Crux turned to her and even in his agitated state, he was gentle with her. “I won’t do anything stupid. I just need to get out for a little while.”
He placed a kiss on her forehead and cast me adon’t you fucking fuck her upglare, before he was out of the house. His Jeep engine rumbled to life seconds later, and the familiar grinding scuff of tires against our perpetually sandy driveway as he peeled out.
Now it was just the four of us. I stared at this unfamiliar alpha. Standing there. In my territory. In my home. Next to my omega. My scent match. Mymate.
Rowan. Rowan Waters.
Halo drew the attention to herself with a single clap of her hands, effectively cutting the tension down to about a quarter of its power.
“I have a business soiree next week,” she announced, and turned to Skye’s guest. “A fundraiser for the Centre of Missing and Exploited Omegas. Rowan, I would love for you to accompany Skye and myself as our plus one.”
“Me?” he blinked.
“Yes. Fancy dress. It’s just an excuse to be seen among good company. Models, fashion designers, magazine editors. Do you have a suit?”
“No,” Rowan stammered.
“That’s fine, we will have Charisma lend you one. Yes?”
Rowan and Skye looked at one another. Skye nodded with a bright smile.
“Yes,” Rowan answered. “Thank you for the invitation.”
“Excellent,” Halo said. “I look forward to showing you off to the gilded masses.”
With a smug smile of satisfaction, Halo poured four glasses of wine. One had significantly less than the other three, and she handed that one to Skye. She handed me the one that had the most in it. The three of them toasted, and Halo touched her glass to mine. With a cool gaze, she whispered. “It’s just that easy.”
Chapter 22
CRUX
Witheverythingthathadbeen going on the last few months, none of us ever got a desire or a chance to explore our new hometown. Not that I was sightseeing. I had a specific place I wanted… needed… to go.
I cozied my Jeep up next to the curb, parked, and looked at the tattoo shop with its neon sign and its strange kabuki mascot. Or was it an oni? Did that count as some weird cultural appropriation thing? Who knows.
I vaulted the door of my Jeep and walked in.
“Welcome to Pins & Nettles,” said an omega from behind the counter. She looked to be college age. Early 20s. Her hair was two toned, divided down the centre hairline of her scalp. Onehalf was …something, the other blue. “I’m Caira. You have an appointment or are you a walk-in?”
“Is Jackal here?” I asked, distracting myself by browsing the art on the walls. Jackal’s distinct style was all over the place.
“Just a sec, I’ll go get him.” The omega left the counter and went into the back room. The wait wasn’t long, mere seconds, and then Jackal came out with the omega. He gave me a double-take, like he couldn’t believe I was real and standing right in front of him.
“Hey, Jac,” I said.
“Crux? What are you doing here?”
“Why does anyone come to a tattoo shop?” I answered.
He ignored my snark. “I mean here. Port Haven. Moms sent you to track me down?”
“Nope. Moved here,” I shrugged.
“Really?” he folded his arms across his chest. “Were you ever planning on telling me?”
I shrugged again, pretending to be interested in the selection of art on the walls.
“Well!” He grinned his sharp, wide smile and hooked his arm around my shoulders. “Look at this. The Leoni Brothers together again, free to run wild in Port Haven.”
