Page 46 of Accidentally Forever

We all look to Puma for his choice and he just grins. “If you all think Sofie isn’t going to kick all of you out so she can be with her Beta, you’re sorely mistaken. We might all have our claims on those women but Sofie’s claim on Violet is much stronger than I’ve ever seen.”

That sets us into soft laughter, my mind racing as the fantasy of Sofie kicking all of us out sets in. She can be adorably fierce so I’m all for it.

Chapter thirty-six

VIOLET

When Hawk peeked into the room to ask if we wanted to go to dinner, I didn’t expect an actual restaurant. I also didn’t expect one of those fancy private booths that cuts us off from the regular dinner hall. There’s still chatter and the occasional laughter but it’s all very… poised. The only reason I’m suffering through is because Sofie is curled up in my lap, her body draped against mine like she belongs there. Her fingers rest against my thighs, as she hums around the bite of food I just fed her. She’s still caught in that post-heat haze, that syrupy sweetness that makes her melt a little too easily, makes her sigh every time my fingers slide through her hair.

She’s been softening like this every time one of us gives her more than a few seconds of attention and I fucking love it. She’s leaning into her instincts, letting herself feel out the Omega she wants to be. And I for one am all for this version.

The twins sit shoulder to shoulder, murmuring between themselves, their hands moving lazily as they pick through their food. Hawk glances over every few moments, like he’s making sure Sofie is still enjoying herself. It’s instinct, and I know it, because I’ve been doing the same damn thing. However, Hawk’s gaze occasionally falls to me, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Puma wasn’t wrong when he said that I caught the attention of all four of the Alphas in this pack.

His sharp musky scent is tinged with an edge of mint, a cooling feeling that settles my nerves. It’s never been this strong before, heat pooling in my lower belly at the thought of Hawk doing more than just staring. I quickly clear my throat and feed Sofie another bite as my attention flits to Puma seated at the head of the table. He’s staring at me with a knowing smirk, my entire body lighting up. God, it’s going to be impossible with these men, isn’t it?

Gray shifts closer to me, his amber scent thickening as his lips meet the curve of my ear. A shiver runs down my spine as I feel like I’m suddenly on display for these men. His tongue darts out to lick sensitive skin before a small piece of steak is lifted to my lips. “For you, princess,” he murmurs, voice edged with teasing, something darker curling underneath it.

I twist around to see him, my eyes narrowing, already knowing this is a setup. There’s no way in hell I’m playing into whatever game he’s decided to start. My mouth opens, already halfway through a well-aimed insult, Gray taking the opportunity to press the beef through my lips.

Hawk and Lance stop mid-conversation, their forks hovering in the air, their gazes locked on me like I just did something completely out of character. Puma doesn’t react, but there’s amusement rolling off him in thick, unspoken waves. And Gray is watching me like he’s won something.

The heat that licks at my cheeks is slow, creeping up from my neck until I’m damn sure I’m going to burst into flames. I chew, swallow, glare at him. “Happy?”

Gray hums, dragging his fingers against my jaw, barely grazing my skin before he reaches for another bite. “Almost. One more.” This time when he feeds me, the rumble of his purr has me pressing my thighs together and holding Sofie a little tighter against my chest. My scent betrays me, though. Hawk tentatively reaching over to slide a hand around the back of my neck. And then he squeezes, a traitorous moan falling from my lips.

“Fuck,” I mutter, embarrassed, ashamed—hell, I’m not even sure. The heat in Hawk’s eyes has deepened, his nostrils flaring as something connects between us. I quickly shimmy out of his grip but there isn’t anywhere to go, trapped between him and Gray. “Just keep talking and leave me be. There is no way to relieve this state you’ve got me in. No, none of you look like that. We’re not doing stuff in public.”

Gray grins. “You used to. What? She did! Remember that one day at the mall—”

“No.” God, where is a hole so I can drop into it and lose myself forever. “Please just eat.” Puma’s sitting over there, his shoulders jostling as he tries to swallow down his laughter. I’m not even going to chance looking at Lance.

Sofie is looking up at me with that knowing smile so I grab one of the cherry tomatoes from her salad and stuff it between her lips. The conversation picks up again, leaving me and Sofie to our own little piece of heaven. It’s starting to feel like this could be more than a fleeting moment, like it could be some kind of forever and I’m deliriously hopeful.

Half an hour later, I can’t eat another bite and if Gray tries feeding me again, I’m going to bite off his finger. He seems to know that as he sneaks bites off my plate like he wasn’t the one hand-feeding me a minute ago, his grin smug every time I glare at him. I settle back into the cushions, pulling Sofie with me. She’s half asleep, murmuring about something I can’t quite catch. God, I love that she’s comfortable enough to do that now—to relax because a few weeks ago, she’d be all wide-eyed and alert.

I’m just about to ask if we can get dessert when a haughty, irritating voice spreads across the table. “Oh, I didn’t know you had started entertaining company again,” she drawls, her smile slow, practiced, laced with condescension. “This the newest bunch?”

The conversation around us dies, the warmth in the air bleeding out. Hawk’s jaw tightens, his entire body going rigid. Lance’s fingers curl into his napkin. Gray—who had been lazily sprawled in his seat just seconds ago—goes completely still. I’m not ready for the way Puma reacts to this woman though, because he just looks bored. He leans back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest, one brow raised as he waits for the woman to explain herself.

Sofie huffs, something between annoyed and irritated, curling a little tighter into my chest. Gone is the ease of this moment, turned into something filled with tension. The Beta at the edge of the table—all long legs, dark red lipstick, and hair that a shampoo commercial would be jealous of—tilts her head, her smile just a little too sharp, her gaze flicking between me and Sofie like she’s already worked out exactly where to dig in the knife.

“Oh, come on,” she purrs, saccharine sweet. “They occasionally pick up a straggler, give ‘em all the riches and everything, and then drop ‘em when they’re done. Didn’t they tell you?”

I think about checking the expressions at this table, where I’m supposed to tread or if they’re going to defend us. However, if they truly want me here with them, as part of their pack, they’re going to stand behind the haughty, hateful words that are about to come out of my mouth. A woman like her is either right and these Alphas are lying dicks or she’s a bitch, sticking her face where it doesn’t belong. Now I’m wondering which dick she tried to suck and who turned her down.

God, if she touched Puma, I’m going to tear her apart. “You want to run that by me again?” My voice is quiet, an edge of amusement padding my words. Because this is funny. The moment I start thinking about forever, this woman is just one of many things that decides to come along and ruin it.

Her head tilts, an infuriating little show of indifference. “I just think it’s interesting that they always seem to bring home Omegas in need. They find someone new, get all wrapped up in them, and when the high is over? They move on. Happened a few years ago. Happened a few years before that too.”

Again, unless these Alphas have been lying to me, I know for a fact that isn’t true. It’s not a secret that they’ve had relationships outside the pack but they haven’t brought home an Omega. They better not have. “You got some fucking nerve,” I spit out. “Coming over here and running your mouth about people you clearly don’t know.”

A flicker of hesitation crosses her face, gone in an instant. “I was just—”

“No,” I cut her off, eyes locked onto hers, daring her to try and backpedal. “You weren’t just anything. You came over here with your little fucking half-smile and your veiled insults, hoping to shake something loose. You thought you could plant a few seeds of doubt, stir up a little drama, and walk away feeling smug about it.” I love the way she stutters, her hands wringing together in front of her as she fights for words. No doubt she expected me to fall apart but I’m not a trophy piece. “You wanna know what they’re doing?” I continue, my words dripping with venom. “They’re making sure my Omega is safe. They’re making sure I am safe. And if you think for one goddamn second that I’m gonna let you stand here and talk like you have any fucking clue about what we have, you’re delusional.”

My words feel even more powerful since I’m sitting in the middle of the booth, the twins on one side, Gray on the other, and Puma at the head. She’s standing inches from him, a snarl playing on my lips. I swear to god if she fucking touches him, I’m ripping that hand off. Jealousy is rarely something I feel but I’m beginning to realize that at some point these Alphas becamemyAlphas, they became family. And not just because they’re taking care of Sofie anymore.

The Beta blinks, lips parting slightly, like she wasn’t expecting pushback. Like she thought we’d just sit here and take it. Puma stands, rolling his shoulders back as if shaking off the very presence of the woman before him. His expression doesn’t shift, doesn’t flicker, but his eyes—those sharp, calculating green eyes—are locked onto hers like a predator sizing up prey. "Jana," he says, voice smooth but sharp enough to slice. "I would say it’s nice to see you, but it’s really not."

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