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“I know,” he says quickly, grabbing my hand. “I’m so sorry. Fuck, I’m so sorry.” He brings my hand to his mouth and presses a kiss to the back of my hand. His tears splash onto my skin. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I don’t deserve you as a mate, not after everything, but I’m asking, no, I’m begging, Quinn. Please. Give me another chance. Let me show you I can do better.” He drops his forehead against my hand, already defeated.
But I’m not so cruel.
I still don’t know what to do about our parents when they get home. It’s going to be messy, and it’s going to be hard, butthere’s no more running. We’re meant to be a pack. They’re my alphas. And it’s time for someone to take care of Brady the way he’s always tried to take care of his brothers.
“Brady,” I say, waiting until he lifts his gaze to meet mine. “All I’ve ever wanted since the day we met was to claim my pack.” I brush my fingers over the mark hidden beneath my shirt. “Now that I have you, I’m not letting you go.”
He yanks me into his arms, hugging me so tight, I can barely breathe. But I can and I do. I pull back slightly. “I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you the last few weeks. If I had any idea?—”
“No. I deserved it. The stuff with my mom is fucked up, but so was the way I treated you.”
A tear slips down my cheek, and he smooths his thumb over my skin, brushing it away. I lean into the touch.
“You were always pack,” he whispers. “You belong with us.”
Those words stamp into my heart, and I hope it’s enough to protect us from the fallout when our parents come home.
Forty-Four
BRADY
I glance over at Quinn for the fifth time, checking to make sure she’s actually here and she actually forgives me. She’s looking out the window, but she glances over at me, sensing my attention, and smiles. There’s no hesitation, fear, or anger. How long has it been since I’ve seen her look at me this way?
Maybe never.
Even before I knew she was our scent match, I hadn’t been nice.
“Can I show you something?” I ask.
“Sure.”
Nodding, I grip the wheel a little tighter and change course, heading to our condo. It’s in the middle of repairs, but I need her input on something. Quinn hums along with the song on the radio, and I turn it up for her. She shoots me another grin, and I drink it in quickly before focusing on driving.
There used to be so much space between us. Even in tight quarters, we were never close, not in the way we are now. I drop one hand onto her thigh, and she sucks in a breath. I want to look at her again—to see her blush just for me—but if I do, I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it to the condo.
The surprise is something I’ve kept to myself, and I really fucking hope I didn’t make the wrong decision. It’s not done yet, but I had the contractors start converting the office into a nest. The windows have been darkened and have black-out curtains. The floor is water resistant. Beyond that, I have a few ideas for how to decorate it, but I can’t bring myself to make those decisions without consulting her.
It’s going to be her space.
I park in the garage across from the condos and turn off the car. Squeezing the hand on her thigh, I search her face. Her lips are slightly parted, and her cheeks are a delicious shade of red. That honey and musk, that vanilla scent that says she’s mine, caresses over me and my cock hardens.
“Ready?”
She swallows and nods.
I jump out of the car and get to her side before she can open her door. Grabbing her hand, I lead her inside.
“Oh, wow. They’re almost done.” She glances around as I pull her through the home.
“They fixed the plumbing and repaired the floors and baseboards, but there are a few things left to do.” I stop at the office door and turn to her.
She tips her head back, gazing at me with those gorgeous blue eyes. “Why do you look so nervous?”
“Because I either made a good decision, or I’m about to piss you off, and I’m tired of making you mad.”
Her eyes narrow ever so slightly. “What did you do?”
Instead of trying to explain, I open the door and lead her into what I hope will be her new nest. The curtains are pulled closed, pitching the room into darkness, but I flip the switch for the recessed lights. I switched the brighter bulbs out for soft glowing ones. They bathe the room in warmth. The walls are lined with color-changing strips of light, but I leave those off for now.
