Page 118

I flick him on his chin. “Stop being so perfect,” I hiss.

“Oh, it sucked,” Ben says. “Don’t get me wrong. I was miserable, and the other guys still are. But it was better than you feeling forced to be around us. You did what you needed to do.”

The guilt that I carried for the last few days disappears.

I had so much shame from everything that happened, but at least with Ben, it’s unwarranted.

He lies back down and pulls me to his chest, spooning me.

“I can finally sleep now that you’re here,” he adds. “I can finally breathe again.”

Exhausted and breathless, we drift off together in a matter of moments.

And soon, I’ll be reunited with my other packmates.

21

CONNOR

“You’re goingto crash the fucking car,” Ace mutters. “Relax.”

“I’m always relaxed,” I bite out, even though the ridiculous grip I have on the steering wheel gives me away.

We’re finally going to see Devyn again.

I’ll be reunited with the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.

MyOmega.

Ever since Ben stayed the night at our new home, I’ve felt slightly better. He and Ace get along now, and we’re all on the same page when it comes to Devyn.

One thing is for sure—the mating bites did not go the way they should have.

I know Ace feels terrible for him, and so do I.

But there’s nothing we can do now except move forward and hope that she’s kind enough to forgive us.

“This is going to work,” Ace mutters, almost to himself. “This will be good.”

He’s repeating the same things I told him last night, when he woke up gasping for air and clutching me.

I can tell he’s starting to spiral, so I force myself to take deep, calming breaths.

I need to relaxif I want this to go well.

My Alpha instincts are still wild, though. I find myself longing for Devyn, my chest aching and my temper flaring at the smallest things.

“It will work, Ace,” I assure him. “Itwill.”

Even if I don’t believe it, I need him to, just so he can stay sane.

I know Devyn spent the night with Ben last night and she’s excited to see us.

Yet it seems like everything is coming down to this moment.

“What if she changes her mind?” Ace’s voice is small. “What if she rejects the bond?”

I shake my head. “That won’t happen.”