Page 142

Daphne Barnes is a force of nature, but she folds like a cardboard box at that. Her fingers dig into his collar, pulling him down until their mouths touch. “Agreed.”

The kiss relaxes all of us, returning equilibrium to the pack. It’s unnatural to be out of sync from our omega.

Connor nuzzles her cheek, slathering her in his scent until she purrs. “Thank you, angel. You don’t understand how much this means.”

“You’re welcome.” Daph leans over to kiss me, then Dez, before dropping back to her feet. Her fingers twist in the hem of her shorts, dragging them higher on her thighs and I’m notthe only one who can’t look away. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something, but I don’t want you to get upset.”

Oh, shit. She’s breaking up with us. No, she’s ending the courtship. Oh my god, she’s walking away. Even though Iknowthat’s not what’s happening, my head is screaming,danger, danger!

Before I can go into a full-blown panic attack, Daphne wraps herself around me. “Breathe, babe.”

“Like it when you call me that,” I choke, trying to soak in her scent. It’s not upset anymore, just tense. Nervous. What the hell does she have to be nervous about?

She waits patiently while I sort my shit out and doesn’t complain when I haul her into my arms because I need her closer. “You ready?”

“No,” I mumble. Daphne’s sweet laugh lifts some of the stress away so I can listen. “Okay, fine.”

“I have a court date in a few days, and I’d like you guys to be there.” We’re all stunned silent. She waits, then squirms with discomfort at our continued silence. “I know it’s late notice and you’re busy, but I just thought that—you know what? Never mind.”

“Nope. Not doing that.” I lean down for a hard kiss, breaking her negative thoughts the way she broke mine. “We’re glad you asked.”

“You are?”

“Absolutely.” Dez’s gentle smile barely conceals his displeasure. Not for Daph, but because she’ll be in the same room as her former alphas and, possibly, her dickhead parents. “Text us the date and time. We might not all be able to come, but at least one of us will be there.”

“Thank you. I don’t want to go by myself.” Daphne’s eyes cloud and this time, I know they’re happy tears. She blinks them away, but it’s clear how much this means.

“Never.” I kiss her, offering a promise with my body that only she can hear.You don’t ever have to be alone again.

As always, things get carried away until Daph wrenches back, cheeks flushed, lips swollen and that cotton candy scent absolutely everywhere. “Okay, enough. I need to shower and then we’ll have dinner at yours, okay?”

My brothers and I share a grin while I swat her ass, smiling at her sharp laugh. “Go ahead. We’ll get cooking.”

We watch as she rushes for the house. My heart’s going to bust out of my chest if it gets any bigger. “She’s coming over for dinner willingly.”

Dez wraps an arm around my shoulder and squeezes. “Sheaskedus.”

Connor nudges my shoulder. “She’s not going to fight the gifts anymore.”

Considering how much worse things could’ve been, I think we’re all happy with the outcome of our little talk.

It’s not until we’re inside washing our hands at the sink that Dez turns to Connor. “You’re not really letting her pay rent, are you?”

“I said I would and I am.”

“But we don’t need the money.”

Con smirks as he chops washed vegetables on the cutting board. “Maybe not, but we have an omega suite to outfit, don’t we?”

LEAST FAVORITE F-WORD

DAPHNE

“You hate it.”

The first thing I did after leaving Pack Parker was get rid of my old clothes, but I pulled one of the last few items I kept for today. The sheath is itchy and confining, so different from my normal, soft style that it feels like a relic of a past life. It’s also the third outfit Nate’s frowned at from where he perches on the bed.

Even after things settled with the pack, he didn’t go home. I’ve been cushioned by his body as I fall asleep, yet he hasn’t pushed things since we went gokarting.