Page 68 of Truth or Pack

“Oh my god, we have to do that sometime,” I said. “You know stuff like that wasn’t lady-like enough for my mom.”

“Fuck that, we’ll do it the moment it’s nice out,” Ash grinned. “I remember that weekend. We had a cookout nearly every meal and it felt like one of those quintessential summer moments.”

“It really was,” Holt agreed. All three had matching faraway smiles on their faces and it felt like I was seeing a softer side of them again. I wanted to spend my life bringing out more memories like this.

We’d all had such different upbringings, yet we all had the same masks in place, the ones that protected us from expectations and far too many obligations. They might have had a more privileged life than me, but I was quickly realizing it came with its own set of downfalls.

“To be continued,” Mathias said, starting to clear the table.

"Oh, I don't think I can move," I complained as Ash pulled my chair away from the table. "I ate too much."

"Well, that's too bad. I promised you a video and a tour of my shop. You're not getting out of it. The others got to make their little movies for your books, it's my turn," Ash said, knowingdamn well he was challenging the girl who didn’t back down from them.

"Fine, fine." I said, voice dripping in sarcasm. "It's going to be such torture to record you with your shirt off on a motorcycle. Whatever will I do with myself?"

I fake fanned myself, earning a chuckle from the three of them.

"And once you're done with Ash, I want to show you my work space," Mathias winked.

This time I wanted to fan myself for real. My beta was coming out of his shell and I was here for it.

Ash wrapped his arms around me possessively and growled a little at Mathias before he said, "My video first."

"Yes, I'm yours right now, but there is no need to remind him of that," I said, placing my hands on top of his arms.

He snuggled into my neck and muttered a sorry to Mathias.

"No worries." My sweet beta shrugged. “We all know an alpha is going to be overprotective of his mate from time to time."

"That he is, but I'm yours, too," I said, reaching out a hand toward him.

He took it and I pulled him toward us before Holt yelled out, "Group hug!" Within seconds, I was secured in all three of their arms. Their scents melded together into a mouthwatering mix and I soaked in the warmth of their bodies pressed against mine.

This was what being an omega was about. Safe. Protected. Loved.

My cell phone started to ding in my pocket but I couldn't move in their grasp to silence it when it started to ring.

"Darlin', do you need to get that?" Holt asked, voice low and gravelly.

"Nah, I'm good right here," I answered when my phone stopped making noise.

Or so I thought. Within seconds, it was going off again.

Why didn't I put it on ‘do not disturb?’

If it was my parents I'd want to throw it out into the pond out back, but I hadn't uploaded the videos of my guys yet.

Their hands released me and sadness swept over me from the loss of their touch but I had to get to my phone.

"Sorry," I muttered as I answered the call since it was Bea. If she was calling multiple times, it was serious "Hello?"

"Did you really break Sadie's nose? She posted a picture of you from college and captioned it 'this bitch here thinks she can steal my man and break my nose? Just look at this dumpster fire.’ It’s not a flattering picture, of course," Bea rambled on without taking a breath.

"I hope I broke it. I'll do it again if she lays a slimy paw on Ash again. Now which picture is it? Is it that bad?" I asked, but honestly, here this close to my mate I couldn't find it in me to care too much.

"I'll screenshot it and you better do some damage control. She tagged your business in the post," Bea informed me with a sigh.

"Thanks Bea, I'm on it," I said as we hung up and there was another ding with a picture attached.

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