Page 125 of Justice for Puck Bunnies

The next words from her drop the floor out from under me, though.

“No, thank you.”

No . . . thank you?

The words run circles in my brain while I attempt to accept what she’s saying.

I know she wants this. Jolie told us she’s sleeping with our shirts. We even gave her new ones with fresh scents on them.

The chair skitters as I fall into it. I search the papers, desperate to figure out why she would say no.

Maybe it was a ruse all along. None of it meant anything to her. We’ve simply built it up in our minds.

“Can you say why?” Vin asks. “I know I’m not supposed to ask, but fuck it. Why not, Izzy?”

“Vin,” I scold, but he’s not the least bit contrite.

And maybe I want to know too.

She looks up at the ceiling and fights the tears in her eyes.

“Look,” she says. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I don’t need you to save me again. I’m fine.”

“What we’re trying to do,” Vin repeats.

“Yeah.”

“And what is it you think we’re trying to do?”

Her face flushes. “You’re really going to make me say it?”

“I’d like to hear this as well,” Mason adds, and I cover my face with my hand.

“Carry on the ruse. I know you think the exclusivity agreement will keep me from the omega meat market, but it won’t. Apparently, I have a lot of interest.”

She sneers those last few words, and I finally understand what she means.

The truth in her words injects a myriad of emotions into my veins, but the ultimate point resonates loudest.

“You think we’re covering for you again.”

“I know you, Trick. You feel guilty about what happened. You’re trying to swoop in and give me a reprieve. It’s kind, but I can’t handle that, and the Admin will never go for it anyway.”

“You can’t handle it,” I say.

“No. Thank you, but I politely decline.”

She picks at blue nails and refuses to meet my gaze.

“We’ve asked you to be our omega because our pack is not complete without you, Isabelle.”

“Ah. You’re also hiding from the Admin. The answer is the same. You’ll have to find another omega to play house with.”

“Izzy, listen to them,” Jolie says in a hushed tone.

“No, Jolie, I’m doing what’s right for me.”

Izzy stands then. She squares her shoulders and lifts her chin.

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