Page 179 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

“Smartass,” he hissed, poking me in the side.

“I’ll make the popcorn. You pick a movie,” I said, hopping off his lap.

With all the chaos we’d been through and what was yet to come, an evening of relaxation sounded like the best thing in the world. Who knew when we’d get another chance to do this? If it was the last bit of peace we had, then I would enjoy it.

Chapter 20

Jace

We woke early the next morning, preparing for what was sure to be another busy day. As I munched on a bagel, Dustin texted me that he and his betas were on the way.

“What’s that?” Kirsten asked, nodding to my phone.

“Dustin,” I said through a mouthful of bread and cream cheese. “He’s on the way.” I frowned at the next message he sent. “He says to make sure you’re at the clearing, too. He has a surprise. I’m not sure what that means.”

Kirsten shrugged as she poured a cup of coffee. “I don’t have any plans.”

Flynn arrived a few minutes later, accompanied by Langston and Waylan. The five of us headed down to the clearing to meet Dustin and Shayna’s packmates.

“So, uh, did Harley say anything last night?” Waylan asked, trying and failing to sound off-the-cuff.

“Nope,” Kirsten said. “I did hear her ranting about cutting balls off, though.”

He paled, and Kirsten giggled. “I’m joking,” she said. “Pretty sure she went to bed early. As far as I know, she’s still sleeping.”

“Oh.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, cool.”

We pushed through the last of the forest and stepped into the clearing. Dustin and his men were already there, as were my own people. Most were running around, still in their wolf forms. A line of pickup trucks and cars sat at the farthest edge of the clearing by the small dirt road that led here from town.

“Miss Kirsten!”

A boy came sprinting toward us, arms pumping like crazy as he ran. Morgan.

Kirsten laughed in delight as the boy leapt into her arms, almost bowling her over. “Oh my gosh. Hey, buddy. It’s good to see you,” she said, setting the boy back down.

Morgan beamed up at her. “I missed you.”

Kirsten knelt down closer to his eye level. “I missed you, too. How are things?”

He made an I-guess-it’s-fine face. “It’s okay. Dustin and Shayna are super nice. Have you guys fixed my brother Alex yet? Is he here?”

Kirsten’s smile faded, as did mine. I could still remember the feral wolf I’d killed in our escape from Scottsdale, and I prayed to every god in the universe it hadn’t Morgan’s older brother. As tragic as it would have been on its own, the heartbreak that would come to this little boy would be a stain on my soul that would never wash off.

“No, sweetie. We haven’t. I think Eren still has him, but we’re working on saving him,” Kirsten said.

Morgan’s face didn’t crumple, but a mask of depression settled over it. “You guys are going to save him, aren’t you?” he asked.

“You bet,” Kirsten said, ruffling his hair. “Hey, these guys are gonna be getting all sweaty and gross. How about you come up to the house? Harley and Tinsley are up there. We can bake some cookies?”

Morgan’s eyes widened. “Oatmeal raisin?”

“I was thinking about chocolate chip cookies,” Kirsten said.

“Oatmeal raisin is my favorite, though.”

“What a little psycho,” she teased, grinning at him. “All right, then. We’ll see what we can do. Come on.”

Kirsten took Morgan’s hand and led him back to the foot path. She looked over at him, giving the boy a warm smile. Seeing her like that, smiling and happy, holding the child’s hand, sent a pang through my chest. I desperately wanted to sink my teeth into her and claim her. To make a baby with her. The desire was so strong, it was almost impossible to contain.

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