Page 45 of Mated Exile

"No one's punched each other," I point out, "unlike that time you strung along your butcher and produce provider at the same time."

"Ah yes, Emmanuel and Darrin." She sighs at the memory, while I just roll my eyes at her. "They used to make deliveries to Astrea on opposite days. Then one of the produce shipments got delayed, and Darrin saw me in a rather compromising position with Emmanuel. I lost two birds with one stone."

It was more like two men and a dry-humping with a tongue down her throat, but I don't bother correcting her.

"That's exactly what I don't want happening to me," I point out. "I mean, you saw how Finn kissed me in front of the others. Roarke practically twists himself up in knots because he's attracted to me, but he's Kieran's friend. Lance has barely made a move, and Iknowit's not because he's not attracted to me, so it must be something else. I want to get it all out there—before the vampires attack again or that new alpha shows up."

Cat is about to say something when Bastian shuffles into the room, his long hair sleek and bound in a loose ponytail. He's wearing dark sweatpants that hang just below his hips and a white muscle tee that clings to the muscles of his chest. Glancing at him, I find my eyes straying to the strip of bare skin between the shirt and pants, where dips in his abdomen lead lower. Just as my eyes land rightthere,he takes a big step forward, and his foot catches on the leg of his pants, jerking it down a few inches.

I hastily look up and away as he mumbles an apology and hitches them up, but it's too late to forget what I saw. The sweatpants are loose enough to hide things, and he's clearly already showered this morning, but even without a hard-on he's packing quite a bit of heat in his pants. Heat he barely even seems aware of as he joins us in the kitchen, casually taking a mug of coffee and looking hopefully at Cat.

"Is breakfast ready?" His question is innocent, but Cat shoots me a knowing look, barely suppressed mirth curling up her lips. Bastian just looks confused. "I must've missed something."

Before I can come up with something to say, Cat jumps in and declares, "Delilah was just wondering if you know how to handle tools, Bastian."

I mouth"stop"at her, but she just affects an innocent face. So, I hastily clarify, "Lance and the others are going to be coming over today to help us finish up work around the house, mostly painting and some final touches on the kitchen cabinets and bathroom hardware. Cat and I were wondering if you want to jump in and help—though of course you don't have to! You're staying here as a guest, so we don't expect anything from you."

"Of course I'll help!" Bastian seems to perk up at even the suggestion, only to frown a moment later. "Though I haven't really done much of that kind of work. I used to cut wood for the winter all the time, and I know how to fix furniture and upholstery. Since my family lived on our own, we had to be able to do things like that all the time."

"That's great actually," I tell him. He seems to want so badly to have something to do. Thankfully, as soon as I say the words I think of something. "The dining room chairs could use some new upholstery. I was going to hire someone, but if you know how to do it—"

"I'd love to!"

A happy grin lights up his face, so innocent and joyful it melts me, even as his broad shoulders make me think sinful thoughts.

It's almost enough to make me wonder if I should add a new item to my to-do list: finding out just how far that innocence can go before it turns into pure, masculine lust.

* * *

Standing out on the front porch, I watch the cars roll up: Kieran's old pickup, Finn's smooth sporty sedan, Lance's sensible off-roader, and Roarke's efficient hybrid. They park on the street and join me on the porch one by one, questioning looks on their faces. I sent them a text this morning telling them that I wanted to talk, and based on the way they're looking at me, I'm sure they're all wondering what about.

"Hey." My eyes linger on Finn's as I meet his gaze; beside him, Kieran stands up straight, color in his skin and brightness in his eyes again. "Thanks for meeting with me. I wanted to get this over with quick, before we start working on the house."

"And patrol the land," Lance adds. "I want to make sure those vampires don't come back. If they do, there'll be hell to pay."

Looking into his fierce gaze, I don't doubt that for a second. I can almost smell the frustrated anger of his wolf in the air, and am reminded of the night of the attack, when his white fur was splattered in blood. Swallowing, I look away quickly and try to gather my thoughts.

"I've had a lot to think about the past few days."

Taking in a deep breath, I let the fist of hurt inside me unwind. I breathe out anger at my father's lies, frustration with Kieran's actions, and fear that I'll never truly be a part of the pack. It seeps out of me until I feel calm.

"I know that the curse has been a great burden on the pack," I tell them. "And it's a big deal, discovering that I might be able to survive it. That means a lot. But it's not everything." Roarke's blue eyes pull me in. "The pack cannot survive unless this curse is destroyed. Just surviving it isn't enough—if it comes back in seventy-seven years, it'll doom another generation. We have to do whatever it takes to get rid of it, no matter the cost."

Roarke swiftly says, "I agree."

But I'm not done yet. "That said. I don't want Glass Pack tostopbeing Glass Pack. My father had his flaws—I know that better than anyone here—but this pack is bigger than one man and the mistakes he's made. So, I've decided that I'm going to try to undo the curse."

Kieran points out, "Delilah, not to rain on your parade, but didn't you just barely learn you're a wolf-witch hybrid in the first place?"

"Yes. And I know that means breaking the curse will be a challenge. Especially if I want to do it before the Summit." Glancing at Roarke, I add, "And I do want that—because if I'm able to break the curse, there's no reason for us to look outside the pack for an alpha."

Stiffly, he says, "There's more than one choice. Others are deserving." His eyes stray to Lance. "What the pack needs—"

"It doesn't have to be you, Roarke," I cut in swiftly, still puzzled by his obstinate refusal to acknowledge the natural-born leadership that lives inside him. "Whoever it is, they should beouralpha, a true member of the pack and loyal to its people. Not some outside with split loyalties."

"Agreed," Finn says, his eyes on me, a smile twisting up one corner of his mouth. "I think we all know exactly who it should be."

My eyes go to Roarke, though I still feel Finn's gaze on me. "I want an agreement that if I fix the curse, the new alpha won't be allowed to take over."

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