Page 153 of Our Deceptive Heat

“Only warning you’re going to get,” I hiss.

Valen and Ranger move out, flanking me and watching me cautiously. “How’d you learn moves like that?”

I snort. “I grew up with a pack. We fought.”

Envy stands close but not touching. We’ve spent too many years holding the line of distance between us.

I reach out and take his hand.

Bailey sits down beside Charles. “I’m not touching your stinking horses. If you want to keep them, you clean their stalls.”

Charles looks, if anything, amused.

“I’m serious. If one more person tries to get me to shovel shit, I’m out of here!”

Everyone is doing well, but Bailey is going insane. He’s not happy here. You can see it in the lines of his shoulders, the stress in his eyes.

Charles ponders him for a long moment and then stands up. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

“If it’s about animals, I’m walking.”

Charles snorts a laugh and slaps the newest Raines on the shoulder. “I think you might like this.”

I turn back, looking at the wide blue sky and flat land as far as you can see. It’s another paradise.

I miss home, those with its rolling hills and small village.

But I could stay here for a while. Even the cities hold an appeal for me.

Where will we live?

“We’ll live wherever we want,” Ryn says.

I jump and look down at her.

“When did you sneak out here?”

“I do not sneak!” she says in outrage, but I find all the rest of the packs are gone. It’s just us now.

Mako and Digs step down off the porch, and Envy, Ryn, and I follow. We amble across the yard and towards the barn, unconsciously moving towards it.

It’s Ryn who makes the first move, turning and grabbing my shirt, walking backwards into the darkness with a wicked smile on her lips.

“What are you doing?” I ask her as I follow.

“Have you seen the bunk room?”

“The bunk room? Why, no, I have not. Have you guys seen the bunk room?” I say with a leer.

Envy laughs and shakes his head. “Subtle.”

“Who cares about being subtle? We’ve haven’t fucked in days,” Digs growls. “You’re family excel at being cock blocks!”

Ryn laughs and leads us to a door I haven’t noticed before. I can hear the movements of the animals in their stalls. The low lights guide our way, and then Ryn flicks on the light, revealing a room with a huge bed.

It’s not fancy.

It’s just a massive bed in a room.

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