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FORTY-TWO

Between all the drama, tutoring, and chapter meetings from the past month, the boys forgot to plan their monthly game night.

With a little push, they finally decided to hold the occasion in the middle of the week.

I was thrilled when they asked what day worked best for me, including me in their plans without hesitation.

It reminded me that they see me as pack, which is exciting in a foreign but also completely welcoming way.

That’s why I’m here, on a Tuesday night, while my scent matches put their living space together so we can all have a fun and fluid night. I was surprised to find that their coffee table has a hidden compartment underneath so that it can hold all of their physical games.

I love being privy to that information.

“So, what are we playing first?” I ask as we seat ourselves on the floor.

They’ve settled down several blankets and pillows, turning their living room into a make-shift nest. It’s very comfy as I lace my fingers through the velvet fur.

The lights are dimmed and Kendall lit a few rosemary candles on the coffee table, making the room smell a lot less manly and a lot more relaxing.

They all look at me attentively, boyish excitement in their faces. Atlas settles next to me and gives me that prime smirk of his that makes my stomach flutter. “Well… since we didn’t get to play it last time, we were thinking truth or dare.”

My smile widens. “Full circle, huh?”

Kendall claps his hands together. “Exactly! I’ll go first.” He looks over at Ciro. “Truth or dare, Jimenez?”

My beta rolls his eyes. “Dare, of course.”

Kendall smirks with a gleam in his eye. “I dare you to speak with a British accent until the end of the game.”

Ciro balks. I let out a giggle while furrowing a brow. “That doesn’t seem so bad.”

Uriah laughs on my left. “You’ve never heard Ciro’s British accent. It’s atrocious.”

“Stacia, there’s no chance you’ll suddenly come down with amnesia after we’re done playing, is there?” Ciro asks, serious panic appearing over his features.

I’m astounded as the rest of the guys laugh. “No, probably not. Are you all serious? Is it that bad?”

“Let’s just say, we should probably never let an actual British person hear him or they’ll likely plot his murder,” Kendall quips.

I look back at my terrified beta. “Well. I’d like to hear it then.” His face contorts with even more fear. “I promise I won’t hold it over your head, Ci.”

He gives a heavy sigh before opening his mouth. “Alright, lassie, it looks like it’s your turn, then.”

My mouth drops at the abhorrent noise that escapes my scent match.

“What the hell is that?” I almost exclaim, but I pull my volume back in. “What dialect is that? Are you attempting a Liverpool accent? And why are you calling me lassie? That’s a Scottish thing.”

The alphas laugh even harder. Kendall nearly topples over from clutching his stomach. Ciro’s cheeks darken but he’s also adorning a cheeky grin. “I guess I’m not eloquent enough to pull it off.”

“That’s a fucking understatement.” Uriah chokes out between chuckles.

“Well, now it’s your turn, mate,” Ciro responds. “The friend ‘mate,’ not the other one. Whatever. Truth or dare?”

The boys’ laughter ceases but their amusement is still highly contagious. I can’t stop smiling. “Truth.”

The corner of Ciro’s lips turn up the slightest amount. “Is it true that you went celibate before college because you were waiting for your omega?”

My eyes widen as my head whips to Uriah. He’s trying to look casual about answering, but there’s a slight pink in his cheeks that wasn’t there before.

“You little snot,” Uriah utters under his breath. I see such vulnerability in his eyes when he finally meets my gaze. “It’s true.”

My mouth parts, just barely holding in its gasp. “So it had been… what? Three years since you had been with someone?” He nods. “Can I ask why?”

He sighs. “I had only been with one person before. We didn’t have a very strong relationship, so I didn’t really enjoy it.

After that, I decided that I didn’t want to be intimate with someone if the connection wasn’t there.

And I figured, the best connection would be with my omega, whenever I found her.

” He shrugs again and meets my gaze. “I’m so fucking glad I waited. ”

My heart skips a beat.

“You’re making the rest of us look bad,” Kendall quips, but he has a smile on his face.

“It’s not like the rest of you were sleeping around. I was just more… closed off.”

I’m not quite sure how to respond to that, especially now that my insides feel like jelly. Pliable to his words.

“Atlas, truth or dare?” Uriah says, allowing the moment to move forward when he notices I’m at a loss for words.

“I don’t know, are we going to continue to use this game as a way to spill each other’s secrets to our mate?” He lifts one brow, a nervous smile on his face.

“Just answer the question.”

Atlas looks thoughtful for a second before answering. “Truth.”

“What’s your ideal placement for the draft next year?”

I look at Atlas. He’s told me about his dream of going pro, but he’s been vague about where he wants to end up. I know it’s not likely, he could end up literally anywhere, but I’m curious about what he wants. Our prime doesn’t talk about what he wants enough.

He tilts his head, really processing the question.

“I could go anywhere and be happy. I’d like to end up somewhere that you four like as well.

That’s the most ideal. But when it comes to the team itself?

The Bruins are my favorite team. That would be the best case scenario, but I doubt it’ll happen.

They don’t look like they’ll be trading or losing any forwards anytime soon. ”

I give his shoulder a squeeze. “But that’s something you’ve dreamed about. It’s okay to say it out loud.”

His lips betray him by curving upwards. He lays his hand on mine, returning the squeeze I gave him. “I really don’t mind where we go, as long as you’re there with us.”

I find myself at a loss of words again. “You’re all trying to turn me into a sap.”

Ciro scoffs. “Can we really do that, Stacia? You read romance. You’re a Pisces. Your sappiness is already apparent.”

I balk at his words, letting out a laugh before giving him the finger. “You’re going to eat those words.”

“I don’t have anything to lose because I’m stuck doing this stupid fucking accent.”

It really is getting worse by the second.

Atlas turns to Kendall. “Truth or dare, Kenny?”

“Dare, of course! Give me something good, Alpha!”

“I dare you to give our omega a twenty second lap dance.”

Before I know it, Ciro’s playing PILLOWTALK on his phone as Kendall grinds on me.

It gets to the point where he lays me down, and the way he moves his hips causes a flurry of feelings to stir inside me.

When he finally pulls back after the longest twenty seconds of my life, I’m red in the face and speechless.

Kendall sits back in his spot while the others hoot and holler at us. He doesn’t seem embarrassed or put out by the endeavor. He actually seems a little… frustrated he had to stop?

He tries to catch his breath as he turns to Uriah. “You know the drill.”

“Just truth for now, K.” He looks relaxed, and he’s playing with my hand without actually lacing our fingers together. It’s grounding but also a bit teasing.

“What’s your biggest kink?”

“I think you should all answer that,” I add, crossing my arms at my chest.

“We’ll answer if you answer, angel,” Atlas replies.

I feel my face warm up before I sit up a bit taller. “I’m not sure exactly what I like yet, but I enjoy when it’s a bit rough. I like when one of you holds my throat.” I swallow before saying the next bit. “I think I’ll like it even more if one person is rough while the other is soft.”

My prime’s chest starts to purr before he shuts it off, embarrassed by his involuntary reaction. He clears his throat. “My kink is… I like being dominant. In charge of the situation. Which means, I like submission from my person.”

My stomach flips. Just the thought of Atlas letting down his cautious wall causes something to stir inside me.

“I like going back and forth with my person. What does that make me? A verse?” Ciro says in his ridiculous British voice. “Not to mention, I like a bit of pain. Hair pulling, nipple tugging. Bring it on.”

I try to hide my smile behind my hand, completely smitten with this hilarious Beta.

“What about you, Kendall?” I ask.

He cracks his neck, seemingly nervous about his answer. “I like… rope play.”

My eyes widen, an image of myself tied up for him invades my brain.

“I also may have read a few… primal play scenes lately from those books you love. They’re very intriguing.”

I can definitely see the more dominant nature in my blond alpha. It’s so obvious that I feel a bit insane for missing it.

Uriah finally interlaces our fingers, drawing my attention back to him. “And I think this goes without saying, but I like the connection. Whenever I’m fully connected with the person, that’s when I have the most fun. But that’s only happened once, so. Maybe we can learn our kinks together.”

“I’d love that, Uri.”

I quite enjoy that these boys have complimentary appetites. I feel a bit more adequate in my skill set knowing that I can deliver what they like and that I will enjoy it, too.

Uriah turns his gaze towards Ciro. “Truth or dare, Ci?”

“Dare. Please fucking end this.”

“Okay, fine.” Uriah lets out a small laugh. “I dare you to drop the terrible accent.”

“Fucking thank you .” Ciro’s voice is back to normal. He immediately looks more comfortable and relaxed. He even has his confident shine back. “Now I can ask questions and still feel like I have the upper hand.”

“Well, get on with it, Ci.” Kendall gives him a not-so-subtle wink and head nod towards me, which makes me narrow my eyes.

“Stacia. Truth or dare?”

I’m wondering what they’re up to as I ponder my response. “Do you have a trick up your sleeve for both of those options or?”