Page 24 of Laken's longing

Booker:What are we missing, Laken?

Silas:Clearly something when his reference sounds like he knows something we don’t.

Laken:Rue is mated!

Kodi:No fucking way! Please tell me it’s not his PA.

Laken:Kendrick…

Jupiter:I figured.

Laken:How so?

Jupiter:The way he eyefucked the guy at the bar, same as he was doing to Monty. Does he have two mates? Laken, spill. You seem to have all the goss?

Kodi:Wait up. Two mates? Who would be that fucking crazy?

Laken:Rue.

Kari:Good for him.

Kodi:Is it fucking really? This will give the remaining PAs damn ideas. That leaves me, Laken, Kari and Jupiter as the only single ones now! Did some fucker put something in the water? I don’t wanna catch whatever this is.

Jupiter:Why are you freaking out? You do have a choice, and mine is to remain just as I am.

Silas:Jup, I can’t wait for the smug smile to get wiped off your face when you fall. It will be epic. And Kodi, I don’t think you got anything to worry about, no one would want your overreactive ass.

Kodi:Thank fuck!

Jupiter:Hell will freeze over first, so be prepared because I know you hate the cold Silas.

Booker:How’s this gonna work when he comes home?

Rue:I’m mated, which means I won’t be coming home. Kendrick is happy in Bayfield, and so am I.

Dad:You better call your Popi before he hears this secondhand, son.

Rue:On it.

Taylin:Someone wanna tell me why you aren’t all ragging on Rue’s ass like you did me?

Jupiter:You’re just special.

Taylin:Fuck off. I can hear your sniggers through the wall, Jup!

Fuck, there are few of us left still single.His mood soured for no real reason, and the pounding temples, which he’d ignored during the call, were back to playing a lousy tune.

Fuck my life.

Chapter Eleven

Isley

“Somme… you home?” Isley called out, dropping his rucksack on the small bench next to the door he kicked shut. Listening out, he shrugged out of his jacket, rolling his neck to ease some of the tension created by his AWOL boss. The hard knots as big as boulders across the top of his shoulders were all Laken’s fault.

“Inconsiderate asshole!” he grumbled. There had been a total lack of response to his text to Laken. Nada, as in nothing. Not so much as the courtesy of a message or damn email to say why he hadn’t rocked up to work, leaving Isley floundering to cover his ass.

He shoved aside his worry that something had happened to the alpha after he’d gone seeking out the gossip to see if he’d missed something. There’d been no mention by anyone else that Laken had been in an accident of any kind—which is the only excuse Isley would forgive—and he’d checked more than once throughout the day, much to his chagrin.