Page 65 of The Princess and the Pack

I laugh, though I can’t tell if he’s joking anymore. I don’t care—not really. Whether he was so forlorn he resorted to fondling flora or he just means to cheer me up, I know this alpha is good, and true, and all mine.

“I love you,” I breathe, my chest rising and falling with soft excitement for having said the words aloud.

My alpha’s joy is instant. His wide smile is a perfect complement to the contentment seeping through our connection. “I love you more.”

“It’s not a contest, you oaf!” I scold him—lovingly.

He considers this briefly before offering a smirk. “That may be so. But if it were, I’d be winning.”

“You are so?—”

Sloan dives for my lips, cutting me off with a searing kiss I feel all the way down to my toes. His wicked tongue dips into my mouth, stroking along mine until my limbs go limp and my guard is dropped.

“I love you,” he says again when he pulls back for air. “Now tell me what happened.”

I’m not keen to rehash how I ruined my moment with Oran. Or how badly I miss Cillian and his sea-soaked scent. I need it—I needhim, even if I’m not ready to forgive just yet.

But I know Sloan. He won’t relent until he can fix whatever troubles me.

Sighing, I give in before he presses, recounting my time with Oran—how he pushed me away and that I regret letting him. I tell him of my eagerness to bond with my fiery alpha and make us a pack.

Sloan likes that last bit—the bond buzzing with eagerness at my mention of it.

I then speak of Cillian and how I wish the nest smelled like him. How I crave just one embrace—one kiss—to sustain me while my heart mends the hurt he caused.

When I finish, my alpha is temporarily silent. The wheels spin in his head as he formulates a master plan.

“I’ll speak to Oran,” he offers.

“No.” I shake my head. “He’ll be angry I told you.”

Sloan raises a brow, regarding me as if he can’t believe I’d say something so silly.

“Oran is angry at himself, not you. He’s sensitive, for all he does to hide it, and just needs reminding he’s wanted. Let me speak to him, and I promise he’ll come to you to make it right.”

I bite my lip, considering. Sloan has known him far longer than I have. “You would do that?” I ask.

“I would do anything for you. This is a simple task.”

So sure—so steady—my mate. I lean up to steal a kiss from his soft lips, lingering until he hums a happy sound against me.

“While I do that, I need you to do something for me,” he remarks.

“Oh?”

“Speak to Cillian.”

Mild panic pounds heavy in my chest at the thought of confronting him. When it comes to Cillian, I don’t know where my emotions lie. Am I angry? Disappointed? Or do I just want to leave this all in the past and go on loving him? I’m not sure how I’m meant to speak to him when he’s waiting for an answer I don’t yet have.

“Ivy,” Sloan breathes. “Your heat will be here any day. You need your alphas’ scents around you to feel secure. You’ll be so relieved after seeing him. Even if you don’t forgive him yet.”

What my mate says has merit. Perhaps if I just saw Cillian, breathed in his scent and left, it would soothe this storm in my soul. “And you’ll speak to Oran?”

He nods, kissing my forehead. “I will.”

“Fine.” I pout, just for the simple joy of seeing Sloan’s grin.

“What a good omega.” My alpha purrs, turning my insides molten hot. If he keeps this up, I may go into heat right here.

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