Page 44 of Puck Your Nanny

Brent frowns, missing the sarcasm. "I’m just saying, it was annoying. Like, just close the damn doors."

Peter leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. "And in the grand scheme of things, you thoughtthiswas worth bringing up?"

Brent shifts uncomfortably. "I mean, it’s not a big deal, just—"

"You’re right," Peter continues smoothly. "It’snota big deal. But you went out of your way to bring it up, which tells me you had nothing better to criticize her for."

Brent sputters, looking between them. "Jesus, I was just joking—"

"Nah, you weren’t." Calvin shakes his head, pushing his plate back. "You came here thinking you could treat her however you used to. Like she’s the same girl who had to put up with your bullshit. Now she has us."

Nate, who has been silent too long, finally speaks. "You need to leave."

Brent blinks. "What?"

Nate stands, chair scraping against the floor. "I’m not going to sit here and listen to you take shots at Daisy inourhome. So, get up, say your goodbyes, and get the hell out before we have a real problem."

Brent looks to Freda for support, but she just shrinks into her seat, eyes darting toward me. "Daisy, I—"

"Save it," I cut in, standing as well. "Don’t reach out to me again unless you leave him."

Freda’s face falls, but she doesn’t argue. Brent huffs, standing likehe’sthe one inconvenienced, muttering something under his breath as he storms toward the door. Freda follows, pausing just long enough to glance back at me, but I don’t say anything else.

The second the door shuts behind them, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. My pulse still races, my hands tremble. The guys stay quiet for a beat, giving me space to process, but then Calvin moves first, reaching out to pull me into his chest.

"That guy was a dick. His hold is firm, grounding me. "I don’t know how you put up with him as long as you did."

I exhale against him, closing my eyes for a second. "I don’t either."

Peter steps closer, his hand brushing down my back. "You okay?"

I nod against Calvin before shifting to look at all three of them. Nate is still tense, his hands clenched at his sides, jaw tight. I know him well enough now to see that he’s still fighting the urge to go after Brent. He wanted to do worse than just kick him out.

I reach for him first, fingers curling around his wrist. His eyes flick to mine, some of the tension eases from his body and his expression softens.

"I’m good," I squeeze lightly. "Really. I mean it."

He exhales, nodding, then lifts my hand to kiss my palm.

The warmth that spreads through me is different this time. Deeper. More certain. I glance between the three of them, my heart hammering, the words forming before I can second-guess myself.

"My next heat is in two weeks." I swallow, steadying myself. "I want you all to mark me."

All three of them still.

Calvin comes closer, wrapping his arm around my waist from behind. "You sure?"

I meet his gaze, then Peter’s, then Nate’s. "Yes. I want to be yours. Officially."

Nate gives a relieve sigh the remaining tension leaves his body. Peter watches me carefully, but there’s no hesitation, only certainty when he finally nods. Calvin grins and kisses the top of my head.

"Then it’s settled," he murmurs. "Two weeks."

I know this is exactly where I’m meant to be. They are my pack, my family.

Chapter 14

We’ve spent weeks preparing, making sure she has everything she could need, so she doesn’t have to think about anything except us. Calvin’s parents were more than happy to take Will for the night, doting on him the second we dropped him off. We knew Daisy wouldn’t be able to fully let go if she was worried about him, and we wanted tonight to be perfect.

---