Page 79 of Their Knotty Pack
"You're not with them anymore, nymph," he says fiercely, but still a little sniffly. "Never again."
"Never again," I agree, reaching to run my fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry. I should have said something. I was just hoping it would stop eventually. I had thought since they lost interest before, it would happen again before long. But…I should have told you. I'm sorry, and I love you."
Soft lips close over mine, his still slightly-wet cheeks brushing over me. "I can't believe you're mated to such a drama queen."
"Who, Kieran?"
Miles snorts before pressing his forehead to mine. "I'm sorry for storming off like that. I was so wrapped up in how I felt about everything, I didn't think about how it must have been affecting you."
"I'm fine, really. Somehow my trauma with them is actuallyhelpingme in this case. I really do feel like it's silly—"
"But it's not." His words are firm. "Isawyou shaking when they showed up, baby. I wanted to rip their fucking heads off and mount them on a pike as a warning to any others who might even look at you wrong."
Well then.
"How about," I say slowly, running my hands down his arms, "instead of resorting to brutal murder, you can model some characters after them in Sims and trap them in a swimming pool before filling it up. Oh! Or, you can make them sunbathe for so long they get heatstroke."
"The Sims?" I can hear the surprise in his voice. "I haven't played that game in forever." Then he laughs. "Did I mate a secret psycho?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," I say coyly, "I feel like this is a much healthier coping mechanism than mounting their heads on pikes."
"Huh. I guess you're right. You're so smart." He kisses me again, and I melt into his touch. His hands come up to cup my cheeks as he presses his body to mine, and I can feel his growing erection pressing into my leg, making me groan.
Right as I throw the covers off of us and straddle his hips, there's a knock at the door. "Bethany? Miles?" It's Kieran's voice on the other side of the door, and I'm torn. I was just about to have some alone time with my omega, but wedidjust agree to a courtship and I can't say I'm a fan of how our date ended.
Sighing, I roll off Miles. "Come in!"
Miles grins at me before pulling the covers over his crotch, hiding the tent in his shorts.
The door cracks open, and we're met with the sight of not only Kieran, but the whole pack—even Hunter. They've all changed into comfortable clothes, and damn, have I ever seen Hunter without a shirt on? He's probably the most cut out of all of them.
"Hey, I hope we didn't interrupt anything," Kieran says, his tone serious, but I can tell by that little tilt of the corner of his mouth that he knowsexactlywhat he interrupted.
"We just thought," Brody steps out from behind him, "well, Kieran suggested, actually…"
"Pack cuddle, anyone?" Damien finally asks. "I can always use a good cuddle after dealing with ignorant alphas."
"We can go in the living room," Brody says quickly, "Or—"
Miles and I exchange a look. "Why don't you guys pile in?" I cut in, and before my sentence is fully out of my mouth, Damien is diving onto the bed by our feet, before shimmying up so he has his head resting on our touching thighs.
"This is my spot now, losers." Damien declares, making me laugh as he nuzzles his head into our legs. "Ugh, Miles, lay off the leg-lifts, will you? Your muscles arenotvery cushiony." Kieran and Brody smile, shaking their heads as Brody slips into bed behind me, and Kieran gets behind Miles.
Miles suppresses a smile. "You could always not put your head there—"
Damien lets out a gasp. "Howdareyou."
"You know, I like my pillows a little firmer," Kieran chimes in, throwing an arm over Miles' waist. Seeing Miles' blush is the cutest thing. "Maybe I could switch with you—"
"Nope," Damien declares with finality. "Just because you were too slow getting on the bed…"
I tune out their banter as my eyes fix on Hunter, who is still standing by the door. I know he feelssomethingfor me, otherwise he wouldn't have been so upset about the Pack Hansen thing. My brows raise in a silent question, and he hesitates for only a moment before nodding. He lays on the edge of the bed next to Brody, who pulls me closer to him, scent marking my cheek with his.
Something settles within me the moment Hunter joins us. My whole pack is here.
My pack.
When did I start thinking of them as more than the alphas and beta I was stuck with because of my reckless actions?
