Page 28

Chapter

Twenty

LEXIE

T he park buzzes with the sounds of children's laughter and the occasional squeal of delight as someone conquers the monkey bars.

I shift on the wooden bench, adjusting my position to catch the warmth of the afternoon sun on my face.

It's the first time I've been outside for anything other than shipping runs in a week, and despite my reluctance to admit it, the fresh air feels good.

"Aunt Lexie! Aunt Lexie!" Taylor races toward me, pigtails bouncing, an object clutched in her tiny fist. "Look what I found!"

She skids to a stop in front of me, opening her hand to reveal a pebble. Ordinary to anyone else, but clearly a treasure to my five-year-old niece. It's smooth and flat, with flecks of mica that catch the light.

"Wow, that's a special one," I say, taking it from her palm to examine it properly. "Look at how it sparkles."

Her face lights up with pride. "It's magic. Like in the story you told us."

"Definitely magic," I agree, handing it back. "Better keep it safe."

She nods solemnly before darting back to the playground where her brother is digging in the sand, completely absorbed in his quest to reach China, or so he informed me earlier.

At the rate my life is going, I just might join him.

I check my phone and see it'll be another hour before Jessica and Luke return from their date. I don't mind watching the kids. Their uncomplicated joy is a welcome distraction from the mess I've made of my own life.

It's been a week since the disaster at The Terrace.

Seven days of throwing myself into work with a single-minded focus that's left little room for anything else.

My apartment has become even more of a warehouse than before, with stacks of inventory threatening to take over every available surface.

The irony isn't lost on me. I'm literally building walls of sweaters around myself.

But business is booming. My fall collection is selling faster than I can make it, and I've even had to start a waitlist for certain designs.

At this rate, I might actually need to consider renting a small workspace.

My dining table hasn't been used for actual dining in months, and my living room is more shipping department than living space.

Success should feel better than this.

I watch Taylor, her small face scrunched in concentration as she examines another rock with Adam.

Both kids bring me treasures every few minutes.

Rocks, leaves, the occasional unidentifiable but questionable item I have to discreetly dispose of when he's not looking.

Adam, unfortunately, has an obsession with gifting me grubs.

This is good. Simple. Safe. No complicated pack dynamics, no alphas giving me strange looks, no newly-presented omega who makes my heart race with just a smile.

No Darren.

I've deleted Beyond Bonds from my phone, along with every other dating app Jessica has ever convinced me to try. Four failed relationships should have been enough to teach me the lesson. The fifth attempt, however brief, was just the universe making sure I got the message.

I don't fit into their world. I never will.

"Lexie?"

The deep voice sends a jolt through me like I've touched a live wire. I freeze, not wanting to turn around, not wanting to confirm what I already know.

It can't be.

But it is. Because the universe isn't done with me yet.

I slowly look up, and there he is, Darren Malloy, all six-foot-four of him, standing a few feet away in running shorts and a fitted athletic shirt that does nothing to hide the muscles underneath.

A light sheen of sweat makes his skin glow in the afternoon sun, and his short brown hair is slightly mussed, like he's been running his hands through it.

He looks good. Devastatingly good.

"Darren," I manage, hating how breathless I sound. "What are you doing here?"

A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, and my traitorous heart skips a beat. "Relax, I'm not stalking you. I jog through here every day for training."

"Oh." Of course. This park is on a popular running route. "Right."

He shifts his weight, those blue eyes studying me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle. "Can I sit for a second?"

I hesitate, glancing toward the playground where Taylor and Adam are now engaged in what appears to be a serious negotiation over sandbox territory with some other children. They're fine for the moment, completely absorbed in their play.

"Sure," I say finally, scooting over to make room on the bench.

He sits beside me, careful to leave space between us, though I can still feel the heat from his body. The faint scent of woodsmoke reaches me, subtle but unmistakable even through what must be industrial-strength blockers.

"I messaged you," he says after a moment. "On the app. An embarrassing number of times, actually." He rubs the back of his neck. "Figured you either deleted it or didn't want to talk to me when you didn't reply."

"I deleted the app," I admit, keeping my eyes on the playground. It's easier than looking at him. "You don't have anything to apologize for."

"Don't I?" He laughs, but there's no humor in it. "My pack acted like complete assholes. I still don't know what got into them. I've never seen them like that before."

I risk a glance at him. His profile is sharp against the backdrop of the park, jaw clenched with frustration.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" I ask softly. "The same thing as ever."

"What do you mean?"

"Alphas are protective over their omegas," I say, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "They don't want to risk anyone else coming in and messing up the dynamics."

A low growl rumbles from his chest, startling me. "Those aren't our dynamics," he says, the words clipped and hard. "I don't want them to be. I'm not owned by anyone, and if I have to be an omega, I'm going to do it on my terms."

The vehemence in his voice catches me off guard. There's real anger there, raw and unfiltered. But beneath it, I hear desperation.

"Is that why you wanted to meet me in the first place?" I ask, the question that's been nagging at me for days finally finding voice. "To prove something to them?"

He turns to face me fully now, those blue eyes intense.

"At first? Maybe a little. I was angry and frustrated and wanted to show them I wasn't going to let this omega thing change everything.

And like I said in our profile, I thought the alphas could use a beautiful distraction.

" He pauses, his expression softening. "But then I met you, and it became about something else entirely. "

My heart stutters in my chest. "Darren?—"

"Aunt Lexie!" Taylor's voice cuts through the moment as she runs toward us, another rock clutched in her hand. She skids to a stop when she notices Darren, suddenly shy in the presence of a stranger.

"Who's that?" she asks, edging closer to me.

"This is my friend Darren," I say, grateful for the interruption. "Darren, this is my niece, Taylor."

Darren's entire demeanor shifts as he smiles at Taylor, his body language relaxing. "Hey there, Taylor. Cool rock."

Taylor studies him for a moment, then apparently decides he's worthy of her treasure. She holds out the rock, a smooth, dark stone with a vein of white quartz running through it.

"It's magic," she informs him solemnly.

"I can tell," Darren says, equally serious as he examines it. "That's a very special find."

Taylor beams, clearly approving of his assessment. "I found three more. Want to see?"

"Absolutely," Darren says without hesitation.

Before I can intervene, Taylor has grabbed his hand and is tugging him toward the playground where her collection awaits. Darren throws me an amused glance over his shoulder as he allows himself to be led away by a five-year-old on a quest.

I watch, surprised, as Taylor introduces him to Adam, who immediately shows him the gigantic lumpy castle they've been building in the sandbox.

Darren crouches down to their level, his massive frame somehow not intimidating as he listens intently to their explanations, asking questions and admiring their work with genuine interest.

"This is the mote!" Taylor proclaims loudly.

"Sweet," Darren says, studying the small ring they've filled with the bottle of water they snatched from my purse earlier. "Got any alligators in there?"

Taylor's eyes widen and I can practically see the lightbulb go off above her head. "Adam! We need gators."

They run over to the bucket of beach toys they brought with us, frantically searching the pieces for alligators to eat unsuspecting trespassers.

My phone buzzes with a text from Jessica.

JESSICA: Movie was shorter than we thought! Heading home now. You can drop the kids whenever.

I text back quickly.

LEXIE: Will head your way in about 10 min. They made a friend.

JESSICA: I’m hoping he's tall, dark and handsome, because YOU need a friend, sis.

I roll my eyes. If she had any idea.

I stand, gathering our things and heading toward the playground.

As I approach, I catch snippets of conversation.

Darren is explaining to Taylor how to make the walls of their sand castle stronger, while somehow simultaneously oohing and ahhing over all the random objects Adam brings him to inspect.

"Time to pack up, guys," I call. "Mom and Dad are home."

The expected protests and dramatics begin immediately, but Darren surprises me again.

"Your aunt says it's time to go," he says firmly but kindly. "Better listen to her. Those magic rocks will still be here next time."

To my shock, both children nod and begin gathering their things without further complaint. Taylor carefully stows her rock collection in the small backpack she insists on carrying herself while Adam makes one final adjustment to the sand castle before standing.

"Can he come too?" Taylor points at Darren, who's now standing a few feet away, giving us space.