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“Not even a little.” I burrowed deeper into his warm body.

“Are you nervous about next week?”

Walden’s sisters had organized a PR brunch, where I was going to discuss my journey with potential sponsors. It would be the first time I was screening some of my interviews. My passion had brightened every corner of my life, and I wanted to keep doing this kind of work.

Was I nervous?

Perhaps earlier, but in the haven of Ajax’s arms, I felt nothing but safe. How many nights had I wanted something like this? Cried myself to sleep so many times for exactly what I had now.

The hurt I felt when they lied couldn’t exist when I was in Ajax’s arms.

I had a pack who had my back. A chance at a future that I always dreamed of.

“No, I know you’ll look after me.”

Ajax hummed, and he nosed my hair. “Sleep, treasure. Your heart is safe with me.”

I didn’t need to talk about it.

I had to take the first step and be brave.

45

Tully

Walden put out his hand to stop me before I exited the car. A gold chain dangled from his fingers. He clenched his jaw, and faint color dusted his cheeks.

“A gift for me?”

The sight of the gold distracted me from my knotted stomach. The minute we stepped out, I would pretend the pack in front of me was mine, but it didn’t feel fake any longer.

“If I call it that, will you refuse?” Walden’s eyebrows arched.

I held my wrist out, the one adorned with his other gift. WWED? She’d take a present without argument.

Walden undid it and added the new one, flipped it over and let his fingers linger on my wrist.

“I had this commissioned months ago. There wasn’t a good time to give it to you and…” His jaw clenched. “I want you to remember this today.”

I let out a soft puff of surprise. The inscription read WWTD.

What Would Tully Do.

“You don’t need anyone else’s voice but yours. And I know it’s overbearing and presumptuous and you don’t want—umphf.” Walden’s words tasted desperate when my lips pressed against his.

Eucalyptus burned my nostrils and cleared my nervous jitters. I sat back, smiling at Walden’s frozen face and the lipstick on his lips.

“Thank you, Walden. I love it.”

Pan used his thumb to clean his lover’s lips. “What games are you playing, angel?”

“Isn’t tonight a charade? We have to keep up appearances.”

I hopped out of the car, stifling a laugh as Walden asked for a moment. Was he hard from that brief kiss?

Photographers turned in readiness, but my smile faltered as Pan grabbed my wrist. Lloyd and Ajax looked on with smirks.

“Tell me if this doesn’t feel real.”