Page 16 of Our Deceptive Heat

I shove his hands off me and slip away from him. “Closure. We need closure.”

Digs stares at me, that knowing judgmental disapproval only pisses me off more.

“We don’t need closure. Closure was when she disappeared. How much louder does she need to say she doesn’t value anything we gave her?”

I huff and stalk to the kettle and turn it on.

“When you disappear out of someone’s life, that’s sending a very clear message, Tyr. Why is she here?”

I whirl around, furious. “Because I need to know why! I need to know what happened! Digs, I have to know.”

Digs’ expression changes too quickly for me to be able to tell. “She’s not your mother, Tyr.”

I flinch hard. When I grab a coffee cup, my hand trembles. “I know that.”

“You won’t get the answers you want.”

“I know, Digs! But I need to know why from her.”

Digs sighs, and all the anger goes out of him. He walks back towards me and pulls me into him, kissing me hard. His beard tickles my face and that almond scent of him that is so familiar wraps around me, mixing with the oak of mine. I kiss him back. I’ve been in love with this man since I was thirteen years old, and nothing has changed in all these years. This pack is the love of my life.

His big hands stroke down my back, easingthe tension out of me.

He pulls back and presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “You know that I love you, right? I’d do anything for you.”

I breathe him in. “I know, Digs, and I love you. You’re my alpha.”

“And you’re mine.”

“My fate.”

“My choice.”

Digs hums and lets go of me, stepping back. “All right, let’s see if we can get her to talk.”

I smile at him in relief. “Thank you for understanding.”

“I’ll always understand you, Tyr. I might not agree, but I will understand.”

I make the coffees and carry the tray back to the lounge room. Mako is laughing and whispering with her. The sight of it makes my heart lurch and my stomach clench. An old wound resurfaces, and I feel that savage, possessive betrayal, but I squash it down, smothering it.

Mako says something else, stands up, and turns in my direction. I put the tray down and sit, only to have Mako climb into my lap, kissing me hard enough to make me forget what my name is. Damn bonds won’t even let me have my own feelings.

When he comes up for air, I can see the amusement in his eyes as he pats my cheek. His smirk is next level, and for a moment, I am irrationally furious that we have a visitor and that I can’t fuck my alpha the way he needs.

Instead, Envy clears his throat.

I glance at him, finding his white hair curtaining his face, and clarity comes back with a vicious shove. I pinch Mako’s thigh. “Off.”

He slowly slides off me and sits down beside me, squeezing Envy to his chest.

“What kind of song do you want to write?”

Ah, yes, the ice queen. God forbid she actually shows any kind of emotion. She’d probably have more interest in a cereal commercial than she does in our displays.

When did my relief over her acceptance of our pack relations turn to resentment and bitterness? When I wanted to see some kind of reaction and got nothing.

Now that I’m calmer, I really take her in. Long, dark black hair that is silky straight and hangs down to her mid-spine. Her blue-green eyes, those Raines eyes, are somehow colder than they ever appear on Lia or Locke. She’s curvier too than her cousin, with a bigger chest and wide hips. But Ryn is all confidence and suppressed sexuality. This is a capable woman.

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