Page 37 of Traded

Cool, collected, so perfectly put together that little missnever-missed-a-manicure-in-my-lifewould realize that I’m not about to be pushed out of my own pack.

My anxiety threatens to grow hotter, and I swallow.

“Rosie.” Jonas looks awkward. “Just… be nice to her, yeah?”

My eyebrows fly to fucking Mars. “I beg your pardon?”

“Shit,” his eyes widen. “Sorry. Forget I said that.”

Beg my fucking pardon, more like.

I can’t go in there. Not alone.

But if I go in with any of them, it’s going to end badly.

How can any of this not end badly?

I swat Jonas away with a flapping hand as I shove the door open and step inside before I can decide to run as far away as freaking possible, slamming it behind me.

My words are abrupt. “Fuck, it’s cold in here.”

On the other side of the colossal board table, Lauren looks up from a pile of paperwork, her finger reaching out to pause a video on her tablet. One ofmyvideos. “I turned the air con up. Figured it would be better that way.”

I take an experimental breath instead of answering, and recoil. “Yeah.”

Can’t breathe in another omega’s scent if it’s so cold it hurts to breathe, I suppose.

We study each other in silence.

She’s replaced her smart suit with a pair of jeans and a navy floral blouse that wouldn’t look out of place in my closet. She takes in my dress with a small frown. “I’m still getting used to the dress code. New York was more formal.”

This is their scent match.

She’stheirs.

The middle of their fucking hearts, and I’m standing here trying to work out where I might fit in this new dynamic.

Lauren taps her finger against a familiar branded cup. “Heard you like coffee. The guy on the stand said this was your normal order.”

I bet she spat in it. “Thanks.”

When I don’t move, a faint hint of blush travels up her cheeks. It’s satisfyingly blotchy. “Should we sit?”

She’s already sitting. But I pull out a chair and drop into it, staying close to the door in case I get any murderous urges. The silence grows until it threatens to smother us both.

“This—”

“Do—”

“Sorry.” Lauren nudges the coffee toward me. I slide my hands under my legs so I’m not tempted. “You should go first.”

I spent the entire night wondering what I’d say right now. Liam gave his orders while I angrily scrubbed out the stains from Mile’s shirt in the kitchen sink and tried not to vomit all over again.

Get to know each other. Build a connection before she comes here.

I need to leave here with her and pretend that everything is normal.

This is my summit. My own personal Everest. My own opportunity for personal growth, to be the bigger person—