Orin grabs a heavy blanket then drapes it over my lap. “You didn’t ruin anything.” His voice is surprisingly firm, resonating in my chest in a way that makes me think he actually means it. “With Drax coming into our lives and your connection to him, maybe they’re all signs.”
“If you’re not careful, I may believe that Mr. Grumpy-Pants believes in fate,” I tease. “I struggle to imagine someone like you thinking that destiny can play a role in anything.”
“Someone like me?”
“Oh, you know…” I roll my eyes. “You set and follow the rules. Everything has to be in its place.”
“When you’ve seen some of the things I have, it makes you question whether there’s a reason behind it all.” His eyes go misty, as if he’s being transported to another place and time, faraway from here. “I’ve seen friends die while others have survived the most extraordinary odds.” He shrugs. “It makes you think that maybe there is something else at work. Call it fate or destiny or whatever you’d like, but it helps me to believe that there’s a higher purpose.”
“Shit,” I groan. This is a man who has fought for our country, and I’m mocking his belief in fate? Way to go, Sabs. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean?—”
“I know.” He takes the chance to swipe the fork from me, stealing the very last bite of cheesecake. He licks his lips, lips that suddenly seem so very kissable. “And who knows? Maybe I’m wrong about things happening for a reason, but I do think I’m right about Drax being meant for our pack and you being meant for us.”
“You think I’m meant for… you?” My mouth goes dry. “I mean, the pack?”
“You’re like a stick of dynamite. You’ve burst into our lives and blown everything up, but I’m starting to see how things might look when the dust settles.” He scratches his chin. “Drax obviously cares about you, you’re good for Adler, and you could be what Luca’s been waiting for.”
“And you?” I ask, unable to resist looking at his oh-so-sexy mouth again. “What doyouwant?”
He leans in closer, his large palm hovering an inch above my leg. My heart slams in my chest, waiting for him to touch me, then his fingers close on the edge of the blanket, pulling it taut over a section of my skin that isn’t completely covered. For thebriefest of seconds, his knuckles graze my bare thigh, sending a jolt of electricity through me that leaves my skin tingling.
“A pack leader comes last, dynamite.” He may have pulled back, but his scent betrays him, thickening into a heavy, spicy cloud of dark rum that makes my head swim. “I’ll take what I want when I see that my packmates are happy.”
“But—”
“It’s time we both rest.” He jumps up, halting the rapidly growing sexual tension. “Adler has his first practice since bonding tomorrow, so you’ll be up early.”
“Right, practice, yep.” I’d almost forgotten that the world was still spinning outside of this house. We both had busy lives before bonding, and we have to get back to them. The sooner, the better. Still, the idea of everyone finding out is… overwhelming.
“I’ll go to bed,” I promise, pulling the blanket up to just under my chin. “Soon.”
He nods in satisfaction then pauses in the doorway. “Oh, and Sabs?”
My mind is already jumping straight into fantasy mode, playing out what would happen if he returned to the sofa to tear off the blanket and ravish me. “Yes?”
“Bree,” he says. “My favorite character is Bree.”
I laugh. There’s definitely more to Orin Strike’s gruff exterior than meets the eye.
EIGHTEEN
Adler
“You have an extra spring in your step this morning. Usually, I have to drag you out of bed to make practice on time,” Luca comments as I glug down my triple-chocolate protein shake. “Does it have anything to do with Sabs coming with you?”
I can’t hold back my grin. “Maybe.”
Today is Sabs’s and my first outing in public since we bonded. As nervous as I am about the reaction we might receive, I’m excited as hell to show my gorgeous omega off to my team.
Orin strides into the kitchen with Drax closely following behind him like a gloomy cloud. My new packmate doesn’t seem especially pleased to see me, grunting in acknowledgment before taking a seat. I guess not instantly wanting to punch each other is progress.
“Bagel?” Luca slides a paper bag over to him, the delicious, savory smell of chili and cheese wafting from it. “I dropped by Toasted after my morning run. Their new flavor of the month is jalapeño cheddar.”
“Thanks,” Drax accepts but hesitates before taking a bite, his gaze flicking in my direction.
“I haven’t poisoned it,” I snap.
Drax narrows his eyes, ripping off a piece of the bread like he wishes it was my throat. I’ve agreed to be civil with him for Sabs’s sake, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to sit around singing Kumbaya over bagels. Trust isn’t earned overnight. Even with Luca and Orin whom I’ve known for years, it took me a long time to feel comfortable enough to open up to them. Despite what Orin touts about biological instincts, in my eyes, Drax still has to prove he’s worthy of being one of us.
