Page 114 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)

AUDREY

The next four days were pleasantly similar to the previous one. Nova or Bishop took me to breakfast after the other betas had eaten, then they headed to work. I stayed and chatted with Eloise and Kira, learning more about the pack, its recent history, and what living in Stonehaven was like.

The pack was more alive and vibrant than my old pack, and that wasn’t just because I’d been ostracized or because it was a quarter of the size. The Stonehaven pack had more than two restaurants and a single bar. It had six restaurants and seven pubs, a couple of dance halls, a theatre for plays, and a community center that always had something happening morning, afternoon, and evening. There was also the arena that hosted events that the whole pack would be interested in like traveling musicians or acting troupes or sporting events among the pack.

It was clear by how she talked about the pack that Eloise loved it and the people. Kira loved it as well, but I could sense every time she mentioned something outside the pack that she wanted to see new sights and sounds and, more importantly, learn new dishes.

As we talked, I helped wash the breakfast dishes or prepare the informal lunch that those working and living in the Residence could eat whenever their schedules allowed it.

Then, before the betas arrived to grab their lunches, I headed to the back of the grounds to Whil’s cottage where she studied the tether — usually knocking me out for the rest of the day — or answered my questions about what scientific and engineering discoveries the pack had made and about their magical items.

I had no doubt that they used magic for more than just their lights and discovered their fridges and freezers had magical cold stones and every faucet had hot and cold stone chips to heat or cool the water temperature.

My evenings ended with dinner in my suite. Much to my disappointment, Bishop couldn’t eat with me the first two nights, but Nova and then Nova and Deacon kept me company, and neither of them looked at me with suspicion or made me feel threatened.

Last night, I’d had Bishop all to myself again and we mostly ate our spicy chicken and pasta dinner before falling into my bed and making love.

Now I stood at the open gate to the Residence’s grounds waiting for Bishop to take me to the community center — which also happened to be Stonehaven’s school — where Nova was teaching her first aid class.

It was just past lunch and I shifted from foot to foot, unable to hold in my nervousness. On one hand, I was excited to finally be able to explore the town and was eagerly awaiting Knox’s return sometime today.

On the other hand, I’d started feeling safe in my quiet, reclusive routine. I’d managed to successfully avoid running into Velora, Finn, and Thane, and, most importantly, Cyrus.

A shiver of desire skated down my spine just like it always did when I thought of Cyrus and the fantasy of having sex with him flooded my mind.

God, when was it going to go away?

I couldn’t believe I was still thinking about it even after having three glorious sexual encounters — not to mention numerous orgasms — with Bishop.

I wanted to scream in frustration. I was happy with Bishop, and while I barely knew Knox, I knew I’d be happy with him, too. I certainly didn’t need to be fantasizing about their older brother.

Footsteps thudded on the flagstone driveway and I looked up, my pulse suddenly twice as fast as it had been a moment ago and my body heating.

“Bish—” I started then realized it was Cyrus who was marching toward me.

My pulse picked up even faster, no longer spurred by desire, and a cold dread sank heavy into my stomach. This was the first time I’d spoken with him since that disastrous dinner — and I was definitely speaking to him because there was nowhere to hide and from the hard set of his jaw, he’d already spotted me.

“Leaving the Residence?” he asked, his voice gruff as he approached. “Do you have Nova’s permission?”

I dropped my gaze and strained to school my expression into a pleasant mask. “I do, alpha. She asked me to attend her first aid class.”

“And you’re waiting for Bishop to escort you?”

“Yes, alpha.”

A hint of his power stuttered over me. The need to look at him seized me, but it vanished just as quickly, saving me from getting an eyeful of him and reigniting my fantasy.

But as soon as I realized that?—

I shoved the fantasy as far back in my mind as I could and concentrated on all the cracks and grooves in the stone driveway beneath my feet.

I don’t think he’s sexy. I don’t think he’s sexy. God, why couldn’t I make myself believe that?

He’d put me in my place and clearly didn’t want to even be around a weakling like me.

“I just saw Velora ambush him with the final last details for tomorrow’s festival,” Cyrus said, making something sour curl around my heart. “I doubt he’ll be free until dinner.”

Disappointment joined the sour sensation, surprising me. I hadn’t realized just how much I wanted to see Bishop or how much I didn’t want him hanging around Velora. Which was ridiculous. Bishop wasn’t interested in Velora. He was interested in me.

“Thank you for telling me, alpha,” I said, managing to keep my voice steady. “Excuse me.”

I turned to head to Whil’s cottage. If Bishop wasn’t coming, there was no point in continuing to wait. I’d find out when Nova was teaching her next first aid class and try to join again.

“Where are you going?” Cyrus demanded, his words freezing me in place despite him not using any of his power.

Shit. I hadn’t asked to be excused and left before he’d given me permission.

I turned back to him, my gaze back on my feet and my hands clasped in front of me.

Shit shit shit.

I’d dropped my guard, just for a moment because Bishop, Nova, and Deacon, as well as Whil, Eloise, and Kira had made me feel safe. Now I’d given Cyrus a reason to discipline me.

“Don’t you want to take the first aid class?” he asked.

“I…” I couldn’t tell from his tone if he wanted me to say yes or no. When we’d been traveling, he’d suggested it, but that was before he’d reminded me of my position in the pack.

He huffed. “Come on. I’m meeting with some merchants here for the festival. The school is on my way.”

He turned on his heel and headed through the gate, his posture rigid and a muscle in his jaw twitching.

Confused, I hurried after him. Was he trying to make me useful for the pack, or was he actually being nice?

Either way, he told me to follow, and I couldn’t disobey him.

Cyrus took the most direct path into town, his pace almost too quick for me as if he couldn’t stand being with me and wanted to get our walk over and done with. He followed the main road through Old Town and halfway into the newer part of Stonehaven before taking a right onto another prominent road to a large, three-story building.

The building had decorative scrollwork at its eaves and around the windows and door as well as large bricks, suggesting it wasn’t one of the newer buildings, but it also had the newer buildings’ style of large windows, making it a beautiful blending of old and new.

It sat butted against a granite slope that had been carved to make long, wide steps. The steps curved around an area paved with flagstones that had a few stone benches and tables, along with three patches of white marks — each patch a different pattern — and a large white circle in the center, reminding me of a school playground. Beside the paved area lay a grassed area with a jungle gym that looked to be a mix of human obstacles and ones suited to wolf pups.

Both areas were shaded by towering oaks and both had a few large stone planters marking the edges and filled with colorful flowers.

Cyrus strode across the paved area and straight through the front door, and I scrambled to catch up with him, surprised he hadn’t just left me and worried about what going inside with me meant.