Page 44 of Gold Rush
Arin’s eye twitches.
“You’re a real asshole, too.”
I laugh, grinning at him. “I’m just waiting for my prime to get the words off the tip of his tongue.”
Arin’s lip curls as he takes his glasses off, scrubbing the lenses with a cloth, his voice thin. “I’ve liked her since I saw her stumble inhere.”
“And that’s a problem?”
“It is when she never asked for any of this!” He waves his glasses around, gesturing to the townhouse around us. “I don’t want to force her hand. I don’t want to play the heroic alpha, sweeping in to rescue her. She’s aperson. She has the right to decide what goes on in this new and terrifying development in her life. But I can’t deny the heart of me, the part that feelsrightwhen she’s in a room. My feelings were instantaneous — and I can’t get thatawfulphone call out of my mind.”
I cringe, my jaw tightening at the memory of her squawking mother. “We’ll have to cross that bridge if her parents don’t take the hint.”
Arin sighs. “That’s an understatement. It seems like awhen, not anif.”
It was inevitable in a society where omegas are such a smaller population that alphas would begin pairing together and then falling for the same omega. Packs are as natural as breathing. But there’s always been a subset of people — regardless of designation — who believe that packs are just a constant orgy of twisting bodies and sex. They’re also often the same people that assume omegas are stupid, weak, and unable to make decisions for themselves.
Judgement from outliers will always exist, but I know what a healthy relationship looks like. I know that both of my alpha mothers love my father more than anything. That they’d give him the world even if he wasn’t an omega, because theylovehim. People seem to forget that personhood comes before designation.
Love looks different for everyone — why would you waste your energy judging someone else? Why waste your limited time alive on criticizing instead of finding your own happiness?
I glance around the office, my eyes lingering on Arin’s bookshelves, thinking of our library back home in Rochester. I do love this townhouse, but it has always seemed impersonal — this is where business happens. This is where Arin sleeps between trips to other countries, where Theo rests between making deals. This is where Seth and I run in and out of the door, taking care of international distributors and offers. It isn’t home — and I want to show June what life could be if shedidfind a place of her own with us.
“You don’t have to save her, you know.” My voice softens. “You could just support her.”
He makes a grumbling noise.
I look back at him, my lips twitching. “Why don’t you take her out? Or have a night in? You could see what happens.”
He sucks in a ragged breath. “Are you suggesting I court her properly, instead of sitting here bitching about it?”
“Well, I wasn’t going to use those words.” I push up from the couch, grinning. “But I guess I need to look for a few courting presents to give her before the heat sets in.” As I step toward the office door, I glance back at him. “I’d suggest you do the same.”
Arin shoves his glasses back on, griping something aboutunruly and stubborn pack membersunder his breath as I ignore him and walk out, heading straight for the kitchen. I need to make a grocery list and decide what the omega upstairs will eat during her heat. Food is the best present I can give her on short notice.
CHAPTER TWENTY
JUNE
I feellike a new woman after an orgasm and a nap.
My body is liquid as I stretch in the bed, half-dressed, sliding my legs against the soft sheets and humming, pressing against the pillow next to me. The room smells vaguely of chocolate, and it makes my heart tug at the thought that Seth’s back.
I get up, fixing my clothes and electing to put leggings on instead of my rumpled shorts, quickly tucking my phone into my pocket and heading straight for the stairs when I hear voices trickling up from the main floor. I jog down them, walking into the kitchen and stopping short when I realize it’s Bennett and Arin.
Bennett glances up from a piece of paper on the island, a pen in his hand. “Morning, darling.”
I flush, flashes of last night playing in technicolor in my mind for a moment, looking away only to find Arin leaning against a counter, watching me like a hawk.
It’s not uncomfortable, but it’sintense.
He radiates power. Bennett does too.
There’s something easy about the way the two coexist — simply accepting that they’re both aware of each others’ power, but not fighting. It’s fascinating. I’ve never been around alphasthat have an unspoken dynamic, but beingheremakes me recognize the way their strong personalities play off each other. And it almost puts me at ease.
I fidget, clasping my hands together. “Late morning, but hi.” I offer them a little smile.
“Are you hungry?” Bennett looks down at the paper, writing something. “I can make you brunch before I go to the grocery store. Is there anything you’d like me to pick up for you?”
