Page 128 of Knot All is Crystal
“It won’t come to that,” Maverick interrupts with a rough bark. “It won’t, right, Puck?”
Of course, I want to tell him that it won’t.
But that would be a bald-faced lie.
“I’ll do my best.”
“That’s not good enough!” the usually easy-going DJ roars. “Both of them have to be safe!”
Emmanuel rubs his temples as his gaze bounces back between us. “Mav, this isn’t helpful. I know you’re struggling, but let’s take a breath and focus on what we can control, okay? Breathe with me, now,” the Alpha says softly. Maverick closes his eyes, breathes, and counts along with Manny. “In for two, hold it, out for two.”
It takes a few moments, but eventually Mav opens his eyes and nods at the other Alpha in thanks. Manny continues his original thought.
“None of this is ideal, but I trust Puck to do what’s best to keep our pack safe.” His dark eyes lock on mine. They look tired, and his age shows in the crow’s feet in the corners. “Because you’re pack, right, Puck? And a pack takes care of one another.”
The suppressant meds are still in my system, but I can feel the draw to the others. It’s a thin tether, constantly yanking me towards them.
My chest tightens, and I nod solemnly. “We’re a pack. We’re going to figure this out.”
Nerves bubble up in my chest, and before I can second-guess myself, I rip my shirt off.
“Woah, Puck, not that kind of party,” Maverick says tensely. But then he gets a look at me. “Is that the shirt I made you?”
I grab the back of the neck and pull it over my head, holding it out to him. “Been wearing it for a few days and sleeping in it. I’m hoping my pheromones are soaked in, even with the blockers. I figured you could hang onto it for me?”
Maverick takes the shirt from me, holding it loosely in his hands. “I’m glad you got it and wore it, but I do not enjoy that you’re handing it to me now, man.”
The feeling behind his words isn’t lost on me, but I can’t address it right now. I know what is at stake for all of us now.
The future of our pack is balancing on a tightrope, and none of us went to circus school.
Actually, I would bet money that Maverick probably did go to circus school.
I look at Gage, his freckled hands clutched in fists on the bar top. He’s so young to get messed up in all of this stuff. Younger than Crystal, even.
“Why did you join this pack, Gage?” I ask before I can think better of it. “You didn’t have to get tied up in this.”
His glare is almost physical, like a bolt of lightning between us. “How could you ask that? You’ve been around her since before you knew she was your scent match and selfishly kept her with you. Crystal makes the world brighter. She makes hard days easier and good days great ones. Asking me why I stuck around is like asking a fish why it swims.” He pushes back from the bar, walking slowly but purposefully towards the door. He stops with his hand on the knob and looks back at me.
“Mav, take care of Burger for me, okay?”
Maverick sucks in a sharp breath and rushes the Beta, grabbing him roughly by the shoulders. “Hey, that’s a fucking goodbye, and I don’t do goodbyes because we still got a lot of shit to work out, okay? So yes, I will hang out with Burger, but I will not take care of him because that makes it sound like you’re not coming back, and if you don’t come back, I’m going to be so fucking pissed. You’re coming back, and you’re gonna give me another tattoo, and we’re gonna make out a lot.”
Huh. I don’t know if I saw that coming.
Gage chuckles and grabs Maverick by the face. “Okay, Mav. I’ll see ya later, then.”
Maverick crashes their lips together and then takes several steps back. “Later, yeah. Do you want pasta for dinner? I’m gonna make pasta for dinner.”
“Pasta sounds good,” Gage responds thickly.
Then he opens the door and walks to his doom.
FORTY-NINE
The rideto Prism is exhausting. It’s like I ran there instead of riding in silence next to a massive, stoic Alpha.
When Puck knocks on a side door with no lever, I startle.
