Page 200 of All Packed Up

Wendy mattered.

Chapter 45

WENDY

Derek’s voice rang bright and harsh across the concrete, seeming to reverberate in her ears, freezing her to the spot. Her heart kicked into gear, thumping against her chest.

Wendy’s cheeks flushed as she felt their gazes bore into her, even against the beta and alpha body shield Nic and Griffith created by sliding in front of her.

The chilly air sawed in and out of her lungs with each breath.

They were here.

Everything she’d been running from stood just feet away, tall and cruel and… expecting.

Their scents carried on the wind, assaulting her senses, holding her to the spot.

The scents of patchouli and vanilla wrinkled her nose. They were scents she once didn’t mind, but as they struck her senses just then, her stomach swirled with nausea.

Nic and Griffith stood in front of her, protecting her from the alphas in whatever way they could.

Their tall strong figures created a wall between her and the Sterlings’ hard gazes, allowing her to draw a panicked breath.

She pressed her forehead into the back of Grif’s shirt—his scent was stronger than Nic’s—and sucked in a breath. Heavenly baked cornbread filled her senses, and Wendy was suddenly in awe.

Compared to Griffith and Nic and Tate and Arlo, how had she ever thought those alphas were the ones for her? How had she ever settled for their stench?

Wendy had been so sheltered and naïve by the time she’d gotten herself into college, she had no idea how finding a pack worked. She’d been the perfect target for the Sterling Pack to latch onto and mold into their sad, trophy omega. Looked at, glanced over, talked down to, but never plucked off the shelf for more than showing her off.

Even now she felt so small, looked down upon. Their disappointment was like a physical presence, or maybe she was just anticipating their disappointment so much it felt real. Wendy shivered. They’d come to collect their trophy. Like she was a pet they’d trained to heel at their command, who’d gotten out by accident, or just a teenager who’d run away from home in a fit of hormones and nothing else.

“I don’t think you have any more business here,” Griffith said shortly, voice deep and gruff. “I suggest you leave.”

Her cheeks heated at the confidence, the strength in Griffith’s voice. The alpha sounded so sure of himself. He was protecting her.

Like an alpha should.

“I think we do,” Derek retorted. “That’s our omega.”

Wendy gritted her teeth at the sound of his voice, at the surety in his tone. As if nothing was wrong and she’d just hop on over and return home with them.

What delusional world was Derek living in? Wendy would never be going back to those alphas.

Not now that she knew how a real pack should be.

And maybe… maybe with Nic and Griffith at her back, supporting and looking out for her, maybe she could put an end to this before it was too late.

“That’s not for you to decide,” Nic told him, and her heart swelled for the beta.

Wendy tried to squeeze through the pair, but the beta and alpha just shoved their shoulders closer together, a blockade of muscle.

“I can face them,” Wendy promised, whispering up at them.

They both glanced over their shoulders down at her. Their brows were knotted in worry for her, jaws clenched in anger on her behalf.

“Wendy, are you sure? You know we can just kick their asses to Timbuktu and call it a night,” Nic said.

His attempt at a joke almost made her smile, but then she caught sight of the alphas awaiting her, and her smile wilted before it could bloom.