Page 32

Her expression softens, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I like you too. More than I probably should after such a short time."

Relief floods through me, followed quickly by caution. There's a 'but' coming. I can hear it in her tone.

"But," she continues, confirming my suspicion, "I'm worried about getting hurt again. About getting in the middle of your pack dynamics when they're already strained because of your presentation."

I start to protest, but she holds up a hand, stopping me.

"I've been here before, Darren. Not exactly here, maybe. This situation is unique in about a dozen ways, but close enough. I've been the beta who wasn't quite enough, who was always second choice. And I can't do that again."

The pain in her voice is raw, genuine. It makes my chest tighten protectively.

"You're not second choice," I say firmly. "Sure as hell not to me."

"Maybe not intentionally," she acknowledges.

"But your pack is important to you. They're your family, your support system.

And they made it pretty clear at dinner that they're not comfortable with me being in the picture.

I just don't see how it could work between us long term if they're not in support. Your bonds with them are a factor."

My phone buzzes from the counter where I left it, interrupting the moment. Then again. And again. A series of texts in quick succession that can only be from the pack.

Perfect fucking timing, assholes.

Lexie glances at it, then back to me. "Speaking of your pack..."

I ignore the phone, focusing on her. "They can wait. I've been avoiding them all week, one more hour's not gonna kill them."

"Can they wait, though?" she asks gently. "Do they even know where you are?"

"No," I grumble, unable to stomach lying to her.

She gets a sad, distant look in her eyes. "Maybe it's time to talk to them."

"I told them I'm staying at a hotel," I say, the words coming out more defensive than intended. "They know I'm alive and safe. They'll live."

"That's all the more reason you should go," she insists. "I don't want them thinking you're running off with some random beta or they'll really hate me. And they'd actually have reason this time."

"I don't care what they think," I counter, though even as I say it, I know it's not entirely true. Despite everything, they're still my pack. Still important to me. "You're not ‘some random beta.’ And they won't hate you."

"You can't know that." She reaches across the table, taking my hand in hers. "Look, I want this to work. I want to see where this goes between us. But I don't want to be the reason your pack falls apart."

My phone buzzes again, more insistent this time. Probably Jax, trying to use his captain voice via text.

"You're right," I admit reluctantly. "I probably do need to talk to them."

Relief flashes across her face, followed by vulnerability. "So what does that mean for us? For... whatever this is becoming?"

"I want you," I say simply, because it's the truest thing I know right now. "I want to keep seeing you, keep getting to know you. Keep waking up with you."

The flush that spreads across her cheeks is gratifying.

"I want that too," she admits. "But the pack?—"

"We don't have to figure everything out right now," I say, seeing the conflict in her eyes. "Can we just... give this a chance? Just the two of us, for now? See where it goes?"

She studies me for a long moment, those expressive brown eyes searching mine. Finally, she nods. "If you discuss it with your pack, and they're accepting, then yes. I'd like that."

It's not the unconditional yes I was hoping for, but it's realistic. Practical. Very Lexie.

"I'll talk to them," I promise, bringing her hand to my lips. "Today."

My phone buzzes again, as if on cue. Lexie laughs, the sound lightening the mood. "You should probably get that before they send a search party."

I groan but reach for the phone. Six texts from Jax, three from Aidan, even one from Dmitri. It's three words, which is practically a novel from him.

DMITRI: Are you okay?

Nothing from Zayn, but that's not surprising.

"I should go," I say reluctantly, scrolling through the messages. Nothing urgent, just variations on, "Where are you?" and "We need to talk."

Lexie nods, standing to clear our plates.

I catch her wrist as she passes, pulling her onto my lap. She comes willingly, settling against me with a comfort that feels earned rather than assumed.

"This isn't me running away," I clarify, needing her to understand. "From you, I mean. I want this to work."

"I know," she says softly, her hand coming up to cup my cheek. "I do too."

The kiss we share is gentle, a promise rather than a demand. When we part, there's a certainty in her eyes that wasn't there before.

"Call me later?" she asks.

"Definitely," I promise.

Getting dressed feels like a return to reality after the bubble we've created in her apartment. My running clothes from yesterday are less than fresh, but they'll do until I get back to the house.

They smell like Lexie, which could set the alphas off, but I don't really give a shit. They're just going to have to deal with it and I'm not willing to give her up. If there was Lexie-scented shampoo, conditioner and soap, I'd give up my seventeen-in-one and soak myself in it at all times.

At the door, I pull her in for one more kiss, lingering longer than I should. "Thank you," I murmur against her lips.

"For what?"

"For giving this a chance. For giving me a chance."

Her smile is soft, genuine. "Thank you for making me want to."

The walk to my car where I left it near the park is brisk in the morning air. As I drive toward the pack house, I find myself replaying the last twenty-four hours in my mind.

Meeting Lexie at the park felt like chance, but maybe it was something more. Fate, if I believed in that kind of thing. Who knows? Maybe I do. The connection between us is undeniable.

But the pack complicates everything. Their strange behavior at dinner, their obvious discomfort with Lexie, the way they've been treating me since my presentation… It all adds up to a mess I'm not sure how to untangle.

But I know one thing.

My pack owes me some fucking answers.