Page 35 of The Packaged Deal

Sven kisses my cheek. “Goodnight, hot stuff.”

“Sven! What does that mean? Sven?” I stand on the porch and watch as he disappears down the drive. A few minutes later, I hear a car leave, only then do I reluctantly go inside. Hope seeps out of me, giving me this strangely unsettled feeling that is new and untested. It’s strange, but I almost think I smell sweet blackberries, too, but when I check on her, the omega is sound asleep.

ten

Jade

Islyly glance at Kandi. She looks my way and winks before she returns to reading her romance book. It worked. Haha, it was almost more than I could bear to go back into Adrian’s room and not dance around. Watching them kiss last night was hot, more than hot. It was surprisingly sweet, and, yeah, it was hot. Our briefly clandestine conversation in her house last night while Sven was on the toilet was a stroke of genius. I needed to remind Adrian of what he was giving up, and she needed to break Sven’s control.

But he’s staying. Kandi was right. Sven was the only one of us who could convince him to stay, and right now, she’s getting way too much enjoyment out of watching our good doctor suffer.

To be fair, I’m quite partial to his suffering, too. Especially as he was going to leave me. But I’ll never admit to it in the light of day. I’m a polite omega after all.

“What are you smiling about?” Adrian asks and plops down beside me. His weight makes me roll in his direction, and I just go with it, cuddling up to his side.

He makes me feel small and delicate. I love that feeling.

“I’m just happy you’re staying.”

“Three weeks. I’m only promising three weeks.”

“Why are you staying?” Kandi asks with a confused frown. “Did you decide to bond with Jade?” She clearly heard his three weeks and is innocently batting her lashes at us, while her dimple keeps floating in and out of sight.

I glower at the beta, and then get lost in the way she licks her bottom lip, turning it shiny and…was it always so plump? She’s really pretty with her streaky brown hair and her eyes like melted chocolate. They’re so soft. I shake myself and blink back to reality.

“I did not decide to…we’re seeing how things go,” Adrian rumbles.

“Are you? Have you told her that? She looks surprised.” Clearly, the beta is on a warpath this morning.

Kandi sits beside me, her knee folded up so she’s facing me. I glare at her while Adrian splutters.

Kandi’s eyes darken, and she casually plops an arm on the couch behind me. She drags a finger along my nape. I shiver and have to resist leaning into her, hard.

“You should tell her now,” Kandi says in a deeper voice. “Tell her you want her. Tell her you're going to try.”

Adrian clears his throat and lets out a snarl that rips my attention away from the beta.

I blink, released from her spell. Was she flirting with me? She was. She was absolutely flirting with me. This glowing coil of smug pride takes up residence in my chest. Adrian looks like he’s going to explode, though.

“Let’s just wait for Sven to get here.”

Kandi looks at the time. “Sorry, Adrian, but he’s running again. You know it, I know it, hell, she probably knows it. He’s never an hour late to anything. He’s early or on time. If he’s not here, it’s because he’s not coming.”

Adrian drops his head in his hands and gets up in an explosive movement. He pulls his phone out and puts it to his ear.

“Get over here now, Sven. If you disappear again, I swear to god, I will do something we’re both going to regret.”

Kandi leans back and closes her eyes. She looks like she’s in pain; I put a hand on her thigh and squeeze.

“He’s not coming, Adrian. Let it go.”

I look between them both. “I don’t understand what’s going on?”

“The most commitment-phobic alpha on the planet is our mate, and he’s running because he promised something he’s not sure he can deliver.”

“Fuck. This,” Adrian growls. “Darion, do not hang up on me or I will give you all laxatives next time you need a shot.”

My eyebrows raise. “Well, that sounds unpleasant.”

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