Page 122 of Stargazer

“Sounds like a plan,” I said encouragingly as I rose and pulled Griffin from the couch with me. Given that I was hardly involved in the battle today, and more mentally exhausted than physically, I still had some ideas of how I could further tire myself out. I was just hoping that the sexy captain would be up to it.

Before we left, Griff headed to the bathroom and I found myself surrounded by Axel, Dalton, Koda and a sleepy Zander, who’d all walked outside with me.

“Your boy’s good at this you know,” Koda said with a cheeky smile, poking me in the arm. I blushed. I hadn’t exactly addressed that I’d picked Griffin to the rest of the pack but obviously they knew.

Zander leaned his mass of bodyweight onto my shoulder. Luckily, these days I was strong enough to carry his weight without being flattened like a pancake.

“Yeah, we get why you like him,” he added. “He’s a dreamboat.” He batted his lashes mockingly at me, using humour like he usually did.

Even so, I gaped at him, not knowing what to say or how to react and feeling extremely awkward.

“I uh …” I stuttered, trying to think of how to tell them I was sorry that things didn’t work out with their Alpha.

“Relax, Vee. We’re your friends. We’re happy for you,” Dalton said, giving me a little bop on the nose which relieved some of the tension I felt. I swatted his hand away playfully.

Axel pushed Zander off me, pulling me under his own shoulder and offering a little comforting squeeze. “I know we’ve never outright said it to you, but we like him. And we’re happy whenever you’re happy.”

I looked up at them all, eyes glittering with emotion as I let out a nervous breath.

“Thanks, guys,” I said wholeheartedly. “That means a lot to me.”

Before they could say anything more, Griff came through the door and nonchalantly strolled down the path towards us and the car, casually tossing his keys in the air and catching them.

“Ready?”

He gave the boys a suspicious once-over, probably wondering why they were gathered around me and now staring at him.

“Yep, good to go,” I replied.

“See ya, pups. Be ready for me to kick your ass later,” he directed at the boys as we walked in the direction of the Jeep.

“Bye, Vee. Bye, Mr Perfect,” Zander taunted with a wave.

Griffin gave him a devilish smile. “Aww Zan, I’m flattered, really. But I’m taken.”

The Beta blew him a kiss anyway.

My heart swelled with warmth at the weird-as-fuck relationship they all had. But I loved it.

I loved that they liked him and didn’t hold any resentment towards us.

When we got home, Griffin made good on his promise that I’d ‘get more later’.

CHAPTER 43

VENUS

“Back to New York City we go.”

Before I knew it, we were packing up the academy cars and getting ready to leave.

“Back to where it all began for us,” Griff taunted with a wink before buckling up in the driver’s seat.

It would be nice getting to stop at the compound for a few days before we headed to England. I kind of missed it.

As discussed, not all of us would be leaving. In fact, we thought it best that we left most of the squad here under my mother’s watch to keep an eye on things and help the pack with anything they might need. We’d be taking most of the official Knights with us though—minus Santiago, who insisted he’d stay back with Billie and the others.

Griff, Kitana, Carter, Bleu and Winter would be joining us, and once we linked up with Major Harper at the compound, she’d be tagging along to Manchester too.

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