Page 13 of Pretty Kitten

Fucking hell!

“What are you wearing?”

She looked down at herself, before rolling her eyes.

“They’re called PJs, Cross. Can’t be the first set you’ve seen.”

It wasn’t. But Clari generally wore jeans and blouses, or pretty, conservative dresses that didn’t show too much skin, reaching one inch below the knee. Her PJs were micro-mini stripped shorts, and a tight tank top that she wore without a damn bra.

Fuck.

“I had to borrow it from Ola,” she admitted. “We’ll stop at home tomorrow, after my aunt and uncle go to work.”

He smirked; sure, the outfit wasn’t as revealing as what most of the pride females wore, but it still wasn’t her, and he’d been able to tell.

“You totally wear long pants. With giraffes on them.”

“Pigs, I’ll have you know,” she replied good humouredly.

He hadn’t spoken to her until the previous week, yet he knew her. How fucking weird was that?

“You live with your aunt and uncle?” he pried.

“Yep. My mother is a career woman. She got her big sister to raise me until I was in my teens; by then, I figured out I preferred my aunt’s home. She’s awesome - and her husband rocks. You’ve met them, I’m sure. He’s the mayor.”

That rang a bell.

“The guy who got this place built for his daughter? But then she went and married someone in the city, I think.”

“Yes, Lana. She was never going to stay, but they did their best to make Lakesides appealing to her.”

She said it without even a little bit of bitterness, but he read between the lines. Lana, the golden daughter they wanted, while she was just the niece, the guest. That explained a lot. He’d seen that she hadn’t seemed to have much of a life outside of running the bakery, and she hadn’t seemed to want to go home right away. Daunte had cursed her for coming to his home every day, taunting him; now he felt like an ass.

“You came home when she wouldn’t. You moved back so they aren’t alone.”

She bit her lower lip and looked away, uncomfortable.

“Maybe. Is there anything to drink? Tea, coffee?”

“Caffeine? It’s two in the morning.”

She shrugged, making her breasts rise and fall in a way that was all too distracting.

“Can’t sleep. I do have the whole you may very well cease to be human in a couple of days thing hanging over my head, you know.”

The girl had a point. He lifted his glass.

“Brandy?”

Chapter 10

Alphas

The circular room with animals painted on the light-yellow walls, was entirely littered by fluffy toys, and piles of presents they hadn’t gotten around to opening yet. All their allies had sent gifts to little Zack. Their baby.

Five years ago, if someone had told him it was possible to feel so entirely whole and content, Rygan Wayland wouldn’t have believed a word of it. His mate was rocking their treasure in her arms, absentmindedly humming a timeless lullaby. The picture of happiness.

Yet, he’d never been as wary, either, and he could see a shadow underneath Aisling’s eyes that said she felt exactly the same. She’d blocked him through their bond; in the past, she’d only done it when she’d been furious - or hiding a birthday present from him. Now…

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