Page 57 of Forget me Knot
Sam starts the engine, and we pull away from the farmhouse. The ride is quiet, but it’s not awkward anymore. It feels like we’re all just taking a moment to breathe after everything that’s happened today.
As we drive through winding country lanes, the picturesque scenery of the Lake District blurs past us. I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes for a second, enjoying the gentle hum of the car and Max’s warm hand in mine.
“Are you okay?” Max’s voice is soft, almost hesitant.
“Yes, fine. Tired.” I open my eyes to meet his gaze.
He searches my eyes, his fingers resting lightly over my pulse. It’s steady, but when he moves his touch up the inside of my arm, I tremble, and slick pools in my pussy. His nostrils flare, and that possessive glint is back in his eyes, but he doesn’t pounce on me, as I’m half expecting him to do. Truth be told, even if he did, I wouldn’t push him away. Right now, I know without a single doubt in my mind that my heat is coming quickly, and it’s because I’m in a confined space with my future mates.
We arrive at the shop, the colourful storefront is a welcome sight after such an eventful day. Sam parks up, and we all pile out of the car. When Max releases my hand, I fumble for my keys, feeling Max’s eyes on me the entire time as he places a possessive hand on my lower back. I push down the purr that is hovering as we aren’t even inside yet, and I feel that if I purred at him now, it would be all over. Our composure scattered to the four corners of the globe as we ravaged each other on the pavement.
I stumble into the shop with the three alphas following me. Sam pushes the door closed behind him but does not flip the sign over to say open.
Nerves strike.
My palms start to sweat.
My armpits struggle to keep up with this morning’s deodorant, and my heat descends even quicker now that we are inside. Shuffling past the alphas to get to the back of the shop,I fling open the back door and then let out a blood-curdling scream.
Chapter 28
Jack
Lightning fast, I’m next to Lily, dragging her back from the open doorway to step out into the garden, ready to protect her with my life, but I stop and let out a laugh that I’m not ashamed to admit brings tears to my eyes.
“What is it?” Sam asks, pushing past Lily, whose eyes are wide from shock, but I can see the smile tugging at her lips as well.
“Well, well, well,” I say, crossing my arms and staring at the idiot alpha stuck on top of the five-foot guard cactus. “What do we have here?”
Sam lets out a guffaw as Nigel glares down at us from his most undignified position of having a cactus stuck on his arse. “Oh, yes. Now that’s just made my fucking day.”
“You’re the fireman,” I say, clapping him on the shoulder. “Rescue him.”
“Oh no,” Sam says. “Not a fucking chance. He can stay there as far as I’m concerned.”
Max joins us with a fierce frown. “Someone want to tell me who this idiot is and why he’s stuck on top of a cactus monster?”
Lily finally lets out a snicker, which turns to a snort, which ends up with her bent over double as I’m sure her initial fearturns to hysteria. Turning my back on Nigel as he struggles to get back over the fence gate that he has clearly climbed over in an attempt to trespass, I go to her and take her elbow, leading her to the counter at the back of the shop. She’s still giggling, and it’s a fucking adorable sight that makes my heart thump like crazy.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my thumb brushing over her elbow lightly.
“Yes, just... Nigel.” She shakes her head, trying to regain composure. “Fuck. What if Emily had still been here,” she whispers, turning serious.
“She’s not, and he clearly has no idea where she is,” I murmur. “She’s safe, and so are you. Giant cactus for the win.”
She nods, and I turn to Max, who is hovering nearby. “Someone want to get me up to speed? Is this a help him off the cactus situation or helping him back over the fence from whence he came with a foot up his arse?”
“The latter,” I growl. “This prick is bad news.”
The protective flash in Max’s eyes tells me all I need to know. He is on board with Lily being our mate, even if he hasn’t said the words out loud yet.
Max steps forward, his eyes blazing with that familiar intensity. “Right, well, let’s get him back over the fence then.”
Sam cracks his knuckles, his grin wide and mischievous. “With pleasure.”
I move to block Lily’s view of Nigel, who is still flailing on the cactus like a stranded fish. “Stay here, love,” I whisper to her. “We’ll handle this.”
She nods.
