Page 98 of Cost of Courting

“For what?”

“For giving us this happiness.”

Bailey kisses my shoulder and flings himself onto the couch, half dragging me with him.

“What he said.”

We lay like that long enough that I start to get cold, but I don’t want to move. This twisted up knot of people and limbs is going up as one of my favourite memories.

I watch Edric walk past me into the kitchen, lifting an arm to scratch the back of his neck, revealing abs and so much perfect skin that I want to explore in the light of day. I lick my lips, mesmerised.

I fight my way free of the tangled knot and stalk my alpha. Maybe I won’t ever have enough of them?

That’s fine with me.

Chapter twenty-four

Selene

Mael smiles at meas he pulls the hood down on Davey’s beat up truck. “Turn it over, Selene.”

I turn the engine over and listen to it fire for the first time in almost sixteen months.

Our eyes collide, and the memory of how he and Bailey had fucked me spit roast style in the bathroom this morning resurfaces. My body heats, and I wonder if I can convince him to slip away with me for five or fifteen minutes.

Davey lets out a creaky cheer. Rubbing his whiskered face, wiping away tears of relief. “Boy! You’re a miracle worker!”

I’d explained to Mael that Davey hasn’t been able to go see his daughter since his truck broke down. He won’t let her come here, and so, he’s just been putting her off. He’s missed her terribly. Mael got dressed, grabbed my hand, and dragged me straight over here.

My alpha winks at me, and I feel like I’m seeing the layers of tension fall off him, leaving a Mael that is familiar and as intoxicating as the pain-filled alpha is. The acceptance of the neighbourhood and finding his place in it has done wonders for him

I sneak my hand up and finger the bond on my neck. I got a second chance. How often does that happen?

“Nah, not miracles, just engines.”

“I don’t care, you’re brilliant.”

I climb out of the truck and stare up at him as he comes and wraps an arm around me, such steady and confident touches. It’s like before but so much more. I like these familiar touches. I adore him, and he is brilliant. And all mine.

I don’t feel as alone as I did before, instead the bonds thrum inside me, and I can feel each part of my pack, sure, it’s new, but it’s strong. Every decision we make is together, every time I turn around, they are there. It doesn’t feel real yet.

“How much do I owe you?“

“No way. I never get to work on trucks anymore. It was my pleasure.”

Davey and Mael talk a bit more, but I’m too busy wondering at how much my life has changed.

Bailey jogs towards us and passes me a purple iced drink. I take it and let him pull me away from Mael, who mock growls but waves us off with a mouthed ‘later’ at me.

Bailey’s phone rings, and I discreetly check the screen as he ignores the call. Lia.

“Bailey-”

He grabs my free hand, lacing our fingers together, and tows me towards the park. I follow with a smile that’s been glued to my face for the last three weeks.

Luna has avoided coming home, not that I can blame her. My pack and I can barely keep our hands off each other, but rubbing in her face that I have the pack but also her ex-boyfriend is a point of contention that she is not willing to bend on.

We get to the picnic table, and he lifts me up so I’m sitting on it while he steps in between my legs. I lean back on my elbows and peer up at him. The dappled light of the sunlight through the trees shimmers around him.

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