I don’t hesitate. “Sapphire’s.”
“Good choice,” Ruby says, rubbing her hands together. “Mr. and Mrs. Winslow retired, and their son—an alpha—took over. Let me tell you, that man is hot with a capital H.”
“Really, Rubes?”
My omega bestie ignores her mate, giggling as she slides her arm in mine and practically drags me down the sidewalk. Allison lets out a dramatic sigh as she follows us.
She can pretend she’s annoyed with Ruby all she wants—I know better. None of Pack Hart would expect anything different from their omega, and they wouldn’t want her to change who she is. They’re all obsessed with her.
As they should be.
As all packs should be with their mates.
Like Mason, Davis, and Alexander will be with Crew.
Fuck me.
Before I can lose myself in my head once again, Ruby pulls me into Sapphire’s. The restaurant is actually called The Sapphire’s Glow, but I can’t remember anyone ever using its full name. It’s always just Sapphire’s.
I let out a sigh of relief when I see it hasn’t changed a bit—even with the new owner. He might be their son, but he could’ve changed it. I’m just grateful he hasn’t.
Sapphire’s is where Pack Owens took my dad and me for our first dinner in Champagne Falls. We went at least once a month—no matter how crazy everyone’s schedules got, we’d get together here.
I’ve missed this place.
Circular, pack-size booths line the walls in black and silver. In the center of the restaurant are tables and chairs for two to four people. The lighting isn’t too bright—something omegas often abhor—with each booth having its own set of fairy lights that can be dimmed or brightened at the discretion of the table’s occupants. There is also a double set of sapphire-blue curtains around the booths to keep them completely separate and to allow the tables to close themselves off from the restaurant.
It’s designed to keep omegas happy and cozy so their packs can enjoy a night on the town with them.
It’s something that doesn’t happen in any of the major cities—or, if it does, it’s rare. First and foremost, because packs have become less prevalent in major cities.
Hell, all over the world.
Too many omegas are staying on suppressants year-round, denying their nature altogether, as they try to prove they can do anything.
They shouldn’t have to prove this because, of course, they can do anything they want. What isn’t acceptable is feeling like they need to suppress who and what they are—their instincts and their behaviors. It’s something I swore Crew would never have to do.
I tried my hardest to make sure he was never pressured at work, but who knows how many times something has been said to him that I didn’t hear and he didn’t tell me about.
We have laws to protect omegas, but the number of people who ignore them sickens me.
“Ruby! Allison! It’s lovely to see both of you.”
I blink rapidly as a handsome man appears in front of me, grinning at my bestie and her pack mate before turning his eyes on me. “You’re new. Ruby, did you add another beta to your pack?”
“Please, Luci.” Ruby snorts. “I love this girl, but not like that.”
“Luci is short for Lucifer. My parents thought it would be hilarious to name me after the devil himself,” he says, tilting his head to the side, his blond curls bouncing with the movement as his vivid blue eyes narrow, and that’s when I realize I recognize him. “Wait a minute. I know you…”
“Kiara Oka,” I supply. “I was a freshman when you were a senior.”
“Right! You’re Mason’s sister?—”
“Stepsister,” I correct, forcing myself not to flinch. “We’re not actually related—our parents are just part of the same pack.”
He chuckles. “You know, Mason has told me the same thing. Maybe I’ll eventually get it right. Is it going to be just the three of you?
“Yup.” Ruby grins. “We left the rest of the pack unloading Kiara’s stuff. I guess we’ll have to sit at one of the tables.”