Page 100 of Puck & Her Blades

“Lift the command,” Roarke barks. “Then get out and never even think of using an Alpha Command against your own brother again.”

Sydney reddens, raising her guilty gaze to meet her dad’s across the room. “Dad, it was instinct. I don’t know what’s got into Cyg, since Puck moved into the pack. He was back talking, and I just—”

“Was that what he was doing?” Roarke gives her a considering look. “Do you use the same tactic on Lark? Is that why he flinches from your touch? Why he hides Millie from you? Why he’s obedient but like a shadow in this house?”

Sydney blanches. “That’s how Omegas should behave.”

“Is it? Your mother never acted like that.” He turns away his head with a sigh. “Take off the damn command.”

Sydney grits her teeth. “Alpha Command released.”

Cygnus sobs. “Alpha…”

Immediately, Zev rushes to drop to the floor next to me, and together, we hold Cygnus.

An Omega is fucked up by an Alpha Command. Cygnus needs skin to skin contact and ideally, sugar.

At the moment, I can’t provide the chocolate but I can rub Cygnus’ hands between mine, while Zev lifts Cygnus onto his lap, laying him across his bare chest to provide as much skin to skin contact as possible.

Cygnus sniffs at Zev’s scent gland, trying to settle his nervous system.

With a shove, Jackson lets go of Sydney. “Father told you to get out.”

Uncomfortable, Sydney glances between us. “Why is Puck worth all this?”

Good fucking question. Why am I?

Jackson’s expression softens, as he turns to study me. “Because we love her.”

My heart swells.

I duck my head to hide my flushed cheeks and the smile that’s aching my mouth.

Sydney snorts. “Idiots.”

Then she marches out of the study.

Roarke slowly walks around his desk, before throwing himself down in his leather chair. He cradles his hands in his lap, before assessing us for a long moment.

“Everyone in this room knows that Puck can’t be bred or provide me with an Alpha grandchild,” he finally says.

I freeze.

I’d hoped that we could slip that past Roarke for the moment.

Of course, I’m a Non-heat or at least, I haven’t had a heat yet.

Jackson shrugs. “I don’t care. None of us do. You have Millie already and likely will have an Alpha grandkid soon, if that matters so much to you. Let Sydney’s side inherit. She’s more ambitious and interested in the money, anyway. Why do we need kids? Let us be happy as we are. If we do decide together that we want one in the future, then we can always adopt, right?” His gaze sharpens. “After all, you adopted me.”

Roarke shakes his head, ruefully. “You’ve thought of everything, huh? It seems that I did something right in my coaching. Your strategy is impressive. Okay, if you want her, then you can have her. It appears that I can’t stop the viral story that’s already in motion. But you look in that cabinet over there.”

We all turn to look at the trophy cabinet.

In the center of the other gleaming trophies stands a huge, bulky silver bowl. It’s decorated with wolves.

Roarke smiles. “Of course, it’s only a replica of the Alpha Cup. I had to give the original trophy that I won as Captain both times back like everybody does. But that’s my pride and fucking joy. I look at it and remember what this pack is capable of achieving. We just need to work hard together, be dedicated, and not…” He raises out of his chair, as he roars, “…get fucking distracted.”

The hairs on the back of my neck rise up, and adrenaline courses through me.

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