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Daphne

Looking forward to seeing you today.

“Oh, that must be her. Look at his goofy face,” Sol crows.

I don’t even care. Stuffing everything into my bag, I grab my sister into a hug. “Love you.”

It’s second nature to mess up her hair again, darting away before she can swipe her claws at me. “Love you too. Have fun with Daph. We’ll get all the details from Nate later.”

No matter how old they are, sisters are the worst.

My heart pounds the entire way home. Just because staying away was the right thing to do doesn’t mean it’s been easy. Silence gave my fears an echo chamber to scream in. Yet, all that turmoil goes away when I see Daphne bouncing on her toes in the grass of our duplex, wearing a shirt that bares one shoulder and the length of her legs. A shirt that’s definitely not hers.

“You’re here!” She squeals, rushing for my side of the car and I’m out, pulling her into my arms before her feet can touch the pavement. There’s absolutely nothing in the world that feels better than holding her. Touching her.

She’s here. She’s mine.

Nose buried in Daphne’s hair, I suck in a breath then another of her sweet scent, determined to never go this long without it. It’s like I’m finally taking oxygen after being underwater.

“Holy fuck, I missed you so much,” Daph whines, nearly crawling up my body until she’s wrapped tight around me.

I swear, this woman is healing me with every second we’re together. Sometimes it feels like we’re connected, our minds and bodies on the same trajectory and I fucking love it.

“I missed you too. Sorry it took so long. I was working out with my sister.”

Daph pulls away, eyes lingering on my arms. “You spend a lot of time at the gym?”

“A bit.” And I’ll spend every day working out if she keeps looking at me like that. My cock aches at the way her tongue darts out to wet her bottom lip. I want that mouth on me again so fucking bad.

Pulling her into my side, I guide us to the pack house. We could go to her place, but she hasn’t invited me over yet and I want her in our space. Want her scent touching absolutely everything. It’s not until we get to the door that I realize this may not be a good idea. The last time Daphne was here, things went bad.

“Is this okay, or would you rather go somewhere else? “I ask carefully.

She chews her bottom lip. “Is it just us?”

My fucking heart. I palm her cheek, running my thumb over her soft skin. “Yeah, Daph. Just us.”

“Then, yes.”

Door unlocked, she barely moves inside. Her omega instincts are fighting her, telling her this isn’t a safe place to be. That she needs to run, hide, find shelter. I could kill Connor for that alone.

Our home should feel like comfort and peace for our omega, not a fucking minefield. My own instincts flare, aching to fix this for her. To make Daphne see that she’s not in danger here. Not her heart, not her head, not her body.

But this isn’t my battle. Daphne has to choose this, choose us, on her own.

Finally, after the longest minute of my life, she takes a deep breath and steps into the main space. The relief is so strong, I have to touch her. Have to kiss those perfectly wild curls as I hold her close. “Proud of you.”

“I’m trying.” Her smile’s wobbly but sure.

“You’re amazing, Daph.”

After grabbing two bottles of water, I steer us to the living room couch and flop down before snatching her hip and yanking. With the cutest little shriek, Daphne succumbs to the cushions, snuggling into my side. Seeing her there, looking like she was meant to be mine makes my chest feel like it’s going to explode. Despite the uncertainty of the situation, she’s seekingmeout. Finding peace inmyarms.I don’t know what I did to have this woman dropped in my lap, but I won’t give her a second to regret it.

We sip our drinks, reacclimating to each other’s bodies and scents quietly. There’s no need for words with Daphne. No need for small talk.

Yet when she asks, “When did you start working out?” I can’t help but answer.

Whatever part of me she wants to know, I’ll give it to her and one day, I hope she trusts me enough with her own secrets.