Page 62 of Dodging Bullets

My old life was officially behind me. There was only happiness in my future, and I was going to grab it with both hands.

“Sweet Thing?” Llew murmured into my hair.

“Yeah?”

“I’d like you to meet my mom.” I must have looked terrified, because he chuckled and pulled me closer, until his whole body was wrapped around mine. “Don’t look so scared. The worst she will do is hug you until you’re sure you’ll suffocate.” He cleared his throat. “I thought it might be good to have a family thing and invite everyone’s folks. With Henry and Nim as your family, so all the pieces of my heart can meet.” He looked over at August, then leaned down to wink at me. “I’d like to announce that we are courting August, if it’s okay with him.”

I crawled over to my sweet Omega, cuddled between Max and Rio. He held out his arms, and I straddled his lap, wanting to crawl inside him so we could be one person. He’d been here this whole time, like a steady calming presence, but something about his scent was clouding my brain today.

“We might need to put a small raincheck on that, because I think I’m about two days from my heat. I have a feeling my heat will trigger Polly’s again too, so they’ll sync.” His cheeks flushed, the color running down his neck and up to the tips of his ears. “And my Omega will probably insist on bonding you all.”

I remembered that aching need in my chest to bond the guys, how hard it was to resist. If August asked me to bond him, it would be impossible for me to keep a clear head. If I was in my heat as well? We were definitely coming out of the heat a bonded pair of Omegas.

I pulled back, so I could look down at his warm brown eyes. “Is that something only your Omega wants?”

August held my gaze as he shook his head. “I want it too. So much.” His eyes drifted around the room, the sounds ofEasy Aplaying in the background. “I already feel like a Pack with you, and I am desperate to make it official.”

I chewed my lip, until Rio’s fingertip reached over and pulled the flesh from between my teeth gently. “But we haven’t courted you properly yet,” I told August softly.

He leaned forward and kissed me. “We’ve done so much together already. More ups and downs than some people have in their entire relationships. We’re past silly courting rituals.”

I frowned and looked at the guys, an understanding passing between us. I felt it down the bond, the certainty that we were all on the same page. “How many days until your heat again?”

“Two.”

I looked at Rio, then Max, then back over my shoulder at Llew, who was smiling widely, because he knew what I was thinking. We’d basically planned this already—the timeline was just getting expedited.

Leaning forward, I brushed my lips over August’s one more time. “You should go home and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, you’re going to be express courted.”

August blinked. “Express courted?”

I nodded, climbing off his lap. “Uh-huh. I mean it, go home, August. Pack up your stuff because by tomorrow night, the only place you’ll belong is by our side, or in our nest.”

Max slumped back against the pillows, his eyes hooded. “Am I the only one turned on by bossy Polly?”

I was tired but excited. I bounced in the front seat of Rio’s car, a rumbly old hunk of metal that sat in the garage most days, because he still struggled to be inside a car since his tour and the IED that had exploded his convoy.

But desperate times called for desperate measures.

The rest of the guys were in other places, getting things organized, and I was absolutely giddy with excitement. It helped that Llew and I had planned this in those early hours while the guys were away.

We pulled into the parking lot of August’s apartment. It was a little run-down, I guess, judging by the peeling paint and broken pipes on the side of the building. The other cars in the parking lot didn’t look quite as shiny as the guys’, so maybe they were older too. I really had no touchstone on why Rio thought this place wasn’t safe, but I trusted my Alpha. If he didn’t think August was safe here, then I was happy he was coming to live at the Packhouse with us. The sooner, the better.

Bounding out of the car, I bounced on my toes until Rio joined me. I dragged him along as we walked up to the entry door. There were a whole lot of buttons beside the door, and I looked quizzically at him.

“They’re buzzers for each apartment. Hit number seventeen.”

I pressed the number, and it let out a choked buzz. “Hello?”

I jumped into the air as August’s voice came through a tiny speaker. Rio laughed, and I gave him my best death glare. Leaning forward, he held down the button. “It’s Rio and Polly.”

“Come on up!”

With that, the door popped open like magic. Gripping the edge, Rio pulled it open and ushered me through. Climbing the stairs, we soon stood outside August’s door.

When the man himself appeared, all the plans I’d been making all night disappeared from my head. He looked beautiful. His hair was curling softly, still damp from his morning shower. He had a soft, sage-green shirt on and dark blue jeans. He smelled so good that I found myself drifting toward him, climbing into his arms and licking a long stripe up his neck.

Rio groaned. “Fuck,” he said beneath his breath. “Cut that out, Polly, or all your plans for today are going to disappear, with us going back into August’s apartment and you both letting me fuck you senseless.”

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