Page 38 of Accepted Bonds

Ryan dodged the sunscreen as Aiden rolled his eyes and moved away from Mateo, back to his lounge chair.“You must be blind to think putting sunscreen on Mateo is me massaging him, dumbass.”

Caden’s voice was deep as he asked Ryan in a not-so-friendly tone, “What do you want?”

Instantly, Ryan stood at attention.His strained response showed that he could hear Caden’s unhappiness at his interruption of our alone time.“I’m sorry.I just wanted to invite you to the bonfire party tonight.Ron, one of the Mac Tire Council member’s sons, is throwing a bonfire by the beach in Kanku.It’s a secret party because we’re not supposed to be throwing any parties today, but they’re calling it a commemorative celebration of Alpha Dean’s life, so the Alphas Congress has allowed it.”

“Oh, okay.We’ll be there then.Thanks for inviting us, Ryan.When is it starting?”Aiden’s voice contained the softness that was lacking in Caden’s voice as I realized that Alpha Owen had to be the wisest Alpha I’d ever met.

He’d brought up two Alphas and made one seem like he wasn’t an Alpha with a Sentinel position, but when they contrasted each other like they did at this moment, they could play good cop and bad cop together.The idea was unbelievably brilliant.

“7pm.We’re going around 7:30 though.”Ryan responded, sounding upbeat again.“Do you all want to go with us?”

“I’m not sure.I’ll call you, I guess.Where are you meeting up before driving to Kanku?”Aiden asked.

“The second hall with the black and white paintings,” Ryan said.

“Okay, cool.I’ll call you if we’re going with you guys,” Aiden said, regaining his tanning posture with his hands behind his neck.

“Great!I’ll go now.See you later.”Ryan said before all but running out of the enclosure surrounding the private pool we were occupying.

“See you!”Aiden called after him cheerfully.

24

Aurora

When we got to the hall with the black and white paintings, we found Ryan, Julian, and a few others seated on a black sofa that blended well with the interior design of the hall.After we’d exchanged greetings with Ryan and a few others, I introduced Julian to my mates.

“Caden, Aiden, Mateo, meet the Woodburn Pack’s future Beta, Julian.Julian, this is Caden, Aiden, and Mateo from the Crawford Pack.They’re also my mates.”I smiled as I introduced Julian to my mates.

Julian’s eyes widened.“So, you’re also like your mom?”

I nodded, knowing that of all the members of my pack, Julian was the least likely to be judgmental about me having multiple mates.

As expected, Julian smiled and stepped forward with his hand extended for a handshake.“Hello, I’m the future Beta of Aurora’s pack.I look forward to getting along with you.”

While Caden stepped forward to shake Julian’s hand politely, Aiden kept glancing from me to Julian and back again, looking for something before he and Mateo shook Julian’s hand.

“Levi, my man!How are ya?When did you get here?”Julian asked, a wide smile on his face as he extended his hand for a handshake with Levi.

“Just got here yesterday.I’m a member of the Supernatural Council, remember?”Levi said, gripping Julian’s hand.

Instead of a formal handshake like the one Julian shared with the rest of my mates, he and Levi’s exchange was a dynamic handshake that Julian had taught Levi and insisted was a boy’s only handshake when we were younger.Since Levi had spent a lot of his time as a rookie watching over me, he’d also gotten to know Julian as well.Back then, when our parents had meetings, Julian would stay over with me in the Alphas Mansion in the Woodburn Pack and we’d play together under the supervision of his nanny while Levi worked nearby and sometimes played with us.

Their handshake started as a firm grip, but then a unique dance ensued: a couple of enthusiastic pumps, a casual shoulder bump, and finally, their hands slid apart, leaving an echo of their friendship in the air.I shook my head at both of them, remembering how much I’d secretly bothered Levi to teach me that handshake even though I told Julian that I didn’t want to learn it when he offered to teach me.

“Oh, yeah!I’m sorry.Sometimes I forget that you’re not Aurora’s shadow.”Julian teased with a smirk.

Levi was used to Julian’s teasing, so he just shook his head at him, stretching out his hand to tousle Julian’s hair and chuckling when Julian dodged his outstretched hand.

“You haven’t come over to the pack in a while?You forgot all about me?”Julian teased.

Levi smirked and teased him.“Of course not.Why wouldn’t I remember the little crybaby from the Woodburn Pack?I’ve just been busy.When I have time, I’ll come play video games with you.”

Julian sneered at him, “Tch!Who has time to play video games with you?I’m the future Beta of the Woodburn Pack, you know?I’m just as busy, if not busier, than you.Besides, I have friends who’d gladly play video games with me when I want to.”

“Oh, you became better at gaming?”Levi asked.

I covered my mouth to restrain the urge to giggle as Julian grinned and responded shamelessly, “Nah!But now I’ve paved my way to high ranks with money.You should come see me play sometime.”

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