Page 31 of Into the Fire: Before
“Mm-hmm,” Brea nodded, holding my gaze as she slipped around me to stroke Taryn’s hair and kiss her brow. “If anyone could open a channel to the gods, it would be you, Teacup.”
My inner alpha howled at their casual intimacy, at the easy affection. I’d been trying to convince him for years that we didn’t want either. Yet there I stood, transfixed by two taken women, with an ache in my chest where my alpha was clawing to escape, to beg them for just a taste of such tenderness for himself.
I reined him in, shut him down. Like I always did. Scowling, I gave Brea a solemn grunt and all but threw myself through the door, slamming it shut behind me.
I still held Taryn’s MASH notes in my hand. There was nonsense in these pages. Much of it, in fact. Still, though, I stared at thePackmatescategory. Throughout the evening and night, I’d pick up and put down those notes and stare at those scribbled lines over a hundred fucking times. And the man in me sent silent prayers that, maybe, it wasn’t just games and wishes.
Twenty-five
Brea
Fridaynight.God,hadit been nearly a week already?
The closer it got to seven o’clock, the faster my heart raced. Taryn and I sat in the back of the cab, hands loosely clasped between us, as we neared the restaurant the boys had written on the note. It had never really been a question if we’d go. Wewantedto go. Wanted to be near Lin and Brooks again.
But shame and humiliation from our last encounter still hung over me like bad BO.
Taryn’s thumb caressed over mine so softly, so gently, and I smiled. She was always beautiful, but tonight she was radiant.She wore a satiny red dress, the hem hitting around mid thigh—long enough to be elegant but not stodgy, short enough to show off her beautiful, lean legs. A fitted black leather jacket kept her shoulders covered over the dress’s spaghetti straps. Minimal hair styling—natural, slightly wavy, magnificent—and understated makeup, and she looked like a creature straight from my imagination.
“You sure you’re okay?” she asked in a low voice.
I sighed, bringing her hand up to kiss her knuckles. Our nails mirrored each other’s outfits—mine painted red, and hers, black. Hadn’t even been intentional, but it felt nice to be linked together in that way. Little bit of me with her, and her with me.
“I’ll have to face the music sooner or later,” I said as the car turned the corner. The towering building that housed the restaurant was in view. “And…I don’t want to be the reason you don’t explore what’s there with them.”
That was at least mostly true. I didn’t want us to reject the guys out of my own embarrassment, not when the chemistry had been so strong between us all. Another week down, another week closer to Taryn’s heat, and she deserved heatmates who cared at least a little about her, who she felt comfortable with.
That meant I needed to get over my nerves and make it happen. Thus why I’d chosen my favorite dress for the evening. A simple, structured faux-leather black number that made me feel equal parts powerful and sensual. Add in the power shoes—black stilettos with a silver-studded ankle strap—and I was almost not nervous.
The car pulled up outside the building, Taryn gave my hand a squeeze, and we scooted out. I was wearing my armor. Mywhystood at my side. Time to go to battle.
We entered a grand white and gold lobby that was somehow quiet and bustling at once. There weren’t many people in the space, but every sound bounced off the marble floors and walls, magnified by the stone as much as my own anxiety.
Brooks and Lin leaned against the opposite wall of the entry doors, heads close together as they spoke in hushed tones. Or, rather, had been speaking. The moment we crossed the threshold, they both popped up, eyes glued to us as we strode toward them.
And bless my omega, she never let go of my hand. It was a grounding touch, the extra strength I needed to mea this culpa.
“Evening, ladies,” Lin said, voice smooth and deep. “You both look…absolutely stunning.”
“That’s one word,” Brooks said, stepping close to lean in and give Taryn an entirely unself-conscious kiss on the cheek. “I’d say fucking delectable,” he breathed before stepping back next to his mate.
Lin tsked the beta, stepping up and taking my free hand and, deep brown eyes boring into mine, raised it to his lips for a gentle kiss. “Well. He isn’twrong,” he whispered. He didn’t immediately drop my hand, and my heart raced for a different reason as we stood together, exchanging glances.
Brooks floated to Taryn’s other side, one hand at the small of her back. “Shall we go up?”
“Wait,” I said. “Before we do that, I need to say something.” All eyes fell to me, and the nerves settled back in. Taryn squeezed my hand again, though, and pushed a soft, warm dose of loving encouragement through the bond. “I just…I am so sorry for what happened on the roof last week. The way I behaved was just…” I swallowed. “It was inexcusable. And I promise you both, it won’t happen again.” I looked specifically to Brooks. “I am so sorry, Brooks, and I swear I would never—”
“Brea,” Lin interrupted. “Take a breath.”
He finally dropped my hand, only to wrap his arm around my waist.
“Believe it or not,” he continued, “we know a thing or two about alpha instincts. And how strong they can be at times. You did nothing wrong.”
Brooks nodded, all jesting and flirtation gone from his face. Only sincerity shone there. “Yeah, Brea, I didn’t take it personally, I swear. And I’m glad nothing further happened for your sake more than mine.”
I blinked a few times in rapid succession.
“Lin wouldn’t let you hurt me,” Brooks clarified. “And as much as you’re kicking yourself over the nothing that happened, if there’d been anything more, it would hurt me to know how bad you felt over it.”
