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“No, don’t stop. I want to hear your happy noises again,” Nate whines, leaning against her shoulder.

Shoving him off with a good-natured laugh, Daphne lets him and Dez take over the conversation while we eat. They ask questions and tell stories that leave the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable.

Dez is in the middle of discussing a project he’s painting when he sees Daphne cringe. Whatever she just tried, it’s a pass. Without a word, he scoops the offending food off her plate and gives her some of the chow mein she’s already demolished.

When Nate heads into the kitchen for a drink, he refills her glass.

When I go for salt, I realize we forgot an entire bag of rolls and grab them, pausing to stick one in the microwave. I don’t second guess myself or think too hard about how easy it feels to drop it on Daphne’s plate before I find my seat again. I’m just being nice.

Through it all, we just exist. This isn’t courting or alpha-omega politics. It’s just four people enjoying each other’s company and I don’t want it to end.

The delicate truce lasts until dessert. I’m halfway through a slice of the second-best red velvet cake I’ve ever had when my phone goes off again. Daphne’s eyes dart to me, then away. It’s not the first time it’s gone off and I doubt it’ll be the last.

Cursing, I put it on Do Not Disturb, but her shoulders don’t relax. Right in front of my eyes, I watch Daph disappear into herself like it’s her fault that I can’t eat a meal in peace. She doesn’t deserve to shoulder the blame for something she didn’t do.

I’m about to throw myself across the table, that discomfort plucking some invisible string inside me.Fix it. Soothe the omega.But this time, the phone that vibrates is hers.

“Boo. No devices at dinner,” Nate teases, completely oblivious to the woman beside him.

If I wasn’t watching, I’m not sure I’d have seen the way Daph tenses up or how she holds herself back from reaching for it.

Without knowing what’s going on, I throw her a lopsided smile, hoping it’ll offer comfort. “Maybe we should check them.”

Fingers drumming on the table, she stares at the device like it’s going to eat her alive. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Quick check and then we can turn them off altogether. A no-phones night. Does that sound okay?”

Hers vibrates again and as soon as she glances at it, her scent sharpens. A blade shoved down my throat.

“What the fuck?” Nate whispers, but I’m already out of my chair. Fuck my texts and fuck work. Whatever’s going on is bad.

I’m behind her, ready to pull her into my arms regardless of my reservations when I see them.

Mother

You went into heat and didn’t come home? Did you go to a rut bar or something? That’s disgusting when you have alphas at home willing to help you through your issues.

Honestly, Daphne. I raised you better than that.

I can’t even think about how fucked up it is to read her texts, because all I see is that one line.

You have alphas at home.

Daphne’s got a pack. Sheliedto us.

Wracking my brain, I try to think of an explanation, but how can there be one when her own mother’s calling her out? She told us about her exes, but what if she lied to get what she wanted? This whole thing reeks of bullshit.

Ice spreads through me, and I smell my scent getting just as sharp. This woman is just like Shelby. A liar.

No, she’s worse. At least Shelby didn’t cheat.

My brothers are watching us, and it makes me even angrier. They’ve already been through so much and now here she is, little miss perfect scent match here to fuck them up.

Nope. Not going to happen. I refuse to watch history repeat.

Bitter anger seeps through my bones, freezing out any chance of pain until it’s all I feel. “You’re packed up?”

INQUISITION