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“You kind of are, but we love you anyway.” Lacey pats my thigh with a wince. Maverick looks away, shoulders shaking.

“Not wanting to get hurt again does not make me a chickenshit,” I growl.

Kai hums. “True but hiding under the guise that you need time to find yourself does. You’ve been separated for almost a year and emotionally gone long before then. If you really need more time to heal, that’s okay, but I think you’re using it as an excuse to walk away from something that terrifies you.”

Is she right? I was mentally out of the relationship with Pack Parker long before I ever had the courage to leave. “Why is it a bad thing to protect myself from more pain?”

“Becauselifeis scary, babe. If you run from everything that could bring you pain, you’ll never find something that brings you joy. You deserve to be loved and adored, Daph. Seems like these guys might be the ones to make it happen.” Maverick has her tucked beneath his chin, holding them up while Kai leans into his touch, reverent and a little awed. It’s the closest she’s ever come to admitting what they are to each other, and it means the world that she’s doing it for me.

“Even Connor?” I ask.

Mellie growls under her breath. “That’s up to you. Can you forgive him for what he said and start fresh?”

“I don’t know.”

Lacey leans her head against my shoulder. “Not to seem like I’m on his side because I’m very Team Daphne, but I think you should talk to him. At the very least, clear the air so you can move on with the others.”

Kai nods her agreement. “Considering your new roommate, it’s obvious Nate and Dez aren’t going to back down about courting you. Might as well figure out where the last Morgan stands before deciding. Maybe you’ll figure out where you do too.”

I chew on my cuticle and Mellie pulls my hands into her lap, holding my attention. “Forget everything else. Connor, the dickholes before him. You said it yourself; this connection is unreal. Would you be able to live with walking away?”

“No.” Saying it out loud feels like a weight off my chest, even if I’ve been thinking it since we met.

“I didn’t think so.” Mel brushes a curl behind my ear. “You owe it to the Daphne who spent years being someone’s last priority to put yourself and your needs first. And before you argue about needing space, healing isn’t linear, babe. You can reach for happiness while working through your issues.”

“She’s right, Daph,” Lacey says. “If you do this, if youtry, you’ll never have to wonder if you’re worth the effort because this pack will show you. Or they won’t, and they won’t be your problem anymore.”

“What if I can’t forgive Connor?” It’s the thing that’s been circling my brain all day. He fuckinghurtme. Cut me down without a chance to explain.

“True bravery is doing the hard thing despite being scared shitless,” Kai says.

“Besides, only you can decide who to court. If that means no Connor, that’s his cross to bear.” Mellie grins sharply. “Should he have a problem with that, I’ve got enough contacts to make his death look like an accident, and so does Maverick.”

“I know nothing,” Mav says automatically, warmth and friendly affection obvious in his gaze. “But I’ll be here for you no matter what.”

“You would try, wouldn’t you?” I ask him. The girls are great, but sometimes I need my big brother’s opinion.

“If I were in your shoes? Yeah.” He stares down at Kai, eyes brushing her features so lovingly, my throat tightens. “I’ve found that most of the time, the risk is worth the reward.”

I don’t want to look back at this opportunity and wish I hadn’t wasted it. I don’t want to walk away from two men who make me feel so good. Not in the way Pack Parker used to, lovebombing me then disappearing when they were tired. This is true, down to the bones affection. Appreciation that I exist.

I genuinely can’t imagine Dez or Nate walking away when I need them, ignoring me for days, treating me like a burden. But I can see them loving me. Supporting my dreams and my desire to find myself. Cheering me on and claiming me in front of the world.

The more I consider it, the more I think these men are a gift. The universe’s penance for a shitty first marriage. A chance to reconcile with the idea of love. Of pack.

“I’m going to be so busy,” I groan. Between the alphas and the storefront, I’m not sure how I’ll manage.

“Could be a good thing,” Lacey says. “You can see how they’ll support you in times of crisis.”

Kai rolls her eyes. “Plus, alphas like taking care of their omegas. Makes them hard or something.”

Maverick laughs under his breath and pulls her in closer. “Pretty sure that’s just a guy thing, sweetheart.”

“So, what’s the first step?” Lacey asks.

Ugh. “I need to talk to Connor.”

One way or another, we’ll have this out. If I want his packmates, I may have to suffer through having him too.