“I couldn’t believe it when we found out he’d presented as an alpha.” Faye licks some chocolate from her thumb.
“I’m not surprised,” Kady chuffs. “Just look at him.”
“There are buff betas,” Delilah replies indignantly, obviously thinking of Tae.
“Drax could crush Tae’s skull between his hands if he wanted to,” Kady points out.
“You’re probably right,” Delilah agrees upon consideration. “Tae wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Though I doubt Drax would have the dexterity to create latte art like Tae can,” Faye chirps. “Did I tell you he made me the cutest foam squirrel last week?”
Delilah’s face glazes over with happiness, practically glowing. “He’s so talented.”
“Foam squirrels aside, I don’t think Drax will be crushing any skulls anytime soon,” I scoff. “If he did, Adler’s would be first to go. There’s been serious tension between them.”
“At least Orin works for campus security.” Faye’s ever the optimist. “And Luca seems really sweet.”
“He is,” I reply, butterflies flapping in my chest at just a thought of him. “He’s far too nice for someone like me.”
“You deserve to be with someone nice,” Delilah counters. “Your idea of nice is heavily skewed because you’ve spent the last few years hooking up with assholes who don’t deserve you. Excluding Drax, obviously. That poor guy has been following you around like a lovesick puppy for years.”
I pout. “Has not!”
“Well, like a protective guard dog, then,” Delilah corrects while adjusting her messy bun.
All three of them shoot me a ‘you can’t argue with that’ look.
“Fine,” I burst out laughing. “But we really werejustfriends, sometimes with benefits, until now.”
“So you’re officiallymore than friends now?” Delilah wiggles her eyebrows before selecting a macaron.
“Actually, I don’t know what we are.” I fiddle with the corner of a fluffy blanket, chewing on my lip. “Or what I am to the rest of the pack. Adler and I haven’t even?—”
“You haven’t had sex since you bonded?” Kady sits up so abruptly that her feet kick up, and bubbles slop over the sides of her foot spa. “Who are you, and what have you done with Sabrina Maverick? You’ve been scouring heat buddy apps for months. And now that you have knots on tap you’re not interested?”
“It’s not that I don’twantto.” Having this level of self-control doesn’t come naturally when I’m practically drooling every time I catch sight of one of the guys in a towel. “Believe me, I very much want to. Hello, have you seen them? But…”
“But?” Faye prompts.
“I feel like Adler and I did everything the wrong way.” I blow out a leaden breath. “We bonded before even getting to know each other. This isn’t just a casual hookup. I don’t want our bond to be based on solely physical connection. If all we did was fuck all the time, I don’t think we’d really get a chance to talk properly. Does that make sense, or do I sound like I’ve lost my mind?”
“You’re a secret romantic,” Delilah gasps, clutching her chest. “I knew it!”
I feel my cheeks heat. “I’m not!”
“Well, I think what you’re doing is a good idea.” Faye sounds proud. “Bonding is a forever thing.”
“What about the rest of the pack?” Kady tilts her head to the side. “What are they like?”
“Luca’s sweet. He likes the outdoors, and have you seen his eyes?” I sigh melodramatically. “Super hot. Orin is totally playing hard to get, but he has this ‘come to bed’ look whenever we’re together that I’m totally vibing with. And Drax…” I smile. “Well, he’s still the same old Drax, but he just smells stronger now. I haven’t had the balls to ask him about what’s going on in his pants.”
Delilah scratches her chin. “Can a knot just grow?”
Faye’s brows furrow in concentration as if she’s trying to imagine how that would work. “Maybe it’s like a life ring? It kinda expands?—”
“Knot talk aside,” Kady flicks her wrist dismissively, putting an end to their speculations, which is probably a good thing; I’ve spent way too much time thinking about it myself. “This means that you’re all officially courting, right?”
“Can you really class it as courting when I’ve already bonded?” I question.
