Page 74 of Taken By the Pack

Rowan follows him in, eyes landing on Grace, still tangled up on my couch, wrapped in my blanket.

“When the whole town wakes up today to no fish, they’ll know I was a little preoccupied,” Rowan says, deadpan.

Jake snorts, kicking the door shut behind him. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure everyone’s gonna assume you lost your mind.”

I rub my face, still half-asleep, before looking at Grace. “When the hell did you even text them?”

She lifts her head, blinking at me like she’s barely awake too. “Early.”

“Define early.”

She yawns, stretching. “Like... sometime between two and three.”

Jake makes a noise that’s half laugh, half groan. “Jesus, Grace.”

Rowan just shakes his head, amused. I give him a look. “And you’re fine with this?”

He shrugs, heading for my kitchen like he’s lived here for years. “She wanted us here. We’re here.”

I stare for a second, then exhale and turn toward my barely furnished kitchen. I’ve got the basics, including a coffee maker, which I start up immediately. Priorities.

Jake’s already on the couch, pulling Grace into his lap like it’s second nature.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was staking a claim, but I’ve seen them together enough to know he’s just like this—constantly touching her, always pulling her close.

“My guess is your love language is touch,” I say, pouring the coffee.

Jake grins. “Smart man.”

Grace rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. Then she looks at me, her face going serious. “I want you, too.”

The words land like a rock in my stomach, heavy and final. I set the coffee pot down, watching her.

She swallows. “I want you both. And I want Ash to join the pack.”

Silence.

Jake looks at Rowan, then at me. Rowan leans against the counter, crossing his arms. I take a slow breath.

“This is... new for me,” I admit, voice rough. “I’ve never?—”

“Neither have we,” Jake says.

Rowan nods. “But we want you here. With us.”

Grace looks at me, waiting. I don’t know what the fuck to say. But I know what I want.

I nod.

Her whole face lights up. “Okay.”

Jake leans back, satisfied. “Since I’m not opening the fish stall today, I can help you set up the flower shop.”

I glance at Rowan. “If you don’t mind, I still need to get more data on the tide pool.”

Rowan lifts a shoulder. “Not a problem.”

Grace grins. “Then... can we all go dancing tonight?”

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