I clear my throat, feeling as relaxed as I can be as Claire smiles over at me.
“So, what do you two usually do during the summer?” she asks.
“We spend a lot of time outdoors, traveling, and just relaxing before peak season rolls around again,” Wells says.
“What does spending time outdoors mean?” Claire asks.
“Camping, hiking, the occasional bike ride. You said you wanted to spend more time outdoors?” I ask.
Claire looks at me like I just accomplished some big feat. I don’t know why she does it, but she squeezes my hand on top of the table.
“Can’t say camping is on the list of things I want to do. But the idea of quiet, of just being around nature, it sounds peaceful to me. When we lived in Connecticut, I really enjoyed having such a big yard and a garden. I think I’d like to get back to that kind of life,” she says.
“You don’t like the city?” I’m hopeful that she says she fucking hates it as much as I do.
“It’s not that I don’t like it. Manhattan is unlike anywhere else in the world and it has its own sort of magic to it. But I don’t think that’s where I want to spend most of my time.”
I nod. Of course she doesn’t hate it. I’m sure she’s basically considered royalty there. I mean look at her.
There isn’t a lull in the conversation as Wells and Claire rapidly ask questions and chat back and forth. I listen intently, enjoying how easy the conversation is between them. It’s not a surprise, both of them seem like they can charm anyone.
I don’t have any experience with pack life, what it’s supposed to look like. Wells assures me that having multiple personality types makes them successful and I shouldn’t be comparing myself, but I can’t help but wonder what beyond my designation I bring to the table.
Claire is laughing at something that Wells said when another Alpha approaches our table. He stands between where Wells and Claire are sitting. He’s wearing an expensive suit, a self-assured smug smile on his face.
I want to throw him overboard the moment he touches the back of both of their chairs.
“Sorry for interrupting, I just had to come over and introduce myself,” he says.
“Why?” Claire asks, her voice polite, but there’s an edge to it, like she’s dealt with men like this her whole life.
“A pack this attractive. Who wouldn’t want to introduce themselves?” he says, but this time he’s adjusting his clothes.
Has she made him uncomfortable? The thought tickles the shit out of me.
“So let me get this straight. You looked over here, with people on a date, and you thought to yourself that this would be the most appropriate time to come and introduce yourself, which you haven’t even done?” Claire says.
Wells has a huge grin on his face, enjoying the show.
Claire is strong. She’s not the timid Omega that I carried to the infirmary and took care of. Or maybe she’s a bit of both.
“I’m Derrick,” he says, a flush rising on his neck.
“Well, Derrick, your timing is inappropriate and I would appreciate it if you walked away and saved yourself from any further embarrassment,” Claire says, turning around from him completely.
The man's grip on her chair tightens and he slightly tugs on the seat, jostling her as she takes a sip of her ginger ale, making her spill it.
I’m out of my seat in a moment, my hand on top of his, squeezing his fingers so tight he has no option but to release his hand.
“Shit,” Wells hisses as I poke the man dead center in his chest.
“She said to walk away,” I tell him in a low growl.
The man looks pissed, but he’s nowhere near as big as me. I could easily throttle him, and he’s wise enough to know that.
“It seems you just couldn’t resist the further embarrassment part, could you?” Claire says with a sigh.
The man holds his hands up in surrender, backing away, and when he gives Claire a shitty look, I’m ready to follow him and squeeze his scrawny little neck until his head pops off.