Page 43 of Forbidden Taste
The smile he throws at me warms my heart as I weave my way through the aisle and head toward backstage. Hopefully in a few years, we’ll all be spending Christmas together, full families, my cousins and my aunt’s pack filling the house with laughter. I’ll have to ask about them as well—although they moved out of Emsboro a few years ago and it’s been hard to meet up since they live halfway across the states.
But that’s a conversation for later. Right now, I have some mates to attend to.
thirty-one
RILEY
I’ve got my violin, my gym bag, and my keys which I won’t need since we’re all driving together but they’re in my pocket all the same. Hawk enters the small dressing room my parents paid for so I wasn’t distracted, his wild grin lighting me up from the inside. My parents were somewhere in the rows, texting me that they’d like to meet but I told them that I’d be home at some point next week to grab my things.
For now, though, I’m going to enjoy dinner with my mates and Leo’s family. Elias looks like a carbon copy of him but almostmoreAlpha if that even makes sense. I wonder if he’s a Zeta too or something else but that’s none of my worries as Hawk scoops me up in his arms, soft laughter peeling from my lips.
“You were amazing, sweetheart.”
“So were you, Alpha,” I muse, pressing my lips to his. “I was so nervous that I was going to fuck up that part and then I lookedinto the crowd and Leo was looking at me like I was the most precious thing in the universe. And then you were gliding across the stage and I just…”
“Played your heart out.”
My eyes widen as I look toward the door, Leo standing in the entrance. My face flames at the memory of his family catching us all lip locked, Leo stepping forward to embrace me again. “Sorry about…”
Leo shakes his head. “I’m not. Angel, I was damn proud of you, of both of you. Watching you two up there was everything and having my family see just why I love you? It was perfection. And as much as I would rather go home right now, I’m starving and I don’t need my brother ragging on me about what took us so long.”
“Babe, I had no idea you were that close with them. You don’t really bring them up.”
“Kind of thought I was failing at life so I hadn’t talked to them in a few weeks. Not to mention that Elias is usually off grid somewhere. We were a lot closer before I came here. I think that’s going to change though.” Leo offers up a smile, a truly genuine one. He’s about to add to that when another presence steps into our space.
I thought I was done with that bastard but the putrid citrus filling my nose tells me otherwise. A growl tears from my throat as I stomp toward Benjamin, Leo and Hawk pulling me back against them. “What the fuck do you want,Ben?Mom already ended the engagement bullshit. Why the fuck would you come in here?”
“Because you fucking ruined my graduation. And for what? A gang of misfits? I could have given youeverythingand you decided to pick a beast and an Alpha too soft to protect you? Seriously, Riley, you’ve always made the worst choices.” He steps further inside, hisvoice rising. “I’m not sure why you thought a mere bite in your neck would end things and I couldn’t give a fuck about your mother.”
That just pisses me off. “Why did you think it was okay to come crawling in here when I’m with the very mates you despise so much? Leo already bested you and Hawk could do the same if he wanted. Besides, I didn’t ruin shit. You did that all on your own.”
Benjamin keeps approaching, twin growls rumbling against my back. This won’t end well but it’s the end of the year and I’m sure I can explain this to the Dean just as well as I did the last time. I’m hoping there’s just a little action before we leave though.
“I graduated, sure but my parents? They don’t want a son accused of assault assuming the company which is why I need you to retract your statement and come to my side. Bring the beast if you have to but you’re going to be mine. That’s not going to change.”
“Call him a beast one more time,” I yell out, struggling against my mates’ grips. I just want one swing at Benjamin and then we can go. It’s dangerous as fuck but I need to act out my anger if it’s the last thing I do. “He’smymate and he’s better than anyone else in the entire world. Except for Hawk. They’re both perfect and they’re mine. Get the fuck out of here and let me enjoy my dinner with my mates. You lost, get over it.”
Benjamin is a predictable Alpha, though, storming forward, intent on ripping me away. The growls behind me rumble louder, Benjamin reaching forward. He’s inches from me as I try to struggle from my mates, praying for one, just one thing to connect. And then it does, a loud groan pulling from his lips as my foot jabs upward, straight into his crotch.
I grin at the tortured expression on his face, Leo drawing me out of his reach, Hawk gripping the guy’s neck and hauling him against the wall. I don’t even care what happens next, Benjamin cuppinghis precious balls as Hawk whispers something in his ear. Leo guides me out of the room, Hawk catching up with us a few seconds later.
“What did you say to him?”
“Just some bullshit that I’d be reporting this to the administration as well, letting them know that maybe they don’t want to associate with him if he’s intent on attacking Omegas.”
An unbidden laugh tears from my throat, Leo not letting go of me until we’re outside, the brisk air sending a shiver down my back. “That was dangerous as fuck kicking him like that, angel.”
“I know but it felt really good. I used to be scared of him, just a little, didn’t want to rock the boat. I just needed to get one hit in. Another one in that stupid face of his would be perfect.” I pretend to jab at his imaginary face, my mates laughing at me. “I would have if you weren’t holding me back.”
“And then we would have had to do a lot more damage control, sweetheart. Now, let’s get some food and then fuck off home so I can ravage the both of you.” Hawk grins at the both of us, Leo and my scent sweetening immediately.
Leo’s lets out a little purr, both his and Hawk’s gaze turning to me. “I kind of had something else in mind when we got home. I was thinking about a bite or two—if you’re up for it?”
“I think that can be arranged,” Hawk murmurs, my heart swelling at the idea of becoming a pack permanently. There’s justonething I want.
“I get to build the nest,” I cut in, “because the last one was a disaster.”
“Hey, that was my first one, and for the record, you told me it was perfect.”
