Page 60 of Welcome to Bone Town

Even as an accomplished, very serious archeologist, there’s no other way I can describe it. Golden urns, fine fabrics, and jewelry line the walls, their shine dulled by dust and time. On my left, a dress form holds what must be ceremonial clothing. If it is clothing, it certainly wouldn’t leave much to the imagination. Nothing but delicate chains made from rare ore drape the form’s chest, they pinch in the middle before hanging over what would be someone’s hips.

The air is still as we take the space in, until Jax interrupts the silence. “Hot damn! It’s even better than I imagined.”

Roman grabs Jax’s wrist. “Don’t touch anything. We don’t know if there are more traps in here.”

Jax shakes him off and crosses his heart with his forefinger. “I’ll be careful. Promise. All I care about finding is our girl’s necklace.”

“Our girl?” There’s the softest uncertainty in Roman’s tone as he looks at me.

A warm glow fills my chest, and I smile. “We’ll see.”

He folds his arms, looking down at his feet. “Right. I understand. You already have your alphas, you don’t need?—”

“Shut up.” I grab his face and kiss him before he can run his mouth anymore. Roman’s lips are still against mine until I press my body against his. He responds by driving his hands into my hair, gripping the strands to tip my head back so he can devour me. When I tease his lips, he opens, meeting the sweeps of my tongue with his own. The kiss slows slightly, and Roman pulls back, taking my bottom lip between his teeth and pulling it with him before releasing it with a pop and a small smile.

“‘Bout time,” Jax says, then claps Roman on the back hard enough to nearly send me stumbling. “Now, let’s find our omega the best mating gift ever.”

46

Adiscovery of this magnitude should have me on cloud nine, but as Roman and Cora embrace, I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Cora deserves a pack of her own, and it’s about time Roman pulled his head out of his ass. It’s clear that with or without the ability to bond, they’re forming a pack, even if they aren’t aware it’s already happening. But where does that leave me?

Bear and I have had some hot moments—some very sweet moments, too—but now that he knows Cora is his scent match, will he still fight for me if the rest of the pack doesn’t want me?

Jax pulls Cora away from Roman, keeping a hold of her hand as they walk deeper into the chamber. He throws a wink at me over his shoulder, and my body heats from the attention. Jax is unlike anyone else I’ve ever known, so self-assured and confident,and… hot. Fuck, he’s so hot. And totally out of my league. He might flirt, but I doubt he’s interested in more than that.

The scent of black pepper and honey envelops me as Bear wraps his arms around me from behind, then places a kiss on my temple, his beard softly scratching my cheek.

“You okay, baby?” Bear turns me to face him.

“Yeah, fine. Just… um, it’s a lot.”

“I know. I was so worried back there.” Bear pulls me against his chest and sighs heavily, like he’s trying to release tension he’s still holding.

But it’s not the scorpions, or even almost drowning that has me feeling shaky. It’s the uncertainty of not knowing where I stand. Bear cares about me, that much is clear, but is it enough for the rest of them? For Cora? That’s what I’m really concerned about. Thatshewon’t want me.

I mean, she did nearly jump into my arms when she first scented Bear as her mate, but I was covered in his scent, so it made sense then. And we did have that moment after I fell, but life and death situations make everyone a little extra emotional and vulnerable.

“You sure you’re okay? I’d think you’d be a bit more excited about this.” Bear waves a hand in the air, indicating the room of treasure. “This is the chance of a lifetime.”

“Yeah, but think of all the paperwork,” I try to joke, but it comes out flat. Steeling myself, I reach for his big hand and follow the rest of our group.

All of us are moving slowly, checking the ground before we step to make sure we aren’t triggering any morebooby traps. My eyes are trained on the stone floor when Cora suddenly screams.

My heart clenches in fear, and I squeeze Bear’s hand like I’m trying to break it. Cora’s face is buried in Roman’s chest while he strokes her back, soothing her from whatever scared her.

“What is it?” Bear asks gruffly as we approach. Jax is staring at something on the ground, an uncharacteristic frown marring his face. He’s silent. Also unusual. When we get close enough, I see why.

Bones.

Not a group of them like we found buried in the sand, but a single body, the bones still aligned as if they were sleeping on the ground. Mostly intact robes drape over them.

“Ah, fuck.” Bear curses.

Cora’s breathing evens out, and she approaches the group with Roman nearly plastered to her side. “I-I’m sorry. It—they—startled me. I wasn’t expecting to find a b-body in a room filled with sacred valuables.”

“I think she was guarding that.” I say, pointing beyond the skeleton to a pedestal on the back wall.

“How do you know it’s a she?” Bear asks, still staring at the bones.

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