Page 57 of Alphas Like Us

I groan. “Beck.” I’m not surprised everyone knows about Rowin Hart. He was introducing himself to our families at thehospital.

“You do need transparency, Moffy. Farrow knows everything aboutyou—”

“I knoweverygoddamn thing about Farrow that I need to know.” I understand that Beckett is protective because I’m the first to be in a relationship—the first to combat these strange dynamics since we’re strangely famous—but he can’t keep shitting on my boyfriend. Farrow has been through enough. “I don’t want the names of his other exes, Beckett. If I asked, he’d tell me. Give Farrow a fuckingbreak.”

Charlie leans against my dresser. “He said he thanked yourboyfriend.”

“Great,” I say, “and what did Farrow say inreturn?”

Beckett bends down to plug in the air mattress. “He told me to get the fuck out of hisrelationship.”

“Hisboyfriendalmost fuckingdied,” Sulli tells Beckett, helping him spread the air mattress out. “You’re lucky he didn’t deck you in theface.”

Beckett fiddles with my old outlet. “I’m willing to take a punch for Moffy. And for you and the rest of ourfamily.”

Sulli slugs his arm hard, butplayful.

He pushes her back,smiling.

I watch Jane tie her hair in a low pony, and she brings a tin of chocolate turtles to me. “You must be starving. You haven’t eaten sinceyesterday.”

“I’m not.” I cringe, no appetite from anesthesia and now pain. Nausea roils deep, and I try to ignore the queasiness. Having my family herehelps.

She carefully crawls on the bed beside me, dressed in baby blue coffee-print grannie jammies. I lean into my best friend and whisper about Xander, not able to keep this in. Not from her. She doesn’t ask for more details, just nods andlistens.

“Uh, cumbuckets.” Sulli just banged her elbow on the dresser, trying to inflate the air mattresses. I need to text Farrow to let him know that Omega can join us up here. If they want. It’s been a long, exhausting day. And we’ve gone through some shittogether.

My phone is lost in mysheets.

Fuck.

“What are you looking for?” Jane asks, wanting to help, but a black cat hops on the dresser behind Charlie. If there’s anything that can steal Jane Cobalt’s attention from family—it’s hercats.

Purring, Lady Macbeth collapses and rolls on her back. “She’s slow and old,” Charlie says to Jane. “I’d give her two more yearsmaximum.”

Jane looksmurderous.

“Charlie,” Isnap.

“Lady Macbeth, come here, my love,” Jane says quickly, trying to cajole the cat away from Charlie. The cat looks up at theceiling.

“And she’s deaf,” Charlienotes.

“She’s most definitely not. Wait and see.” Jane leaves my bed to prove her point, and the stairs creak—I’m hoping to see that tatted guy breach thedoorway.

Instead, my gangly little sister stumbles in. She wobbles like she’s fueled on energy drinks and sleeplessness from writingfics.

“You okay?” I ask Luna, herMetallicaT-shirt stained with paint andglitter.

“Yeahyeahyeah.” She almost trips over Beckett. “Sorrysorry.”

“You’re fine,” he says, watching as she careens towards mybed.

I sit up like I can stupidly help. Pain explodes in my chest,fucking Christ.I grind hard on myteeth.

Both Sulli and Jane react fast and catch my sister’s hands on either side, stopping her from collapsing on the bed and bouncing themattress.

Sulli lets go of Luna’s hand as Jane twirls her in a dance move. Luna wobbles and outstretches her arms. “Whoa,” my sistersays.