Page 113 of Labor of Love

“Pull your pants up, Luken.”

Okay, weird. I sit up and untangle my pants. I’ve barely got them around my hips when Iri returns with pants on now. He grabs my hand and yanks me toward the entryway.

“Iri—”

“I have something for you,” he says and shoves me to the door. “Open the door.”

“Iri—”

“Just open the door, Luken!” he demands. His cheeks are flushed, but he’s grinning. “Hurry up. Don’t make them wait.”

I’m expecting our parents. Did we make plans I forgot about? Sighing, I turn to the door and pull it open. My breath leaves my body in awhoosh. Chills cover my skin, making every hair stand on end as I face Hakan, Rhydian, and Daunt. In person. Right in front of me.

Are they real?

Their faces are so familiar that I’m pretty sure I could conjure them up from my dreams if I tried. I’ve memorized every line, every feature.

Iri gently shoves me, and while the push is little more than a suggestion, I stumble forward. I’m enveloped in their arms, breathing them in for the very first time. I can’t catch my breath. What is happening right now? How are they here?

Words refuse to form, though fuck knows I have only a million questions. But the sentences break apart as I get lost in their embrace, their purrs, their scents. I swear to fuck, I can feel them wrapping around my soul.

“I think he’s surprised,” Daunt says.

“I’m impressed you were able to keep this a secret so well,” Rhydian says.

“It was so hard,” Iri complains behind me. I can hear his pout. My skin prickles to pull him to my chest.

“Come here, Iri,” Rhydian says.

I feel Iri’s presence behind me and shift to look at him. He’s got a huge, smug grin on his face as he watches me. All proud and excited, though still flushed. I reach for him, pulling him into the middle of our hug, and we form a little nest around him.

Iri sighs. “Wow. You all smell so good. I was expecting to only tolerate you. Hey!” he laughs and squirms and…

I’m speechless. It’s like Iri is familiar with them. Comfortable with them. How did this even happen?

“I’m going to need an explanation,” I say.

“On the porch, or can we go inside?” Iri asks.

Waiting another second for an explanation feels like a bit too much, but I concede that we can go in. Into the living room, where we all pile on the couch together. I want to look at their faces. Feel them to make sure they’re real. But I’m also so fucking happy to be in their arms with my sweet Iri tucked into my lap as they surround us.

“How are you here?” I ask.

“You were kind of a jerk to keep your plan a secret from me,” Iri accuses. I know he’s teasing, but I feel the stab in my chest. Iwasa jerk. “I thought maybe I could do the same thing, but don’t ever expect something this epic again. I’ve beendyingto tell you or tease you. I’ve been so good!”

“You have been,” Daunt croons, and I watch, mesmerized, as he gently strokes Iri’s hair and kisses the top of his head.

My Iri looks mighty fucking pleased, too. The way he’s looking at me, all proud and satisfied, has me wanting to bite him all over again.

His haughty smile fades into something softer. He reaches up, places his hand on my cheek. “I could see how sad you were when you realized we didn’t need to leave.” I shake my head to correct him, but he doesn’t let me talk as he brings his fingers over my lips. “I said that wrong. You were happy we didn’t need to leave, but you were kinda devastated that we were no longer going to be with the pack you found for us.”

“You could see that, huh?” I ask. So much for keeping it to myself.

Iri leans forward to kiss me. “I could feel it, Luken. That ache never left. It never lessened. It never healed. That absence grew every day. You found our pack, and just as much as you and I belong together, we also belong with them. So I stole your phone and hijacked their phone numbers and told them I’m shit at anything technical, but that they needed to get their asses in gear to come home to us.”

“Practically in those words, too,” Hakan says.

Iri nods. “It took longer than we thought it would,” he admits. “Apparently, it’s not easy to be allowed into Alyra.”

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