Page 43 of Their Knotty Pack (Starbrook City Omegaverse #3)

Bethany

N umb.

That's all I feel as I walk to my car holding a small box of my personal items, Lanie holding onto my arm while Brennan trails behind us to make sure Pack Hansen isn't lurking anywhere.

My heated discussion with Mrs. Lopez plays over and over again in my mind.

"I've had perfect performance evaluations and stellar customer reviews for the last six years! You can't just fire me!" I probably sound borderline hysterical, but what does she expect? This is the only job I've had for my adult life, and it's suddenly being snatched away from me.

"Read your contract again, Ms. Thomas," Mrs. Lopez says coldly. "If at any point in time we feel like an employee is not representing our values or is hurting the company, we can terminate at will."

"Your values ?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Which values am I not representing? The one where you want omegas to be pushed into making uninformed decisions?"

"You're only making this harder on yourself, Bethany. Are you going to leave the premises quietly, or do I need to call security?"

Without a word, I stand and leave her office.

Lan ie had found me ten minutes later, staring at the small box with all my work-life stored inside.

It's not like we have actual desks, considering our jobs consisted of walking omegas back and forth from our scent-sampling room.

But in the break room we each have our own little lockers, and sitting on top of the unit is my small little succulent, Allie the aloe.

Sniffing, I finally dropped her into the box, and Lanie had stared at me in shock .

"You quit?" she asks quietly, coming to stand next to me.

"Fired," I choke out, still unable to believe it. She actually fired me.

Now, as Lanie grips my arm, she's rambling about…something. Her voice comes back into focus as we get to my car. "…I swear, they can't just fire you like this. It has to be…illegal or something. I'm going to march right back in there and tell Emilia Lopez exactly what I think—"

"No." I shake my head quickly, her words registering. She can't quit. She has bills to pay. An apartment to keep. At her questioning look, I explain, "At least, not until you have another job lined up. Don't put your livelihood at risk just to support me."

She frowns at me. "But I have some savings, I'll be fine for a little while…"

"Beth is right, Lanie," Brennan says, looking around the parking lot, scanning for threats.

"Keep your job, and look for another one in the meantime.

Find one that you'll really love doing. I was already considering leaving here to work for Lone Star Security, and this whole situation might have just sealed the deal for me.

Beth, why don't you give your lawyer alpha a call…

Brody, right? Maybe he'll have some insight. "

That's actually not a bad idea. I haven't read over my contract recently, but it couldn't hurt. "I think I will," I nod, before wrapping my free arm around Lanie. "Thank you for being an amazing friend."

"It's as your friend that I say this," she pulls back and looks at me, unshed tears shining in her eyes, "you haven't been happy at this job fo r a while, I can tell.

And even though I'm going to hate not seeing you every day, maybe…

maybe this is for the best? I know how much you believed in the OMS back then…

but maybe you could find something you're passionate about now . "

She and Brennan watch me drive away, and it's not until I'm on the main road that something clicks in my mind, and before I know it, I'm pulling out my phone and calling Brody.

Not only because my whole plan hinges on him, but remembering how calm and understanding he was when he found out about Pack Hansen three days ago makes me feel like he'll react the least out of all of them.

Was it really only three days ago that we had our little mini-date?

The phone rings, and while I'm waiting for him to pick up, it occurs to me that I've never actually called him before. It's only ever been texts, so I feel a little bad that Brody's first reaction is to assume something's wrong.

Which, I mean, it kind of is, but still.

"Beautiful? Everything okay? Shouldn't you still be at work?" The sound of his familiar voice coming through my car has me smiling, but then I think of how I have to tell him everything that happened leading up to my epiphany and sigh.

"Well, yes and no. Do you have a minute?"

"For you? Always." I can hear the smile in his voice before he apparently brings the phone down from his face.

"Get out of here, Kane, my omega's on the phone…

yes, I have an omega…no, she was never my client, or anyone else's client here…

No, not at my old firm either. Holy shit, Kane, get out of here!

" He sounds so exasperated, I have to suppress a little giggle. "Okay, beautiful, I'm all yours."

Why do I still blush every time he calls me that?

"Well, Lanie and I were helping this client…

" and I tell him everything. What I told her about my old pack, and then how they showed up and Brennan scared them off.

Brody listens carefully, even tho ugh I can tell he wants to say something.

It's not until I reach the part where I got fired that he breaks.

"What?!" His voice full of disbelief. "She fired you?! Do you have your contract? I'll go over that bullshit with a fine-tooth comb. I swear, they won't get away with this, Bethany."

"Woah, woah! Brody, it's fine. I…I don't want to work there anymore." The last sentence comes out quietly, a truth that I hadn't even admitted to myself until just now. When the farmhouse comes into view, my brows raise at the sight of Hunter's car already here.

"Oh. You don't? I thought you were calling because you wanted me to look at your contract…"

Shoot. I really didn't explain myself properly. "No, Brody, that's not…can we talk when you get home? You're leaving in a few hours, right?"

Brody curses under his breath. "Shit. No, I'm sorry, I meant to tell you earlier. I have some paperwork that needs to be submitted tonight, so I'm not going to be home for dinner. I'm sorry, beautiful."

"That's okay," I say brightly, ignoring the disappointment in my chest. "We can talk after you're done.

It's not like I have to get up for work in the morning anyway.

" An awkward laugh forces itself out of me, and Brody sighs.

Gods, I'm pathetic. I need to get it together, or my idea of working with Brody is never going to work.

He needs to see that I'm serious about this before I talk to him.

"You know what? I'm coming home right now—"

"No!" The words leave me too quickly, and I shake my head, saying again, "No, Brody. The work you're doing? It actually matters. Please don't leave work early for me. Not tonight at least."

"I just—"

"Promise me, Brody," I tell him sternly, an idea forming in my mind. "Promise me you won't leave work early for my sake."

I c an hear the smile in his voice. "Okay, fine. I promise, omega. You know, I kind of like it when you get all stern like that."

"Hmmm, just wait until you see me with Miles." I tease, and can't help but grin at his groan.

"You're killing me here. If I hadn't just promised to not leave work…"

I click my tongue. "But you did."

"But I did," he agrees, sighing. "Okay, we'll talk when I see you tonight."

I say goodbye and hang up, thinking that he'll definitely be seeing me tonight.