Page 58 of Accidentally Forever

A slow coil of unease winds through my gut. “Then Xavier or his son has to know something.”

Gray’s lets out a low whistle. “He’s always been ambitious, but this? This is a different level of recklessness. Reckless ruins people in this business.”

The room stills, thick with tension, but before anyone can respond, Sofie suddenly stretches, arms reaching high above her head as she lets out a dramatic, exaggerated yawn. “Okay, that’s enough for tonight,” she announces, her tone light but her eyes sharp with finality.

A low chuckle rumbles through the room, a mix of amusement and exasperation, but the moment one of them even thinks about arguing, she cuts through it with a soft growl, lips twitching when they all react exactly as expected.

Gray groans, tipping his head back. “Sunshine.”

Sofie lifts her chin, completely unbothered. “And none of you are allowed in the nest tonight.”

Puma chuckles, already knowing better than to push back. “Can’t argue with an Omega in charge.”

Hawk smirks but doesn’t protest, and Lance leans back further, arms crossed, looking entirely unsurprised by the turn of events. Before I can react, Sofie slips from Hawk’s lap, grabs my hand, and tugs me toward the hallway. The door shuts behind us with a quiet but final click, locking us into the warmth of the bedroom, shutting out the rest of the world.

She doesn’t let go of me, fingers curled tight around my wrist as she pulls me closer. The shift is subtle, but I feel it instantly. I study her, searching for something in her expression. “Are you angry, baby?” My voice is quieter now, the sharp edges of the night dulling under the warmth of her presence. “What’s wrong?”

Sofie tilts her head, grinning up at me, all mischief and sweetness, her body pressing flush against mine as she murmurs, “Nothing’s wrong.” A pause, just long enough for me to feel the shift in the air. “I just wanted you tonight, that’s all.”

I cup her cheek, brushing my thumb over her bottom lip, watching the way she reacts to the simple touch. “You could’ve just said that.”

She giggles, leaning into me. “Where’s the fun in that?”

The corner of my lip twitches, amusement cutting through the weight of the night. God, I love her. Sofie pulls me into her nest, settling the pillows around us, waiting for me to lay down before curling into my chest. Her breathing slows until it stills before she speaks again.

“Vi, I know you’re going to do something stupid. You’re going to try and solve this even if it’s not entirely your burden to bear.” I open my mouth to speak but she shakes her head. “No, don’t lie to me, Vi. Just promise me you’ll come back. Whatever you’ve got planned in that head, I know you’re going to do it. You may not even know it yet. Our Alphas won’t like it but there’s no stopping you when you get all determined like this. Just promise me one goddamn thing.” She angles her head up to me, tears glazing her eyes. “Come back to me.”

I hate how well she sees me. And now I know why she really wanted just the two of us, because she knows that I’m going to try something that will inevitably piss off the men we left in the living room. “I promise,” I whisper before pressing my lips to hers. I just hope I can keep it.

Chapter forty-three

VIOLET

The warmth lingers even as consciousness creeps in, a slow and steady thing wrapped in the scent of my pack, the steady rise and fall of Sofie’s breath against my chest, the solid weight of Gray at my back. His arm is draped over my waist, fingers twitching slightly like he’s still chasing sleep. Sofie’s hands rest loosely against my shirt, her body curled into mine, soft and pliant, lost in the haze of slumber.

I have no idea how he snuck in here but I’m not complaining. Apparently, Sofie didn’t mind either but I was too tired to even notice when it happened. It’s quiet. Safe. A moment that shouldn’t be disturbed.

Then a loud, earth-shattering bang shatters the silence.

The front door rattles under the impact and my entire body locks up, my heart hammering hard enough to shake the edges of sleep from my mind. Sofie makes a soft, confused noise, nuzzling deeper against me, but the next bang has my muscles coiled tight.

A voice follows. “Open up! This is the police!”

Fuck.

Gray groans against my shoulder, muttering something incoherent, but I’m already moving, slipping free from the nest, the loss of warmth barely registering. Sofie stirs immediately, her sleep-heavy limbs clinging for a second before her instincts catch up, her fingers wrapping around my wrist as she scrambles after me.

The hallway is dim, shadows stretching long against the floor as I rush toward the main area, my pulse hammering in time with each step. Hawk is already there, meeting us halfway. He plants himself in front of me, a wall between me and whatever the fuck is about to come through that door.

“Stay put,” he murmurs, his voice calm but edged with uncertainty.

Another bang. More voices. The door handle rattles and Hawk mutters a curse before striding toward the entrance, his movements tight with barely contained irritation. The door swings open and three Alphas in full uniform push inside without waiting.

Big, mean-looking motherfuckers who fill the space with too much presence, like they were handpicked to make a statement. The station didn’t send some low-rank Beta for a polite conversation—they sent their best enforcers. A deep voice rumbles from behind me.

“What the fuck is so goddamn important at…”

Puma steps out from his room, rubbing a hand over his face, his movements slow and unbothered despite the sudden intrusion. Sweatpants hang low on his hips, his bare chest broad and marked with the tattoos I’ve fallen in love with, his entire presence dripping with the kind of authority that makes even the officers pause.

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