Page 125 of Pack Choice

“You’re a little young for boyfriends,” I tell her, “and kissing. A word of advice. Keep your options open.”

“Like you?”

“Me?”

“You have three boyfriends.”

“How about we take these cookies to the others,” I say, whipping the plate off the table. “Come on, I’m sure they’re going to love them.”

* * *

Everyone staresat the black cookies with their bright red hearts.

“Aren’t they pretty?” I prompt. “They’re vampire cookies.”

Ford looks confused but the others seem to accept this piece of news like it’s totally logical.

“They look very pretty,” Sissy says, helping herself to one, yelping when icing threatens to run off her cookies and onto her pants.

“Maybe some serviettes,” Colt suggests and Harper sprints off in search of them.

“She pulled one over on you,” River says, examining the cookies. “There is no way Colt or Sissy would let her use that much icing normally.”

“I kinda figured, but …” I shrug.

Harper rushes back in with a wad of serviettes and hands them around, then she offers the plate up to Ford first.

“Would you like one?”

“Ford doesn’t eat sweet things,” I tell her, River smothering an amused snort with his fist. I glare at him.

“I’d love one,” Ford says, lifting another runny cookie onto his serviette.

Harper looks at him. He looks back at her. She waits and gingerly he lifts the cookie to his mouth and takes a large bite.

“Yum,” he says, his eyes watering. The man probably hasn’t consumed that much sugar in one single mouthful since he was in kindergarten.

“You know what we need with these cookies; coffee,” Sissy says, rising to her feet. “Let me brew some.”

She strides from the room, leaving her cookie, Harper, the three alphas and me behind.

I stare around at the three alphas nibbling heart-covered cookies and I have to giggle. This has to be the most surreal moment of my life. Only a few hours ago we were all rolling around together in bed without a scrap of clothing on. Now we’re all sitting pretty at a tea party.

I keep giggling, because what the hell am I going to do now? I am the sappy omega, like all those ones before me, who’s left a heat giddy for the alphas who’ve seen her through it, nursing fantasies about us all being together. But can that really happen? Colten has a daughter. River a racing career that takes him all around the world. And Ford?

The ex-soldier hears my giggles and looks my way. He meets my eyes, and it happens. His face cracks into a smile. It’s a little shy, perhaps not well practiced, but it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in my life. My heart warms.

First my ovaries, now my heart. I’m in serious, serious trouble.

* * *

When I’ve consumed somany cookies and so much coffee, I think I’m in danger of a stroke, Colt and River walk me to the door, Ford already waiting in the car.

Whatever this was, it’s over now, and maybe it’s the buzz of sugar and caffeine messing with my system, but I can’t help the feeling of sadness lying in my stomach. Is this where it all ends?

“This was nice,” I say.

“It was,” Colt says, nodding his head in contemplation.