Page 42 of Bliss & Her Idols

“And you truly don’t mind that I’m from the Burrow pack? I didn’t mean to lie to you. I keep my identity secret from everyone; it’s a rule within the pack. I also didn’t think that you’d want to be friends with a poor criminal. An Omega from a pack of thieves.”

I snort. “I’m not sure you know who you’re talking to.”

He looks at me with a curious expression.

Actually, he really doesn’t know who he’s talking to.

I sigh, sitting back but still straddling him.

I can do this.

Cricket has been brave, sharing about himself. If he’s going to become a member of our pack, then he needs to know our secret and decide whether he accepts it or not.

Yet it’s hard because it’s one that could lead to my entire family being executed.

When I start to tremble, Cricket startles. He reaches to grasp my hands.

“The funny thing is that you’re worried I won’t accept you because you come from a pack of criminals,” I say. “But I’ve been bullied most of my life because my parents were executed as the worst type of criminal.” Cricket’s eyes widen but with compassion and not fear or contempt. He doesn’t pull his hand from mine but squeezes. “They were fighting to protect dynamics from forced bonds. They were executed as rebels. Piper and I are marked as Rejects because of it.”

“I’m sorry.” Cricket traces his thumb over theRon my bracelet. “They were freedom fighters then and not criminals like my family are. Let me guess, your pack continued the fight…?”

Well, that was easy.

I gape at him.

Cricket gives a smug smile that looks good on him. “It’s the logical explanation for why you do the journalism that you do. Why you’ve been working with me. And why you rushed to save me.”

“I rushed to save you because you’re my best friend.” I hold his gaze. “And I’m falling in love with you.”

A flush spreads down Cricket’s neck. “I’m already in love with you.”

We both burst out purring at the same time. Then we laugh.

It breaks the tension of the moment.

I pull my hands out of Cricket’s grip and then turn my head to the side.

I lean over him, pushing my hair away from the base of my neck to reveal my wolf tattoo.

“It’s beautiful.” Cricket reverently brushes his fingers over the tattoo.

I shiver. “My brothers have them too. Our Wolf pack secretly run the Bonds Protection Unit.”

“So, the next person that we’re protecting is my Dragon, right? Can I join your unit?”

“You do understand the risks?” I check, cautiously.

I brush my hair back into place.

Cricket waves his hand like the risks are nothing. “Do you want to know the code that I worked out from Jin’s letters?” Then his face falls. “I lost his letters though. I don’t have proof for you. Everything he sent is back under the floorboard where I hid them. My youngest brother would always collect the mail. It’s the only reason that I could receive them.”

Instantly, my mind focuses.

At last, the code.

“Do you still remember what was in them?” I ask.

I wonder if Piper would give up his ticket to the concert. Cricket is the world expert on both Jin and the Idols. I need him on this mission.

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