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While I was still hurt that she’d kept the secret, I felt bad for making her feel bad. That was probably a dumb thing to care about, but I did care about it.

After a few minutes, I decided to leave it alone for a few days. I finished my food and cleaned up the small mess from lunch, then went back to my cookies.

Beck came back in while I was rolling my dough. He frowned when he saw the kitchen. “You didn’t need to clean up after me.”

“You cooked,” I pointed out.

“You’re still cooking.”

“Cleaning up after someone else cooks seems like basic courtesy. If we’re going to live together, I think we can use some of that.”

He let out a long breath that told me he was annoyed, but jerked his head in a nod. “Thank you.”

“Mmhm.”

I went back to my cookies, and his phone rang again.

It was slightly awkward… but it could’ve been worse, right?

eleven

BAUTHER

I fought like hell to give Sienna the space she wanted through the whole day. It was fucking painful.

By the time the pack run came around, I was grateful for an excuse to talk to her again, even if I had to try not to touch her more than necessary.

“We need to look like a team,” I murmured to her, as we slipped out of the house. “The gossip will get worse if it doesn’t seem like we’re happy together.”

She nodded, though her gaze was moving over the crowd of shifters on the street.

“Is it okay if I touch you tonight?”

“Yeah. If we want to sell it, we’ll need to be really touchy. I’ll do it too.”

“Maybe we’ll be able to breathe again when she’s touching us,” my wolf grumbled.

“You’re going to get to run with her wolf soon enough, and I can’t imagine she’ll refuse to touch you.”

“Fuck, I hope not.”

I slipped my arm around her waist, easing her to my side so she wouldn’t get bumped as we joined the crowd. There were dozens of curious eyes on us, but we ignored them.

Her scent was incredible, and my cock responded to it.

She wrapped her arm around my back, and I hardened even more.

I ached for her so much, it was driving me mad.

We made it to the place the pack always gathered before runs, and the crowd parted enough to let us through to the front. Madd and Love were already waiting up there, and Love immediately flashed Sienna a smile.

There was more to it than happiness. It looked like an apology.

Sienna reached over and squeezed her hand as we stepped into position beside them.

She leaned against me while Madd welcomed everyone, and while I announced our bond. She smiled when the pack cheered, and leaned in even closer, hugging me tighter.

It wasn’t the naked, full-body hug I wanted, but it was a hell of an improvement from the way we’d spent the first part of the day.