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Chapter twenty-two

GRAY

I expected there to be questions, maybe even some pushback from Puma for literally stealing Violet from his lap. She wasn’t actually sitting on him but it was obvious to see that in that moment, she was his. I expected there to be a conversation, some yelling, some tension between the four Alphas of this pack.

Except, none of that happened and the little pleasured cries coming from Puma’s bedroom is making it damn hard to concentrate. Knowing that Lance has that glorious view of Violet and Sofie, giving them what they need—god it’s not fair.

It’s even less fair that I’m stuck at the kitchen table with Puma and Hawk, both of them waiting for me to spill my guts. I already mentioned Violet years ago, the woman I couldn’t get out of my head. The woman who had plagued every thought of my mind for weeks after. It didn’t feel like a fling but she never called or texted so I thought it was just that.

Never in a million years did I think I was going to come home to her after yet another all-nighter fixing someone’s goddamn banquet hall. And now, I’m pretty sure I chased her away with my eagerness to pick up right where we left off. At least, that’s what it feels like with the way Puma is glaring at me.

Fuck, he didn’t even kiss me when I came in.

I exhale sharply, dragging a hand down my face. “This really isn’t a big deal.” But it is, because fantasies of bringing her into our pack surfaced during those weeks after. I had no idea that’s how it felt to have a scent match. None of these men are my scent matches. I just love them and biology wasn’t going to stop me. It might have started out as more of a business transaction but that doesn’t change my feelings. “Okay, it’s a big fucking deal. Please tell me they’re not leaving, Alpha.”

I don’t care how pitiful I sound but the rest of my heart and soul was just sitting on the fucking couch. Puma leans back, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Sofie’s heat is soon and as complicated as that situation is, no, they’re not leaving. Just tone it down with your enthusiastic self. This Violet may not be the same one you remember.”

My smile disappears and I’m about to fight him on that when Hawk cuts in. The bastard doesn’t speak much and while he is usually my least favorite of the twins, his stoic presence is sometimes exactly what I need. “Gray, Puma is not saying to back off. He’s telling you to go slow. Ease her back into the woman you first knew. She’s been taking care of her Omega for so long that her entire thought process is wired around protecting her.”

“I briefly met her at the club—Sofie, was it? She was a Beta then.” The room goes silent and I realize that’s not information anyone knew. “I swear. Violet mentioned multiple times that she had been out with her friends, all Betas. Told me all about them and how she should probably tell them where she was so they didn’t call the police.”

Hawk sits forward, his expression darkening. “I’ve never heard of an Omega presenting that fucking late. How old is she?”

I snort. “Isn’t it a little late to be asking about ages? Fuck, I’m sorry. We’re around the same age. Thirties, or so?” The twins are almost eight years my senior, Puma closer to fifteen or sixteen years older. I can’t remember which birthday we celebrated last and it doesn’t matter. “All I needed to know was that there was another chance with that goddess in that room.”

“And Sofie?” Puma presses. “I had my suspicions that you’d pounce on Violet first but I’m curious.”

“She smells like a fucking dream, Puma but I’m also not going to encroach on the twins territory. Do you see how Hawk’s eyeing me right now? Fuck, I’m not getting in the middle of that. Or wait, I might like that. Sandwiched between the twins is one of the best fucking places.”

Puma cuts me off, roughly grabbing my ear and yanking me toward him. “I have a mind to fuck some sense into you right here but you’d enjoy that too much.”

“I can pretend to hate it if that makes it better?”

The Alpha releases me, shaking his head but I know who’s bed I’m going to be in tonight and who I’m dragging in between us. “It’s going to take some time to adjust with the new dynamic but I thought you might enjoy a little company on your errands while they’re with us. Don’t look at me like that. I hate how hard you’ve been working and maybe Violet can knock some sense into you.”

A slow, deviant grin spreads across my lips at the thought, a billion ideas running through my mind of where I’d like Violet to ‘knock some sense into me’. Hawk lets out one of those warning growls, ruining the little bit of fun I had planned.

“I promise that I won’t do anything untoward Violet while we’re out unless she’s begging for it.”

That seems to end that portion of the conversation but they have no idea I will absolutely have Violet begging for it. Well, Puma probably knows but he’s just as much of a dirty bastard as I am so he wouldn’t object. He’d probably ask to watch.