Page 59 of Pack Plus One

“Me?” he sputters. “That was clearly Liam’s fault!”

“ENOUGH!” Caleb roars, his alpha command reverberating through the hallway with enough force to make the pictures rattle.

We all go still, the tattered remains of emerald lace divided between our hands like some perverse game of Capture the Flag.

Ten minutes later, we’re gathered around the kitchen table like some fucked-up tribunal. The panties—now stretched beyond recognition—sit in the center like a holy relic on a very inappropriate altar.

Liam, having retrieved his glasses and straightened his tie in a futile attempt to restore his dignity, massages his temples. “Weagreedto give her space. We had apact.”

I lean back in my chair, unable to keep from grinning. “So hypothetically... if someone may have sent Leah a gift of artistically arranged vegetables the other day?—”

Mason chokes on his coffee. “You what?”

Caleb’s head snaps up from where he’s been glaring at the ruined lace. “You contacted her?”

“They were tasteful,” I defend, crossing my arms. “Aesthetically arranged. Museum quality, even.”

Liam’s ballpoint pen snaps in half between his fingers. “Define‘tasteful.’”

I stroke my chin thoughtfully. “Well, there may have been a zucchini wearing a crown. And possibly an eggplant harem. But the carrots were very respectfully positioned.”

Mason rubs his temples like he’s fighting off a migraine. “Christ on a cracker.”

Caleb’s jaw ticks, a vein pulsing in his forehead. “Andyoulecturedmeabout boundaries.”

“The vegetables were a spontaneous inspiration,” I reply with a shrug. “I hadn’t even decided to violate her boundaries when I gave you that lecture.”

Mason clears his throat. “At least I was subtle.”

“Don’t even start,” I shoot back. “You brought her breakfast at her bakery.”

Liam’s head whips toward Mason, eyes wide with betrayal. “You didwhat?”

Mason shrugs, the picture of unrepentant beta calm. “She’s been working hard. It was a logical?—”

“Logical?” Liam’s voice cracks. “Youstalked her bakery!”

“Coincidental timing,” Mason corrects, examining his nails. “I was in the neighborhood. With coffee. And pastries.”

Caleb snorts. “Like my ‘accidental’ visit to her apartment?”

The room goes silent. Three pairs of eyes swivel to stare at him.

Liam slowly, deliberately removes his glasses, folding them with precision. “Excuse me?”

Caleb at least has the decency to look mildly ashamed, running a hand through his chestnut hair. “She slammed the door in my face.”

“The first time. The second time youkissedher,” I add helpfully, enjoying the way Liam’s face transitions through several fascinating shades of red.

“Youkissedher?” Mason’s usually unflappable composure cracks. “After we explicitly agreed?—”

“She kissed me back,” Caleb growls, green eyes flashing. “Until she remembered she’s still pretending to need space.”

Liam makes a noise like a boiling kettle before collapsing into a chair. “I’m the only one who respected her boundaries?Really?”

Mason side-eyes him over his coffee cup. “You sent her a twelve-page business proposal.”

“That wasprofessional!” Liam splutters, his blush spreading to his ears.

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