Page 169 of Cost of Courting

She laughs and strokes his back. “Poor baby. I told you to get some sleep on the plane.”

“I was reading.”

Mako walks past me and stops at the porch door. “HEY, GOLDEN COCK!”

I burst into explosive giggles and peer out the front door, finding Kelly glaring malevolently at Mako as he pushes his way into his house. “I told you not to call me that. I've got a pet shark I can feed you to, Mako.”

“Suits you, though,” Ezy says under his breath.

I grab plates and start setting the table. Keagan helps me. I think, of all of us, he’s struggling with the invasion of the packs the most.

“You okay?” I ask.

He flicks a look at me and smiles slightly. “I invited someone else, but it’s supposed to be a surprise. So, yes? Ask me again if this goes south.”

“Oh?”

He looks away, and I can’t help but wonder if this is a good surprise or a bad one.

Beau sits down and starts frantically messaging someone.

“Are you okay?” I ask him, exasperated with this strange pack.

He looks up like he’s forgotten we were here. “Oh, yep, sure. I’m good. Just helping someone out. Directions, they’re lost.”

Beau and Keagan exchange looks, and Keagan rushes off, leaving Beau chewing on his bottom lip and shifting restlessly in the chair.

Gael leans over him, putting a fist on the table and one on the chair. “What are you up to?”

“Me?” Beau says with a wicked grin. “Nothing at all.”

I roll my eyes and help carry the food to the table. There’s not enough places for us to sit around the table, but that’s okay.

I serve up food for everyone and then follow Aspyn, Ryn, Lia, Ryann, Bethany, and Erin out to the porch. We sit around talking and eating, gossiping, really. The sounds from inside are deafening, but I think the alphas have split into two camps and part of the group is eating out the back.

There’s something in my chest that is warm and full when I’m with these people. This is different from my neighbourhood. These people don’t rely on me. We’re here because we’re family, and I don’t have to be Selene the plumber, or Selene the fixer.

These alphas, betas, and omegas are my friends and family now. And I want that. I really want that. No more walls. No more standing apart.

For a moment, I get this wave, this intense yearning. I see Dot in my head, the way we were that last time. The familiar smile and the smell of her.

My throat tightens, but then a hand takes mine, and when I look up, I’ve got five pairs of eyes watching me intently. Aspyn is squeezing my hand, and Ryn has shuffled closer and leans her head on my shoulder.

We don’t need words. I don’t need to tell them anything. They know.

I can feel my pack through the bonds. Their alarm settles.

A couple of people walk up the beach and turn towards the house. I stare, wondering who it could be.

“Who is that?”

As they get closer, the rain stops, and I see someone I never would have thought I’d see.

“EBEN!”

I run down the steps and fly into his arms, hugging him hard.

“You moron! I've been trying to reach you for months.”

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