Page 48 of Pack End Game

We continue down the current hallway for a few feet before more doors appear, seemingly placed at random. Some in this main hall, some down dead-end, smaller hallways branching off the main one.

After a few more steps, I realize that Spencer isn’t with us. Mia curiously opens another door, tugging me along, and we manage to lose Zak, too.

The second door leads us to another hallway. Mia seems too engrossed in her exploration to question how quickly we were split off from Rufus. I tag along in silence until the hallway forces us into a sharp right turn, and we find ourselves alone in a room decorated with pieces of furniture in a retro burnt orange tone.

And in the corner is a toilet.

No sink.

No shower.

Just an exposed toilet in a room that otherwise does not look like it should have a toilet.

The anomaly makes me uncomfortable enough to finally ask Mia, “What happened to everyone else?”

She looks over at me with an unspoken question on her lips, then pauses to slowly look around us to confirm that no one else is around. She grabs my other hand and pulls me face-to-face, her eyes wide as she finally joins me in an appropriate level of panic.

Her hands are pretty sweaty in mine, but I’m capable of being a complete gentleman, so I do nothing to alert her of this condition. For my leafy green, I’m willing to bear her clammy hands.

Actually, now that I think about it, this could all be an act. Maybe she’s able to create hand sweat on command, and she’s using that skill to convincingly portray fear to lower my defenses.

Maybe this was her intention all along! She wanted to single me out, and now we’re all alone.

That’s the most reasonable explanation for finding ourselves separated from the others like this. She clearly wants to bang it out in this very weird room because she can no longer wait for us to take that step.

The robot home did say she might be showing signs that her heat was approaching…

Oh, no.

I’m being cornered by our horny omega with no backup. I haven’t received the proper training for this kind of emergency.

“Freddie, I’m kind of freaking out,” Mia admits with worry shining in her eyes.

I nod, obviously having just become aware of what’s bothering her. The growing need that has caused her to take desperate measures in search of relief. I try to put on my most comforting smile even though I know she’ll be devastated that I have to reject her advances.

“I know, Mia. It’s just–”

She cuts me off, too desperate to even let me finish speaking, and whisper-yells, “I don’t know anything about football!”

“Your urges are normal, but–” I stop. “What?”

She tightens her grip on my hands. “Promise me you won’t tell Zak or Spencer, but I don’t know anything about football. I know you all love the sport so much, and I feel like a terrible omega being so clueless about something that’s so important to the three of you. You all were so supportive about my job, and I want to return the favor, but I don’t even know where to start. I hoped I could get by if I started searching for guides on the internet any time I have a spare moment, but there are so many. And some of them don’t even explain the terms they’re using!”

Looking online was a good plan.

Not exactly what I would do, but smart in its own way.

She continues rambling, “Now we’re going to do this dinner with the whole team, and they’re probably already going to be judging me for being unfamiliar, plus that whole thing with me showing up to a game in pajamas. The moment they find out I don’t know anything about your professions, on top of that, they’re going to think I’m a terrible mate and hate me forever.”

This is not where I thought this conversation was headed.

Not by a long shot.

Slowly, I repeat what I believe I’ve just heard, “You don’t know anything about football, and you’re worried that makes you possibly seem like a bad mate?”

Wow. I really didn’t get that kind of vibe at all.

She should really work on her social cues. Someone could totally get the wrong idea about her intentions.