Page 136 of Pack of Crooks

Ezra quickly swallows his eggs. “We’d love to come.”

Lottie beams. “Great. And after that we can go out to eat again.”

I start to chastise her, but the guys swoop to her rescue, spoiling her rotten. My heart fills with warmth and I watch my pack interact with my sister while I eat. They’re so perfect.

My fork hits an empty plate with aclankand everyone pauses. Their plates are all half full.

Kill arches an eyebrow. “Hungry?”

I shouldn’t be, but my stomach is demanding more food. “Uh, yeah actually.”

Kill gives me his food. I greedily eat it all, aware of them watching me, but food is more important. I finish and chew on my lip, eyeing Ezra’s meal.

His lips twitch. “Do you want more?”

“I’m sorry,” I say as I accept his eggs. “I don’t know why I’m so hungry.”

Lottie gasps. “Oh my god, you’re in preheat.”

“What?” I ask with a scoff, shaking my head. “No I’m not.”

She slaps her palm to my forehead.

“Ow!”

“Shh,” she hisses.

“Don’t shush me,” I growl.

“See? She’s totally grumpy too. She’s burning up.”

“I’m not grumpy,” I say with a huff. “And I was cooking.”

“What day is it?” she asks.

I start to respond, pause, picture a calendar and count the days from my last heat and— “Oh shit. She’s right.”

Lottie’s hand drops into her lap, and she gets a horrified look on her face. “You have a pack.”

“Oh good, you’ve finally caught up,” I quip.

She swats my arm. “Shut up, I mean, you have a pack to help you through your heat.” She wrinkles her nose. “Gross.”

“Sex isn’t gross, Lottie. Everyone does it.” I think better of my words. “Everyone who is an adult, I mean. You’re only fourteen. No sex for you.”

She rolls her eyes. “Can I stay with Milly during it? No offense, but that’s something I donotneed to experience.”

All my prior heats were spent alone in my tiny closet with Lottie bringing me food and water. She always helped, but only because I didn’t have anyone else. Now I have three people to help me.

“I’ll text her, but I’m not going into heat right now. It’ll be a few days.”

She nods. “I’ll go once it hits.” She narrows her eyes and looks at the guys. “You treat her like a queen. Understood?”

“Lottie!”

“Shh, Hazel. You’re not part of this conversation.”

That’s the second time she’s done that. Who does she think she is? “Don’t. Shush. Me.”