieran says something, but I don't hear it.

My heart stills in my chest as my eyes run over the result of my search.

Dragon trees…slow growing, but are associated with strength, power, and longevity.

Is this…is this what she thinks of me? But how? We've hardly spent any time together. Could it be…that she's been paying just as close attention to me as I have to her?

When I look up, her eyes are fixed on me, a small smile pulling at her lips. Miles whispers something in her ear, and she blushes furiously before looking away to where Kieran and Damien are going at it.

Turning back to my phone, I quickly look up the meaning behind Spanish Bluebells.

Humility, new beginnings, resilience.

Everlasting love.

"Has anyone asked what flower you are?" I ask, my voice breaking Kieran and Damien out of whatever ridiculous argument they're having.

"Well, she'd be a hibiscus, obviously," Kieran says quickly. "That's her scent."

"Hibiscus' have multiple meanings, depending on what color they are," Bethany says almost quietly, stirring her straw around in her drink. "But why do I have a feeling you're going to tell me which one I am?"

My cheeks flame . Gods, no wonder I've only had two serious relationships. I thought it was because I had to find someone okay with waiting to have sex, but as it turns out, I'm just not smooth. "I…well, I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the matter, but…um—"

"Lay it on me, Detective," she fucking winks at me.

The action throws me off my game so much, I just blurt it out. "Spanish Bluebells."

She pauses. "I'm familiar with the meanings of the California Bluebell, but haven't looked into the Spanish Bluebell. What's the difference?"

Shit. Are California bluebells… bad ?

"I —Well, I didn't look up California Bluebells," I admit, rubbing the back of my neck.

"But my eomma…well she used to be obsessed with trying to grow these Spanish Bluebells in her little pots in the backyard, and they were these pale blue color…

just like your eyes." Damien and Kieran groan, calling me corny, but Bethany and Miles just look at me like I'm in the middle of telling a really intense story. "They represent new beginnings"

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here." Bethany and Miles freeze, their omegas instantly going on alert, which sends my alpha into overdrive. I was so focused on the omegas I didn't see the threat coming.

Four vaguely familiar looking alphas are leering at our table as they let themselves in through the gate that fences off the patio from the rest of the street.

"Fuck off, Grayson," Bethany snaps, coming out of her stasis. "If you want to have a meal, a hostess will seat you." I'm immediately surprised by her reaction. I've never seen this level of venom with her, not even when she was fighting with Kieran.

"Hopefully over the edge of a cliff," Miles mutters, making Damien snort.

"You haven't been answering our calls, mouse," one of the other alphas croon, and my fists grip the white and red checkered tablecloth in a white knuckled grip. They don't pay me any mind though, approaching our table as if they have a right to.

Whoever these asswipes are, they've been calling her? Then it hits me, where I know these alphas from. These are the alphas from Bethany's Instagram. Her old pack.

Words from the day that I met them outside the heat clinic flash into my mind. Bethany saying that "Pack Douche Canoe" was harassing her friend Lanie. At the time, I had just thought it was friend drama, but…are they one in the same?

"Don't call me that," Bethany's hands start to shake, and I recognize the signs of an adrenaline surge. "I've always hated that name."

"Oh , don't be that way, Bethany," the one who called her 'mouse' says, "And what the hell are you doing with a pack when you two turned us down?"

"Unfortunately for you," Damien drawls, staring down the alpha, "we've graduated past elementary school antics, and just because you called 'dibs' on the omegas does not make them obligated to go anywhere or do anything with you."

"You know, human beings and basic human rights and all that," Miles adds, taking a sip of his drink.

They only sneer as my hands tighten into fists.

Self control.

Self control.

"Did you give any thought to our offer?" The only alpha who hasn't spoken yet asks, a shit-eating grin on his face.

Her face pales, and Miles' head whips towards her.

She didn't tell him either?

Kieran lets a growl out, but the other alphas don't react to the obvious "back off".

"That wasn't an offer, you pretentious prick, it was a joke. Regardless, you and your 'offer' can go…how did Miles put it? Go fuck yourselves with a long, prickly cactus."

"You want to stay with these guys?" The third one sneers, and then his eyes land on Brody before widening in recognition. "Brody fucking Benson! What the fuck, man? We've been trying to get a hold of you."

Brody's mouth is set in a hard line. "I'm aware, and I'm inclined to agree with my omegas about what you can do with all your offers and a cactus."

"Come on, man, don’t be like that." The guys' words echo what he said to Bethany. "You get where we're coming from right? Do you realize how much money we're losing out on because all those omegas are going to you for free services now?"

"I do now, and good riddance." Brody says angrily, standing from his chair. "I'm not the same alpha you four used to know in school, so back off. No matter how much money you offer me, I'm not shutting down my doors. I'm doing important work, and—"

"Oh, man. I almost fell asleep there for a second." One of them laughs, faking a snore before elbowing their packmate.

Bethany's face screws up in rage. "How dare you speak to him like that—"

"You need an omega to fight your battles for you now?" I don't even care who's talking at this point, all I know is these alphas are mistreating my pack.

Self control.

"Please know that I use this term very loosely when I say, Gentlemen," I stand, looking at the four intruders and walk to the other side of the table, my arms crossed, "we are trying to enjoy a meal, so if you could please—"

"And who the fuck are you?" One of them sneers, not the least intimidated by my size, and I sigh, pulling my badge out of my pocket.

"Detective Hunter Song, SCPD. Please know that we will be filing a restraining order against you, for both Bethany and Brody, and Pack Song as a whole."

Gods, it's satisfying, seeing their eyes go all wide like that. "I…whatever. We were just leaving." One of them shrugs. "Besides, we don't need desperate bitches who shack up with the first pack they have a heat with anyway."

A growl rips out of Kieran as he shoots to his feet, his own self control apparently reaching its end. Brody, still standing, grabs onto him before he can lunge for the assholes.

"We're leaving, we're leaving," one of them says placatingly.

"But we're right, right? I mean, it's only been a few weeks since we saw the two of you outside the heat clinic, so for you to have found a pack so quickly…

" he reaches his hand like he' s going to grab Bethany's chin, and I don't think.

I just react. I'm in front of him in an instant, grabbing the dickhead's wrist, and twisting it to the side, away from my omega.