Page 126 of Cost of Courting

“I wasn’t thinking-”

“Liar.”

I close my eyes and turn my face so I’m pressed against him. “Okay, so maybe it feels like it’s my fault. I was just having a moment. Can’t you let me?”

“Not a chance in hell.”

“Have you seen Kingston?”

“Worried about me, love?”

I jerk around and spring at him. He catches me and spins me around.

“I’m here. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

I bury my face in his neck.

“What do you need, Omega?”

“I need my pack, and I want to go home.”

“Okay, everything is quieting down now. Let’s go and take care of you,” Edric murmurs.

Kingston lifts me easily into his arms, refusing to let me go. We walk back to the house where I hear Edric talking to people quietly, and then Mael and Bailey are there, and we’re sitting on the couch. No one is talking.

But we don’t need to.

All I need is them.

Chapter thirty-one

Mael

What the fuck ishappening to this neighbourhood. This is the alpha, the one she told us about, Benson. Him and his Cobras. They could have killed one or more people with that crap yesterday. The leap from beating people up to shooting up the neighbourhood is extreme.

He’s dangerous.

Is he who I’m after?

No, they said he wasn’t the one. But…I don’t know anymore. I can’t lose them, not any of them. I have to protect my pack.

I unfold the piece of paper I found in her letter box and read the words for the hundredth time.

I know who is hiding in your house.

I pace around the hallway, trying to calm my panic and the rage that has risen like a floodwater in me. I’ve put up all my metal shields and barriers to block the bond and mute my distress.

I can’t turn the panic off. I don’t know that I want to. Panic means prepared.

I inhale deeply and catch that warm blueberry scent on the air. It's sweeter, richer, and warmer. Instead of feeling comforted, my agitation gets worse.

Selene and Bailey are here. No, I need to grab control and not let go. I can’t lose it.

I pause outside Luna’s room. I haven’t invaded her privacy, but now I do. With a glance over my shoulder to make sure no one’s looking, I creep into her room, sliding the doorshut behind me. Her room is simple, very feminine. She doesn’t have much, but there is a white dresser with a taped up leg that has pink butterflies painted on it.

I bet anything Selene did this for her.

There’s not much to see, but there is a photo hanging on the mirror. I pull it off and peer closely at it. Luna is hugging a guy that looks familiar but doesn’t. He’s wearing aviator glasses, a leather jacket, and has a mask over the lower part of his face. It could be him, but it could be a million different people.

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